At Arcane's side…
Arcane hurried toward the side where Zorayel and Dareth fighting. Along the way he saw people screaming and fleeing from the Everdawn Library.
"What happened?" he asked a passing man.
"A demon… there's a demon in the library," the man spat out in fear and streaked away.
"A demon?" Arcane thought, and then he ran towards the library.
Inside the library, a surreal calm waited. A demon sat in an armchair, legs crossed, reading a book as though this were merely afternoon tea. Its skin was a pale lavender, thin black stripes tracing its limbs. It wore a blue, ostentatious royal robe, glasses perched on its nose, and held a volume as if nothing in the world could disturb it.
"Gusion, what are you doing here?" Arcane demanded.
Gusion closed the book with a careless clap and offered a polished, almost theatrical smile. "Fancy meeting you here. If I'd known, I would've brought a souvenir for you."
"You didn't answer me," Arcane said, eyes sharp.
"Since you're here, you can help me," Gusion purred, leaning forward slightly.
Arcane looked at him, questioned.
"There's a human using a demon heart," Gusion said casually.
"Did Lynx tell you this?" Arcane asked.
"So you know about that human," Gusion mused. "Then help me kill him. Although I doubt he'll be any match for me."
"We should keep him alive a while longer," Arcane countered.
"You know it's forbidden for a human to use demon organs," Gusion said, amusement in his tone.
"It's extremely rare for a mere human to be compatible with demon organ," Arcane replied.
Gusion tilted his head. "What are you suggesting?"
"Let's observe him for now," Arcane said. "If he can't handle it, he's as useless as dead."
"What if he survives?" Gusion asked, eyes glittering.
"Then we'll use him," Arcane answered.
"As expected from the next Demon King," Gusion said approvingly.
"I can never be as great as Father," Arcane murmured, looking down.
"I think you'll be more capable," Gusion said gently, rising from his seat. "It's time for me to leave. Keep the situation under control."
"I need you to kill that demon?" Arcane asked, testing him.
"Are you sure?" Gusion asked, smiling.
"He broke the forbidden rule; he's no longer welcome in the demon realm," Arcane said steadily.
"As you command." Gusion left with that same thin smile.
Arcane looked up and the words echoed in his mind, "the next Demon King?"
A vision slid through him: a shadowed figure leaning close to a small boy. "My dear son, you will be the next Demon King," the figure had whispered. "Prove you are worthy of the title."
"Like I would ever be as great as you," Arcane said, staring at the ceiling.
Shaking the memory away, Arcane forced himself present. "I should go back and help the others," he thought.
At the doorway a gray-haired civilian stood frozen, fear in his eyes as he stared at Arcane.
"You… you talked to the demon. I heard it all. You are the son of the Demon King," the man stammered.
"Wait—listen," Arcane tried to placate him.
But the man would not be calmed. He turned and bolted for the exit, desperate to spread what he believed he had heard.
Arcane sighed and muttered a quiet charm: "Demon Art: Needle of Silent Death"
A hair-fine needle pierced the man's heart; he crumpled instantly to the floor, breathless.
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you reveal my identity," Arcane said softly, covering the body with a cloak of stillness.
There was no time to linger. Arcane slipped out of the library, and rushed towards the battlefield.
At Drelvan and Aize's side…
The clash of steel echoed through the air as Drelvan and Aize launched at each other.
"Sword Art: Flame Strike!"
Drelvan's blade ignited in blazing fire as he swung at Aize.
"Sword Art: Ash Storm!"
Aize countered instantly, blocking the strike with his own sword. Upon impact, a violent gust of ash-filled wind burst from behind him, swirling like a storm. The air thickened — Drelvan's vision blurred, and he coughed as ashes filled his lungs.
"Cough…" He staggered back, covering his mouth.
"Sword Art: Heavy Strike!"
Aize swung downward, aiming straight for Drelvan's neck.
"Sword Art: Swordsman's Instinct!"
In that split second, Drelvan's body moved on pure instinct — his sword rose just in time to block the fatal blow. The impact sent a shockwave through him, knocking him a few steps back.
He slid across the dirt, gritting his teeth, and steadied himself. Then, without hesitation, he charged again.
Their swords collided once more — sparks flew, steel clanged, and the air trembled with each strike. They traded blow after blow — blocking, parrying, and dodging with blinding speed.
"What's wrong? Getting tired already?" Aize taunted with a smirk.
"I'm just getting started," Drelvan replied, his lips curling into a grin.
He burst forward, increasing his speed. Aize's eyes narrowed — and he matched him perfectly.
Drelvan's strikes came in rapid succession — a slash to the head, a cut at the chest, a sweep at the legs, another from the side — but Aize blocked every one of them with effortless precision.
"With that level, you'll never even scratch me," Aize laughed.
"You might want to look at yourself before saying that," Drelvan said calmly.
Aize blinked — and his expression changed. Tiny cuts and scratches had appeared all across his body, trickling with blood.
"When did he…?" Aize thought, startled.
"Sword Art: Phantom Blade."
Drelvan's sword glowed faintly as he pointed it at Aize.
Aize chuckled. "You actually surprised me."
But Drelvan's eyes widened — the wounds on Aize's body began closing, the cuts sealing as if time itself reversed.
"How…?" Drelvan muttered under his breath.
"Don't worry," Aize said, brushing dust off his shoulder. "I'm not a demon. It's just a little forbidden healing spell. I can use it a few more times."
He dragged his blade across his arm and neck, small trails of blood dripping before instantly vanishing — his grin widening.
"Now that the warm-up's done…" Aize said, his voice lowering, eyes gleaming like a predator's. "Why don't we get serious?"