Night shuddered as Mei stood battered and shaking beneath the cold glow of Kaelith's flame. His sword, wreathed in pale fire, hovered above her — ready to fall, ready to end her.
"Say your final words, woman," Kaelith hissed, flame twisting around the blade like a serpent preparing to strike.
Mei could barely hold herself up. Blood dripped from her lips, her breaths sharp and shallow. She thought of Dain. She thought of Ren. She thought of Reider.
Dain… Ren… I'm sorry.
The sword descended—
And the world exploded.
A violent gust of wind tore through the street, extinguishing Kaelith's fire in an instant. The pavement cracked. Debris scattered. Mei's hair whipped wildly around her face.
A blur appeared in front of her.
Kaelith's sword stopped inches from her skull.
Mei blinked, tears blurring her vision.
"What…?" she whispered.
The blur solidified into a form. A tall, silver-haired figure holding Kaelith's flaming sword in one hand — barehanded — energy cracking around his fingers like lightning crawling under skin.
Reider.
He turned his head slightly, looking back at Mei with calm, unshaken eyes.
"You shouldn't be here, wife."
Mei's knees threatened to give out.
He's here… He came for me…
Kaelith snarled and tried to pull his sword free. It didn't move a millimeter.
"You brat… let go of my sword!"
Selene stepped forward, daggers out, smirking like a serpent baring fangs.
"Aww… coming to save your little pet? How adorable."
Reider released the sword.
He didn't drop it.
He tossed it aside like garbage. The blade hit the ground with such force the earth cracked beneath it.
Kaelith's eyes widened. His weapon — forged from ancient magic — treated like scrap metal.
Reider turned back to Mei, the faintest softness touching his otherwise blank face.
"I told you I'd protect you."
Mei's lips trembled, her voice barely lasting long enough to escape.
"You did…"
Selene stepped closer, expression darkening.
"You think walking in here makes you a hero, boy? You have no idea who you're dealing with."
Reider didn't even blink.
"You're loud."
Selene froze, offended that the insult hit harder than any spell.
Kaelith regained his footing, flames licking up his arms again.
"Big talk. Think you can take us both? You're just a child pretending to be strong."
Reider ignored him completely.
He looked at Mei again.
"Stay behind me."
She nodded despite the pain.
"I trust you."
Selene rolled her eyes, voice dripping venom.
"How sweet. Too bad this is the last thing you'll ever say to each other."
Reider took one step forward — the ground cracked beneath his feet. A black-silver aura flickered around him, distorting the air.
Kaelith scoffed loudly.
"What's with that weak aura? You're shaking already."
Reider's gaze lifted to him, blank and chilling.
"I'm thinking if I should kill you now… or later."
For the first time, Selene and Kaelith exchanged a look.
A nervous one.
Selene tightened her grip on her daggers.
"You won't leave here alive, boy."
Reider's aura surged. Stones lifted from the ground. Wind howled. Reality itself trembled.
Selene's heart stuttered.
What… what is this pressure?!
Mei watched him, breath caught in her throat.
His power… it's like before, but stronger.
Reider took another step.
"If you hurt her," he said coldly, "you die."
Kaelith wiped a bead of sweat.
"Hah! Big words from someone who doesn't even have a core!"
Reider's voice was dead calm.
"I don't need a core to kill you."
Selene hissed.
"We'll see about that."
Reider didn't move, except to raise one hand lazily.
"Come try."
---
Kaelith lunged first, sword reborn in flames.
"DIE, BRAT!"
Reider shifted a centimeter.
The sword missed.
Selene came from behind, daggers aimed at his neck.
"Got you now!"
Reider raised one hand — without turning — and caught her wrist mid-air.
Her dagger froze inches from his throat.
What?! When—?!
Reider twisted. Just slightly.
Selene's weapon fell from her hand as agony shot up her arm.
Kaelith rushed again, swinging with full force.
Reider released Selene, caught Kaelith's flaming sword — barehanded — and squeezed.
Cracks exploded across the blade.
"Weak," he said flatly.
The sword shattered.
Kaelith stumbled backward in horror.
Reider vanished.
He reappeared in front of Kaelith, fist already buried in his gut.
Kaelith flew backward, smashing through a tree and carving a trench in the earth.
Selene screamed and lunged.
Reider grabbed her face in mid-air.
"I told you to try."
He slammed her into the ground — the earth cratered beneath the impact.
She coughed blood, vision blurring.
Kaelith crawled from the rubble, shaking.
"What… what are you?!"
Reider stood over him, unreadable.
"Reider."
---
Back in the mansion, Vael and Eryndra sat drinking tea — until the air shattered.
A monstrous pressure washed through the city.
Eryndra shot to her feet.
"What the—!?"
Vael dropped her cup, eyes wide with terror.
"That… Reider?!"
Eryndra grabbed her weapon.
"Why is he releasing that much power? Where's Mei?!"
---
Back at the battlefield, Selene and Kaelith lay beaten, trembling, barely conscious.
"You… you can't… beat us all…" Kaelith gasped.
Reider looked down at him coldly.
"You won't get a second chance."
Mei stared, hand pressed over her heart, overwhelmed.
He's… unstoppable…
Selene spat blood.
"You're… a monster…"
Reider didn't look at her.
"If protecting her makes me a monster… so be it."
He walked to Mei and knelt, his expression softening with an almost jarring tenderness.
"Are you alright?"
Mei smiled weakly.
"I am now…"
Reider lifted her carefully, standing protectively as footsteps echoed through the street.
Vael and Eryndra arrived, eyes widening at the devastation.
Reider stood tall — aura swirling like a living storm — Mei in his arms, Selene and Kaelith broken at his feet.
The war had begun.