"What are you trying to do, exactly? Harres asked, walking slowly toward Leah.
The man's steps staggered back until he hit the wall behind him. Leah could feel the heavy aura radiating from Harres.
"Abera!" In panic, Leah released a thick, swirling cloud of smoke, using that brief moment to flee. He ran frantically.
Harres simply brushed puffs of smoke aside with his hand. He didn't chase. Instead, he turned back to Aleeora, lifting the frail little girl into his arms—walking out of the dim, gloomy chamber.
Leah kept running, not caring how many times he had fallen. Bruises were no excuse to stop. Right now, he felt his life hanging by a thread.
Harres held Aleeora tightly in his right arm, while his left slowly lifted forward.
He closed his eyes, exhaling quietly. In an instant, Harres's hand had already gripped the collar of Leah's robe before the boy even realized it.
Leah's eyes widened, his breath hitching. His body was hurled across the front yard, slammed into the ground with tremendous force.
Merry, witnessing the scene, froze in shock. She immediately rushed toward Leah, helping him up. At that moment, she felt it too,
the overwhelming aura of someone's rage.
Merry glanced toward the church doors. Harres walked out slowly, cradling the weakened Aleeora.
His steps were heavy. His sharp gaze never once left Leah. He raised one hand toward the sky, and a silver sword shot down from above, landing neatly in his grasp.
Merry positioned herself in front of Leah, blocking Harres from whatever he intended to do.
"Sir, please." Her eyes shimmered, never blinking.
"Step aside while I'm still being kind," Harres warned. A strong gust erupted as he struck the ground with his sword, making Merry almost lose her balance.
"Please," she begged again. But it was useless. Harres didn't listen. His gaze sharpened, the veins on his temple visible.
Before bloodshed could occur, something terrifying arrived. They all looked up—
the sky had suddenly turned pitch black.
A vortex of clouds formed, swirling with streaks of lightning. A massive hand with long claws emerged, followed by a roar—a cry of fury.
Leah stared at the dark sky in despair. Everything he had done was for nothing. Whatever that creature had promised him… collapsed in an instant.
"What is that thing?"
"Duriel..." Leah answered, his voice faint and hopeless. "He's a being from another dimension, trying to break the chains that have bound him all this time."
Harres looked up again, studying the creature closely. Leah was right—
a radiant golden chain coiled around the creature's body, choking him and tethering him to something unbreakable.
The creature roared again, its deafening cry nearly splitting their ears.
"How to stop it?" Harres asked, raising his sword at Leah.
"I'm not sure…" Leah's voice was hoarse, weak, barely audible. "But you have to destroy the chain binding him. Only then can you kill him."
"Can I trust your words?" Harres narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing him.
"That's up to you."
Once more, the creature roared—but this time, he spoke, uttering words in a language none of them understood.
"Deiraha Octar: 'Where is my food!' "
Its glowing eyes fixed directly on Harres, rows of sharp teeth gnashing as drool dripped heavily.
"Was that Demore language?" Merry blurted out, shocked.
"You understood what it said?" Harres asked.
"Yes… It's asking where its food is," Merry replied, still in disbelief—her eyes locked on the monstrous being above.
Harres then shifted his question back to Leah.
"You know something about this?"
"Duriel consumes magical energy within humans, turning it into the power he needs to break his chains."
Leah paused, clutching his hair before continuing,
"And today was supposed to be his feeding day. Because he didn't get his portion… he's enraged."
"You formed a contract with that thing?" Harres pointed at the monster without even looking away from Leah. He demanded a clear answer.
"…Yes."
Harres's expression shifted instantly—anger twisting his face. It was now obvious, the creature hadn't eaten one or two people. It had eaten far more. And Leah had been the intermediary.
"Eclaro Tore, Eclaro More: You interfere. You are my food."
Its long, clawed finger pointed straight at Harres.
Harres cupped a hand around his ear, pretending he hadn't heard the words. He gestured mockingly for the creature to repeat itself.
"Eclaro Doise: Die!"
Its massive hands joined together, then slowly pulled apart—forming a weapon with a constantly shifting, distorted shape.
Its surface glowed deep red with gradients of pitch-black shadows, the light pulsating, moving erratically.
The creature swung the weapon with immense speed and power. Harres immediately grounded his stance, ready to counter.
He drew a breath, eyes closed. And when his eyes reopened, three magic circles formed behind him—revealing three swords emerging from within.
The swords shot forward, one speeding directly toward the creature's attack.
Harres stepped, disappearing—reappearing at the exact position of the flying sword.
With a powerful swing, he blocked the creature's strike. The force was immense—Harres nearly thrown back.
The strong wind that was created around almost made Merry who was protecting the children get blown away.
But Leah still sat there with a look of disbelief, fear and despair on his face.
Channeling all his strength and mana, he reversed the blow, sending the creature's massive weapon flying.
Another sword darted toward the creature's right cheek. Harres vanished again—appearing beside it—
and drove his silver blade hard into the creature's face.
The hit was so strong it forced the monster's head aside.
The last sword shot upward from below, piercing through the creature's chin.
"Uliona Lukio." Harres tossed his sword into the air. Holding Aleeora securely with his left arm, he vanished again—reappearing beneath the falling blade.
The moment he grabbed it, the sword ignited with a deep crimson glow. Harres began to fall from the sky, the light intensifying.
"Uriella." Using every ounce of strength he had, Harres swung downward with all his might.
Winds exploded outward. Dust and debris scattered.
The sword's glow blazed brighter as Harres pushed harder.
His roar echoed through the sky, veins bulging from his arms, his power surging higher.
The creature howled in agony just as Harres's blade detonated—
a burst of light erupting in all directions.
Duriel plummeted from the sky, crashing into the ground.
The golden chains still remained intact. But the monstrous being was now defeated, Hanging helplessly in the air.
Harres landed flawlessly, neither he nor Aleeora harmed. His breaths were heavy—this spell technique had drained him greatly.
Leah stared in disbelief. Merry clutched the children protectively from the earlier shockwaves.
"Impossible," Leah whispered after a long silence. "How did you do that?"
His throat tightened as Harres's sword hovered at his neck. There was no hesitation in Harres's eyes. Leah felt death inches away.
"Don't think I've forgotten what you've done."
Merry rushed forward, spreading her arms wide, shielding Leah. Her eyes shut tight, prepared to sacrifice herself.
"My lady—"
"No!" Merry stared at Harres with unwavering resolve. "If someone must bear this child's sins… then it will be me."