Night wind swept through the alleyways as Charles ran, guided by the glowing marker only he could see.
Midnight rode on his shoulder, growling softly—ears pinned back, fur rising slowly like static charged fur.
The system chimed:
[Distance to Distortion: 180 meters]
[Host Corruption Rate: Rising]
[Intervention Required Immediately]
Charles clenched his fists.
"Whoever it is… just hang on."
---
The Host
At the end of a narrow alley, a boy around their age knelt on the ground, clutching his chest.
Black veins crawled up his neck.
His breath came out in harsh, broken gasps.
Red light flickered under his skin—like something alive was pulsing inside him.
Midnight hissed instantly.
The boy's voice shook with fear.
"Help… please… it's burning… s-someone… help me…"
The system flashed:
[First Shard Detected]
[Host: Unawakened Human — High Danger]
[Corruption Level: 73%]
[Time Left Before Full Demonization: 3–5 Minutes]
Charles froze.
Three minutes?! That's nothing!
He stepped forward. "Hey! Hang on—just breathe—"
The boy jerked violently.
His eyes snapped open—
—glowing red.
"STAY BACK!"
A shockwave of corrupted mana blasted outward.
Charles shielded himself instinctively.
"Light Barrier!"
A weak, flickering barrier formed—barely holding the force back.
The boy screamed:
"M-Make it stop! I can't— I—"
Black horns began pushing through his forehead.
Charles gasped.
If he turns fully, he's dead. There's no going back.
---
The Shard Awakens
The red pulse inside the boy's chest surged.
TUUM…
TUUM…
TUUM…
A voice echoed—not spoken, but felt.
"This vessel is mine."
Charles's heart pounded.
"What… was that?"
The system replied:
[The Shard of the First Demon Sovereign is attempting to claim the Host.]
[If successful, the boy will become a Lesser Demon Commander.]
[Neutralization: Mandatory.]
The boy's scream turned inhuman.
His arm transformed—skin splitting into black armor-like plates.
Charles stepped forward.
"No! You don't get to take him!"
---
Charles Acts
He stood in front of the trembling boy, raising his hand.
"Light Burst!"
A small flash of holy light shot from his palm—weak, barely beginner-level.
But holy energy was holy energy.
The corrupted veins on the boy's arms recoiled.
The demonization slowed.
Charles took another step.
"Stay with me! Look at me! What's your name!?"
The boy gasped in pain.
"A-Aiden…"
Charles nodded. "Okay, Aiden. I'm here. I won't let you turn into that. Hold on!"
Midnight leaped from Charles's shoulder to Aiden's lap and pressed a paw to his chest.
FWUMP.
Holy energy pulsed outward.
Charles's eyes widened.
"Midnight…?"
The cat glared at him as if saying:
I've been learning things too.
The system confirmed:
[Midnight: Holy Resistance Detected]
[Midnight: Absorbing Passive Aura]
[Midnight: Providing Stabilization]
Aiden's scream softened.
The black veins flickered.
But the Shard fought back violently.
A violet-black tendril exploded from his chest—
"Do not interfere, Apostle."
Charles froze.
"…Apostle?"
The Shard recognized him.
This was very bad.
---
Lightbearer's Apostle Activates
The tendril lunged toward Charles—
—and burned instantly upon touching him.
SSSHHHHH!!
The Shard recoiled.
Aiden convulsed, coughing blood.
Charles stepped closer.
"Light Burst!"
Another small flash of holy light erupted—weak, but when boosted by his SSS passive…
…it hit like sunlight against darkness.
Aiden gasped.
The Shard flickered.
Charles grabbed Aiden's shoulders.
"You're not dying here! You hear me? You're human!"
Aiden's red eyes flickered back to brown.
The Shard screamed.
Then—
BOOOOM!
A shockwave erupted from Aiden's chest.
Charles was thrown back.
Midnight tumbled into a trash bin.
A small black crystal shot out of Aiden's body, floating in the air—pulsing with demonic light.
Charles's eyes widened.
"Is that… the Shard?!"
The system confirmed:
[First Shard Fragment — Dislodged]
[Power Level: High]
[Warning: Fragment Unstable]
The crystal hovered.
Midnight hissed furiously.
Aiden collapsed, unconscious but breathing.
Charles reached for the Shard—
—but the crystal jerked violently and flew away like a shooting star.
Straight into the sky.
Charles staggered.
"What the—?!"
The system warned:
[Danger: The Shard is seeking a new Host]
[It will not remain dormant]
Charles clenched his fist.
"…Great. Just what I needed."
---
Creed Arrives
BOOM!!
The alley shook.
Charles looked up—and froze.
Inspector Creed landed at the alley entrance, blue mana swirling around him like a storm.
Behind him, five Bureau agents in full gear.
Midnight instantly hid behind Charles's leg.
Creed's eyes scanned the scene in less than a second.
A demonized boy.
Rift residue.
Black crystal traces.
Holy purification signatures.
Then he looked at Charles.
Dead. In. The. Eyes.
"You again."
Charles felt sweat run down his neck.
"H-Hi, sir… fancy seeing you here."
Creed stepped closer, suspicious and unreadable.
"You arrived before my entire division," he said in a cold tone.
Charles forced a weak smile.
"Coincidence?"
Midnight hissed.
Even the cat knew it sounded stupid.
Creed didn't blink.
"I don't believe in coincidences."
He stepped past Charles and inspected Aiden.
"His corruption is… reversing. Someone purified him."
Charles held his breath.
One of the Bureau agents whispered:
"Sir… an unawakened kid surviving a Shard attempt? That's impossible."
Creed's eyes flicked to Charles again.
And again, the system hid EVERYTHING.
[Concealment Protocol: Perfect]
[Holy Aura: 0% visible]
[Mana Signature: F-rank]
[Threat Level: Low]
Creed stared at him.
"…What exactly are you, Charles Reyes?"
Charles smiled nervously.
"A Bishop?"
Creed exhaled slowly.
"…I will find the truth."
Charles's smile died instantly.
Midnight meowed in panic.
---
The Guilds Arrive Last
Blue light shone behind them.
Three scouts wearing different emblems appeared on rooftops:
• Aegis Vanguard
• Aurora Nexus
• Dragonflare Dominion
One whispered into a crystal:
"Target Located.
Potential Shard Armament User identified."
Charles's stomach dropped.
"Wait—what!?"
He pointed at himself.
"ME?! No—wrong guy! VERY wrong guy!"
Midnight facepalmed with his paw.
---
Meanwhile… The Shard Flies Across the City
High above the rooftops, the Shard streaked like a dark comet.
The crystal pulsed:
"Apostle…
You cannot run forever."