The sacred duel had reached its apex.

  Rafael was sent hurtling backward, his body slamming into a jagged rock formation with a sickening thud. The Second Knight—now a towering silhouette of violet demonic energy—towered over him, his breathing a rhythmic, metallic rasp.

  "You are mocking me, aren't you!?" the Knight roared.

  "I can feel the latent power boiling beneath your skin! Why do you hold back? Do you not consider me a worthy opponent?"

  Rafael stood up slowly, a thin, haunting smile playing on his lips.

  "The thing you call 'latent power' isn't a gift, you idiot. It’s a curse. It’s a parasite that eats you from the inside out until there’s nothing left but the hunger."

  "Bullshit!" the Knight screamed, lunging forward.

  He drove a fist into Rafael’s gut with the force of a battering ram, intending to end the fight then and there.

  But the sound wasn't of breaking ribs; it was the dull thud of a perfect block.

  Rafael had shifted his weight at the last possible millisecond, his forearms absorbing the impact.

  Rafael’s gaze sharpened, his eyes becoming cold, calculating prisms of light.

  The very air between them seemed to crystallize.

  "To honor your determination," Rafael whispered,

  "I will show you what true power looks like."

  High above, Aether banked his suit toward the crater, his sensors picking up a massive spike of energy.

  Back in the duel, the Knight unleashed a flurry of blows, but Rafael was no longer just evading.

  He moved with a surgical precision that bypassed the Knight’s demonic speed.

  In a flash of motion, Rafael’s palm struck the Knight’s helmet.

  The reinforced obsidian shattered, splitting open to reveal a shock of purple hair and wide, brown demonic eyes filled with disbelief.

  It was the first clean hit the Knight had taken in his empowered form.

  "How... how did you bypass my guard?"

  "It’s simple. I focused," Rafael replied, his voice devoid of his usual arrogance.

  "The thing you call power is petty."

  "Your demonic energy gives you strength and speed in exchange for your soul, but those are just labels."

  "True power is a state of mind—the ability to act without hesitation, fueled by the sheer weight of your will."

  The Knight shook his head, his face contorting.

  "You were born special! You’ve been dodging me instinctively this whole time!"

  "Instinct is just thought that has been practiced ten thousand times," Rafael countered.

  "Do you know what makes a genius?"

  "It’s not being born special."

  "It’s the hours we spend alone, imagining every movement, perfecting every skill in the theater of our minds until reality has no choice but to follow."

  The Knight stared at him, the explanation making no sense to his battle-hardened mind.

  Before he could strike again, a soft, melodic laugh echoed through the crater.

  "Well said, soldier of humanity."

  The presence hit the battlefield like a physical weight.

  Instinctively, every Knight in the vicinity—even those who had been watching from the ridge—dropped to their knees.

  "Your Highness," the Fourth Knight, Oscar, stammered from the ground.

  "Why are you here?"

  A young woman stood between the two combatants.

  She wore an air of absolute authority that made the Knight’s demonic flare look like a flickering candle.

  "Oh, Oscar," she said, glancing back at the kneeling warrior.

  "I was just enjoying the view."

  Rafael froze.

  He hadn't sensed her arrival.

  Not a footstep, not a breath, not a ripple in the mana.

  He looked at her and knew instantly.

  This was the Third Princess of the Demons, Emilia.

  "Nice to meet you," Emilia said, turning her gaze toward Rafael.

  "I must say, I loved your description of genius. It’s rare to find a human who understands the mental cost of perfection."

  Rafael’s blood ran cold.

  He realized that for the first time in his life, he was standing before someone more gifted than himself.

  "Your Highness," the Fifth Knight spoke up, his head still bowed.

  "We cannot let him leave. He is a threat."

  Emilia’s eyes sharpened.

  The temperature in the crater dropped ten degrees.

  "Who are you to question my authority?"

  The Knight pressed his face into the dirt.

  "Pardon, my Lady!"

  "Even if I didn't stop you," Emilia continued, a small, playful smirk forming on her lips,

  "he would have gotten away anyway."

  "None of you even noticed he has backup."

  The Knights looked around in confusion, searching the empty sky.

  Emilia pointed upward toward a seemingly vacant patch of air.

  Suddenly, the space rippled.

  Aether appeared, his stealth-field flickering off as he hovered above them.

  "I didn't think you’d notice me while I was in ghost-mode," Aether said, his voice wary.

  "You gave yourself away by breathing," Emilia replied casually.

  "But my Lady!" Oscar cried out.

  "He was practically invisible!"

  Emilia sighed, a look of genuine boredom crossing her face.

  "Geez. You all are so dull in your senses. It’s embarrassing."

  Rafael stared at Aether, then back at the Princess.

  His ego took a massive hit—he hadn't noticed Aether either.

  He was outclassed.

  He let out a low, silent laugh at the absurdity of it all.

  Emilia heard it.

  She leaned in, whispering so only Rafael could hear:

  "Don't get too cocky, you false god."

  She turned back to her Knights, her regal posture returning.

  "Since I was officially supposed to be in the castle today, I can't exactly take credit for a capture."

  "If I stay here, Father will find out I snuck out."

  "We're leaving."

  The Knights didn't argue.

  They followed her as she walked away, their presence vanishing into the gloom of the ruins.

  Aether descended, his boots touching the cracked earth behind Rafael.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  He placed a heavy, armored hand on the Blazer’s shoulder.

  Rafael didn't move.

  He just watched the spot where the Princess had disappeared.

  The words "False God" echoed in his mind.

  Mission Complete: 100%

  The interior of the Wrapper jet was thick with the smell of ozone and antiseptic.

  A heavy, somber silence filled the bay as the craft soared back toward the military base.

  Lilith sat near the cockpit, her eyes fixed on the vibrating floor.

  Her mind was a storm of self-doubt.

  She replayed her commands over and over, specifically the moment she had sent Rafael to the south.

  “You owe me this one,” he had smirked.

  "I didn't ask you to die on me, you idiot," Lilith whispered to herself, her fingers digging into the armrest of her seat.

  Beside her, Aoi sat in a trance-like state, her mind too exhausted to process the day’s horrors.

  She was safe, but the weight of the mountain-top figure’s gaze still felt like ice on her skin.

  Suddenly, the Jet’s AI broke the silence.

  [NOTIFICATION: MISSION STATUS UPDATED.]

  [CURRENT STATUS: 100% COMPLETE. ALL ALLIED ASSETS ACCOUNTED FOR.]

  The announcement acted like an electric shock to the room.

  Lilith’s head snapped up, her eyes wide.

  "Does that mean... Rafael survived?"

  A second later, a static-filled broadcast from Aether’s suit echoed through the bay.

  "I have recovered the Blazer. We are inbound on your six. Returning to base. Over."

  The transformation in the cabin was instantaneous.

  The crushing weight of grief lifted, replaced by a wave of pure, unfiltered relief.

  For the first time, the "Inhuman" unit looked like a group of survivors.

  In the medical compartment, Haether suddenly bolted upright with a gasp.

  "That Wyvern Master! Where is he!? Is everyone safe?"

  Her frantic awakening drew a collective laugh from the group—a rare, genuine sound.

  Sera walked over to her, her usual coldness replaced by a gentle expression.

  "Because of certain 'aerial elites,' we made it back in one piece."

  Haether, hearing such high praise from the woman she viewed as a princess, turned a bright shade of red.

  Sera didn't pull away.

  Instead, she looked Haether in the eye and added,

  "You were radiant out there."

  The jet finally touched down at the base.

  The hangar doors groaned open, and a swarm of paramedics rushed the ramp.

  Steve, who had been holding his gut together through sheer willpower, finally allowed himself to be placed on a stretcher.

  Lilith walked alongside him, a rare smile on her face.

  "Well done, Executioner."

  Steve offered a faint, tired smirk.

  "I always do."

  The wounded infantrymen were whisked away to intensive care.

  Velvet stood at the edge of the ramp, her eyes downcast.

  She felt exposed—now that everyone knew her nature as a vampire, she expected the cold shoulder or fear.

  Instead, she felt two hands on her shoulders.

  Aoi and Cassey were standing there, battered and bruised, but smiling.

  "Hey," Cassey said.

  "Once we're cleaned up, would you like to go to the cafe with us?"

  Velvet’s breath hitched.

  She looked at them, her red eyes shimmering with confusion and gratitude, and nodded vigorously.

  "Yes. I'd like that very much."

  Claire watched the scene for a moment, her face unreadable, before turning and disappearing into the shadows of the base without a word.

  She had her own "owner" to report to.

  Nearby, Harry was a ghost of himself.

  The chemical pills had left him looking sickly, his skin a pale shade of green.

  He waved off the paramedics with a trembling hand, refusing a stretcher.

  He simply grabbed a fresh muzzle from a nearby supply crate, fastened it over his face, and sat down on a bench, pulling a stack of blood-stained documents from his pouch to continue his work.

  Finally, the sound of thrusters echoed through the hangar as Aether landed.

  He powered down his suit, and Rafael stepped out behind him.

  The Blazer was unusually quiet, his eyes reflecting a deep, internal change.

  But as he looked at the gathered Wrappers, he offered a small, uncharacteristic nod.

  They had gone to hell and back.

  And for the first time, everyone had made it home.

  The cafeteria was filled with the low hum of chatter and the clatter of trays, a stark contrast to the deathly silence of the ruins.

  Aoi and Cassey sat at a corner table with their new friend, Velvet.

  The vampire was awfully quiet, her eyes fixed on her drink.

  Aoi watched her closely; she could see the hesitation in Velvet’s expression, the look of someone who wanted to speak but couldn't find the right frequency.

  Before Aoi could ease the tension, Cassey leaned in, her eyes wide with a mischievous glint.

  "Hey, Velvet... do vampires really bite their partners like it's a kiss?"

  The question hit Velvet like a physical blow.

  Her pale skin instantly flushed a deep, burning red.

  "Umm... what? It... it’s actually... um..." she stammered, her hands trembling as she tried to formulate a coherent reply.

  Aoi rolled her eyes and gave Cassey a sharp nudge.

  "Why do you always ask such edgy questions? Seriously, are you a fifteen-year-old boy who just hit puberty?"

  "Ehh?! That’s harsh, Aoi!" Cassey pouted, crossing her arms.

  "And what do you mean boy? I am a girl through and through!"

  "Right, right," Aoi dismissed her with a wave of her hand.

  Her gaze drifted toward the large glass windows.

  Across the courtyard, she spotted the black-haired prodigy—the fifteen-year-old Rose was mentoring.

  He was walking alone, his pace steady as he headed toward the building's terrace.

  Aoi found herself staring, her curiosity pulled toward him like a magnet.

  The scene shifts to a dimly lit, cramped room piled high with ancient books and medical journals.

  Harry was hunched over his desk, his eyes bloodshot as he scanned a new set of documents.

  There was a sharp knock at the door.

  When he pulled it open to find Lilith and Steve standing there, he didn't even let them speak.

  "Get out," he said flatly, his voice muffled by his new muzzle.

  He closed the door before they could even offer a greeting, the sound of a locking bolt echoing in the hallway.

  In the main training hall, the air hissed with the sound of a plasma blade.

  Sera moved through a series of complex katas, her movements precise and lethal.

  Aether, sitting lazily near the control console, watched her for a moment before speaking.

  "Why not use the mock holograms?" he asked, tapping a button on the terminal.

  "Training alone seems like a waste of time. Won't a simulation be more efficient?"

  Sera didn't break her rhythm.

  "Combat is not practice," she replied coolly.

  "Combat and training are two different kinds of exercise. You cannot find the soul of the blade in an AI's code."

  Aether simply shrugged, his mind unable to grasp the romanticism of the sword.

  He got up and moved toward the next training cell.

  Through the observation glass, he saw Claire.

  She was drenched in sweat, her face a mask of desperate focus as she fought the flickering hologram of Mitsuo.

  She was a ghost chasing a god.

  Aether looked away.

  He stepped out onto the balcony of the training center to catch a breath of air.

  Below, he saw Aoi, Cassey, and Velvet walking back from the shopping plaza, carrying bags and talking.

  A small, rare smile touched his lips.

  "Ah... so they are getting along after all."

  To the south of the plaza, Rafael walked silently through the streets of the military base.

  His hands were buried deep in his pockets, and his usual smirk was gone.

  He looked like a man trapped in a deep, internal calculation—replaying every second of his encounter with the Demon Princess.

  He stopped near the edge of the café building.

  His instincts suddenly pulled his gaze upward.

  There, sitting on the edge of the roof terrace, was the black-haired prodigy.

  The boy was staring at the sky, his expression one of absolute peace.

  As if sensing the weight of a genius's gaze, the boy slowly turned his head.

  His dark, bottomless eyes locked onto Rafael’s.

  Neither moved.

  Neither spoke.

  In that silence, the air between the road and the roof seemed to vibrate with a hidden, heavy pressure.

  The clock on the base tower chimes.

  A new era has begun.

  "Senior! You look like you’re carrying the weight of the world! Want to hang out?"

  The shout from the rooftop broke Rafael’s concentration.

  He looked up to see the younger boy leaning over the railing with a cheerful, open smile.

  Taken aback by the suddenness of the invitation, Rafael stuttered for a microsecond—a rare crack in his armor that he felt instantly.

  He quickly smoothed his expression into his trademark mask of boredom.

  "What’s that, brat?" Rafael drawled.

  "Don't you know who I am?"

  The boy tilted his head, his smile never wavering.

  "No idea."

  The answer stung.

  Rafael’s eye twitched.

  "Kids nowadays... don't even recognize the genius of the Blazers."

  "What kind of genius calls himself one?" the boy asked innocently.

  The question hit Rafael harder than a physical blow.

  The memory of Princess Emilia’s voice—“Don’t get too cocky, you false god”—surged to the surface of his mind.

  Before he could snap back, the boy waved a hand.

  "I’m Theo. What about you?"

  "Rafael," he grunted.

  Meanwhile, in the dim corridors of the research wing, the heavy bolt of Harry’s door finally slid back.

  He stepped out into the hall, blinking at the fluorescent lights, only to find Lilith and Steve still leaning against the opposite wall.

  "Tch. Didn't I tell you two to get out?" Harry rasped through his muzzle.

  "And so we did," Lilith replied smoothly, gesturing to the hallway.

  "We’re outside your room, aren't we? You never said we couldn't wait."

  "We’ve got nothing but time, Harry," Steve added with a lazy grin.

  "Geez... you guys are such freeloaders. Don't you have anything better to do than bother a busy man?" Harry muttered.

  But he didn't close the door again.

  "Ready to head to the debriefing?" Lilith asked, extending a hand toward him.

  Harry ignored the gesture and brushed past them, his coat flapping behind him as he headed toward the meeting room.

  Steve and Lilith shared a silent, knowing shrug and followed him.

  Aoi was returning to her dorm after her 'date' with Cassey and Velvet.

  Her mind was finally starting to relax.

  As she crossed the courtyard, she glanced up at the Command Headquarters.

  There, floating silently in the air above the roof, was Mitsuo.

  He looked unusually serious, his lips moving as if he were engaged in a conversation with someone invisible.

  Aoi felt the familiar shiver of the parasite in her spine.

  She quickly looked away.

  As she approached her dorm building, she spotted Rafael and the young boy, Theo, sitting together on the terrace.

  They seemed to be deep in conversation.

  So that’s the genius cadet Rose is mentoring, Aoi thought.

  Only someone like him could keep up with Rafael.

  She slipped into her dorm, leaving the geniuses to their world.

  On the terrace, the conversation had hit a lull.

  Theo was recounting his life after being recruited by Lieutenant Rose.

  Rafael looked like he was about to fall asleep.

  "Am I boring you, Senior?" Theo asked suddenly.

  Rafael shrugged.

  "Nah. I just feel like I should’ve spent this time sleeping instead of hanging out with a kid."

  "Are you sleep-deprived, brat? Because you’re starting to sound like a lullaby."

  Theo didn't look offended.

  Instead, a sharp, knowing smile spread across his face.

  He leaned forward, his dark eyes locking onto Rafael’s.

  "You’re questioning yourself, aren't you?"

  The air on the terrace suddenly went cold.

  Rafael’s boredom vanished, replaced by a flash of genuine aggression.

  This boy—this prodigy—had just bypassed his defenses with a single sentence.

  In a blur of motion, Rafael lunged forward.

  He grabbed Theo by his collar and slammed him against the stone railing.

  "Heh," Theo chuckled, despite being suspended over a three-story drop.

  "Losing your cool already, Senior? And you call yourself a genius?"

  Rafael let his power leak out.

  A crushing, invisible presence made the air hum with tension.

  It was a warning.

  A display of the gap between them.

  But Theo didn't flinch.

  He didn't even try to counter the pressure.

  He just smirked through the weight of it.

  "So," Theo whispered.

  "You’re chasing, too?"

  The words caused an unknown expression in Rafael's eyes.

  To be continued.....

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