The Battle Of Humans And Demons.

Two days had passed since Varek's battle with the mysterious figure. His body still carried the aches of that night, but he had continued training, pushing himself beyond his limits. However, for the moment, he allowed himself a brief respite, seated at the wooden table with his parents as the afternoon light filtered through the small windows of their modest home.

The scent of freshly cooked stew filled the air, mingling with the warmth of home. Aeliana set down a bowl before Varek, her gentle smile betraying the constant worry she carried for him. Thalion, his father, ate quietly, his expression unreadable as always.

Just as Varek took his first bite, a heavy knock sounded at the door. Aeliana sighed, already knowing what it meant. Thalion placed his spoon down and stood, moving toward the entrance with steady steps. When he opened the door, a man clad in fine robes stood waiting, his face twisted with urgency.

"We need your assistance, Thalion," the man said without preamble. "A summon from the wealthy district."

Varek tensed, his grip on the wooden spoon tightening. It was always the same. The rich calling for his father's protection while they sat behind their grand walls, oblivious to the struggles of those outside. But something in the man's tone unsettled him.

Thalion's gaze sharpened. "What is it this time?"

The messenger hesitated before speaking. "It's not like before. The battle ahead isn't just about guarding estates or dealing with thieves." He lowered his voice, as if afraid to speak the words too loudly. "It's a war between humans and demons. And it has already begun."

Aeliana's breath hitched. Varek swallowed hard, staring at his father, waiting for his response. Thalion didn't flinch. He simply exhaled and nodded. "I'll gather my gear."

"Father—" Varek started, but Thalion raised a hand.

"No arguments," his father said firmly. "Stay here. Train. Protect your mother."

Varek clenched his fists, frustration burning in his chest, but he knew better than to argue. He watched as his father turned away, already preparing for a battle unlike any before.

Thalion moved with practiced efficiency, strapping on his armor piece by piece, the worn leather and metal a testament to years of service. Aeliana stood by the doorway, silent, her fingers twisting the fabric of her dress.

Varek knew this wasn't like the usual calls for protection. This was a battle against demons—something far beyond the ordinary skirmishes his father had handled before. And yet, Thalion carried himself with the same quiet resolve as always.

Before stepping outside, Thalion turned to his wife. "Lock the doors after I leave. Stay inside, no matter what."

Aeliana gave a stiff nod, her face unreadable.

Varek exhaled sharply. "What if they come here?" His voice was low, steady, but his fingers twitched at his sides.

Thalion met his gaze, his expression unreadable. "They won't."

But Varek saw the flicker of doubt in his father's eyes.

Without another word, Thalion stepped out into the fading afternoon light. The man who had come to fetch him followed closely behind, the urgency in his stride undeniable.

The door shut with a quiet finality.

Varek turned to his mother, who was still staring at the door, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"He'll come back," he said, though the words felt like a lie.

Aeliana finally looked at him, her gaze softening. "I know." But there was something else in her eyes—something unspoken.

Varek sat back down, staring at the half-eaten meal in front of him. Appetite long gone, he pushed the plate away and leaned back in his chair, listening to the silence that had settled over the house.

The sun dipped lower outside, casting long shadows across the floor. The wait had begun.

Varek sat in silence, the air heavy with unspoken tension. His mother busied herself cleaning the table, but her movements were slower than usual, her mind clearly elsewhere. He could hear the distant sounds of the village—people murmuring, footsteps echoing against the dirt roads—but it all felt distant, like he was trapped in a world separate from the rest.

Minutes stretched into hours. The sun had long since vanished, replaced by the dim glow of lanterns flickering outside their home. Varek tapped his fingers against the wooden table, a restless rhythm that matched the unease in his chest.

Then—there was a knock at the door.

Aeliana froze, her hands gripping the edge of the table.

Another knock. Louder this time.

Varek exchanged a glance with his mother before pushing himself to his feet. His pulse pounded in his ears as he approached the door, every step feeling heavier than the last.

He reached out, hesitated for a moment, then slowly pulled it open.

A man stood there, his face partially obscured by the flickering light. His clothes were dusty, his expression grim.

"Thalion has not returned," the man said, voice clipped and urgent. "And the battle isn't over."

Varek felt his breath catch. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay calm. "What happened?"

The man hesitated before answering. "The demons were stronger than expected. The wealthy ones fled, leaving the fighters to hold the line. Your father… he's still out there."

Aeliana stepped forward, her voice steadier than Varek expected. "Then why are you here?"

The man's gaze flickered to Varek. "Because we need every able fighter. And your son… he has a vault, doesn't he?"

The room felt colder. Varek clenched his fists.

Aeliana's eyes hardened. "He's just a boy."

"He's strong enough," the man insisted. "We don't have time to argue. If we don't send reinforcements, none of them will make it back."

Varek felt the weight of the moment settle on his shoulders. His father was still out there—fighting, maybe dying. And now, they were asking him to step onto that battlefield.

His mother turned to him, her expression torn between fear and resolve.

"Varek," she whispered.

He took a deep breath. The choice had already been made the moment they knocked on his door.

"I'm going."

Varek clenched his fists, frustration burning in his chest, but he knew better than to argue. He watched as his father turned away, already preparing for a battle unlike any before.

Aeliana, his mother, sighed, placing a hand on Varek's shoulder. "Come, let's finish eating."

But the food had already turned tasteless in his mouth.

His father was always called to protect the wealthy. It wasn't new. But this time… it was different. A war between humans and demons wasn't an ordinary skirmish.

As the minutes passed, the weight in his chest grew heavier. His father hadn't even said goodbye.

Varek stood abruptly. "I'm going."

His mother's eyes widened. "You are not."

He met her gaze. "I have to."

Aeliana hesitated, searching his face for any sign of doubt. But there was none. She knew that look—the same one Thalion had whenever he walked into battle.

"…Be careful," she whispered.

Varek didn't wait. He turned and ran.

---

The battlefield was chaos.

Screams echoed through the night. Flames crackled, swallowing wooden carts and broken structures. The stench of blood filled the air, thick and suffocating.

Varek kept moving, dodging panicked civilians and wounded fighters. He wasn't supposed to be here. But that didn't matter.

Where is Father?

His Bronze Vault pulsed inside him, raw energy swirling within. He wasn't strong like the elites, but he wasn't weak either. He could fight. He would fight.

Then he saw him.

Thalion stood near the heart of the battlefield, his sword slick with dark blood. He was surrounded.

Demons—twisted creatures with jagged horns and hollow eyes—circled him like hungry beasts.

Varek's breath caught. His father was holding his ground, but he was alone.

Without thinking, he raised his hand. The Bronze Vault's energy surged, a dim glow forming at his fingertips. It wasn't much, but—

A demon lunged.

Varek reacted. He threw his palm forward, and a burst of force shot out, slamming into the creature's side. It staggered, hissing in fury.

Thalion turned at the sound, his eyes locking onto Varek.

"Varek?!"

"I'm here to help!" Varek shouted, rushing forward.

Thalion cursed under his breath, cutting down another demon with a sharp swing. "Damn it, boy—get back!"

But it was too late.

The demons snarled, their hollow eyes gleaming. Now, they weren't just focused on Thalion.

They were focused on both of them.

The demons lunged.

Varek barely had time to react as one of them swung a clawed hand at his chest. He twisted his body, dodging by inches, but the force of the attack sent him stumbling backward. The ground was uneven, littered with broken weapons and shattered armor. He barely managed to regain his footing before another demon charged.

Thalion moved like a storm. His sword flashed, cutting down one demon before turning to block another's strike. But even he was struggling. There were too many.

Varek's heart pounded. His Bronze Vault pulsed again, energy stirring inside him, but he knew his limits. He wasn't as strong as his father. Not yet. But he couldn't just stand there.

He raised his hand, focusing. The Vault's power gathered at his fingertips, weak compared to others, but enough. He thrust his palm forward, sending a shockwave toward an approaching demon. It staggered, but only for a moment. Then it roared and charged again.

Too slow.

Varek barely managed to sidestep, but a second demon came from behind. He felt claws rake against his arm, a sharp sting of pain shooting through him. He gritted his teeth, refusing to fall.

Thalion cut through another enemy and turned toward Varek. "Damn it, boy! I told you to—"

A massive demon loomed behind him.

Varek's breath caught. "Father! Behind you!"

Thalion spun just as the demon swung its massive claw. He raised his sword to block, but the impact was brutal. The force sent him crashing to the ground, his weapon flying from his grip.

Varek's world froze.

"No!"

The demon loomed over his father, preparing to strike again. Varek moved, instinct taking over. He pushed forward, energy surging from his Bronze Vault, his fear forgotten.

The air around him shifted.

His Vault flared with power—more than before. More than it ever had. The moment stretched, everything slowing down. The demon's claws came down—

And Varek struck first.

A blast of raw energy exploded from his hand, colliding with the demon's chest. It screamed, the force sending it skidding back. For a brief moment, the battlefield fell silent.

Then everything erupted at once.

More demons turned toward Varek, sensing the burst of power. Thalion pushed himself up, his expression unreadable.

Varek panted, his hand still glowing. He had never used his Vault like that before. Never felt it like that before. But there was no time to think. More demons were coming.

His father grabbed his fallen sword and turned to Varek. "You shouldn't be here." His voice was gruff, but there was something else in his eyes. Something Varek couldn't place.

Varek met his gaze, his body still trembling from the rush of battle.

"But I am."

Thalion stared at him for a long moment. Then, with a nod, he turned back toward the fight.

"Then don't fall behind."

Varek swallowed hard, tightening his fists. The Bronze Vault pulsed again, ready.

He took a breath.

And charged forward.

The battlefield was chaos. Screams, metal clashing, and the guttural roars of demons filled the air. Varek's legs burned as he sprinted forward, keeping close to his father's side.

Thalion was a force of nature, his sword cutting through the demons like a whirlwind. But Varek knew—this battle wasn't normal. The demons were different. Stronger. More organized.

And they weren't stopping.

Varek ducked as a demon swung at him, its claws slicing through the empty space where his head had been a second ago. He retaliated with a blast from his Bronze Vault, pushing the demon back just enough for his father to finish it off.

Thalion glanced at him, nodding. "You're holding up."

Varek wasn't sure if that was approval or just an observation. Either way, he didn't have time to care. Another demon lunged at them.

They fought. Seconds blurred into minutes. The sky darkened, the afternoon sun slowly dipping toward the horizon. Varek's arms ached, his breaths growing heavier. The Bronze Vault pulsed, but the power inside felt sluggish, like it was running dry.

And then—

A horn echoed through the battlefield.

Everything stopped.

The demons froze for a brief moment before retreating. Not defeated, but as if answering some unseen command.

Varek watched, chest heaving, as the creatures melted into the shadows, vanishing into the ruined landscape. He wanted to chase them, to end the fight, but his father's hand landed on his shoulder.

"Enough," Thalion said. "We won't catch them now."

Varek swallowed hard, frustration burning in his chest. "They'll just come back."

"They always do." His father's voice was grim. "But this… this was different."

Varek looked around. The battlefield was littered with bodies—human and demon alike. The wealthy elites they had been protecting had already begun leaving, escorted by mercenaries who barely seemed to care about the bloodshed.

It was always like this. The rich were protected. The rest had to fend for themselves.

Varek clenched his fists.

His father sighed. "Come on. We're heading home."

Varek hesitated, then followed. His mind was racing, thoughts tangled between exhaustion and the lingering feeling that something wasn't right.

This battle had been different.

And whatever was coming next—

It would be worse.

Thalion wiped the blood from his blade, his sharp eyes scanning the battlefield one last time. Just as he was about to turn back, Varek spoke up.

"Father… can I stay a little longer? I need to analyze something."

Thalion frowned. "The battle's over, Varek. There's nothing left here but corpses and ruins."

"I know," Varek said, his voice steady. "But I need to understand more."

His father studied him for a second before sighing. "Fine. But don't wander too far."

Varek nodded and walked off, his boots crunching against the scorched earth as he moved deeper into the battlefield. The scent of blood still lingered, and broken weapons lay scattered around. He didn't know what he was searching for—only that he couldn't leave just yet.

Eventually, he found himself in the forest near the edge of the battlefield. He sat down on a fallen log, staring at the remains of the battle. The afternoon sun filtered through the trees, casting long shadows over the ground.

And then, without realizing it, his gaze settled on something nearby.

A vault.

Not a Bronze Vault, not a rich man's vault—but something different.

It sat unnaturally still among the trees, its dark aura shifting like smoke. It was deeper than black, colder than night itself. Unlike other vaults, which carried the colors of their owners' mana, this one radiated an unnerving presence, as if it didn't belong to this world.

Varek didn't know how long he stared at it, but something inside him made him curious about it.

He stood up, stepping closer. When he reached out to touch it, a chill ran up his arm, sending a shiver through his body. It felt… wrong.

But he had to know.

Gripping the edges of the vault, he tried to pry it open.

It didn't budge.

His muscles strained as he pulled harder, his fingers digging into the cold surface. The vault resisted, as if fighting back.

With a deep breath, he put every ounce of his strength into it.

CRACK.

The vault snapped open.

A wave of shadow mana exploded outward, crashing into him like a storm. The darkness surged forward, wrapping around him like a living force.

And then—

Agony.

A pain unlike anything he'd ever known ripped through him.

Varek screamed, his body seizing as the shadow mana tore its way inside him. It wasn't like normal mana. It was heavier. Colder. Cruel. Not meant for humans.

The shadows coiled around his arms, his chest, his very bones. His vision blurred, and his breath came in ragged gasps as his body fought against the overwhelming force.

Then, from far away—

"VAREK!"

Thalion's voice.

His father was running toward him, eyes wide with horror.

Varek barely registered it. His body convulsed one last time before he collapsed, the darkness still pouring into him.

And as everything faded to black, one thing was certain—

The Shadow Vault had become part of him.