The silhouette finally stopped.
Its dark wings slowly folded in, and silence fell over the battlefield.
At that moment, Koharu realized—it wasn't a "monster."
It was breathing, alive.
The smoke around it rose and fell with the rhythm of its heartbeat, as if power was being reborn with every breath.
It was as if… it was cultivating.
With each inhale, the black smoke receded a little further.
A strange calm filled Koharu's heart.
She was no longer afraid.
On the contrary… she wanted to get closer.
She took a step forward, then stopped.
Her hands clenched tightly.
Her heart was pounding wildly.
> "Can it talk to me? Someone with a heart like that can't be evil."
But her knees gave out.
She couldn't take another step.
She couldn't gather the courage.
All she could do was watch.
Then, from within the golden barrier, a wave of light surged.
A deep voice echoed, followed by the screams of soldiers.
The crowd split apart.
Koharu's gaze shifted in that direction…
Between the lines of golden armor, she saw her father.
He walked forward with heavy, deliberate steps.
In his hand shone a radiant weapon—
Mikail's Spear.
The king's face was cold as ice.
No anger, no fear—only unshakable determination.
Koharu's breath caught in her throat.
> "Father… why are you here?"
The king stepped before the barrier, raising the spear.
The soldiers around him knelt.
Koharu held her breath behind the rock; when she lifted her head, she saw her brother, Kaito, appear beside him.
The king spoke in a harsh, commanding voice:
> "Report, Commander Kaito. What's the situation?"
Kaito knelt, bowing his head low.
Even after the battle, his voice did not waver.
> "Your Majesty… the being we're facing is unlike anything we've ever seen."
"It withstood all of our attacks—light arrows, holy flames… none of them had any effect."
"Even the golden barrier trembled, yet it still stands. Its power seems limitless."
The king's face darkened.
His brows furrowed, and a cold spark of fury flashed in his eyes.
> "A demon… shouldn't be able to endure Mikail's light for this long."
Kaito lifted his head slightly, his voice trembling.
> "There's another possibility… Rumors are spreading among the soldiers."
"They say that being might be the princess who was banished to the Void—Koharu."
The king's hand trembled.
The golden light surrounding the spear flickered for a moment.
> "What did you say…?"
Kaito's eyes narrowed.
> "I don't know for sure, Your Majesty. But if it's true… that demon isn't just a cursed creature."
"It could be the King of Demons—the one attacking Mikail's barrier."
The king fell silent.
For a moment, only the sound of the wind could be heard.
> "So… the King of Demons has been hiding among us all this time."
"One born from my own blood!"
His voice roared like thunder.
The soldiers bowed their heads in fear.
> "We banished her to the Void, but we only nurtured the darkness ourselves."
"But not anymore."
The king raised Mikail's Spear high, golden light spreading in all directions.
> "Mikail's Spear shall shine once more! This curse… will be sealed forever!"
Koharu froze behind the rock.
Her heart pounded violently.
Her eyes darted between her brother and her father—
but her voice… still wouldn't come out.