Asmodeus kept searching for Aeris.
She hadn't come to the room.
His semifinal opponent had withdrawn.
He knew exactly who was behind it.
Azrael had interfered.
The final match was the next day.
Asmodeus kept looking for Aeris.
She hadn't returned to the room.
She was nowhere to be found.
One day had passed since their last conversation.
Inside Asmodeus, there was a hollow feeling he couldn't explain.
Aeris had avoided Asmodeus all day.
She wasn't in the academy garden.
She wasn't in the library.
She wasn't in any of the places where he saw her every day.
A day had passed since their last conversation.
But inside Asmodeus, an unnamed emptiness kept growing.
As if something was missing.
As if… a part of him had been torn away.
Aeris, meanwhile, had been avoiding Asmodeus all day.
When she saw him from afar in the corridors, she changed direction.
When their gazes were about to meet, she looked away.
Because she was afraid.
She knew that the moment she looked into his eyes, she would abandon her decision.
When the sun set, Asmodeus couldn't endure it anymore.
He searched everywhere.
He had even applied to withdraw from the match, but it was rejected.
He returned to his room.
Aeris still wasn't there.
He didn't sleep the entire night.
Morning came.
---
The arena was silent.
Not because thousands of people were quiet,
but because no one understood what was about to happen.
Asmodeus and Aeris stood facing each other.
The moment their eyes met, time slowed.
Aeris's hand was trembling.
Asmodeus's… was not.
He was calm.
Dangerously calm.
"Step aside," Aeris said in a low voice.
"We don't have to do this."
Asmodeus raised his sword.
"That's exactly why we're here."
The bell rang.
Aeris made the first move.
She was fast.
Faster than expected.
Asmodeus took a step back.
Whispers rose from the stands.
Second strike.
Third.
Aeris attacked.
Asmodeus only defended.
Their swords clashed, but Asmodeus's blows…
were empty.
"Fight back," Aeris whispered through clenched teeth.
Asmodeus looked away.
Aeris's breath caught.
She understood.
Asmodeus was holding back.
That realization enraged her.
"Don't underestimate me!" she shouted.
Magic erupted.
The air sharpened.
The arena floor cracked.
Asmodeus could have dodged.
He didn't.
The blow struck his chest.
CRACK!
Asmodeus was thrown back, falling to one knee.
The stands erupted.
"What are you doing?!" Aeris shouted.
"Fight back!"
Asmodeus coughed.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
But he smiled.
"If I win…" he said weakly,
"I'll lose my humanity."
Aeris froze.
"What—"
Asmodeus stood up.
Barely.
Aeris's eyes filled with tears.
Asmodeus dropped his sword.
Metal echoed.
The arena fell silent.
"I'm already excess in this world," he said.
"You are not."
"You don't have the right to choose that!"
But it was too late.
The referee lifted the spell.
"Continue!"
Aeris's hands trembled.
Just as she was about to stop, a cursed technique seized control of her—
only for a brief moment.
Aeris attacked through tears.
Each strike pierced Asmodeus's body.
His shoulder was torn.
His ribs cracked.
His knees buckled.
The final blow—
sent Asmodeus to the ground.
His sword slid several meters away.
The referee shouted:
"The match is over!"
Silence.
Aeris collapsed to her knees.
Her hands pressed into the blood.
Asmodeus forced his eyes open.
"It was worth it," he said.
And lost consciousness.
The arena applauded.
But for the first time, Aeris felt it:
This victory
was heavier than defeat.
She had lost control.
Azrael did not applaud in the stands.
Everyone else had risen to their feet.
He remained still.
His eyes were fixed on the center of the arena.
Asmodeus was carried away on a stretcher.
Aeris remained on her knees.
This outcome was called victory.
But for Azrael… it was not.
The priest beside him whispered,
"It went according to plan."
Azrael slowly turned his head.
"No," he said.
His voice was calm.
But cold.
"It went out of control."
The priest fell silent.
Azrael stood up.
A white-gloved hand emerged from beneath his cloak.
"Aeris is broken," he said.
"That's not good."
He didn't take his eyes off the arena.
"Asmodeus must submit completely."
He took a step forward.
The priest hesitated.
"But the tournament is over. The threat—"
Azrael raised his hand.
"It's not over."
They walked into the corridors.
The noise of the crowd faded.
"Asmodeus is still alive," Azrael said.
He stopped.
"He hasn't lost his humanity."
The priest swallowed.
"Your orders?"
Azrael smiled faintly.
But it wasn't satisfaction.
"We'll watch him while he recovers," he said.
"People like him…"
He turned toward the door.
"…become more dangerous after defeat."
The door closed.
The corridor fell into darkness.
And for the first time, Azrael felt it:
The future he had planned
was no longer under his control.
---
When Asmodeus woke up, the first thing he felt wasn't pain.
It was weight.
Like an invisible burden pressing on his chest.
The ceiling was stone and white.
Healing sigils rotated slowly above him.
The magic was still active.
He breathed in.
His ribs burned.
He was alive.
He didn't move for a while.
He opened and closed his eyes.
The room was silent.
The door creaked open.
Aeris entered.
She wasn't wearing armor.
Her hair was messy.
She looked exhausted.
She stopped.
Asmodeus looked at her.
He didn't speak.
Aeris took a few steps forward.
Then stopped.
"The healers said your recovery…"
"…will take time."
Asmodeus nodded slightly.
The silence stretched.
Aeris didn't sit by the bed.
She stayed standing.
Her hands were clenched.
"I lost control," she said.
"I didn't want that."
Asmodeus didn't answer.
He looked up at the ceiling.
After a while, Aeris took a breath.
"I knew you were holding back," she said.
"But I still couldn't stop."
Asmodeus turned his head toward her.
"It's over," he said.
His voice was low.
But firm.
Aeris's shoulders sagged.
"I wish—"
Asmodeus cut her off.
"No need."
Silence again.
Aeris turned toward the door.
Just as she was about to leave, she stopped.
Asmodeus had spoken.
"As the price for losing control," he said,
"I want you to come with me to Yggdrasil.
To the land of the elves."
Arthur had told her about it.
The elven realm wasn't dangerous—
but it held ancient threats.
"I was going to come anyway, even if you didn't want me to," she said.
"Idiot."
Asmodeus laughed.
Blood spilled from his mouth as he did.
He closed his eyes.
The door closed.
Days passed.
Wounds closed.
Bruises faded.
Pain receded.
But the marks remained.
When Asmodeus stepped into the courtyard for the first time, the air was cold.
Aeris stood at a distance.
Their eyes met.
Aeris bowed her head.
Asmodeus nodded.
That was enough.
---
Days later, thanks to Azrael, all preparations were completed with ease.
Everything was ready for the journey to the elven realm.
Excalibur had been silent for a long time.
Suddenly, the sword trembled.
Three compartments opened on its surface.
Elf.
Dwarf.
Dragon.
Three emblems.
"For my completion," Excalibur said,
"Arthur once gathered the necessary runes.
But when he was defeated, they all returned to their original places."
Asmodeus listened with a surprised expression.
"The elven realm is no longer what it once was," Excalibur warned.
"You must be careful."
"Even your strength may not be enough," it continued.
"Bringing someone weaker than you is nothing but foolishness."
Asmodeus rolled his eyes.
"We've arrived at last," Azrael said.
There was a faint remnant of elven magic here.
Azrael took a vial of elven blood from his pocket.
The moment he poured it out,
a massive, emerald-green gateway opened.
---
When the gate opened, the air changed.
There was no wind.
Yet the leaves stirred.
Green light rose from the stone ground.
The remnants of elven magic trembled as if alive.
Azrael stepped back.
He looked at the gate.
But did not enter.
"From here on, it's yours," he said.
His voice was calm as ever.
Too calm.
Asmodeus gripped Excalibur.
The sword trembled again, but didn't speak.
Aeris looked at the gate.
The light reflected in her eyes.
"You're really taking me with you," she said.
Asmodeus didn't turn.
"Yes."
Azrael smiled.
Not with satisfaction.
More like someone observing.
"The elven realm no longer takes sides," he said.
"There are no rules there.
No academy.
No arena.
No titles."
Asmodeus walked toward the gate.
He didn't stop.
Aeris followed.
The moment they crossed, the world fell silent.
Colors were deeper.
The trees were taller than normal.
The sky… wasn't visible.
As if everything existed beneath the roots.
The ground was soft.
But alive.
With every step, a faint vibration could be felt.
Aeris whispered,
"This is… the outer ring of Yggdrasil."
Asmodeus scanned the surroundings.
His eyes narrowed.
"I know."
Excalibur trembled again.
"If you want to turn back, now is the time," the sword said.
"The realm will notice you soon."
"Let it," Asmodeus said.
"That's why we came."
Then the shadows between the trees shifted.
Not one.
Not two.
Dozens of gazes.
They were not elves.
But they belonged to the elven realm.
Ancient guardians.
They emerged silently.
They carried no weapons.
Their presence alone was heavy.
One stepped forward.
Its face was indistinct.
Its voice echoed directly in their minds.
"Human blood…
A fractured will…
And an incomplete sword."
Its gaze fixed on Asmodeus.
"Why have you come?"
"To reach the Cursed Island."
The guardian struck the ground sharply with its spear.
"Are you ready to pay the price?"
"I am," Asmodeus said.
The guardian fell silent.
Then its gaze shifted to Aeris.
"You."
"You do not belong here."
Aeris didn't reach for her sword.
She didn't run.
Asmodeus stepped forward.
"With me."
A stir passed through the guardians.
The forest bowed slightly.
The ground cracked.
One of Yggdrasil's roots surfaced.
Alive.
Ancient.
The Elf emblem on Excalibur glowed faintly.
For the first time, the sword spoke clearly.
"It begins," it said.
"And this time… there is no return."
Asmodeus drew the sword.
Aeris held her breath.
The elfs first trial had begun.