When Neizan crossed through the red gate into an unknown world, he was forced to survive alone until he met Arthur. Now, he lay on the floor of the coliseum, his blood soaking the sand, as memories of his past flooded his mind on the edge of unconsciousness.
The giant who had wounded him turned toward the stands, waiting for the verdict of life or death for Neizan. The emperor rose and stepped forward to raise his hand, but in that instant, he hesitated.
Behind the giant, a young warrior had risen once more. His clothes were torn, exposing the left side of his torso, where his bloodstained and bruised skin revealed the severity of his wounds. Despite several broken ribs and a severely injured arm dripping blood, Neizan had managed to get back on his feet. The giant's last blow had shattered his guard, but not his will.
『Jack: «Can he still stand?» 』
The giant stared at him in astonishment. Neizan was only a few meters away, not looking directly at him; his expression was somber as blood streamed from his face, tracing a scarlet river that covered him entirely. His right hand gripped his sword firmly, drenched in the giant's blood—a witness to the countless cuts and wounds Neizan had inflicted, fighting to the limit of his endurance.
However, something in him had changed. Now, his aura was dark and sinister, radiating a purple glow. His eyes, too, had taken on that menacing hue, reflecting an unfamiliar intensity.
『Meilia: It can't be... 』
The young woman with blue eyes was the first to notice the change; a shiver ran through her as she realized what she was seeing.
『Miguel: What's happening? 』
Miguel, a knight accustomed to facing danger, watched the scene, baffled. Although he could see the dark aura surrounding Neizan, he didn't feel its overwhelming nature as Meilia did. This energy was something he had never seen before, stirring a mix of fear and fascination in his chest.
『Meilia: That energy… it's similar to a demon's aura. 』
Meilia's voice trembled slightly as she spoke those words. Demons were a dark legend whispered about in terror tales, and any trace of their power was enough to send chills down anyone's spine.
『Arthur: What!?! 』
Arthur instinctively stepped back. Although he didn't have the ability to see auras—he had never trained in combat or magic—he clearly remembered his companions' previous descriptions of this dark energy. Even without seeing it, he felt an inexplicable unease, as if the air had become dense, heavy, laden with danger.
『Lina: Why do you say that, Meilia? 』
Lina, like Meilia, could perceive the sinister energy surrounding Neizan. However, she didn't understand what that aura meant; she had never felt something so overwhelming and unfamiliar. She looked at Meilia, seeking some certainty, but the blue-eyed young woman kept her gaze fixed on Neizan. Watching him rise, Lina felt a relief that quickly turned into worry.
『Alberto: Now that you mention it, it makes sense… His dark hair and eyes, along with that sinister aura, perfectly match what we've heard about a demon's human appearance. 』
The idea lingered in the air, and an uncomfortable silence fell over the group. Demons were a taboo in all kingdoms, a legendary race whose mere existence had tormented humanity for millennia. They were feared, they were hated, and they were believed to be extinct. If Neizan truly possessed something of that nature, everyone present was in danger, and they knew it.
『Meilia: It can't be… Neizan doesn't even know how to use magic. And all demons, without exception, can wield that dark and terrifying power they possess. 』
『Miguel: So, are you saying Neizan has a power similar to that of a demon? Or is it some kind of curse? 』
『Meilia: Honestly, I don't know… 』
Meilia's eyes revealed a mix of doubt and sadness. She knew Neizan, or at least she thought she did, and the notion of demonic energy was as terrifying as it was confusing. Was there something in his past she didn't know? A hidden pain or a latent power that now, in desperation, was emerging uncontrollably?
While the others were lost in their thoughts and fears, Neizan tried to focus his mind. His body was a battlefield in itself. The pain in his left side was sharp, and he was almost sure several ribs had fractured. His left arm hung uselessly at his side, broken, and his mouth tasted like metal from the blood of his internal injuries. His throat still burned, a reminder of the brutality of his fight and his resilience.
But something strange was happening.
Neizan could barely comprehend it, but the pain was starting to fade, as if a force beyond him was suppressing it from within. His anger and the memories of his past, those memories he had so arduously buried, seemed to flow within him, replacing every other feeling. There was no more fear, no more doubts; only a dark and powerful sensation that surrounded and sustained him.
Gradually, he felt his strength returning to his body, released in the form of an intense dark aura that enveloped him, crackling with a purple glow that grew stronger. He lifted his gaze to the giant, and in his eyes was a flash of something new, something wild and unfamiliar, as if he had unleashed a power he didn't even understand.
The giant, who had been awaiting Neizan's death sentence, turned and watched him, his expression shifting from to astonishment. How was it possible that a warrior so injured could even stand?
In the stands, Arthur and the others watched with wide eyes. No one dared speak, no one even wanted to breathe, but everyone knew what they were witnessing: Neizan was no longer the same. There was something in him that seemed to surpass human limits.
『Miguel: This isn't normal… I've never seen anything like it. 』
Even Miguel, a knight accustomed to facing powerful enemies, felt a shiver. The energy Neizan radiated was not human, not even natural. It was an abyss, something that invited destruction and, at the same time, fascination.