Princess Virethiel's eyes burned with focus as she surveyed the growing chaos around her. The Crogs were everywhere now—crawling across rooftops, sprinting down roads, clashing with the golden-armored Royal Guards. Their snarling and shrieking echoed through the capital.
"I'll deal with these wretched beasts together with the royal guards," she said coldly, her black combat suit flowing with her movement. "Lonor, Eldrin—deal with those two."
"As you command, Highness," replied Eldrin and Lonor in unison.
Another Crog leapt at her.
She darted forward like a black streak, her hand spearing clean through the creature's chest. She ripped it out without pause and dashed toward another cluster.
Virethiel's eyes narrowed. "There are a lot," she muttered. "But they're manageable."
Ahead, she saw two small elven children frozen in terror. Their mother was sprinting to reach them—too far, too slow.
A Crog closed in behind them, claws raised.
With a fierce dash, Virethiel struck it down before it could move. Her hand tore through its midsection, and the beast slumped to the ground.
The mother gasped, clutching her children.
"Highness…"
"Get inside. Lock your doors. It's no longer safe out here," she commanded, stepping between them and the battle.
They nodded quickly and fled.
The princess stood straight. Mana gathered at her lips—amplifying her voice into a booming call across the capital.
"I am Princess Virethiel. Evil forces have invaded us to seize our Tree of Life. But we will not fall. I ask for your cooperation—remain in your homes and stay safe. The fewer casualties, the stronger we remain. Do not step outside unless absolutely necessary. We will end this—together!"
The magic-enhanced voice rang through the entire place—from the castle to the outer roads. Even deep beneath the castle, in the safe room, her voice reached.
The room was white and pristine. Two king-sized beds stood beside walls lined with preserved herbs, food leaves, clean water, and spare clothing.
Icariel, Elena, and Elif stood there together.
"Father…" Elif whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks as she clung to her mother.
"Don't worry, dear," Elena said, hugging her tightly. "Your father is out there. He will protect us."
Icariel sat silently for a moment, eyes narrowed in thought.
"Their first attack was really powerful... These aren't ordinary enemies. Damn it. And I said this place was safe…"
"Voice," he asked in his mind. "What should I do?"
"Right now, this is the safest place for you. Stay here. If danger draws near, escape immediately. That is your best option."
"Fine…I'll stay for now."
He turned to Elif and offered a calm smile. "Don't worry. Teacher's strong. He'll defeat them."
Elif gave a shaky nod.
Across all the houses, the elves heard Virethiel's call too. Some locked their doors tight. Others huddled in silence, listening as the battle raged outside.
CLANG!
Grinis lunged toward Eldrin, her dark dagger colliding against his golden spear in a flurry of sparks.
"As long as we kill you all, the rest won't make it to the Tree. Dead meat."
"I don't think that's happening," Eldrin replied coolly. With a sharp sweep, he forced her back.
"Tch…" she hissed, sliding to a stop.
Suddenly, a massive blur flew between them—the grey-skinned monster hurled through the air, smashing the ground between the fighters.
Lonor appeared a second later, eyes sharp.
"Eldrin," he said, "I'm relocating. If all four of us fight here, the homes and castle will suffer."
"As you wish, Beast. Just kill him quickly."
"Gladly," Lonor said.
He grabbed the monster by the head and launched into the air, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, dragging the fight far from the capital.
Eldrin turned back to Grinis with a smile.
"Well, looks like it's just us now."
Grinis cracked her neck, unconcerned. "That's fine. You're the only one I need to kill anyway."
She charged forward.
BOOM!
Steel met steel. Sparks flew.
"She's fast…" Eldrin thought. "Strong. That dagger… and her reflexes… she might be a superhuman."
Grinis darted low and aimed for his throat. Eldrin barely twisted away in time, her dagger grazing his cheek.
"Tch… I'll end this quickly," he growled.
He lunged at her.
Clang! Clang!
They exchanged strikes at blinding speed. Eldrin feinted a thrust to her heart.
"Oh, how predictable," Grinis mocked, sidestepping with ease. "You'll need more than—"
Her eyes widened.
Too late.
It was a feint.
Eldrin dropped his spear mid-lunge, stepped in, and his left bracer shifted—transforming into a short dagger. In a flash, he buried the blade deep into her left shoulder, piercing her dark armor.
"Got you," he whispered, grinning.
Grinis staggered back, gasping. "You… fucking bastard…"
"Oh, look—" Eldrin said, retrieving his spear as the dagger retracted into his armor. "The rainbow's mad."
"You'll regret this…"
"Don't worry," he said, spinning his spear. "Your neck will look great without your head."
Meanwhile…
Far from the capital now, Lonor landed heavily in the heart of the ancient forest, the gigantic, timeless trees looming over him like watching gods. In his grip, the grey-skinned monster thrashed, until Lonor hurled him down with brutal force.
"Get up," Lonor said coldly, eyes narrowed. "Don't act like it's over. You're not fooling me."
The monster rose slowly. His dark armor clung to his muscular frame, cracked but intact. He chuckled, brushing dust off his shoulder.
"You really live up to your reputation," the grey creature said. "They say you're just as dangerous as Aelar, the Warleader. Seems the rumors were true after all…"
Lonor's gaze sharpened.
"You know a lot about us," he muttered. "Strange—considering we've barely interacted with the outside world."
The monster smirked. "Beat me, and you'll get your answers."
"With pleasure," Lonor growled.
He launched forward, his fist leading the way. The grey warrior, fast despite his bulk, spun his black spear, trying to intercept him mid-air.
Lonor twisted to the side, dodged the blade, and slammed a punch into the monster's stomach.
"Glu—!" The monster gasped, the impact forcing the air from his lungs. His spear dropped.
But before Lonor could press the advantage, the creature grabbed him with one massive hand and launched him upward—only to follow with a devastating kick to the side of Lonor's head.
Lonor staggered backward, blood dripping from his lip.
"Not bad…" he muttered. "To invade us, you'd have to be at least this strong."
"Oh," the monster said, picking up his spear again. "You've seen nothing yet."
Lonor's expression darkened. A cold, oppressive aura began to rise from his body—twisting like smoke around him.
"What's your name?" he asked.
The monster blinked, then laughed. "Asking my name now? How dramatic."
"I always ask the names of those I'm about to kill," Lonor replied.
The monster grinned. "Very well then. I am Tornem the Grey."
He raised his hands.
"Let's see who kills whom in the end."
BOOM!
Lonor shot forward, his fists a blur. A flurry of punches smashed into Tornem's face—brutal and unrelenting. One. Two. Three. Four.
BAM!
The final strike crashed into Tornem's ribs, sending him soaring through the air, crashing through several trees before skidding to a halt.
Lonor stood still, panting lightly.
"…Something's wrong," he muttered, eyes narrowing. "My fists… they're not doing the damage they should."
Across the broken forest floor, Tornem stood up again, cracking his neck.
"Not bad," he said. "Really… not bad at all."
A red aura burst from his body, blazing around him like wildfire.
Then—in a blur—he appeared directly in front of Lonor.
WHAM!
A punch sank deep into Lonor's gut. His eyes widened as the pain exploded through him.
"What…?" he gasped, stumbling backward. "He's faster now? And stronger…?"
Tornem loomed in the red light.
"I told you," he said calmly. "You can't win this. Not the regular way."
"…What do you mean?"
Tornem smiled, showing sharp, inhuman teeth.
"I'll share the secret," he said smugly. "Since you're going to die anyway."
"The more you hurt me… the stronger I become.It's a trait of my race."
"So go on. Break me. You'll only feed the monster inside."
Lonor's eyes widened in realization.
"…So that's the trick."
"Exactly," Tornem sneered. "Now—wait. Why are you… smiling?"
A chill ran down his spine.
"Yes," Lonor said quietly. "Thank you… for telling me."
The dark aura exploded, growing thick around Lonor's body—roaring like a black storm.
Then, his form began to change.
His muscles bulged. His skin darkened—coarse, spotted. His face stretched, bones cracking as they reshaped into the jaguar's snarl.A thick tail burst from behind.His clothes tore apart from his transformation—only his black pants remaining.
When the black aura finally vanished, Lonor stood transformed no longer in human form. He was taller. Wilder. His presence now feral, predatory—something ancient and utterly lethal.
Even his voice had changed—deep, low, bestial.
"You made a mistake," Lonor said. "Telling me your secret."
A drop of sweat slid down Tornem's cheek.