Geremisz slowly circled around them, as if he were standing in an arena again, deciding which of them should die first.
— "Anti-Christ…" he growled, his eyes fixed on Rintal.The word cut into the silence like a carving knife.
Areday instinctively stepped in front of him.
"I'm surprised you managed to defeat Lorant and Cassadee.Loran was a mindless beast, but Cassadee was already a more interesting case because of her regeneration.You shouldn't even be here if Gnatz didn't disobey orders again.I'll settle that with him after I'm done with you two."
— "Anti-Christ? Rintal is not that."
Geremisz let out a laugh — quiet, empty, tired.
"You should have known what you stole in the middle of our coup, when Rayuka killed the emperor of the Solmaren Empire," Geremisz said.
"We knew it was the emperor's most treasured possession," Rintal answered.
"That's true, but why didn't you ever ask yourselves, little thieves?Not even people inside the castle courtyard knew what it was.Besides, we only ever wanted a free life," Areday replied.
"That orb holds immeasurable power, and unless someone has nearly absolute strength, they cannot control it — and they will become Satan's slave, because he needs a body… His son hunts for it as well, but according to the legends, he was cursed 1000 years ago and has no free body of his own," Geremisz answered Areday.
"Because of that orb, Christians are being hunted all over the world, and there is a religious war going on," Geremisz continued.
"So that's why you killed the emperor? To stop your kind from being exterminated?" Rintal asked.
"Partly. But mostly because the leader had personal reasons for this revenge campaign.
Just like you had your own reasons when you stole the orb."
"Give yourself up, and we'll end this quickly — I promise.You can already see behind most of it, little thief."
Rintal's fists slowly tightened.
— "No…I'm not a puppet that can be dragged around and hunted like a worthless animal."
Geremisz's axe-blade flashed in the dim light.
"Very well… I don't like wasting my breath anyway."
The seal on Rintal's arm began to pulse — faster, harder — as if Geremisz's voice awakened it.
Areday stepped forward, raising his dagger.
— "Enough. Rintal can hand over the orb."
Geremisz stopped. The air froze around him.
Rintal felt the seal moving under his skin like a living thing.
Geremisz's eyes narrowed.His breathing quickened.
The moment felt like even the throne room held its breath.
— "Then I'll rip it off you."
Rintal slowly pulled the orb from beneath his cloak, his hand trembling as he took it from the small pouch.The seal burned hot, as if protesting.
Areday's hand moved reflexively:
— "Rintal?!"
But Rintal then…
…threw the orb at Geremisz with full strength.
The object flared red, like a star dipped in blood.
Geremisz's head jerked up.
The orb struck his chest —the explosive force hurled him backwardas if an invisible giant had struck him.
The entire throne room cracked.
The stone floor split open, dust erupting upward.
But Geremisz did not fall.
He slammed into the wall with a thunderous crack…yet remained standing, driving his forearm deep into the stone to hold himself up.
The orb remained in his hand.
Under the bluish glow of his rune-axes, the orb emitted a suffocating black-red light.
A guttural, animalistic growl tore from Geremisz's throat:
— "GRAAAAAAHHH?"
The orb writhed violently in his palm.
Areday could only whisper:
— "You could have used that earlier…"
The seal on Rintal's arm blazed, as if answering.
The tendons in Geremisz's fingers began to tremble.
The orb's weight seemed to grow heavier and heavier.
At last…
…Geremisz dropped to one knee.
The tip of his axe hit the stone.
His gaze darkened.
— "You will regret being born… That hurt."
And in the next heartbeat…Geremisz rose.
The runes on his axes flared like lightning born from ice.
— "Now I'll give everything."
Geremisz dashed forward so fastthe air split behind him.
Much faster than anyone .Much more precise. And far more merciless.
Rintal could follow only on instinct —the seal jerked his body forward so he wouldn't die.
Areday stepped beside him again, panting, holding his last dagger.
Geremisz spoke only one sentence:
— "Even together… you're not enough."
The blow was so powerful Rintal's sword flew from his hand.
Areday tried to defend the next strike,but Geremisz caught his wrist with one hand…
…and slammed him into the ground.
The stone cracked beneath him.
Areday couldn't get up.Blood ran down his forehead.
Geremisz raised the axe above his head.
— "It's over."
Areday looked up, gasping, and whispered one word:
— "Twin…"
Rintal lunged — roaring, pushing the seal past its limits, shattering the moment itself.
— "NO!"
But Geremisz simply shoved him aside with brutal physical force.
The axe was already falling toward Areday.
Then… the wall broke.
A massive, bone-shaking crash tore through the hall.
From behind the throne room's grand doors,chunks of stone and debris exploded forward, and two bodies flew in:
GNATZ and XNAIDER —covered in blood, dust, and claw marks…
…slamming into the wall like rag dolls.
A heartbeat later,the PACK LEADER —larger, more terrifying,its ribs glowing with ghostly white soul-flame —
stormed through the ruined entrance.
Geremisz turned, axes ready.
The Pack Leader shook itself, as if shaking blood from its fur,then growled deeply.
In that moment…
Geremisz heard a voice.
One single word,a word that silenced the entire throne room:
— "Geremisz."
The voice came from the throne.
All of them turned.
And there…
on the cracked, stone-carved throne…
Rayuka sat.
His cloak poured around him like dark smoke.His eyes were pale blue — cold as blade-light.His gaze was exhausted… and furious.
He slowly lifted his hand, pointing his finger toward the Pack Leader.
— "The wolf is yours."His voice was quiet, but commanding.
Geremisz tensed, then nodded.He gripped his axes and turned toward the Pack Leader.
Rayuka then looked at Rintal and Areday.
— "From now on, I handle this."His voice was icy.— "It won't take long."
The seal on Rintal's arm burned painfully…
…as if recognizing a new enemy.
The final game had begun.