"Solar?" The name slipped from Kirian's mouth like a soft lie, desperate and broken.Solar tilted his head. At the look on Kirian's face, the way it tugged at his heart, the name struck his mind like a lash. "Kirian?" The word escaped his lips. Even Kirian heard it. Confusion lingered on Solar's face.Kirian? Kirian? Kirian!Each time the name rose in him he remembered, then forgot, as if someone had stolen the feeling in the same heartbeat he found it.His power had given him infinite knowledge about his life, but it had come all at once. He knew everything yet could comprehend nothing, except revenge. He recognized the face but could not recall the warmth beneath it. Tears rolled down his cheeks.Kirian's face hardened. In his thirteen years of hunting demons and dreknars, he had never seen any demon show genuine affection for humans. They lied or baited. No demon ever loved.But this was his brother. A demon. Maybe, an unwise thought Kirian clung to, maybe he was different. Kiria

A thick black mist seeped out of Solar's body, repairing his broken body instantly. He rubbed his wrist where his hand had been severed. "You'll regret this," he warned.Ann disappeared, and the sword she held flew through the air, sheathing itself on Kirian's back. At the same time, Solar's sword flew to him. He caught it and turned his back on the village."Where will you go?" Kirian asked, his voice shaking."Ignis!" Solar answered. "They are the cause of my misery, so they will pay with their misery.""It seems our time together will continue, but it appears you want to wage a war by yourself.""Did you forget? You told me to stand against the world even if I was by myself.""But now you have me... and an army.""Hmm? You and what army?" Solar asked, momentarily tilting his head." Hold your hand to the ground."Solar did as Stern commanded. A thick black mist seeped from his skin, into the ground, and raced through the dirt and into the bodies of every soldier that had died in Re

The villagers were beyond overjoyed. They had lost nothing—no lives, just a single bull.But the same couldn't be said for everyone else. Nox felt like he'd lost a part of his humanity after killing Gran, though he consoled himself, saying the man more than deserved it. Kirian felt like he'd lost his brother twice over, and the second time hurt even more.Ren wore his usual grin, no surprise there, except this time, he'd just pummeled someone he knew and sent him back to Ignis. Soren was silent, deep in thought. He and Nox wore the same expression, both itching to ask Ren what the hell was really happening. It was obvious he and Kirian knew more than they were letting on.The villagers were busy tending to the children. It was already past high noon. The little ones changed into clean clothes given by the village kids, though not all could get sandals for the long trek ahead.Nox and Soren sat inside the large house they'd stayed in the night before, at the same table where they'd ea

Ren opened his eyes to a void of blinding white.The empty space stretched endlessly in every direction. His hair was pure white, but behind him, he felt something dark and ominous. He turned.A colossal glass barrier—as wide as the world he stood in—separated him from a dark, empty void. On the other side stood Ren, his hair was pure black, his expression as cold and hollow as the darkness itself.Black Ren placed a hand on the glass barrier, and it began to crack.“Well, this is a problem,” White Ren sighed. “I didn't expect to see you so soon. And it seems you’re already breaking the barrier.”“I’m not the one doing it,” Black Ren replied.“Then it must be the demon who’s been lurking around us,” White Ren said. “If you don’t have control over our body, that means he’s the one pulling our strings.”“Our body?” Black Ren raised a brow. “This body is mine. You’re nothing more than a pesky parasite. When I finally gain control, of my body, all your so-called friends will wish they nev

Nox opened his eyes to the same horrible scene.“Mom!” he shouted, running forward to reach her. But the red-haired bastard always set her on fire before he got there. Time rewound again, showing him his mother’s death over and over.Each time, he stood up and tried again.If this happened a thousand times, he would try to save her a thousand times.There was no doubt in his heart, the scent of burning flesh jolted him. It was too real. With every failed attempt, he grew slower, more stamina drained. Behind him, a shadow crept closer, its presence gruesome and wrong.The closer it came, the weaker he felt. His strength drained until he could barely move. Then, doubt slipped in.Can I really save her? I’m too weak. She’ll die no matter what I do. It’s over. I can't save her.A man appeared. He wore a white gown, and his snow-white hair was adorned with glistening beads. He looked angelic, but his shadow stretched unnaturally long and twisted. Nox, drowning in grief, barely noticed.The