The air twisted.
Not like Aria's power.
Not controlled.
Not silent.
---
This was violent.
Unstable.
Wrong.
---
The moment the man stepped forward—
The temperature dropped.
The light dimmed.
And something unseen… spread across the room.
---
Leon moved first.
Always.
---
His sword cut through the air without hesitation—
A perfect strike aimed at the man's throat.
---
But—
---
It passed through him.
---
Like smoke.
---
"…What?"
---
The figure didn't flinch.
Didn't move.
---
He simply smiled.
---
"Too slow."
---
Before Leon could react—
---
BOOM.
---
An invisible force slammed into him—
Throwing him across the hall.
---
He crashed hard into the wall.
Stone cracked.
Dust fell.
---
"LEON!"
---
Kael vanished.
---
In the next instant—
He was behind the man.
---
His blade struck—
Precise.
Deadly.
---
But again—
---
Nothing.
---
"…Not physical."
Kael muttered.
---
The man turned his head slightly.
Still smiling.
---
"Smart."
---
Then—
He raised his hand.
---
And the air around Kael twisted—
---
CRACK.
---
Kael was thrown across the room just like Leon.
---
He landed, sliding across the floor.
Blood at the corner of his lips.
---
"…Yeah."
He coughed lightly.
"…Definitely not normal."
---
Aria stood frozen.
---
Not from fear.
---
From recognition.
---
"…It's the same…"
---
The power.
---
Not identical.
But similar.
---
Close enough to terrify her.
---
The man's eyes shifted to her.
---
And for the first time—
They weren't empty.
---
They were focused.
Hungry.
---
"There you are."
---
Aria's breath caught.
---
"…Who are you?"
---
He stepped closer.
Slow.
Calm.
As if nothing in this room could stop him.
---
"My name…"
A pause.
---
"…is irrelevant."
---
His gaze deepened.
---
"But you…"
---
"…are exactly what we've been searching for."
---
A chill ran through her entire body.
---
"We?"
---
The man smiled wider.
---
"You don't think you're the only one like this… do you?"
---
Silence.
---
That sentence—
Changed everything.
---
Kael's eyes narrowed sharply.
---
"…Explain."
---
The man didn't even look at him.
---
"You don't understand her."
He said.
---
"You think she's a princess."
---
A step closer.
---
"You think she's human."
---
Another step.
---
"But she's neither."
---
Leon pushed himself up slowly.
Ignoring the pain.
---
"…Then what is she?"
---
The man finally stopped.
Right in front of Aria.
---
Close enough to touch.
---
Close enough to end everything.
---
"She is a Key."
---
The word echoed.
Heavy.
Mysterious.
Dangerous.
---
Aria's voice trembled slightly.
---
"…A key… to what?"
---
The man leaned closer.
---
And whispered—
---
"To the end of this world."
---
BOOM.
---
Kael attacked again.
Faster.
More aggressive.
---
His blade cut through—
But this time—
---
It connected.
---
A shallow cut appeared—
---
Then vanished instantly.
---
"…Regeneration?"
---
The man sighed softly.
---
"You're persistent."
---
Then—
He snapped his fingers.
---
And everything changed.
---
The ground beneath them cracked.
Dark energy spread like veins.
---
The walls trembled.
---
"This body…"
He said calmly.
"…is only temporary."
---
Leon's eyes widened slightly.
---
"…So you're not even here."
---
"Correct."
---
Kael clicked his tongue.
---
"…Annoying."
---
Aria stepped back.
Her heart racing.
---
A key.
---
Others like her.
---
The end of the world.
---
Nothing made sense.
---
But the voice inside her—
---
It reacted.
---
"He speaks the truth."
---
Her eyes widened.
---
"…No…"
---
The man tilted his head slightly.
---
"You hear it, don't you?"
---
Silence.
---
That was enough.
---
His smile grew.
---
"…Good."
---
Kael moved instantly—
Standing between them.
---
"You're not getting closer."
---
The man looked at him.
Amused.
---
"You think you can stop me?"
---
Kael's expression darkened.
---
"No."
---
A pause.
---
"But I can kill you enough times to make it annoying."
---
For the first time—
The man laughed.
---
A real laugh.
---
"I like you."
---
Leon stepped beside Kael.
---
"…We end this. Now."
---
Kael smirked slightly.
---
"…Finally, something we agree on."
---
And then—
---
They moved.
Together.
---
Perfect synchronization.
---
Leon attacked from the front.
Kael from the side.
---
Speed.
Precision.
Lethality.
---
The man raised his hand—
---
But this time—
---
Aria moved.
---
"STOP!"
---
Everything froze.
---
Again.
---
But stronger.
---
Wider.
---
The entire room bent under her power.
---
The man's expression changed.
For the first time—
---
Surprise.
---
"…Impressive."
---
Aria's eyes glowed brighter.
---
"I don't know what you are…"
She said.
---
"But you're leaving."
---
The air cracked around him.
---
The pressure increased.
---
Even Kael and Leon felt it.
---
"…She's getting stronger…"
---
"…Too fast."
---
The man watched her.
Calm.
Interested.
---
"Yes."
---
"Very impressive."
---
Then—
He smiled again.
---
"But not enough."
---
CRACK.
---
His body shattered—
Like glass.
---
And vanished.
---
Silence.
---
Everything stopped.
---
The pressure disappeared.
---
Aria collapsed to her knees.
---
Breathing heavily.
---
"…I…"
---
Kael rushed to her side.
---
"Hey."
His voice softer now.
---
"You're okay."
---
Leon stood nearby.
Watching.
Thinking.
---
"…A key."
---
The word didn't leave his mind.
---
Kael looked at him.
---
"…You believe him?"
---
Leon didn't answer immediately.
---
Then—
---
"…Yes."
---
Silence.
---
Because deep down—
They both knew.
---
This was bigger than them.
---
Bigger than the throne.
---
Bigger than the kingdom.
---
Kael looked at Aria.
Still catching her breath.
---
"…Looks like you're more trouble than we thought."
---
Aria let out a weak breath.
---
"…I didn't ask for this."
---
Kael smiled faintly.
---
"…Yeah."
---
"None of us did."
---
Outside—
The sky darkened slightly.
---
Far away—
Something stirred.
---
Watching.
Waiting.
---
"The Key has awakened."
---
"Prepare the others."