End

The Devil Continent Arc Begins

I could feel the air slipping past my face—cold, fast, almost heavenly.

The kind of air that would once make me feel free.

Now?

It meant nothing.

I didn't know if I was alive or dreaming. My vision was too blurred, my body too hollow. All I could hear was the faint roar of the wind as the dragon carried me across black skies.

Somewhere far behind me… her voice was still echoing.

Why?

Why her?

What was her fault?

I had no tears left. No anger. No purpose.

Just a gaping hole in my chest where everything used to live.

My heart? Gone.

My reason to fight? Gone.

My mother?

Dead.

"You're quite exceptional, kid."

A deep, gruff voice tore into my spiraling thoughts.

I didn't react.

I had no expression. I felt like a dead man whose body simply hadn't realized it yet.

"I wonder…" the voice came again. "Have you ever connected to your inner demon?"

Still nothing from me.

I didn't care who he was.

Didn't care where he was taking me.

Didn't care if he dropped me mid-air and let my bones scatter across the earth.

"Why did you save me…?" I finally whispered, voice dry like dust. "Why didn't you just let me die?"

He chuckled softly.

"Name's Atlantis. I saved you… because I know how it feels. We've gone through the same hell, I suppose."

He laughed like he didn't know how else to grieve.

And I cried.

I clenched his armor with shaking hands and cried like a child.

"Why didn't you come earlier…?"

"You're just like them… reckless, merciless, heartless…"

His expression darkened.

"Don't you dare compare me to those pigs," he growled. "If I had the chance, I would've slaughtered all of them. One by one."

My voice dropped to a murmur.

"I'll kill them… all of them…"

And then I laughed—loud, broken, mad.

A twisted, insane laugh tore from my mouth like a demon crawling out of me.

"Damn you, Ryan…" I muttered.

"You haven't changed. Not even a bit. You couldn't even save the one person who mattered most to you…"

Atlantis turned and grabbed my collar with one hand.

CRACK.

His knuckles slammed into my neck.

My vision blacked out instantly.

I awoke on a stone bed surrounded by a strange, glowing black.

A crystal-like room, smooth and sharp, reflected flickers of dim red light from unknown torches.

Bandages were tightly wrapped around my arms and chest.

I struggled to sit up.

"Where… am I?"

"The Demon Continent."

The voice came from across the room.

Atlantis.

Now I saw him properly.

He looked nothing like a savage.

Tall, muscular. A well-shaped beard, clean yet wild. His hair was tied back like a noble's, and his body was covered in dark obsidian armor with red lines glowing like veins. A tattered black cape trailed behind him.

"What… is this place?" I asked, voice hoarse.

He crossed his arms.

"There are four main tribes in the Bright Continents—Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and Shear."

"But this land… this continent… is where the world throws its monsters."

"Monsters?" I asked.

He gave a dry smile.

"Murderers. Rapists. Assassins. Rebels. Anyone who doesn't fit into their little perfect world—they toss them here. Into the Demon Continent."

"So this is hell."

"No," he replied. "Hell has rules."

I stayed silent, letting that settle.

"Why… is this place separate?" I asked.

"Because we possess dark energy," Atlantis said, tapping his chest. "Just like you do now."

"But make no mistake—we are humans too."

He turned toward the window where thick black smoke drifted in the wind.

"They use our lands for resources. They use us for war, and sometimes for execution displays like yours. But the Demon Continent is ruled by its own king—some spineless mutt who licks the boots of King Diamond."

That name struck me like fire to the chest.

Diamond.

The murderer of my mother.

The one who sentenced me to death.

I clenched my fists beneath the sheets.

"Why don't people here revolt?" I asked.

Atlantis laughed bitterly.

"People?"

"The strong perish the weak here. It's survival of the cruelest. Even good men don't last long. Power rules. Compassion dies fast."

His gaze turned to me.

"So… what do you want to do now?"

I stared at the floor for a long time.

"I… I don't know."

Truthfully, I didn't.

I had no reason left to breathe.

He looked at me for a moment, then nodded.

"What's your name?"

"Ryan."

He shook his head slowly.

"Not anymore. From today forward… your name is Darken."

The name hit like thunder.

I didn't resist. I didn't protest.

I simply looked away, stood from the bed, and walked toward the edge of the open chamber.

A cold wind blew.

I looked up.

And there it was.

The moon.

Silver. Full. Shining.

The same moon that had hidden itself the night my mother was killed.

The same moon I thought had abandoned me.

"The moon may perish for one night," I whispered, "but it always returns. And when it does… it shines for those who walk through darkness."

I turned to Atlantis, eyes no longer hollow—

but burning.

"I'll fight."

My voice grew stronger.

"I'll fight for revenge."

"For my mother."

"For pain."

"To become king."

"To reclaim the name Nightveil with fire and blood."

I walked to the middle of the room, placed a hand on my face, fingers trembling with the weight of awakening.

Then—

I smiled.

A twisted, broken, violent smile.

"Let them enjoy this peaceful night," I whispered, eyes wide, lips curled.

"Because I'm coming."