The Breaking Point

The Silver Curse – Volume 3, Chapter 1: The Breaking Point

The Aftermath of the Battle:Yuto's breath was still ragged as he knelt in the dirt, his body trembling from the aftershock of the rings' influence. The surge of power had been intoxicating—too intoxicating—and for a fleeting moment, he had felt unstoppable.

But now, he felt empty.

Mira stood beside him, her hand gripping his shoulder. It wasn't gentle—it was firm, borderline forceful. "Yuto," she said, her voice low but urgent. "Look at me."

He hesitated before finally meeting her gaze. Her eyes were filled with something he didn't expect—fear.

"That wasn't you back there," she whispered. "It was something else. And you know it."

Yuto swallowed hard. He couldn't deny it. For those few seconds, he had lost himself completely.

Mira knelt in front of him now, forcing him to focus on her. "How long has this been happening? How long have those damn rings been whispering to you?"

Yuto didn't answer. He didn't need to. The silence was enough.

Mira's expression darkened. "You should have told me. We could have—"

"And done what?" Yuto finally wrote in the dirt beside him. His fingers moved stiffly, the adrenaline fading but the frustration rising. "This isn't something that can be stopped."

Mira clenched her jaw. "So you're just going to give in? Just let them take over whenever they want?"

Yuto stood abruptly, brushing past her. "Let's go back to town. We'll talk later."

But as he turned, Mira grabbed his arm. "No. We're talking about this now."

For the first time in a long while, Yuto felt cornered. And he hated it.

"You're not alone in this," she said, softer now. "But if you don't trust me, then what the hell are we even doing?"

Yuto stiffened. He wanted to trust her. He really did. But deep down, he knew—

If he told her everything, she might start to fear him more than she already did.

And the worst part?

She had every right to.

The Return to ValkrisThe journey back to town was uneventful, but the weight of the battle lingered between them. Yuto didn't know what to say. Didn't know how to fix the tension that was growing.

By the time they arrived at the guild, the streets were unusually quiet. It was late, but even at this hour, Valkris was never this silent.

Mira seemed to notice too. "Something's wrong."

Yuto's grip tightened around his sword as they approached the guildhall. The large doors were slightly ajar, a faint glow from the lanterns flickering inside.

The moment they stepped in, Yuto's body went rigid.

The guild was filled with adventurers, but no one was speaking. Instead, all eyes were locked onto a single man standing in the center.

Tall. Cloaked in deep crimson. A wicked crescent-shaped blade resting against his hip.

And when he turned toward them, Yuto felt a chill crawl up his spine.

This was no ordinary warrior.

Mira took a sharp breath. "I know him."

Yuto frowned, waiting.

"That's Raegis. The Demon Army's Left Hand. A commander."

The name meant nothing to Yuto. But the way the room felt heavy with unspoken tension—it was clear this man was dangerous.

Raegis' crimson gaze locked onto Yuto immediately, ignoring everyone else in the room. "Shade," he said, his voice silky smooth but laced with something dark. "You're finally here."

Mira stiffened beside him. "What the hell does he mean by that?"

Yuto remained silent.

Raegis took a slow step forward. "The Demon Army has been waiting for you. And I've been given a message."

The entire room seemed to lean in, holding their breath.

Raegis smiled, but it wasn't pleasant.

"Your trial is over. The Demon Lord has decided."

Yuto's heartbeat spiked.

"It's time to come home."

The Breaking PointFor a long moment, no one moved.

Then Mira stepped forward, daggers already in hand. "He's not going anywhere."

Raegis barely spared her a glance. "This isn't your concern."

"The hell it isn't."

Yuto exhaled slowly, his fingers twitching. He could feel the curse stirring again. The rings had gone from a whisper to a steady pulse.

They wanted him to listen.

Raegis tilted his head slightly. "You're fighting something, aren't you?" His smirk widened. "I've seen that look before. You think you still have a choice."

Yuto's fists clenched.

"The longer you resist," Raegis continued, "the more painful it will be."

Mira didn't wait for him to say another word—

She lunged.

Raegis moved faster than Yuto expected. One moment he was standing there, the next, he had twisted around Mira's attack, catching her wrist mid-strike.

"Tsk. Predictable."

Before she could react, Raegis twisted her arm behind her back, forcing her to drop her dagger.

Yuto moved on instinct.

He was already in motion when Raegis looked at him. Already drawing his blade before the curse could even sink its claws into him.

But Raegis simply smirked and said, "Good. I was hoping you'd fight."

And just like that, the room exploded into chaos.

End of Chapter 1 – Volume 3