Reeve fell to his knees, staring at Kaelith's lifeless body. The weight of Astra Nox's fallen warriors pressed down on him, but his gaze remained unwavering.
"…No… Kaelith… Noirelle…" he muttered, voice tight with grief.
A memory flickered in his mind—the moment when he was unconscious and saw Nyx(system) carrying a mysterious mask.
In his mind…
Reeve: Nyx… can you give me your mask?
Nyx(system): Umm… okay… but promise me you'll be alright.
Reeve: I promise. Now give it to me. I won't ask again.
Mana licked across his hands like liquid fire. The mask materialized, humming with power. He lifted it, placing it over his face. His aura flared—eyes sharper, movements predatory, vengeance brewing in every fiber of his being.
"I will be waiting in the hall," he said, voice cold yet commanding.
"And… make sure everyone's bodies are taken care of on the ground. Tight security."
With that, he vanished.
---
Hall of Survivors
Inside the hall, the survivors huddled together.
Reeve appeared, voice calm but edged with steel.
"Who did this?"
Lunareth: "Those people… from outdoors."
"I will not repeat it. Tell me exactly who did this," he demanded.
Elaryn stepped forward, handing him a fragment of a torn uniform.
"Take this," she said.
Recognition flashed in Reeve's eyes. "…You will pay."
He vanished from the hall, leaving fear and awe in his wake.
Elaryn: "Reeve… I don't know if it will work, but maybe… we can revive them."
Reeve paused.
"How?"
Elaryn: "First… you must become a Demon Lord. You have nearly enough mana, but that's not sufficient for the ritual."
"…And what do I need to do?"
Elaryn: "You must collect 2,000,000 souls, and you have only 30 minutes to achieve it."
Reeve's eyes sharpened under the mask.
"Where do I find that many souls?"
Before anyone could answer, a messenger burst in:
"Master! Soldiers from the Kingdom of Solareth are approaching—7,000,000 strong! Our army isn't enough to hold them!"
A faint, cold smile curved Reeve's lips.
"…Perfect."
He gave his orders:
"Take the survivors. If anyone enters Astra Nox, stop them. But do not kill them—I want them alive. Only act if they cross the barrier."
---
Outside, near Kaelith's body
Reeve knelt beside Kaelith, eyes burning beneath the mask.
"Don't worry… I will take revenge," he whispered, voice low and lethal.
"To the one who ended you…"
A small voice interrupted, trembling but determined.
Noirelle: "I already killed him…"
Reeve looked at her, eyes softening beneath the mask.
"Thank you, Noirelle… but for now… stay close to Kaelith. Do not leave."
With a ripple of mana, he vanished again.
Kingdom of Solareth's Forces
At the borders of Astra Nox, 7,000,000 soldiers stood ready. They began forming a tight barrier, a storm of mana swirling around them.
Final Scene
Reeve stood atop a cliff, mask gleaming under the moonlight. His eyes were sharp, calculating—vengeance incarnate.
"…Let them come," he muttered, voice carrying over the valley.
"And they will all pay."