Darkness returned.
But this time… Ayan wasn't just watching it.
He was inside it.
---
The air felt heavy. Wrong. Like the world itself was breathing.
And in front of him—
Aditi.
Suspended in the air.
Bound in glowing chains.
"Aditi…!"
Ayan stepped forward—
"Don't come closer."
Her voice stopped him.
Weak… but awake.
"Aditi?! You're okay?!"
She slowly lifted her head.
"They don't want to kill me…"
Ayan froze.
"…what?"
"They want my soul."
---
Silence.
"What the hell are you talking about…?"
"There's something sealed here," she said quietly. "A Demon Lord."
Ayan's grip tightened.
"And they need a key to awaken it…"
He already knew.
"…you."
Aditi didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
---
The air suddenly shifted.
Ayan turned.
Three demons stood behind him.
Stronger.
Different.
---
"You shouldn't be here, human."
"Doesn't matter," Ayan said, stepping forward.
"I'm taking her back."
---
They moved.
Fast.
---
Ayan attacked first—
CLANG.
Blocked instantly.
Before he could react—
BOOM.
He was slammed into the ground.
---
"Too weak."
---
Ayan forced himself up, breathing hard.
He swung again—dark energy cutting forward—
This time, it pushed one demon back slightly.
But not enough.
---
The second attack hit him clean.
Pain exploded through his body.
He dropped to one knee.
---
"…damn it…"
---
The demons closed in.
Slow.
Confident.
---
"End of the line."
---
"…not yet."
Ayan raised his sword—
But his hands were shaking.
His body… already giving up.
---
"Enough."
A calm voice cut through.
---
Ice tore through the air—
A demon was thrown back.
At the same time—
A sharp, glass-like strike hit the second one.
---
Ayan looked up.
Two boys stood there.
Unbothered.
---
"We'll handle them," one said.
"You go save her," the other added.
---
Ayan didn't argue.
He ran.
---
The chains around Aditi pulsed strangely.
Not normal.
---
He struck.
CLANG.
Nothing.
Again.
Nothing.
---
"…break already!"
---
Behind him, the fight intensified.
Time was running out.
---
Ayan stepped back.
Focused.
Poured everything into his sword.
---
"One shot…"
---
He swung.
---
CRACK.
The chains shattered.
---
Aditi fell—
Ayan caught her.
"I got you…"
---
He didn't look back.
Just ran.
---
After a while—
Silence.
A broken structure.
Safe.
---
"Aditi…"
He shook her lightly.
"Wake up…"
---
Her eyes slowly opened.
"…Ayan?"
---
Relief.
Pure relief.
---
Footsteps.
The two boys returned.
Not even scratched.
---
"Thanks," Ayan said. "Seriously—"
"No need."
---
"We are saviors of humanity."
---
Ayan blinked.
"…what?"
---
"Ice element."
Cold mist formed in one boy's hand.
"Glass element."
The other showed a sharp, transparent energy.
---
"We work under a contract."
A small device was tossed toward Ayan.
"Survive first. Then understand."
---
And just like that—
They left.
---
Silence again.
---
Ayan looked at Aditi.
"…what is happening?"
---
She slowly sat up.
Serious now.
"This isn't Grimvale vs demons."
---
A pause.
---
"This is humanity vs demons."
---
Ayan's mind went blank.
Too big.
Too much.
---
"…I can't…"
---
Aditi stepped forward.
And hugged him.
---
"Thank you…"
"For saving me."
---
A few seconds.
Quiet.
---
"You don't have to risk your life anymore…"
---
Ayan closed his eyes.
"…I never imagined a world without you."
---
Silence.
---
Then—
A soft smile.
---
"Then we fight together."
---
Ayan nodded.
"…together."
---
The war had begun.
---
End of Chapter 3