Kael hovered in the air, his form a breathtaking mix of white and gold, a being forged from the very elements of light and shadow. The sword in his hand pulsed with energy, its crimson flame now extinguished, but the essence of power lingered in the air. He was still, his body glowing with an aura so powerful it seemed to ripple through the air itself.
Veyrith lay defeated in the distance, his body broken and unmoving. Kael didn't notice, lost in the stillness of his transformation, the weight of his newfound power settling in. His silver eyes scanned the destruction, his body glowing with both Lumen and Umbra—two opposing forces now united within him.
Slowly, he descended toward the ground, his body still radiating with light, a stark contrast to the dark landscape around him. His mind was still racing, trying to process everything that had happened—the battle, the new power, and what it meant for his future.
As Kael's feet touched the ground, Yuna approached him cautiously. Her footsteps were soft, almost hesitant. Kael's eyes flickered, but he didn't recognize her. His gaze was distant, as though lost in a world of his own.
The moment he saw her, an instinct overtook him—a rush of memories, a flash of their past encounter. His hand instinctively reached for his sword, ready to strike. But before he could make a move, something about her presence triggered a memory, a feeling deep within him.
Yuna's stance, her fiery aura, it was all too familiar. Kael froze.
It was her.
The girl who had attacked him, the one who had seemed like an enemy... yet had been there, a constant presence in his journey.
He took a step back, his breath steadying. "Yuna?" His voice was soft, almost as if he was unsure of the words. "It's… you."
Yuna nodded, her eyes full of concern. "Yeah, Kael. It's me."
Kael stood tall, the full weight of his power now clear to him. The Lumen and Umbra coursing through his body illuminated him like a living constellation, the white and black energies blending into a breathtaking display.
"This is it…" he murmured, gazing at the intricate patterns of light and darkness that swirled across his skin. "This is the power I've been waiting for…"
Yuna watched him closely, a quiet understanding passing between them. Kael had been through so much to reach this point, but now, standing before her, it felt like the journey was just beginning.
They turned to leave, but what awaited them was not victory. The village—once vibrant—was now nothing more than a ruined wasteland. Buildings lay in ruin, and the air was thick with the scent of death.
The battlefield wasn't the only place they had lost.
Yuna's heart sank. "No…" she whispered. "Everyone…"
Kael's eyes narrowed. He scanned the wreckage, his senses tingling. Amidst the destruction, he noticed a figure—a frail old man, lying motionless beneath the rubble.
Without hesitation, Kael approached, his heart pounding in his chest. He knelt beside the man, who looked up at him with weary, bloodshot eyes.
"You… you're not dead?" Kael asked, his voice full of disbelief.
The old man gave a weak smile, though pain marred his face. "No… not yet." His eyes locked onto Kael, narrowing with recognition. "It chose you, didn't it? You are... the son of the Devil."
Kael blinked, confusion clouding his mind. "What do you mean?"
The old man's voice was faint, but his words carried weight. "The sword... the power... It was meant for you. For you alone. And now... the world will change."
Kael's breath caught in his throat. The revelation hung heavy in the air. Son of the Devil? Was that what he was becoming?
Before Kael could respond, the man's eyes closed, his body succumbing to the injuries he had sustained.
Kael didn't have time to mourn. He closed his eyes for a moment, the full gravity of his destiny dawning on him.
"It's all just beginning…" he muttered, standing slowly, his figure towering over the wreckage.
Yuna stood beside him, a firm resolve settling in her chest. "Yeah… but you're not alone anymore."
As the smoke of the ruined village lingered in the air, Kael gripped his sword tighter, his eyes fixed on the horizon.
The journey ahead would be long, and the weight of his power was something he would have to come to terms with. But one thing was certain—he had to move forward.
For the world, for the future… and for what he had become.