Inside Alex's soul, the void stretched endlessly in every direction. A suffocating black expanse where only one thing existed: a chair. Upon it sat Arthur, legs crossed, elbows on the armrests, fingers steepled in front of his face. His crimson eyes gleamed faintly in the darkness.
"How…" he muttered, his voice low, thoughtful. "How was he able to accomplish all this in so little time?" His words echoed faintly in the void. "First, he forced me back—me—as if I were no more than an intruder. Then he drained power from me… without my consent, without even knowing how."
A scowl tugged at his lips. "I should be proud of this growth, but no… this is dangerous. If he keeps pushing like this…" Arthur leaned back, closing his eyes with a frown. "One day, he may even—" He cut himself off, unwilling to finish the thought.
---
Meanwhile, reality pressed hard against Alex's chest. He was kneeling, his arms trembling as he held Raphael, whose blood was spilling freely from the gaping wound in his torso.
"Hey. Can you hear me?" Alex asked, his voice cracking despite himself.
Raphael coughed, blood flecking his lips, but his eyes fluttered open. "I can. Don't… don't worry. I'm fine."
"You're bleeding out," Alex muttered, anger mixing with panic. "Don't give me that."
Raphael managed a faint smile. "Have you forgotten? I'm not human anymore. I heal. Slowly, but I do. You don't need to waste time on me." His hand shot up, clutching Alex's wrist with surprising strength. His gaze hardened. "The monsters, Alex… If you don't stop them, the others—what's left of them—will be slaughtered."
"I don't care about them," Alex growled, his teeth clenched. "You're the only one I care about."
That made Raphael pause. His fingers tightened around Alex's wrist. His voice came out quiet, trembling. "Then tell me… what am I to you? A servant? Or still… a friend?"
Alex's eyes widened, taken off guard. He scowled, more at the question than at Raphael. "What kind of stupid question is that? If you were just a servant, I wouldn't be holding you in my arms right now."
For a moment, silence. Then, despite the pain, Raphael smiled—soft, relieved, and genuine. His chest rose with a shaky breath. "Thank you…"
Alex's expression was harsh, but his grip didn't loosen. Raphael knew the truth hidden in his words.
But then Raphael's smile faded, urgency returning. "Alex… you have to stop them. If not for the others, then for yourself. For me. End this."
Alex's jaw clenched. He lowered Raphael gently against the wall, his voice hardening. "Fine. I'll destroy them—for what they did to you." He stood, his silhouette tense against the dim light, and turned toward the monsters.
---
Four remained. Larger, bulkier, more grotesque than the ones that had already been slain. Their twisted limbs twitched, their ears stretched unnaturally high, vibrating as they drank in every faint sound. Their very aura radiated a pressure five times stronger than before, a suffocating malice that made Alex's skin crawl.
Alex exhaled slowly. 'These aren't like the others. I don't even have a weapon. If I make one wrong move…'
He glanced around, eyes searching desperately. Then he saw it—gleaming faintly beside a fallen student. A sword.
He walked over, his fingers hesitating above the hilt. He had no training, no skill. But he didn't have the luxury of doubt. With a sharp breath, he seized it.
The blade was heavy, awkward in his grip. "I don't need skill," he muttered, closing his eyes. "Just a few moves… that's all it'll take."
He focused inward, forcing the energy he'd felt before to gather. Dark smoke seeped from his arm, wrapping around the sword until it was shrouded in writhing black flame. His eyes opened again, glowing faintly red. "Now… where was I?"
He crept forward, every step silent, his breath shallow. The monsters' ears twitched, but he moved like a shadow. His fingers tightened around the sword hilt. 'They'll hear everything. So I'll grant them a soundless death.'
He lunged, driving the blade forward—
Clang!
The sword bounced off as if he'd struck solid stone. His eyes widened. "Wha—"
The monster spun instantly, its massive claw swiping. Alex barely leapt back in time, the air hissing as the strike missed him by inches.
The creature roared, its twisted body shifting. Its arms elongated grotesquely, stretching across the distance between them, snapping like whips as they tore through the ground where Alex stood moments before.
"Shit!" Alex dove, rolled, scrambled, but the monster's attacks followed, its reach seemingly endless. Each time he dodged, the arms stretched further, adapting, bending at impossible angles.
He ducked behind a crumbling wall, chest heaving, sweat pouring down his face. "If I don't end this soon… it'll be over. I can't just keep running." His grip tightened on the sword, the smoky flame flickering weakly. Already fading.
"If I hadn't drained Arthur's energy so recklessly…" he snarled, slamming his fist into the wall. "I wouldn't be this weak!"
The sword's flame sputtered, shrinking, signaling his dwindling power. "Damn it…"
And then, a voice whispered behind him. A smooth sinister voice.
"Let me help you, master."
Alex spun, his eyes widening.
There stood Klein. His skin pale, veins faintly blackened. His eyes glowed blood-red in the dimness, and sharp fangs glistened in his mouth. His body still bore signs of injury, but he stood straight, grinning wide, a grin that carried both madness and devotion.
Even weakened, his presence sent a chill crawling down Alex's spine. He instinctively stepped back, unease crawling through him as Klein's glowing eyes fixed hungrily on him. The boy looked less human now—more predator than person—his posture unnatural, his grin too wide.
Arthur's voice slithered from within Alex's soul.
"You'll have to feed him your blood, don't forget."
Alex's brows furrowed. "I never asked you to turn anyone into a demon! I don't have blood to share like some fountain."
Arthur chuckled darkly. "The deed is done, little master. Deny him, and he'll lose control—he'll hunt down every living student he finds. Is that what you want?"
"I don't care about the others, so long as he doesn't hurt Rap—" Alex's words cut off sharply. His head whipped around. Klein was gone.
He reappeared beside Raphael, crouching low, lips moving, whispering the word that made Alex's blood run cold.
"…blood…"
"Damn it!" Alex roared.
In a blur of demon speed, Alex was upon him. His hand seized Klein by the collar and flung him with bone-shaking force against a wall. The impact thundered through the hall, stone cracking, dust raining down. The noise stirred the monsters—their heads turned instantly, ears twitching, and they rushed forward.
One came first, massive claws raised to rend Alex apart. But before it could land the blow, Klein surged back to his feet. With a guttural snarl, a sword materialized in his hand, and flames erupted from his shoulders, cascading down to engulf the blade.
His eyes gleamed feral red as he thrust the weapon forward. The monster shrieked as the flaming steel pierced its abdomen. Fire ignited from within, racing through its veins until its entire body became an inferno.
Its companion lunged to save it, but the flames leapt like a living thing, catching its flesh. Both monsters writhed, their screams echoing through the hall before collapsing in ash and smoke.
Alex froze, his chest tightening. He killed two… just like that. While I struggled against one. The bitterness stung, pride twisting into anger. If Klein took everything, what was left for him?
So instead of joining, Alex broke away, moving toward another monster. His fists clenched. "I won't let him take all of it."
Arthur's voice lashed through his mind.
"Alex! Stop! You're too weak! Going after them now is suicide!"
"Tch. What do you know? Stay out of my way."
The connection cut—Arthur silenced, pushed back.
---
Inside the void, Arthur staggered as if struck. He tried to push forward again but slammed against an invisible barrier, sparks crackling where his hand touched. His eyes widened.
"A barrier? He… sealed me out?"
He sank back into his chair, trembling with fury. "How could he be this reckless?! If he dies, I die with him! Damn it!" His voice shook the void, but the barrier remained unyielding.
Arthur buried his face in his hands, muttering through clenched teeth. "I never planned this. But now… I am powerless. All I can do is wait for death."
---
Back in the hall, Alex faced his chosen prey. He raised his arm, palm out, forcing every drop of power left in him to concentrate. His voice was low, dangerous.
"Shrink."
The monster convulsed, its body folding inward. Its limbs withered, skin clinging to bone as if centuries passed in seconds. With a final, dry crack, it collapsed into a pile of shriveled flesh.
Another lumbered toward him, screeching. Alex staggered forward, placing his hand upon it. His lips curled in grim defiance. "Pulverize."
A blinding flash erupted, the monster trembling violently before detonating into a spray of glittering dust.
The backlash slammed Alex to the ground. His vision blurred, body trembling, every vein screaming with emptiness. He couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. But he smiled faintly, satisfied. I did it…
Then he remembered. Klein.
His gaze darted across the ruined hall. Not beside Raphael. Not against the wall. Instead, Klein staggered toward a faintly breathing student, his mouth moving over and over.
"…blood… blood…"
Alex's anger flared white-hot. With the last scrap of strength, he hurled himself forward, demon speed carrying him to Klein's side. He yanked him back before he could reach the helpless body.
"STOP!" Alex's voice rang like a command from the abyss.