Smoke drifted slowly across the ruined street.
Broken buildings surrounded the area near the city gate.
Monster corpses were scattered across the ground.
But none of that mattered anymore.
Because standing there—
Was the monster Iren had never forgotten.
---
The massive demon slowly stepped forward.
THUD
Each step cracked the ground beneath its feet.
Its glowing yellow eyes stared directly at Iren.
A cruel smile spread across its monstrous face.
"…So."
Its deep voice echoed through the burning street.
"You survived."
---
Iren stood completely still.
His hand slowly tightened around the hilt of his sword.
His knuckles turned white.
Memories began flooding his mind.
Fire.
Screams.
The smell of burning wood.
His father fighting desperately.
His mother calling his name.
---
The demon chuckled darkly.
A low, mocking laugh.
"Back then you were just a frightened little boy."
Its sharp teeth glinted in the firelight.
"The one who ran away."
---
Lyra's eyes narrowed.
Her daggers slowly rose into a combat stance.
"…Iren."
But he didn't respond.
His eyes were locked onto the monster.
Burning with fury.
---
The demon continued.
"Your father tried to fight me."
It stretched its claws lazily.
"But humans are so fragile."
Its grin widened.
"I wonder if your mother screamed louder when the flames reached her."
---
Silence fell.
For one second.
Two.
Then—
Iren's sword trembled slightly in his hand.
---
Lyra's voice sharpened.
"Don't listen to him!"
But it was too late.
The demon had already achieved what it wanted.
---
Iren's head slowly lowered.
His eyes disappeared behind his bangs.
Then his voice came out—
Low.
Cold.
"…You're the one."
---
The demon laughed loudly.
ROOOOAAAHAHAHA!!
"Of course I am."
Its claws flexed.
"I remember that village very well."
"So many screams."
"So many burning homes."
---
Iren's body trembled.
But not with fear.
With rage.
---
Lyra stepped closer.
"Iren… calm down."
But his voice suddenly cut through the air.
"…Lyra."
She froze.
His tone had changed.
---
"Leave."
Lyra's eyes widened.
"What?"
Iren slowly raised his sword.
His gaze never left the demon.
"This is my fight."
---
The monster army behind the leader began growling.
GRRRRRRR
Claws scraped against stone.
Drool dripped from their fangs.
They were waiting.
Waiting for the order to kill.
---
Lyra shook her head.
"No."
Her daggers gleamed.
"I'm not leaving you alone against this many monsters."
---
The demon smirked.
"Ah…"
"How touching."
"Humans protecting each other."
It raised one claw slowly.
"Kill them."
---
The monster army roared.
ROOOOOOOAAAARRR!!
They rushed forward like a dark wave.
---
Lyra dashed ahead.
WHOOSH
Her dagger sliced across the first monster's throat.
SLASH
Blood sprayed across the ground.
Another monster lunged toward Iren.
But his sword moved faster.
SHING
SLASH!!
The creature split in half instantly.
---
More monsters surrounded them.
Claws flashed.
Teeth snapped.
The battlefield turned chaotic instantly.
---
Lyra moved like lightning.
Her foresight guided her movements.
She dodged a claw.
SWISH
Then stabbed upward.
STAB
The monster collapsed.
---
But Iren…
Was different.
He moved like a storm.
Every strike carried overwhelming force.
SLASH
A monster's head flew through the air.
THUD
Another body crashed into the ground.
---
Yet he didn't stop.
He kept moving forward.
Straight toward the leader.
---
Lyra noticed immediately.
"Iren!"
But he didn't slow down.
---
Three monsters leaped at him at once.
Their claws descended.
SWOOSH
But flames suddenly erupted around Iren.
A fiery aura exploded from his body.
FWOOOSH
The monsters were blasted backward.
---
Lyra's eyes widened.
"…Fire."
The ring on Iren's finger glowed faintly.
Orange flames danced around his sword.
---
Iren's voice was barely a whisper.
"…Ignition."
His blade ignited completely.
FWOOM
Flames roared along the edge of the sword.
---
He dashed forward.
WHOOSH
His burning blade cut through the monsters like paper.
SLASH
SLASH
SLASH
Bodies fell one after another.
The battlefield turned into a storm of fire and steel.
---
The demon leader watched calmly.
Its grin never disappeared.
"…Good."
"Very good."
---
Within moments—
The entire monster army lay dead.
Burned.
Broken.
Slaughtered.
---
Only two figures remained standing in the ruined street.
Iren.
And the demon leader.
---
The monster cracked its neck slowly.
CRACK
"…You've gotten stronger."
Its glowing eyes sharpened.
"But strength alone won't save you."
It lowered its body slightly.
Its muscles tightened.
---
Then suddenly—
Its massive body began shrinking.
The monstrous bulk condensed.
Bones shifted.
Muscles hardened.
---
Within seconds—
The demon stood at the same height as Iren.
But now its body looked far more dangerous.
Lean.
Fast.
Deadly.
Its claws had grown longer and sharper.
Like blades.
---
The monster smiled.
A predator's smile.
"Now…"
"Let's see if you can survive this time."
---
Iren raised his burning sword slowly.
Flames reflected in his cold eyes.
"…I'm not that child anymore."
---
The battlefield fell silent.
The last monster collapsed to the ground.
THUD
Smoke drifted slowly through the ruined street.
Burned bodies of monsters surrounded the battlefield.
Only three figures remained standing.
Iren.
Lyra.
And the demon leader.
---
The monster slowly clapped its claws together.
CLACK… CLACK…
"…Impressive."
Its glowing yellow eyes narrowed.
"You slaughtered them so easily."
Iren raised his flaming sword.
His gaze was cold.
"…You're next."
---
Lyra stepped forward.
Her daggers glinted under the firelight.
"We'll finish this together."
But before she could move—
Iren suddenly spoke.
"…Lyra."
She froze.
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
---
"Leave."
Lyra blinked.
"What?"
Iren didn't look at her.
His eyes remained fixed on the monster.
"Go back to the city."
"Help the others."
---
Lyra frowned.
"This is not the time to act stubborn."
"There are still monsters everywhere!"
Iren replied quietly.
"And that's exactly why you should go."
---
For a moment—
Neither of them spoke.
The distant sounds of battle echoed through the city.
Screams.
Explosions.
Clashing steel.
---
Iren finally turned his head slightly.
His eyes softened just a little.
"…Please."
That single word surprised Lyra.
She had never heard him say it like that before.
---
She looked at the monster.
Then back at Iren.
"…Don't die."
Iren smirked faintly.
"I won't."
---
Lyra slowly stepped back.
Then she turned and dashed toward the city.
WHOOSH
Within seconds she disappeared between the burning streets.
---
The battlefield became silent again.
Only Iren and the demon remained.
---
The monster chuckled.
"…How noble."
"Sending your companion away to die alone."
Iren raised his sword slowly.
"I didn't send her away to protect me."
His eyes burned with fury.
"I sent her away so she wouldn't stop me."
---
The demon grinned.
Sharp teeth gleamed.
"Good."
"I prefer it this way."
---
The monster suddenly lunged forward.
WHOOSH
Its claws slashed toward Iren.
SLASH
Iren's sword blocked instantly.
CLANG!!
A powerful shockwave spread across the street.
---
The battle exploded.
The demon attacked wildly.
Claws struck like blades.
SLASH
SLASH
SLASH
But Iren moved faster.
His burning sword deflected every strike.
CLANG
CLANG
CLANG
---
Suddenly—
Iren stepped forward.
His flaming blade flashed through the air.
FWOOSH
SLASH!!
The demon was thrown backward.
CRASH
It smashed into a broken wall.
---
The monster slowly stood up.
Its eyes widened slightly.
"…Impossible."
Iren walked forward slowly.
Flames danced along his sword.
"You destroyed my home."
His voice was cold.
"You killed my family."
---
The demon growled.
It rushed forward again.
But this time—
Iren disappeared.
WHOOSH
He reappeared behind the monster.
His flaming blade struck again.
SLASH!!
A deep wound opened across the demon's back.
---
The monster stumbled.
Blood dripped onto the ground.
Its breathing became heavier.
---
Iren stood calmly a few steps away.
His sword still burning.
His voice echoed through the ruined street.
"…This ends today."
---
For a moment—
Silence filled the battlefield.
Then suddenly—
The monster began laughing.
A deep, twisted laugh.
ROOOAAHAHAHAHA!!
---
"You've grown strong, boy."
It wiped the blood from its claws.
"But you're still far too naive."
---
The demon's body suddenly began changing.
Muscles twisted violently.
Bones cracked loudly.
CRACK… CRACK… CRACK
Its massive body began shrinking.
But the aura around it grew far more dangerous.
---
Within seconds—
The monster stood upright again.
Now the same height as Iren.
But its body looked far more terrifying.
Lean.
Fast.
Deadly.
Its claws had grown longer.
Sharper.
Like blades of black steel.
---
Its glowing eyes burned with killing intent.
"This…"
It slowly raised its claws.
"…is my true form."
---
Iren tightened his grip on his sword.
The flames around his blade burned brighter.
Because he could feel it now.
The monster had become far stronger.
---
The real battle was about to begin.
--