Kianir opened his eyes.
Before him stood three Guardians—Grarrel, Ontas, and Dolhar.
The tension in his body melted.
He finally exhaled, freely.
"…Thank you… for coming," he said quietly.
Kronoran scoffed.
"You just keep coming…
Why?
Join me—or stand aside.
Then no more will have to die."
"Why? For what?!" Ontas snapped.
"Have you no HONOR?!"
Kronoran opened his mouth to reply—
But Grarrel's voice cut through the air.
"I once respected you, Kronoran.
But you trampled that respect—hiding behind a veil of destruction.
You betrayed the Will of the Creator."
Grarrel stepped forward.
"Then let me show you what pride looks like…
Since you clearly have none left."
[Skill Activated: Eternal Glory]
A faint golden aura shimmered around his body.
A flash—
Kronoran launched forward.
A flurry of strikes—
But Grarrel blocked every blow.
And countered.
A shield of light absorbed it all.
"See that?" Grarrel smirked.
"You chose to attack…
I chose perfection."
But inside Kronoran's mind…
Something felt off.
"Why does my body want to give in…
Why is my will to fight… weakening?
No—this is his skill…
He's suppressing my drive to battle…"
He leapt back sharply.
Beams of light shot from his palms—
But one was suddenly absorbed into Dolhar's hand.
"Tch… that old man…" Kronoran muttered.
"I forgot how annoying you are."
BOOM!
Grarrel was back in a flash.
A brutal punch to the face knocked Kronoran back—
Then a strike from behind sent him crashing into the ceiling.
Meanwhile, across the hall, Ontas stood before Akito.
"You're a killer.
I should be your judgment.
You're unworthy of the title 'Protector.'"
He drew his sword and raised it—
But—
"DON'T YOU DARE!"
Kianir's voice thundered through the hall.
"He matters to the Creator.
You have no right to go against His will."
Ontas clenched his jaw.
"…I'll never acknowledge you," he growled at Akito.
Then turned and vanished in a flash—
Reappearing next to Kronoran.
A blur—
A swing—
A flash—
Ontas was hurled back, repelled by Kronoran's shield.
"Another irritating brat…" Kronoran sneered.
Grarrel moved in again—
But this time Kronoran struck first, slamming a heavy blow to the gut.
Grarrel blocked—
But skidded backward across the floor.
Ontas returned.
[Skill Activated: Bonds of the Round Table — 12 Blades of Justice]
In an instant—
Twelve strikes rained down on Kronoran,
Each blow targeting a vital point.
He coughed blood.
His body faltered.
"This isn't just his power… someone else…"
He turned his head—
And saw Zemok and Elosar at the doorway.
"That damn envious rat…"
And then—
For the first time in this entire battle—
Kronoran dropped to one knee.
"He will be sealed," Elosar spoke calmly.
"In the Abyssal Prison.
There he will rot… until the end of time.
Though that 'end'… may never come."
A hint of sorrow flickered across the Guardian of Solitude's face.
"Mmm…
His power…
It's delicious,"
Zemok muttered, licking his lips.
"Shame I only managed to steal half of his reflexes…
Still—
I envy myself."
Akito lowered his head.
"Is it… over?
They really… won?"
But then—
Laughter.
Dark.
Heavy.
The kind that seeped into your bones.
"HA—HA—HA—HA!"
Kronoran's voice rang out.
"…It's been a while… since I pushed myself like that."
His voice returned, steady and cold.
"Ontas…
You missed… the second heart."
He wiped blood from his lips, never breaking eye contact with the Guardians.
"Still…
Your technique was beautiful."
"If not for that wretched Guardian of Envy…
I would've reacted in time.
But alas."
FLASH!
Kronoran was already in front of Zemok.
He gripped the Guardian's head with one hand.
"N-No! No!
Someone—HELP ME!" Zemok screamed, face twisted in terror.
Grarrel appeared behind him in an instant.
Strikes rained down on Kronoran's head.
Two… three… five…
But he didn't react.
He was focused.
CRACK!
Blood gushed like a waterfall.
Zemok exploded into a mist of meat—
His skull crushed like an empty shell.
From Kronoran's back, radiant arms of light burst forth—
And with a single violent push, blasted Grarrel and Elosar away like rag dolls.
"Have you no shame, Kronoran?!" Grarrel roared.
"Stealing another's power?!
Is your own not enough?!"
"…Your death will be the most… excruciating,"
Kronoran whispered,
Not even sparing him a glance.
"Remember that."
"What did you just do?" Elosar demanded, rising.
The answer was short.
"Shut your mouth."
"I'll show you all."
Kronoran's voice was no longer a threat—
It was a sentence.
"He fed Zemok his own energy," Dolhar muttered.
"Knowing Zemok would absorb it… like always.
But the fool couldn't contain it.
It tore him apart from within.
Then—
Kronoran absorbed the backlash.
Strengthening himself."
"…Brilliant. Truly…"
Dolhar added, shifting into a combat stance.
Kronoran appeared before Elosar in a blink.
His punch halted just inches from the target—
But before Elosar's smile could form—
A blinding wave of light hurled him back.
The blast shattered the wall—
Elosar vanished from view.
In the same instant—
Kronoran was behind Ontas.
But before he could strike—
Grarrel appeared in his path.
Kronoran didn't flinch.
He blocked Grarrel's attack with one hand—
And with the other, swung toward Ontas—
Only to drive his own fist…
Into his own chest.
"What…?
I hit myself?
Not Dolhar…
Not Grarrel…
Don't tell me…"
The thought surged in Kronoran's mind.
"You're surprised," Ontas said calmly.
"I know.
This ability…
Only I know it exists.
I discovered it recently."
"You can't strike me from behind—
Just as I can't strike you that way.
Because Honor… comes first."
He spread his arms—
Then turned sharply, swinging his sword.
But Kronoran caught the blade—
Between two fingers.
A millimeter from his throat.
Ontas dropped low—
And at that moment, Dolhar shot out from behind,
Pouring all his strength into a kick aimed at Kronoran's face.
But Kronoran didn't even blink.
Blazing arms of light burst from his back again—
And with a single motion,
He hurled all the Guardians away.
Like dolls.
[Noxveil]
Hey there, reader!
If you've made it this far, thank you so much. I'm writing this story in Russian and translating it into English — so I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Even one small comment gives me huge motivation 💬💙
Let me know who your favorite character is so far!