Ch. 13 Death of someone dear

Ash sat on the throne—unmoving, calm, but sharp like a blade. His eyes dimly glowed crimson as he spoke in a low voice.

"Red flames… Sun flames… Purple flames… What are you talking about? I've never heard any of these names."

Maw stood before him, submissive. "My King, it is because this current era of Spiritumens is fallen. They haven't felt real pain or war. Their magical system has grown weak… fragile."

But before he could continue—

Ash's expression twisted. His eyes flared with glowing fury.

"How dare you say such things about this generation!"

His hands rested firmly on both arms of the throne. He raised a single finger—

BOOM!

Maw's spiritual form burst into blood within his own internal awareness, painting the ground in crimson mist.

Ash's eyes snapped open in the real world. He looked down at Maw's body lying broken and bloodied on the battlefield.

"I didn't think you'd be unable to withstand even this much," Ash said, voice calmer now. "Well… I can seal you now. Thank you for what you've told me."

He looked at Maw for a moment longer. Silent. Emotionless.

Then he turned and walked away—his figure slowly blending into the haze of war. Each step quiet. Measured. Final.

Behind him, Maw's body began to fade. Turning into flickers of white lightning, it rose into the air—slowly disintegrating—until it was gone.

Ash continued walking. His voice quiet, but directed inward.

"Hey, Krishna… If what he said is true, can you defeat the King of the Curseumans?"

Krishna's voice echoed in his mind.

"Vorkos… I'm not sure."

Ash paused. His gaze darkened—not with fear, but with something deeper. Focus.

"That's the first time I've heard you uncertain about anything."

---

[Scene Change]

Several carriages arrived on the edge of the battlefield. Soldiers and medics jumped out, running toward the ruined ground.

In the distance stood Ryu—father of Princess Yuki.

He was upright, but barely. His eyes were wide. His face pale. A silent scream hung behind his expression—a man stuck between disbelief and collapse.

A soldier came running from behind, panting heavily. He stopped near Ryu, bent over with his hands on his knees, gasping.

"Master! All Spirit Possessors and the medical unit are here. We're ready to begin—"

He raised his head… and froze.

His eyes widened. Then terror.

"P–Princess…?" he whispered.

He turned to speak to Ryu.

"Master, what is th—"

But before the words left his mouth—

Ryu collapsed.

He fell straight down to the ground. No strength. No sound. Just a hollow drop, like a man whose heart had been ripped from his chest.

The soldier turned back toward the source of the horror—

And saw it.

A Curseuman.

White wings on his back.

Blood smeared across his mouth and chin like a child sloppily drinking milk.

Black eyes locked with demonic satisfaction.

He was sucking blood directly from the ripped stomach of Princess Yuki, drinking her life as if it were juice from a glass.

Everyone stared.

Frozen.

Still.

As if one blink would be their death sentence.

The soldier's face twisted—grief and rage exploding at once.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU ALL LOOKING AT?! GO! KILL THAT BASTARD!"

The command shattered their trance.

Soldiers surged forward—swords, arrows, spells, orbs of nature energy. Everything they had.

But just as the attacks neared—

Looked like time slowed for a moment.

The Curseuman raised his bloodstained face. Eyes half-lidded in arrogant contempt.

In a fraction of second,he spoke—but his voice didn't carry.

Then—

The attacking soldiers twisted violently in midair.

Compressed.

Exploded into clouds of blood.

Their attacks vanished midflight, then reappeared behind the Curseuman and shot into the distance, creating a thunderous explosion.

Blood sprayed across the face of the soldier who had shouted.

He stood silently.

Eyes burning.

Hands trembling.

He gently laid Ryu's limp body on the ground.

Staring ahead, he spoke to the Spiritumen within him.

"Call the castle. Tell them everything that happened here."

He paused.

Then whispered—

"Also… thank you for everything."

His eyes closed.

"RELEASE."

And like the others—

His body twisted.

Compressed.

Exploded into nothing but red mist.