Ten years of searching. Ten years of chasing rumors, dead ends, and fading hope.
Aqua hovered above the Demon King's abandoned castle. The sky was bruised purple by dusk, wind brushing her hair back like a memory she didn't ask for. Her magic was no longer for party tricks — her aura shaped itself into thin armor, water hardening like glass along her skin.
"So this is where you vanished."
Aqua exhaled slowly, knuckles white around her staff.
"Ten years… Kazuma… I'm ending this."
Her divine senses extended outward. No undead. No demons. No life. Only silence.
"…Empty. Completely empty."
Nothing about this place should be empty.
A shot cracked the air.
A bullet tore past her cheek, hot enough to singe hair.
Aqua snapped upward, weaving through another burst of gunfire, leaping from platforms of ice forming under each step.
"Guns?! Since when do demons use—"
A voice echoed from below, dismissive and bored:
"Because mana is too valuable to waste on a second-rate target."
Aqua's eyes narrowed.
"Who's there?! Show yourself!"
Someone landed in front of her — dropping from the ramparts without a sound. A masked figure in black, posture loose, movements precise.
Then the voice—
lazy, mocking, unmistakable—
"Long time no see… Useless Aqua."
Aqua's heartbeat stopped.
"…That voice…"
The figure slowly removed the mask. The wind turned it to ash before it hit the ground.
Kazuma.
His smile was familiar —
but his eyes were wrong.
"K-Kazuma…?" Aqua whispered.
Kazuma spread his arms like this was some reunion party.
"Surprised? Didn't expect your favorite adventurer back from the dead?"
"What are you wearing? Why do you still have a body? Why didn't you contact us?"
Aqua demanded, stepping closer.
Kazuma laughed, casual and amused.
"Woah there, slow down. At least pretend you missed me."
Aqua's voice sharpened.
"Kazuma. Start talking."
Kazuma tilted his head, as if deciding how dramatic to be.
"Remember that dungeon we explored? The one nobody ever returned from?"
Aqua stiffened.
"…Yes."
"It wasn't a ruin."
Kazuma smiled wider.
"It was a ritual chamber. A sacrifice pit."
Aqua's face twisted.
"You're lying."
"Nope."
He pointed at himself proudly.
"You three were bait. The Demon King wanted your lives. I made a deal."
Aqua whispered, horrified, "A deal?"
"I sold my soul to save you."
Kazuma shrugged like he was talking about grocery shopping.
Aqua stepped back, shaking her head.
"No. Kazuma would never—"
"He even had your memories erased,"
Kazuma added, voice sing-song.
"Pretty romantic, right?"
Aqua's breath hitched.
"…This doesn't explain why you're still here."
The shadows behind Kazuma stretched unnaturally — like something alive was pushing from underneath his skin.
"Because when Pandora's Box opened," he said softly,
"something ancient crawled out… and chose me."
Aqua whispered, "You're possessed."
Kazuma winked.
"Smart girl."
He leaned close enough that she could feel his breath.
"I'm not Kazuma anymore."
"But I do a perfect impersonation. Even you can't tell the difference."
Aqua held her staff up defensively.
"I can tell. You're hollow."
Kazuma licked his teeth, amused.
"Check your status card."
Aqua hesitated, then summoned it.
Race: Human.
Her voice broke.
"…No. I lost my divinity?"
"When I made the pact, you became mortal."
Kazuma's tone softened — too gentle.
"You age. You bleed. You die."
He stepped closer, smiling like he was enjoying this.
"And I like you better that way."
Water surged along Aqua's arm, forming into an ice blade.
"Stay back."
Kazuma laughed, delighted.
"There she is. The real Aqua."
Aqua launched first — ice shards tearing through the air.
Kazuma slipped past every strike like water flowing around stone.
"You trained."
Kazuma wiped blood where her blade grazed his cheek.
"I'm proud of you."
"Shut up!" Aqua snapped.
Water shield. Ice blade. Every movement calculated.
She was no longer reckless.
Kazuma watched her, almost fascinated.
"You spent ten years searching for me?"
"You think I'd stop?!" Aqua snarled, swinging.
Her blade finally struck — slicing his cheek.
Kazuma touched the blood with two fingers.
He stared at it.
Then he smiled. Too wide.
"You improved."
Dark mana seeped from his skin — thick, hungry.
"Now it's my turn."
The ground cracked. Obsidian erupted and twisted into a blade in his hand.
"Come forth— Blooken."
The weapon screamed.
Aqua staggered.
Willed her arms steady.
Kazuma blurred forward.
Steel clashed against ice.
Her shield shattered.
Kazuma's blade stopped at her throat.
"You trained ten years… and you're still not enough,"
Kazuma said, voice dripping with mock pity.
Aqua spat blood, eyes burning.
"I searched every cursed ruin… every trace of the Demon King… all for you."
Kazuma blinked.
For a fraction of a heartbeat — the real Kazuma surfaced.
"…Aqua. I'm sor—"
His expression snapped back into a grin.
"Almost had you."
Two figures tore through the sky.
"Step back from her, brat," Vanir ordered, mask glowing.
Wiz landed beside Aqua, grabbing her arm.
"Aqua, hold still!"
Kazuma's eyes narrowed.
"So the peanut gallery returns."
"We're stealing her," Vanir said bluntly.
"And possibly you, if I feel generous."
Kazuma sneered.
"Cowards."
Wiz teleported Aqua away in a burst of light.
Kazuma didn't chase.
He watched the fading light and exhaled.
"One week," he murmured to himself.
"Don't disappoint me."
Far from the castle — inside a ruined cathedral…
A girl knelt before an empty throne.
Her cloak was black.
Her crimson eyes glowed with manic devotion.
"Lord Kazuma," she whispered, offering a relic in her palms.
"I brought what you requested."
Kazuma approached the throne and took it.
"Good girl," he said, gently brushing her hair aside.
The girl blushed, trembling.
"I just… want to make you proud."
Deep inside him, the ancient being stirred.
Love.
Obedience.
Perfect leverage.