Chapter 60
Her mind had cleared, but now she couldn’t open her eyes.
The powder that had seeped down to her throat was making it hard to breathe.
“Cough…”
Even coughing was difficult. She had a strong sense that if this powder seeped too deep into her system, it could be fatal.
A black light radiated from Tristan’s hand. Only then was Maya able to breathe a bit more easily.
“That’s not nearly enough.”
The powder surged and surrounded them in an instant.
“A normal person would be slipping in and out of consciousness by now.”
Even the White Dragon, who had been sulking and hadn’t spoken, opened its mouth at the intensity of the attack.
“That powder is mixed with poison strong enough to rupture organs and a sedative. It’s deadly to inhale.”
At the dragon’s warning, Maya spoke up.
“Tristan, hold your breath.”
“Yes.”
The two of them held their breath and covered their mouths with their hands.
The White Sword of the White Dragon and the Black Sword of the Black Dragon sliced through the air.
But as they drew closer to Kendrick, the powder particles became even finer.
Even Pendragon and Bearden had limits.
“Your efforts are pathetic.”
A cackling voice made Maya’s head heat up with anger.
“I’ll just fight.”
Maya finally opened her mouth.
She couldn’t continue to waste time dodging and breathing cautiously—she refused to lose the demon that had taken over Kendrick’s body.
She wouldn’t allow that.
Gritting her teeth, Maya re-gripped her sword and charged at Kendrick.
Cold sweat ran down her face.
Of course it did.
Each breath she took was destroying her organs from the inside.
‘Should I say I’m lucky he trusts me?’
Tristan moved his hand.
When his black light wrapped around Maya, her expression eased visibly.
But it wasn’t perfect.
‘Healing after the damage isn’t good enough in this situation.’
Couldn’t he use the healing power differently?
Couldn’t it protect her before the pain even began?
Tristan’s desperate wish awakened a new power.
The black light transformed into a shield surrounding Maya.
“What…?”
Startled, Maya stretched her hand beyond the shield.
The barrier moved with her motions but didn’t hinder her attacks.
It was a shield that protected only Maya.
Seeing the color, she instinctively knew it was Tristan’s power.
The shield moved according to her movements, requiring Tristan’s intense focus—but he managed it with ease.
Their eyes met.
That alone was enough.
Maya charged at the demon once more.
“Haaah!”
Her white sword drew a massive crescent arc. It was packed with just enough power to defeat Kendrick—nothing more.
‘What if this sword hurts Kendrick too?’
She had never fought a demon possessing a human before. She’d need to confirm with the White Dragon later.
Until then, she had to fight while avoiding Kendrick himself.
From Kendrick’s back sprouted brilliant blue butterfly wings.
The wings were large enough to fully envelop his body and exuded not beauty, but dread.
Maya sighed.
“It’s really a butterfly.”
Just like in the past, Kendrick and the illusion demon were bound together.
“So you knew I’d show up, huh?”
The muttered words sounded surprised, but they also confirmed the demon’s identity.
“Dueling again after so long is fun.”
Realizing the powder was no longer effective, the butterfly’s fingers shimmered blue.
Blue smoke began to rise from the dagger the butterfly held.
And when that smoke touched Maya—
She was thrown into a vision of despair.
Within that illusion, another illusion appeared.
Her regrets… her disgraceful past… they surfaced one by one.
The moment she swore loyalty to Ritherfield.
When she became his dog and killed people.
The memory of weeping alone after regaining her senses.
Everything worked to push her into the depths of despair.
Not even the barrier could block it all.
“Don’t lose focus. This one’s different from the other demons.”
The White Dragon’s voice kept her grounded.
‘These things haven’t happened in this life.’
She wouldn’t let them repeat.
‘They will never happen again!’
She was saying it to herself.
Maya bit down hard and swung her sword.
The butterfly-like demon flitted just beyond reach, narrowly dodging her blade.
The battle dragged on.
Maya hesitated, unwilling to seriously injure Kendrick, and the demon’s attacks remained half-hearted.
Unlike the initial powder assault, it didn’t seem to want to fight Maya seriously.
‘It’s holding back.’
Was it conserving energy?
Nothing made sense.
And more—
Maya realized the demon’s gaze was focused on Tristan.
‘Why is it looking at him?’
It wasn’t attacking him.
Was that all?
Even as its own life was at risk, the demon had a satisfied smile on its face.
‘…Can demons fall for people too? Is Tristan its type?’
From the very beginning, it had spoken with them while wearing Kendrick’s shell.
It had even delivered the gem said to be from the White Serpent’s body.
‘What does that mean?’
This wasn’t a demon she had encountered in the past—she knew little about it, and that frustrated her.
“Why are you interested in Tristan?”
Maya asked, and the demon smiled with Kendrick’s face.
“Frustrated because you don’t know anything, heir of Pendragon?”
“Yeah, I’m frustrated.”
She admitted it without shame.
“What are you hiding?”
“You care about that man more than I expected.”
The butterfly didn’t answer her question.
And since it hadn’t answered, Maya didn’t reply either.
“I’ll only tell you this—at the end of this road, you will face despair.”
“Stop speaking in riddles.”
“Skreee!”
Before she knew it, Maya had leapt onto a wyvern flying by.
She pushed the demon hard. She was just about to seize it.
“I’m at my limit…”
The demon, panting with Kendrick’s face, suddenly bowed its head.
Its massive wings folded, and it began to fall.
Whoooosh—
“Kendrick!”
Maya reached out and caught Kendrick mid-fall.
As she held him, his eyes fluttered open.
“Maya, kill that bas—”
It was definitely Kendrick’s voice.
“Kendrick, you’re back?”
Just as Maya greeted him with relief, wings burst once again from Kendrick’s back, knocking them both apart.
“See? I told you—you’ve got talent.”
It was the demon’s voice again. It had suppressed Kendrick once more.
Kendrick was still fighting inside.
Fighting to live.
‘Kendrick won’t go down that easily.’
Maya believed in him.
“Descendant of Pendragon and Bearden—if you want to defeat me, come find me.”
But realizing it no longer had the upper hand, the butterfly wrapped itself in its wings.
It was trying to escape.
‘I can’t let it go like this.’
Frantically looking around, Maya reached out to the shield.
Since it had been created with Tristan’s power—maybe they could track it later.
“Tristan, can I remove this?”
“…I’ll try shrinking it.”
Tristan concentrated and formed a smaller version of the barrier, just enough to fit in her palm.
Maya hurled it at Kendrick with all her might.
The moment it stuck to Kendrick’s body, the demon vanished.
“…”
Maya bit her lip hard.
Ever since she’d returned and awakened her powers, she had been steadily achieving everything.
Never had she felt so helpless.
‘I let my guard down.’
She should’ve paid more attention to Kendrick.
No—if she’d just been stronger, she could’ve ended this now.
If only she’d done better.
Dismounting the wyvern, Maya ran straight to Tristan.
“Tristan, you can control the barrier. Can you track where it went?”
Tristan was her last hope.
“Maya, give me your hand first.”
“Tristan, please just answer me!”
She was desperate. On edge.
She had lost her composure.
“Yes. I can do it.”
Calmly, Tristan opened Maya’s clenched fist.
“So please don’t neglect taking care of yourself.”
“…”
“We still need to rescue your friend, don’t we?”
Tristan used his healing power as he held her hand. The bloodstain in the center of her palm disappeared.
As if comforting her, he said slowly and clearly,
“You can save them.”
Maya lowered her head, her face flushed red.
Those words—made her feel overwhelmed.
Like he was telling her that the future could be changed.
“Everything will be okay.”
Tristan pulled Maya into his arms and gently patted her back.
She calmed down in his embrace—
“…I didn’t expect to witness such a scene.”
And a familiar voice made both of them suddenly whip around in shock.
