Celia’s Perspective:


    Why… why is this happening to me? My heart pounded in my chest as my thoughts spiraled. Kaiser—he fought so hard, defeated them both! But Ronan… Ronan is still here. How?!


    Wait—Kaiser! I’ve got to help him!


    My legs moved before I could think. I sprinted as fast as I could, the ground trembling beneath me from the aftermath of their fight. The smoke hung thick in the air, but I knew he was there. Ronan’s attack sent him flying, but Kaiser’s not dead. He can’t be dead.


    The closer I got, the more the smoke began to clear. My heart felt like it would stop when I saw him lying there, motionless on the ground. I was just about to reach him when flames erupted in front of me, blocking my path.


    “You still don’t get it, do you?”


    Ronan’s voice was cold, sharp as a blade. My heart sank as his towering figure appeared before me, his eyes brimming with cruel amusement.


    “Your last hope—Kaiser—is already dead.”


    Before I could react, he surged forward, his foot slamming onto Kaiser’s head with brutal force. "CRACK!" The sickening sound of bones shattering echoed around us, sending a chill through the air.


    With a twisted smirk of pure malice, he stomped down again, harder this time. "CRUNCH!" Each strike wasn’t just an attack—it was an act of merciless destruction, as if he was taking the very life out of him with every blow.


    “No…” I whispered, tears stinging my eyes. My body trembled, and I couldn’t breathe.


    Ronan leaned closer, his voice dripping with malice. “See? No one’s coming to save you. You’re alone now.”


    “You… you MONSTER!” I screamed, my voice cracking with rage and despair.


    I swung my fist at him, desperate to land a hit, but he was faster. His hand shot out, catching my wrist mid-air. His grip was like iron, twisting my arm painfully as he brought me closer.


    “Ahhh…” he hissed, his lips curling into a disgustingly sinister grin. He leaned in, his breath brushing my ear as he whispered, “You’re lost, aren’t you? No one left to depend on. No one to protect you.”


    His words sent a wave of terror through me. I struggled against him, panic taking over, but it was useless. His grip tightened, unrelenting, like a predator savoring its prey. My strength was nothing compared to his.


    And Kaiser… Kaiser wasn’t moving. He wasn’t breathing. My chest pained with the truth I didn’t want to believe. He was… he was gone.


    This monster had taken everything in a single, merciless strike.


    "Get away from me!" I screamed, my voice trembling as I struggled desperately to free myself.


    Ronan’s laughter echoed around me, cruel and unrelenting. His grip tightened like a vice, sending sharp, unbearable pain through my arm.


    “So soon, eh?” he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "Know your place."


    He twisted my arm further, and I felt a horrifying crack. "AHHHHH!" The scream tore from my throat as the pain consumed me, my vision blurring with tears.


    Ronan tilted his head, his grin widening. "Ahahaha! How is it? This is what Toby and Mira felt. You’re nothing more than an insignificant weakling."


    My mind reeled at his words. Toby and Mira… the people I didn''t do anything to... Their faces flashed before me, and guilt and rage fought for control in my heart. But no matter how much I wanted to fight back, my body felt useless. I could feel my bones giving way, the pressure unbearable.


    "I... I can''t..." The words barely escaped my lips. I couldn’t beat him. His power was too overwhelming. The air around him shimmered with searing heat, and the ground beneath him scorched as if the flames were alive. The burning was spreading, consuming everything in its path.


    Suddenly, a low, unfamiliar voice broke through the chaos. "Is that so?"


    The words sent a chill down my spine. Before I could comprehend what was happening, cursed vines erupted from the ground, twisting and coiling like serpents. They surged toward Ronan, their speed unnatural and terrifying.


    Ronan’s eyes narrowed as he let go of my arm, shoving me aside. I hit the ground hard, the impact sending a sharp pain through my head. Everything spun for a moment, but through my blurred vision, I saw him—Kiel.


    He stood there, his face bloodied but unyielding. His eyes burned with a determination I’d never seen before. The cursed vines seemed to ignore me entirely, focusing solely on Ronan as they lashed out with unrelenting force.


    Ronan’s grin didn’t falter. Instead, it grew wider. He dodged the first strike with ease, doing a back flip gracefully, and with a swift motion, he kicked one of the vines that lunged at him.


    The force of his kick was enough to send the vine recoiling, but two more shot toward him from either side. For a moment, I thought they had him, but his laughter rang out, cold and wild.


    "Ahahaha! Is that all?!"


    Raising both hands, he unleashed a devastating torrent of blazing hellfire to either side, incinerating the vines in an instant. The flames roared like a beast unleashed, consuming everything in their path, leaving only charred remains.


    The heat was unbearable even from where I lay. My arm throbbed with pain, but my eyes were glued to the scene before me. Kiel’s vines, Ronan’s fire—it was chaos, destruction.


    He casually, without breaking a sweat, deflected Kiel’s attack. It was as if he barely even noticed it. But my thoughts weren’t focused on that. Kiel... why? Why did you try to save me?


    He wanted to kill me, didn’t he? He hated me. He made it clear before. I couldn’t understand. My mind raced as I tried to make sense of his actions, my heart pounding in my chest.


    "Celia... stay behind me." Kiel’s voice cut through my thoughts. He stood there, his breathing heavy, his body trembling slightly from the fight he just had with Kaiser.


    "Kiel?!" I shouted, my voice shaky as I clutched my injured arm. The pain from Ronan’s grip earlier still throbbed, sharp and unrelenting. "What are you doing?"


    He glanced at me, his eyes steady despite the exhaustion weighing on him. "What does it look like? I’m helping you."


    "But why?!" My voice cracked. "Didn’t you want to kill m—"


    Before I could finish, Ronan’s mocking voice interrupted, laced with anger.


    "So, this is the choice you’ve made, Kiel? Lying to my face to help a witch?"


    Kiel didn’t hesitate. He met Ronan’s cold gaze with one of his own. "Yes, I did. I lied to you. I lied to her. Hell, I’ve been lying to myself this whole time."


    I stared at him, confused and overwhelmed. "Kiel, what do you mean?" My voice wavered, but I had to know.


    Kiel turned to me for a moment, his expression softening in a way I never expected. "I’m sorry, Celia... sorry for betraying you and hurting you. I know it might be too late for your forgiveness. But let me fight for you."This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    My heart pained at his words. "Kiel... I—"


    But Ronan’s harsh voice cut through the air, silencing me. "Really? You want to fight for the witch who took Mira and Toby’s lives? Do you even know what you’re saying?"


    Kiel didn’t flinch. His voice turned cold, detached. "Like I could give a shit. Mira and Toby are dead—six feet under, gone, never coming back. Why the hell should I care for those two?"


    "You’re the only one still hung up on them. I’m done with the past. I couldn''t give a shit about their deaths."


    His words stunned me. For a second, the air felt heavier, the silence louder.


    Ronan’s grin disappeared, his eyes narrowing as if Kiel’s words struck a nerve. Without a word, he unleashed a barrage of fireballs. They burned brighter than before, the air around them rippling with their heat. Each one seemed alive, consuming everything in its path as they streaked toward us.


    Kiel’s eyes didn’t waver. He raised a hand, chanting with determination.


    "Glacial shield of eternal frost, Rise and protect, no matter the cost. By the breath of winter’s call, Arise the unyielding, icy wall!"


    In an instant, towering walls of ice erupted around us, enclosing us from all sides. The translucent ice shimmered, reflecting the fiery glow outside. The temperature dropped sharply, but the barrier held firm.


    The fireballs slammed into the ice with deafening cracks, the sounds echoing like thunder. I flinched at each impact, my heart racing. But as I listened closer, I realized something remarkable—the ice wasn’t breaking.


    Instead, the heat seemed to melt the outer layer, which turned into water and froze again almost instantly. The wall thickened with each assault, creating an unyielding defense.


    Kiel stood still, his focus unwavering as Ronan’s relentless attacks continued. I glanced at him, my heart a mess of fear and confusion. Despite everything, I couldn’t help but wonder: Why? Why would he fight for me now, after everything?


    The crackling fire and shattering ice were deafening, but the question in my heart was louder.


    Kiel glanced back at me, his voice steady but grim. "This defense should handle his attacks for about a minute. Get ready to run, Celia."


    My heart clenched at his words. "Kiel, why are you doing this now? Didn’t you... didn’t you want to kill me? You hated me too, didn’t you?" My voice shook, just as much from fear as from confusion.


    He hesitated, his eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite place—regret? Pain? "Celia… I… I’m sorry for lying. But it’s too late for answers now. Please, run as far as you can. I’ll fight the King of Flames."


    "The… King of Flames?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.


    Kiel nodded, his jaw tightening. "That’s Ronan. He’s now one with the strongest fire demon. His power… it’s stronger than any A-rank adventurer. You have to leave this place. Alone."


    The words stung, sharp and cold. But I couldn’t just accept them. "Kiel! I can’t just leave Kaiser or you behind!" I screamed, the pain in my chest overwhelming the pain in my arm.


    Kiel’s voice turned sharp, colder than I’d ever heard it. "Accept it, Celia! Kaiser is dead. There’s no way around it. He stood no chance against Ronan. And me… I’m going to die soon too. So leave us behind and run for your life!"


    My breath caught. His words hit me like a dagger to the chest, but I saw the truth in his eyes. And yet… there was something else there. A glimmer of despair he couldn’t hide.


    "No! I refuse to leave both of you behind!" My voice cracked, but I didn’t care. "I know for certain Kaiser isn’t dead. He can’t be!"


    Kiel shook his head, his expression filled with both frustration and pity. "But it’s the truth, Celia. Ronan’s attack killed him. He stomped on his head, finishing him off."


    "No…" My knees felt weak, the weight of his words crushing me. "It can’t be."


    Before I could process it, the ice walls around us ignited, the flames consuming them as the water from the melting ice hissed and evaporated.


    Kiel raised a hand quickly, his voice calm but strained. A barrier of cursed energy formed around us, shimmering faintly, like a fragile shell trying to hold back the chaos.


    None of it made sense. Nothing did. My world—everything I knew—had been turned upside down in mere moments.


    "Accept it, Kiel," Ronan’s voice echoed, dripping with malice and mockery. "You’re going to die here."


    Kiel stood tall, looking Ronan straight in the eyes. "It’s funny, coming from you."


    Ronan’s grin widened, cruel and twisted. "What did you say to me? Don’t forget the difference between us, you pathetic nobody."


    Kiel’s voice dropped, colder than ice. "I might be a nobody, yes. But I’m not the one depending on a demon for power."


    Ronan laughed, the sound echoing like a death knell. "Kiel, you hold your head quite high for your level."


    Then, his expression shifted, a sick amusement dancing in his eyes. Slowly, he raised his fingers to head level and flicked them toward Kiel.


    My instincts screamed. My body strained as a wave of death washed over me. That simple flick wasn’t normal—it was devastating. Without thinking, I threw myself at Kiel, tackling him to the ground just as the attack sliced through the air.


    The space where Kiel had been standing was obliterated, a clean line cutting through the ground and the trees beyond. If I hadn’t moved him… I shuddered at the thought.


    Ronan’s laughter rang out again, cruel and condescending. "Oh wow! The useless little girl can actually do something. How brave of you!"


    Kiel’s eyes widened in shock and anger. "Celia! What are you doing? I told you to run!"


    "No!" I shouted back, my voice cracking. "I can’t do that!"


    Kiel’s voice broke, trembling with desperation. "Why? You and I both know it’s the only way! Stop being so stubborn! It’s not the time to—" He hesitated, his frustration clear. "To feel regret about me! Just leave!"


    Tears blurred my vision as I shook my head. "It’s not about you… and it’s not kindness either." My voice wavered, but there was something stronger beneath it.


    Kiel’s frustration faltered, his gaze softening for just a moment. "Then why? Why risk yourself like this?"


    I clenched my fists, my chest tightening as I forced the words out. "Because I know. I know." My gaze locked onto Ronan, his twisted grin making my stomach churn, yet fueling a fire I didn’t know I had. "You may call me unreasonable, but I know how this ends. Ronan will die here."


    Ronan tilted his head mockingly, his grin widening, but I didn’t waver.


    For the first time, Ronan’s grin faltered, ever so slightly. But his laughter soon resumed, louder and colder than ever. "How amusing. A little girl with a death wish."


    My voice grew steadier, carrying a weight I couldn’t explain. "You hear me? You’re not walking away from this. You’ll lose. You’ll die here."


    Kiel looked at me, his shock replaced by a mix of awe and dread, but I didn’t look away from Ronan. Something unyielding burned inside me, drowning out the fear. For the first time, I wasn’t just fighting to survive. I was fighting to end this.


    "Oh really? What makes you say that?" Ronan sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "Your E-ranked friend is dead, and your knight in shining armor is worthless."


    My heart dropped at his words. The fear was overwhelming, suffocating. But even through my shaking, I tried to stay strong.


    "Ronan… stop this." Kiel’s voice was strained, but I could hear the exhaustion in it. Before he could say more, I cut him off, my voice trembling with every word.


    "Ronan…" I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breath. My heart was racing, but there was a fire inside me now, something deep and rooted.


    "You speak so much for someone who depends on a demon for power. And you have the guts to call me a monster, a cursed witch?" I could feel the weight of my words as they left my mouth, my voice more forceful than I intended.


    "You’ve been nothing more than a coward all this time."


    The world seemed to pause. The air grew thick with tension. Ronan didn’t respond immediately, the silence stretching out like a heavy fog.


    Then, suddenly, the stillness shattered. Ronan threw his head back and laughed—loud, cruel, manic.


    "Hahhh… Ahhahaha… AHAHAHAHAHHHH!"


    I flinched at the sound, my knees trembling, but I refused to look away.


    "A demon, huh?" Ronan said, his voice cold, his gaze narrowing on me like a predator sizing up its prey. "Those are the last words you could say?" His eyes turned to ice, his expression twisted with sadistic look.


    "You should’ve chosen your words more wisely, because they’re going to be your last now."


    I could feel the heat rising, the air thickening. I didn’t know what was coming, but something in my instincts told me it was bad.


    Ronan brought his hands together, fingers interlocking with a slow, deliberate motion. A fireball began to form between his palms, the heat radiating from it making the ground beneath us crackle and smoke.


    His hands parted, stretching wider, and the fireball grew with it. The flames twisted and writhed as though alive, growing larger, fiercer. Slowly, he moved one hand near his head and the other forward, shaping the fire into a bow-like curve.


    My heart skipped a beat. A fiery arrow was forming, glowing so brightly it hurt to look at. I didn’t know what it was, but I knew it wasn’t something I could survive.


    I glanced at Kiel, my heart sinking. His face was pale, his eyes wide with fear, his body frozen in terror. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t even speak. He was too afraid to do anything.


    Ronan’s voice dropped, the malice thick and suffocating. "It was nice seeing you two. Seems like the fiery aura will make it easier to see how pathetic you two were."


    I wanted to scream, wanted to run, but my feet felt like they were rooted to the ground.


    "Bow beneath your lord, forge my fury! Arrow of oblivion, erase all in your path! Melt creation itself—burn the unworthy! ‘Searing End,’ unleash the flames of annihilation!"


    Ronan’s words were a death sentence. The air crackled with heat, the energy so intense that the very ground beneath our feet seemed to tremble. Then, with one swift motion, Ronan launched his attack.


    The arrow flew faster than I could blink, its fiery trail leaving nothing in its wake. The earth cracked and crumbled, disintegrating at the arrow’s touch. It melted everything around it, even the ground that it passed far away from.


    I froze, my breath caught in my chest. It was all over.


    We were going to die.


    I couldn’t look away. My legs shook, and my whole body trembled with fear. But even then, part of me couldn’t fully believe it. Was this how it would end? For me, for Kiel, for everything?


    The arrow was coming closer, the world growing hotter, and my vision narrowing with the dread of an inevitable end.


    It’s over...