* * *

His vision was blurry. With half of his face petrified, he lost vision in his right eye and had trouble breathing. The particles of the petrifying powder were so tiny that he could barely see them. All he could do was realize the hopeless fact that the powder was spreading in every direction of the dispenser and there was no escape.

Even when he threw his sword energy at it from a distance, it didn’t break easily. He could see it cracking with each blow, but it would take quite a while to break it completely.

If he could send a signal to summon Lumen and Garuel, the job would be easier. If he held out alone, he was more likely to be petrified before he could break the dispenser.

But Van didn’t send a signal. He breathed in hard for his lungs, which weren’t getting enough oxygen, and twisted his right arm, which was frozen to the elbow, into a stance.

‘I can break it in the next 10 attempts or so.’

He would destroy it. If he didn’t, it would endanger Cadel, who was in close proximity to a High Demon.

His crimson eyes sank into darkness.

With a blast of condensed sword energy, he continued to reposition himself to avoid the invisible powder. No distractions. Only with full concentration could he destroy the dispenser before he was petrified.

‘I know.’

He was well aware of that, but still.

“You want to hear Cadel’s story? Do you have his permission? ……Right. If that’s the case, there’s nothing I can’t tell you.”

Ever since the night in the swamp, Kunra’s voice had haunted him like a curse.

“You will never see the Cadel Lytos you knew again. His soul is nothing more than a mere thought. Only a shallow will remains.”

No matter how much he swung the sword, it was not erased.

“His body was taken, but it was not of his own volition. He just happened to be caught in the middle of it all. It would be unfair for the soul to be consumed, but it was inevitable.”

Van ate, talked, and slept like a dead man walking. He couldn’t shake it off. There was no way he could shake it off.

“Whatever choice you make, you must let go of the rest for what is most precious to you. You can’t have it all. You can never save the soul of Cadel Lytos, so the only difference is whether you accept the new Cadel or not.”

Anger and emptiness. That was all the emotions that had been filling Van for days. His heart felt like it was going to explode at any moment, and his mind felt cold. A mixture of incompatible emotions had been straining his mind.

He had to give up everything else for the most precious thing? Which one was more precious? That couldn’t be a question.

“I am a genius magician who will one day put the world under my sword! It’s no joke, it’s definitely going to happen. Therefore…… You are a precious companion who will take that glorious first step together with me.”

It was a given.

“So no matter what I do, I can’t give you back the real Cadel Lytos. But you know, the truth is…… I had no intention of returning it from the beginning. I was going to keep living in this body.”

The man was the beginning of feelings, the driving force of a life once dead. He was indispensable. He was more important than anything. The one thing he’d give his life to protect. For Van, that man was everything.

Tenth attack. Unable to send out sword energy anymore, he swung his greatsword directly. The shattered dispenser collapsed beneath the dulled blade.

The stone that had hardened his body began to fall away. Van’s stiff body felt lighter, but he was still immobilized as if petrified. His gaze fell to the hilt of the greatsword, carved with a wolf’s head.

Toc. Toc toc.

He lifted his head dazedly, raindrops dripping down his hardened cheeks. Without the aura, his eyes were their usual golden color. He blinked slowly. He stood defenseless in the growing downpour, letting it wash away his emotions.

He closed his eyes once more and took a deep breath.

“…….”

He pried his fingers free of the loose grip and released the greatsword. The greatsword fell to the ground with a dull thud. Slowly rubbing his wet face, Van muttered in a low voice.

“That’s not you.”