That voice. That face. After so long, she heard and saw him again. She wanted to see him so much. If only the situation weren’t like this, she would have been so glad to run up and hug him. Kaywhin descended from the demon and briefly relaxed when he saw Yelena, then quickly stiffened as he noticed her injured ankle. At that moment, Yelena shouted, “Kaywhin! Behind you!”

*BANG!*

Trezef’s long fingernail clashed with Kaywhin’s holy sword. There was no sound of metal but a noisy explosion rang out, pushing Kaywhin a few steps back.   Trezef was pushed back as well and his expression changed. Simultaneously, the holy sword convulsed.

[Madness! You bastard! That guy… That guy… It’s the Demon King! I couldn’t believe it, but that damn child of his crawled out again!]  The voice of the holy sword echoed in Yelena’s mind. Yelena stared at the opponent facing her husband.

‘Demon King.’ She had suspected it since the first time she saw him and was halfway convinced when he mentioned ‘a thousand years ago’ and the ‘Great Prophecy.’ And now, the holy sword had confirmed it definitively. That man was the Demon King, the one who led the demons to invade this land, and the one who had to be killed to prevent the world’s destruction.

‘To kill the Demon King….’ Yelena’s gaze landed on the holy sword in her husband’s hand. There was only one way she knew to kill the Demon King and that was to plunge the holy sword into the Demon King’s heart. Yelena clenched her fist desperately. Her eyes remained fixed on her husband’s broad back, standing between her and the Demon King.

‘Please.’ She bit her lip hard enough that she could taste blood. Everything depended on her husband.

“Hmm.”  Trezef stared at Kaywhin with a strange look, his eyebrows rising sharply. “Even if it’s just a little, you made me step back. You’re not an ordinary human.” His voice carried a genuine sense of praise. “Oh, could it be that you’re the human whom the one who had summoned me wanted to be killed, besides being the descendant of the Saint?”

Trezef recalled Rebecca’s plea. She had asked for the two of them to be killed. The Duke and Duchess. Among them, the Duke’s power was particularly strong. He certainly possessed the qualifications that would earn him such evaluation among humans. A spark of spontaneous interest flickered in his crimson eyes. “Since I’ve met such an interesting human after a long time, I’ll give you a chance. Become my subordinate. In return, I’ll spare your life and ensure your prosperity. What do you say?” Instead of answering, Kaywhin aimed the holy sword at  Trezef. It was a clear refusal.  Trezef smirked. “Well, pledging your allegiance as easily as a masterless dog wouldn’t be fun anyway.”  Trezef raised his hand and a reddish aura formed around his fingernails. It was the same energy that had severed Colin and Thomas’s swords. “I’ll cut you in half and kill you, then I’ll send your wife to accompany you soon enough.”  Trezef charged forward and swung his hand. The nails surrounded by the reddish aura menacingly targeted Kaywhin. Kaywhin raised his sword as if to block his claws.  Trezef let out a sneer as if knowing that the opponent’s resistance was futile.

*CLANG*

However, soon the laughter vanished from  Trezef’s face. Kaywhin’s sword had successfully blocked  Trezef’s claws. Moreover, it seemed like not a single scratch appeared on the blade that blocked his attack.

“How———-”  Trezef’s eyes widened in disbelief for a moment. In that gap, Kaywhin swiftly withdrew his sword and swung it towards his opponent.

“Ugh.”

*BANG!*

Trezef, who had crossed his claws to defend himself, retreated a considerable distance. Immediately, with a look of realization,  Trezef stared at Kaywhin. “Could it be that that sword… is the one the hero used?”

[To think you’d figure it out now!] The holy sword trembled as if it had been waiting. [You’re such a clueless brat if you’re only understanding this now! Stop slithering around here and get back to your filthy and messy land quickly! Begone!]

Of course, this harsh and loud taunt was only audible to Yelena. Although no response was heard,  Trezef seemed to be certain. His face contorted fiercely. “Yes, you! You’re the hero’s descendant, aren’t you?” A chillingly low voice. The surroundings seemed to slightly cool as if the temperature dropped.  Trezef extended both of his arms. Immediately, with a ‘whooshing’ sound, his hands trnasformed. Black fur covered the back of his hands, growing disproportionately large. The tips of his elongated and thickened nails scraped against the ground.  Trezef’s black wings spread out like a curtain.

“I won’t kill you cleanly.” In the next moment,  Trezef and Kaywhin collided. It was unclear when they had leaped into action.

*CRASH!*