Ryn's POV
Cold.
Did I freeze?
The last thing I remember was someone opening their Domain.
Then Seraphine's memories rushed into me — the moment I drew her blood.
Her village.
The dragons.
Her brother.
If I escape this… I should apologize.
Or try to revive him somehow.
I never wanted to harm her.
Curse Weaver's voice still echoes in my mind:
"Collect her blood and drink it immediately if you wish to survive."
I had no other choice.
If I had absorbed her completely, I would have gained her full power in an instant — but there would not even be a corpse left behind.
And I do not want to kill anyone for strength.
She will never understand that.
Neither will my team.
So I will take the blame.
Let them hate me.
Let them grow strong enough to kill me if that is what fate demands.
If someone must die to protect the future from repeating itself… let it be only one person.
Me.
I try to breathe.
But there is no air.
My lungs refuse to move properly.
Mana replaces oxygen, forcing its way through my veins, but it is unstable.
My vision blurs.
Darkness creeps at the edges of my sight.
My head throbs violently — the devil blood reacting against my own.
Each heartbeat feels like something clawing inside my skull.
At first, the ice felt merciless.
Freezing.
Burning.
Now… it feels warm.
Peaceful.
No war.
No noise.
No responsibility.
For the first time in a long while, there is silence.
I want to close my eyes.
Sleep here.
Forever.
I release a fraction of my aura unconsciously.
Cracks spread through the ice.
Just enough for my eyes to move.
But I do not resist.
I let myself drift.
Time loses meaning.
Until a voice pierces my mind.
Not from outside.
From within.
"General! General! We're trapped in the central castle! All forces are searching for us! Come help us!"
The word hits harder than the pain.
General.
My promise.
My responsibility.
I cannot rest.
Not yet.
I tighten my jaw and unleash my aura fully.
---
Eron's POV
We prepared to melt the ice.
The plan was simple.
Once Mira weakened it around his body — except for his hands — we would strike.
Sever the nerves beneath his knees.
Bind his feet with roots.
End him.
But as I watched him through the frozen surface…
He looked calm.
Almost relieved.
For a moment, I wanted to leave him there.
End the competition another way.
But this isn't just rivalry anymore.
Before we could act, the ice changed.
Purple.
Black.
Red.
In the next instant, it exploded outward.
He moved before I could react.
Aeldir pulled me back sharply.
"Elara! Through the armor — start the summoning!"
Then the Shadow Slave attacked
But something was wrong.
His strikes were wide.
Inaccurate.
Like a drunk man given a sword.
His breathing was heavy — uneven.
His vision didn't seem focused.
He wasn't casting spells.
No structured magic.
Just raw movement.
His speed was reduced.
Unstable.
And yet…
We couldn't counterattack.
It could be a trap.
He still possessed the Devil Eye.
Ten seconds passed.
Then Elara activated the teleportation.
The world shifted — and we were back inside the castle.
Rage filled us.
But the armor suppressed most of it.
Still…
One thought remained in my mind.
For a second, I wanted to confirm something.
Was that truly Ryn?
No.
Ryn would never do something that disgusting.
Even if it was Ryn…
I will kill him.