Chapter 521: 521

CRACKLE!

A single thin line was drawn across the air, tearing through space itself as if the world had been sliced open.

CLICK!

A sharp clicking sound echoed, and Kael’s body stepped out from the shadows standing directly behind Rein. In one smooth motion, he swung his sword.

Blood sprayed out.

The next moment, Rein’s body collapsed forward while his head tumbled across the broken floor, rolling several times before stopping near a pile of rubble.

Martina froze for a second.

Her eyes followed the rolling head, then slowly lifted to Kael’s back. For some reason, something about him felt different. His posture was the same, but the aura around him was heavier, sharper, and far more dangerous.

Kael glanced down at his sword. Blood slid along the blade and dripped onto the shattered ground. He tightened his grip and forced the corners of his lips down, trying to suppress the grin that threatened to surface.

Close.

He was very close to that stage. A stage where restraint would no longer matter, and he could act completely unbridled.

Martina took a step forward, about to ask him something, but her words were drowned out by sudden screams.

Shrill cries erupted from every direction as abyssal monsters poured into the area, trampling ruins and bodies alike. Their twisted forms surged forward like a black tide, claws tearing into stone as easily as flesh.

Martina’s expression hardened.

She turned sharply and launched herself forward.

Kael moved at the same time, his body blurring as he shot toward the oncoming monsters.

But before either of them could engage—

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

A massive lightning blast tore through the battlefield.

Blue-white arcs spread across the ground and air, striking the abyssal creatures in an instant. Their bodies stiffened as electricity wrapped around them, freezing them in place. Some collapsed immediately, smoke rising from their scorched forms.

RUMBLE!

The ground shook violently.

From deep beneath the palace, the earth burst open. Stone slabs cracked apart as a hidden basement exploded outward. From the opening, figures began to crawl out.

One after another.

Men and women in torn armor stumbled forward. Their faces were pale and hollow, their bodies thin and weak, but their eyes burned with desperate resolve.

Swords were raised.

Spears trembled.

Magic flared weakly but steadily.

They charged.

"For Nightstar!" someone screamed hoarsely.

Steel clashed against claws. Magic collided with corrupted flesh. Sickly nobles fought like cornered beasts, screaming as they struck, ignoring wounds and pain.

"Don’t stop!" another voice shouted. "If we fall, we die anyway!"

An abyssal creature lunged, only to be impaled by three spears at once. Another was dragged down by sheer numbers, its screams swallowed by the roar of battle.

"Nobles of Nightstar!" a powerful voice rang out over the chaos. "Don’t let this chance go! If you want to survive, fight with everything you have!"

The words spread like fire.

The pale warriors roared in response, their fear turning into raw fury as they pushed forward, hacking and stabbing without mercy.

Kael paused for half a second, staring at the scene.

"What’s going on?" he asked sharply, turning toward Martina.

"How can—" Martina started, then stopped as she felt a presence approach.

She turned.

"Sir Elliot," she said quickly. "Who are they?"

Elliot stood nearby, his armor cracked and stained, but his stance was firm. He took a brief moment before answering.

"Your Highness," he said, his voice steady, "they are noble families. Prince Rein and the Abyssal Sect subdued them early on and imprisoned them. They were never given a chance to join their side."

He looked toward the battlefield where the weakened nobles were fighting like madmen.

"After His Highness the Grand Duke freed them, they all agreed to help."

Kael and Martina exchanged a glance.

Kael nodded once. "Good. We have enough reinforcement now."

Then his brow furrowed.

"Wait a minute," he said slowly, scanning the sky. "Where is my old man?"

As if answering him—

BOOOOOOM!

The sky exploded with light.

Lightning split the heavens, scattering across the clouds in blinding arcs. The shockwave rolled outward, flattening what little remained of nearby towers.

The moment Martina saw that attack, her eyes widened in shock and disbelief. She turned toward Kael, as if expecting an answer.

Instead, she saw him staring upward, his face pale.

"FUCKKK—!"

Kael roared, his voice tearing out of his throat.

"What the actual fuckkkkk!"

What happened? Why are you screaming?" Martina asked, her voice sharp with confusion as she turned toward Kael.

Kael did not answer her at once. He stood still, his body tense, his gaze fixed on the sky above the ruined palace.

"Just look up," he said quietly.

Martina frowned and followed his line of sight. Her breath caught in her throat.

Far above the shattered capital, the sky was no longer clear. Dark ripples spread across it like cracks on glass. In the distance, three overwhelming figures were clashing, their powers colliding again and again, each strike shaking the world below.

"Two more Demi-Gods appeared," Kael said, his voice low and strained.

Martina’s expression changed instantly. Her instincts screamed danger. Before she could speak, the communicator at her waist rang sharply.

She pressed it. "Yes, Sir Elliot."

His voice came through, tense and hurried. "Your Highness, it seems we need to retreat. We cannot take on multiple Demi-Gods at once. We need to escape."

Martina clenched her teeth. "What about Sir Ramos?" she asked, her voice tight.

There was a brief pause. "I am sure Sir Ramos can escape on his own. Also, we achieved our main goal. We can return later."

Martina hesitated. Her fingers tightened around the communicator. She looked at the chaos around them, at the monsters, the broken ground, and the sky tearing apart.

"...Okay," she said at last.

She turned toward Kael, ready to pull him back, but froze when she saw his face.

Kael stood stiff, his eyes wide, his mouth slightly open.

"What happened now?" Martina snapped, frustration creeping into her voice.

Kael suddenly turned his head toward her, his expression twisted between disbelief and dread.

"That... that old man of mine," he said. "Damn it. He is a fucking menace."

"What?" Martina shouted, but her words were swallowed by a thunderous explosion.