CHAPTER 45…..
Mephisto’s black clothes were torn, and his skin burst open, blood gushing out. At the sight, Nea and Jude quickly appeared, blocking his path.
“Ugh, L-Lord…!”
“Haaah! Lord Mephisto!”
“If you go any further, Her Highness will be in danger…!”
Mephisto shoved the two servants aside with his arms and continued walking forward.
“If I leave her like this, she’ll get hurt. Move before I erase you both.”
“B-But… my lord!”
An overwhelming energy was pouring from Roziana’s entire body—so powerful that no other demon or beast could move.
At this point, the only one capable of approaching her was Mephisto, who was at a similar level.
And so, the only one who might be able to stop her mana from running rampant… was himself.
But the moment his hand reached out to her, it was instantly mangled by the raging mana.
His clenched fist burst open, flesh tearing away to reveal bare bone beneath.
“Grrkh!”
Still, Mephisto did not stop. Swallowing groans of pain, he reached out both hands—just to get even a little closer to Roziana.
“If my lady awakens to demonic power this quickly… What do I do then?”
It was a problem.
If he touched her in this state, which one of them would be the one to be devoured?
Their mana was too evenly matched. It was impossible to tell who had the upper hand.
In fact, if they came into contact, he might be the one to lose his mana.
Even as his flesh burst open from every step toward her, a strange smile continued to bloom on Mephisto’s pale, bloodless face.
He had already realized something was strange back when they were locked in the cage together.
He had thought she would be his prey. But in truth, he had been the one whose mana was drained.
It was the first time he’d ever thought that the Demon Realm might choose someone other than himself as the Demon King.
And that someone might be… the very woman he’d marked as his next meal.
He didn’t know if the Demon King was determined by who was stronger or who first completed the 12th Circle.
But he could instinctively feel it now—through something she possessed, she had gained the qualifications to become a Demon King.
“To think I’d end up competing for the throne and for the bride…”
He let out a quiet chuckle, his pale face stretching into a crimson smile.
“How long has it been since I felt so alive?”
Ever since meeting her, it had all been endlessly fascinating.
Roziana had always been beyond his expectations—and more than he ever hoped for.
“Interesting.”
So much so that he didn’t want to yield her to anyone.
The more that possessiveness swelled inside him, the more the man lying at her feet bothered him. He was an eyesore, something in the way, something he wanted to eliminate.
“Tenebres.”
There was no longer even a sliver of desire to let that man stay connected to her.
Anything that stood in his way could be destroyed.
Perhaps Roziana sensed Mephisto’s killing intent as it shifted toward Asterios.
“Touch even a single finger on Asterios, and I’ll kill you.”
She growled at him as he approached.
At that moment, Mephisto felt his heart drop—and instinctively froze.
“Has any woman ever looked at me like that?”
No. He could swear—it was the first time.
To be warned like that, with such an expression… by his lady?
“If you do that… you’ll make me love you more sincerely.”
Either way, facing her in her current state gave him no guarantee of victory. If they clashed again, he might well be the one who gets consumed and disappears.
And yet… this moment thrilled him. Standing face-to-face with her, like this—it filled him with joy.
Before he realized it, Mephisto had entered the shattered cage.
The distance between him and Roziana was now nearly nothing.
“Not bad. If becoming prey and being consumed is the price I pay for those lips…”
The fact that he could even think such things proved how mad he had truly gone—and a quiet laugh slipped out as his eyes narrowed in amusement.
Stab.
With a searing jolt of pain, Mephisto’s eyes flew wide open.
He had been in perfect balance with Roziana’s mana, not giving her even a sliver of opening. So how?
Lowering his gaze, he saw them—black eyes, glaring up at him as a blade drove itself into his body, its wielder coughing blood.
“Damn it.”
Cough. Black blood poured from Mephisto’s mouth with a curse.
“No! Asterios!!!”
Roziana’s despairing cry rang out, her purple eyes trembling violently as blood vessels burst red within them.
Asterios, the one who had stabbed Mephisto, collapsed once more—completely unconscious.
Did he squeeze out his very last strength?
How did he even still have that much left?
Mephisto’s surroundings warped violently as his vision faded into darkness.
Then—
SLAM!
Roziana slammed her palm against the ground beside the World Tree and screamed:
“I command the World Tree! Open the sky of the Demon Realm immediately!”
Her violet eyes overflowed with tears of hopelessness. Her pupils trembled uncontrollably, losing focus, overwhelmed by fear of losing someone precious.
Even that sight was so beautiful it made Mephisto smile bitterly as he fell.
The cage had already lost function and lay in ruins due to the mana storm Roziana had created. And whether Mephisto or Roziana wanted to complete their Circle, they needed to remain in contact within the cage.
If Roziana left the Demon Realm now, it meant neither of them would complete the 12th Circle.
Even so, Mephisto couldn’t bring himself to speak.
“Lord Mephisto!”
Jude and Nea rushed to his side, supporting his collapsing body.
Mephisto’s gaze remained locked on Roziana, who was now sobbing as she held Asterios tightly in her arms.
Then, a brilliant light burst from the World Tree, enveloping Roziana and Asterios completely—and they vanished.
“Your Highness! Are you…!”
“Uwaaah! Her Highness has disappeared…!”
Vmmm… A ringing echoed through Mephisto’s ears. The sound of demons rushing in to support him faded farther and farther into the distance.
Only then, as his heavy eyelids closed, did Mephisto finally swallow the words he couldn’t speak aloud.
Soon… I’ll come find you again, my lady.
White light burst from the World Tree without pause. Even after crossing into the Middle Realm, Roziana’s mana—which had long surpassed the 11th Circle—still radiated black mist and aura.
When Roziana arrived in Dreat, gripping the World Tree, a black storm and brilliant white light existed simultaneously—light and darkness coexisting in one space.
No one had ever seen anything like it. Onlookers were reminded of the beginning of the world, wondering if this was what it had looked like when the god of creation formed day and night.
They arrived not far from where she had vanished into the Demon Realm—within the forest of Dreat’s Imperial Palace. As if it had finished its job, the World Tree’s light gradually began to fade.
Only then did the knights of Dreat and Emperor Leodian, recognizing her from afar, race forward on horseback.
Asterios, unconscious in her arms, let out a faint groan.
“Rozi! You’re back!”
“Father!”
Despite the distance, Leodian immediately noticed the physical changes in Roziana and Asterios. They had clearly become full adults.
Only two days had passed in the Demon Realm—but over two months had passed in Dreat. The once fifteen-year-old princess had returned looking over twenty.
“Rozi, are you hurt?”
Leodian barely had time to be relieved at her return before his eyes caught sight of Asterios—collapsed in her arms, covered in wounds.
“Asterios… please save him, Father! He was hurt saving me!”
Tears poured from her violet eyes, overflowing with sorrow.
Even Leodian’s cold, solid golden eyes darkened with worry.
“Call Ezeph immediately! Summon every physician and healer in the palace!”
He commanded the Gold Guardians who had followed him without hesitation and lifted Asterios into his arms.
“Rozi, will you be alright?”
“Yes, Father. I’m coming too.”
With a nod from the emperor, they moved swiftly toward the palace.
“Take us to the nearest treatment room!”
Everyone moved quickly—for the returned princess and her knight commander.
A dull ache filled his head, and his body felt as heavy as if it were submerged in the deepest sea.
Asterios slowly became aware of a distant warmth creeping in—and his consciousness began to return.
A world of black sea and black sky.
He knew this place well.
It was the palace he once resided in during his time as the Dragon God—in the universe where he dwelled.
The god of creation had scattered pieces of himself to create new deities. Among them, Asterios Tenebres had been the fragment of darkness and time.
A stretch of shimmering stars adorned the sky—some forming his black body, others his radiant wings. The brightest stars became his heart, his whiskers, his claws, his teeth.
In this peaceful sanctuary, returned to him after so long, he saw the silhouette he had longed for.
Crimson hair, glowing like the blazing sun.
A long, beautiful neck. Slender, delicate shoulders.
A woman sat beside him on the bed, elegant and soft in form, gazing up at the faraway black sky.
In this realm—where darkness was the very night sky—she existed like the sun, the only source of light. Just watching her made it feel like her fragrance surrounded him.
She had stolen his heart in a single instant—and had remained his heart ever since.
The woman he loved.
Erika.
