Refined to the extreme sword energy. A clean strike with not a speck of impurity, and movements light with no excess. The flashing gleam glides like a single thread, without even the faintest blur.

Lumen’s swordsmanship was breathtakingly close to perfection. Kelligan’s blessing. Was it because he had absorbed the power of the ancient guardian deity? It was growth that had happened far too quickly.

Jealousy, perhaps, was only natural. But instead of letting envy creep in, he chose trust. This power belonged not to an enemy, but an ally. Then shouldn’t it be used with joy?

“Now!”

At Van’s signal as he blocked the clone’s path, dozens of blue flashes were etched into the air. Lumen’s light didn’t cut the clone. What he split was space-time itself. A streamlined rift opened, and a fierce sword wind surged forth. The rushing blue sword energy instantly engulfed the clone.

Van strengthened the [Thorns] aura that bound the clone. Fierce struggles could be felt above the aura, but the more the clone unleashed powerful demonic energy, the more Van’s aura swelled ferociously.

The brain-numbing stimulation of the demonic energy made his own aura rampage like a wild beast. Negative emotions pounding in his chest, his narrowing vision, the cruel desire flooding his mind. As he sensed the familiar shift taking hold, Van bit his lip hard.

‘……I’ll have to suppress it as much as I can.’

Next to him were a skilled healer and a swordsman. As long as they were here, his role was clear. To endure. So that they could unleash their full power in front of the clone, he had to keep it completely restrained.

“The attack’s about to resume. Hang on just a bit longer!”

At Garuel’s shout, a mass of demonic energy exploded from the clone’s body. Like a volcano erupting, pure demonic energy poured out, and in the next moment—

“Guh……!”

From the floor, now soaked in demonic energy, dozens of weapons shot up. Blades filled the ground and mercilessly pierced and slashed at Van’s lower body, which stood firm. Even so, he didn’t dodge the attack and held the [Thorns] tight.

Muttering a low curse from the searing pain, Van endured. At the same time, intricate blue flashes sliced through the weapons like a web. In the blink of an eye, the shattered weapons melted away like liquid. And as if waiting, new demonic energy seeped into Van’s wounds.

It wasn’t the clone’s energy—it was Garuel’s. His demonic energy blanketed the enemy’s aura, suppressing the attack and healing his ally’s wounds.

“Are you all right, Sir Van?”

“My legs are numb. Are you sure you healed me properly?”

“Seems like you’re fine. That’s a relief. Really, your body is absurdly tough.”

Van clicked his tongue instead of replying. As Garuel flawlessly blocked the attack, the clone’s demonic energy gradually faded. Beyond the vanished storm of sword energy, the clone remained, firmly restrained.

Like someone drenched in boiling water, black demonic energy wafted up from the clone’s body. Detecting the thick scent of blood mixed within that foul aura, Van wet his lips with his tongue.

“……Hey, young master. If you don’t want to end up dealing with me as well, you’d better finish this now.”

The sensation of a sinister instinct awakening inside him was vivid. As Van calmed his breath, a chill wind passed by his side. Even without looking, he knew Lumen had approached.

A faint light was added to his blue eyes. The arm gripping the sword hilt squirmed, caught in a tangle of flashing threads like twisted roots. The bulging veins beneath his pale skin looked close to bursting, and though it seemed painful, Lumen’s expression remained serene.

“Even in a situation like this, you still talk weak. Always the same.”

“Does our noble young master feel better only when he acts composed even now?”

“It’s not an act. Now that I’ve faced her directly, I’m sure. This clone is different from the ones we’ve fought before.”

“Different?”

Still bound by [Thorn], the clone showed no sign of retaliation despite her regeneration. She seemed intent on fully recovering before resuming her attack. This calculated delay only confirmed Lumen’s conviction.

“This clone has no ‘self.’ Originally, she would’ve thought, spoken, and acted just like the original. That’s the greatest strength of the Demon King’s clones. But this one—doesn’t.”

“……You’re right. She’s not pushing us aggressively. And staying silent this whole time is definitely strange.”

“But that doesn’t mean we can underestimate her power. She has more than enough strength to keep us tied down.”

“You sounded pretty relaxed just a moment ago.”

Unfazed by Van’s sneer, Lumen continued speaking.

“She split our forces and left a strong clone here, all to kill us. And yet this one’s focusing only on counterattacking, not killing. Do you know what that means? No? Doesn’t matter. I didn’t expect—”

“Stop dragging it out. You’re saying Commander is pushing the Demon King into a corner.”

“Amazing that you caught on.”

“Do you even realize how much mana I’m burning just to keep this clone restrained? Young master, are you really passing along intel or just pretending to help while resting?”

“Words reveal intelligence. Don’t expose your limits so easily.”

“Fine. I’ll tell Commander you died with honor while fighting a clone.”

As the conversation between the two men turned increasingly sharp, Garuel, who had been watching the clone closely, suddenly shouted from behind them.

“Could you please stop bonding without me?! I’m feeling left out over here!”

“Sir Garuel!”

“Yes!”

“You were with Leader while he prepared that spell with the Scarlet Dragon, weren’t you? You must know it, right?”

Taken off guard by Lumen’s sudden question, Garuel parted his lips. It was true—Cadel had originally said he would leave to prepare a spell with Kunra to kill the Demon King. But Garuel was the only man who knew the truth. Recalling all the struggles they’d faced to kill the Demon King’s siblings, Garuel answered awkwardly.

“Yes, of course. I saw it.”

“How long do you think that spell will hold the Demon King in place?”

“Uh…… well, hmm.”

“Think carefully. That’ll be the window we have to attack.”

The clone was powerful, but taking down a selfless entity that only counterattacks wouldn’t be too hard. If they wanted victory, this moment, while Cadel was keeping the Demon King at bay, was their only chance. They had to build a strategy based on Garuel’s estimation.

Garuel understood Lumen’s point, but the only reaction he could offer was a troubled laugh. How was he supposed to gauge the strength of a spell that didn’t even exist?

“Uh…… maybe 20……? No, around 10 minutes……?”

“So you’re saying we have about 10 minutes starting now?”

“Um…… probably?”

Lumen frowned at the vague answer. In response, Garuel gave him a dazzlingly bright smile, and Modeleine, who had been focusing on covering them, let out a sigh and muttered under his breath.

“Disgraceful, Commander.”

* * *

“Ahaha! Now this feels like living!”

Wiping the blood trickling from his nose, Lydon radiated sheer delight. The corridor was encased in ice. Scattered across the wide floor, thick puddles of dark energy had gathered like pools. From the pitch-black voids—gaping holes of darkness—shadowy figures shaped like Yozen ceaselessly emerged.

“Keep pulling more out! Ahaha! It’s like an ant swarm!”

“……Is it really okay to make this many clones?”

Ignoring Ector’s concern, Lydon goaded Yozen on. The countless shadow clones had only one target—the Demon King’s clone standing silently at the center of the corridor.

The clone continued to fire demonic energy at the rapidly approaching shadows. But even as the nearest ones burst apart, more kept flooding in. An endless onslaught of sheer numbers slowly began to bury the target. It was a new tactic from Yozen, who had forsaken stealth and ambush for brute force.

Lydon turned to Yozen, who was sitting cross-legged behind him, and called out excitedly.

“How many more can you make? If your shadow clones hold hands and stretch down the corridor, maybe we could reach where Cadel is! Like a rope ladder!”

Yozen, eyes calm and quiet, drew more dark energy in without answering. It was a pretty good idea, Lydon thought, so to ignore it—honestly, all humans were fools. Except for Cadel, of course.

Pouting at the lukewarm response, Lydon tried to refocus on the clone. But before his gaze could fully turn—

“Hm?”

Beyond the severed edge of the corridor, in the swirling dark void, a familiar flame briefly flared up. It lasted no longer than a moment, but Lydon recognized it instantly.

“Cadel……”

The name slipped out as a whisper more than a statement. And in the same breath, the flame that had passed the corridor plummeted downward. Just seconds ago, it had been no more than a flickering ember. But when it reappeared, it was a massive meteor blazing so brightly it lit up Lydon’s face.

His mouth fell open, awestruck by the brilliance of the fire.