"So, what will you do next, my honorable king?"
The Mermaid Queen smiled challengingly at the "King."
"How about lying beneath my sword?" the "King" replied coldly.
"Oh no, I'm so scared," she said with a spoiled pout. "But that'll only happen if you kill me first."
With that, she turned her back on the "King," walked to the table behind her, and picked up a book.
"So, all of this was created by you… from that book?" the "King" glared.
"That's right." She smiled. "Now, guess what happens when I start this ritual."
"You're actually going to release the demons inside?"
"Ding ding! Correct answer, Your Majesty."
"Are you serious? We don't even know what they'll do once they're summoned."
"But it's worth the risk."
"You're insane."
The "King" rushed forward and pointed his sword at her.
"You're too hasty," she said.
Dodging swiftly, she summoned a blade from her wrist and struck at him.
He dodged as well, countering with a swing of his sword, but she caught it with her bare hand—blood dyeing the blade red.
"Want to see a surprise?" she whispered.
The blood on the sword began to slither toward the "King's" hand. He immediately poured magic into the blade and let go, stepping back.
The sword glowed—then exploded.
"It hurts… it hurts…" she groaned. "Really."
Without hesitation, she severed her mangled arm and hurled it at the "King." Then, with her remaining arm, she clenched her fist.
The thrown limb exploded, splattering blood everywhere.
The "King" blocked it with his cloak, then tossed it aside and burned it. He hurled his remaining sword at her, impaling her chest and making her cough up blood.
He didn't stop there—he rushed forward and punched the hilt, driving the sword deeper and pinning her to the wall.
"You're being a little violent," she laughed weakly. "Why don't we sit down, have some tea, and talk like normal people?"
"Why don't you drink your own blood?" he snapped.
He punched her in the face—again and again—his fists soaked in her blood.
Yet, she still smiled.
Then, his hands suddenly stopped.
"Planning to finish me like this?" she asked gently, pushing his hands aside. "You're wrong, sir."
The "King" instantly raised a barrier between them.
"Do you really think you can escape?"
Using the blood on his hands, she pulled at them, forcing them apart.
The "King" struggled, then burned his own hands to destroy the blood's grip before retreating. Though his hands were scorched, he quickly healed them with magic.
"Hey! That's not fair," she pouted angrily.
She pulled out the sword that had stabbed her, she shattered the shield and charged.
"Play enough," the "King" whispered.
Suddenly, she was forced to her knees—gravity magic crushed her down.
"This is… gravity magic… how can you—?" she trembled.
The "King" slowly approached.
"You think I wouldn't study this after creating Behemoth?" he muttered.
"Then why not use it earlier?"
"Because… I hoped the Elf King was wrong."
"That's it?" She burst into laughter. "You actually believed I could still be saved? You're so naïve."
Still laughing beneath the crushing weight, she asked, "Do you really think that after everyone died and the Star Eater destroys everything… there's still room for innocence in this world?"
"There is," the "King" said softly.
"What?"
"You saw it, didn't you?" He sat down in front of her. "My family, our leaders, even that little girl I saved. They went through hell, but they're still hopeful."
"What's your point?"
"My point is… it's not too late to turn back."
Her face darkened.
"You think words will fix this? I lost the one I love!" she shouted. "What would you do if you lost everything?"
"Blame yourself? Stay angry forever? Or… would you become like me?"
She smiled, tears silently falling.
"I… won't let that happen," the "King" whispered.
"How can you be sure you'll protect them? Tell me—how can you be sure?"
The "King" was silent.
"Exactly," she said. "You can't. All you're doing is delaying the inevitable."
Suddenly, the gravity vanished.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"You're right," the "King" stood. "Maybe I can't protect them forever. But I'll do everything I can."
Turning his back, he walked toward the door.
"Where are you going?"
"To get my family somewhere safer. Do what you want."
"There's no safe place left on this dead world!" she yelled.
"I'll find one—even if it takes forever."
"And now… goodbye."
The "King" walked away, leaving her lying in a pool of blood.
"You… are… so stubborn," she muttered.
She crawled back to the book, flipping through the bloodstained pages with her ruined arm, until she found what she needed.
"I guess… I can't beat you in every way," she said weakly. "So here's my last gift to you."
With the last of her strength, she began to recite the prayer:
"You who slumber… heed my voice… awaken. Let all see your true power. Rise—72 demons of Solomon."
The summoning circle beneath her glowed blood-red. Corpses dissolved into pools of blood, flooding the circle, drowning her.
As the "King" walked the corridor, a tremor shook the walls.
"She's done it already?" he muttered. "Then I need to move fast."
But before he could take a step, a shadow burst through the corridor, racing straight at him.
He summoned twin swords and spun to counter—but the force pushed him back to the gate.
As light broke through the shadow, Mermaid Queen appeared—drenched in blood.
"…You?" the "King" frowned.
She didn't answer. Instead, she reached for his hands.
"What—?"
Her bloody hand was like iron—he couldn't escape.
Her face moved in close. "This is my final gift, use them wisely" she whispered.
Then she pulled her head back.
The last thing he saw was her radiant smile.
"I'm about to see you again, my dear."
And then… she melted.
Her body flowed into a sphere of blood, engulfing the "King's" hands.
Moments later, it spilled to the floor—leaving his hands soaked in blood… but not just blood.
Ten rings had appeared on his fingers, each etched with strange patterns.
"What are these?" he breathed.
Before he could process it, blood from behind the door surged toward him and stopped.
From it, hands emerged… then grotesque bodies.
They rose in silence.
The "King" raised his guard.
"So… these are the demons the book spoke of?"
But the moment they saw the rings on his hands… they knelt.
"…What are you doing?" he asked.
"We bow to our master," a deep voice replied.
"I didn't summon you."
"The rings," a demon said, pointing. "Those ten rings prove you are our master."
The "King" remembered the Mermaid Queen's words—her final gift.
"…Could it be?" he whispered, eyes fixed on the rings.
"So, what are your orders… Master?" the demons asked in unison.
The "King," now holding power that could change everything, stood silent.
But he still didn't know its true cost.
"I… this power… is it really okay?"
"What price… must be paid?"