Kran ran along the castle walls, avoiding the sounds of battle, heading toward the western side where Eira fought.

  He climbed over the wall and spotted Lucius below, supporting Eira as best he could. A soft smile crossed Kran’s face, grateful for Lucius’s help, yet hating his own weakness.

  Above them, the rooftop battle reached its climax.

  Eira soared into the sky, icy wings spread wide. With each beat, she unleashed a storm of ice needles that pierced Mamba’s slippery scales.

  Mamba roared, coiling tightly, then launched herself at the airborne Eira. Her fangs sank into Eira’s side before the serpent girl could react.

  Eira screamed and plummeted to the ground.

  Mamba followed, sending crescent-shaped mana strikes that corroded the air as they flew.

  ?Lucius dashed in front of Eira, raising a radiant barrier that shattered the attacks and cast shimmering light over her wound, purifying the venom.

  Eira’s serpent form rose again, encasing her wound in ice to stop the bleeding. She nodded to Lucius, grateful.

  With a roar, she unleashed a breath of pure frost, striking the falling Mamba directly.

  ?Mamba hissed, half her body frozen and numb. But she didn’t care. She thrashed violently, smashing into the ground and walls to break the ice bindings. Her scales shattered with the frost, revealing pulsing, exposed muscles beneath.

  She looked like a broken monstrosity.

  Coiling again, Mamba lunged. Eira tried to dodge, but Mamba was faster, unnaturally so.

  She wrapped around Eira, crushing her body and releasing a poisonous mist.

  Lucius attacked, his light-covered mace battering Mamba’s exposed flesh, breaking scale after scale.

  Eira summoned ice spikes across her body, stabbing into Mamba, but the serpent refused to let go. She had decided to kill them both, even at the cost of her own life.

  Kran’s mind raced. He couldn’t let Eira die. This was why he came. He had to do something, anything. Even if it meant being bait.

  Then it hit him: What if I distracted her long enough for Eira to strike?

  No time to hesitate.

  Kran released his wind mana, channeling power into his legs. He lunged from the top of the wall, short sword in hand.

  He landed on Mamba’s back, neither Eira nor Mamba noticed him, and stabbed through her broken scales into raw muscle. Again and again.

  Mamba shrieked, releasing more poison, but the pain was too much. She loosened her grip slightly and swiped at Kran with her tail, sending him flying into the wall.

  He hit hard. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he collapsed, motionless.

  Lucius saw it and cried out, “Eira! That was Kran, somehow! I don’t know if he’s alive after that!”

  Eira turned, eyes wide. She saw Kran lying there, broken. “No… You fool! What did you do!?” she screamed.

  Her roar shook the air as she unleashed every ounce of mana she had left.

  Her body became a harbinger of winter; everything she touched froze instantly.

  Mamba coiled tighter, trying to bite her, but it was too late.

  ?Raging Eira encased her in ice, then thrashed with her massive body, shattering Mamba into frozen chunks that rained down around Lucius.

  He raised his shield over his head and ran to Kran, casting what light mana he had left.

  ?Light mana, like water and wood, had regenerative properties; even without spells, it could heal a little.

  “Eira, he’s alive, but not for long. I can keep him breathing for a few minutes, maybe. But we need a healer, and who knows where Liliya is. We’ve got no time!” he shouted.

  Eira morphed into her human form. The clothing Scry had given her somehow survived the transformation, though she couldn’t think about that now.

  She rushed to Kran’s side. “You fool… why did you come?”

  ?Tears streamed down her face. Deep down, she knew he had helped her, but at what cost?

  “We don’t have time,” she said, voice trembling. “There’s something we could try… but it might end badly.”

  “We literally have no time. Do what you can, now!” Lucius yelled. He had grown attached to the wolf boy during their time together.

  Eira sighed and dashed into the castle. Less than a minute later, she returned holding a syringe filled with glowing green liquid.

  “What is that?” Lucius asked, alarmed. The substance radiated something dark… unnatural.

  “This is the medicine Florian used to evolve us. It heals, but it also changes you. I don’t know what it’ll do to him,” she said, fear in her voice.

  Lucius looked at Kran, then back at Eira. “Do it, or he dies.”

  Eira nodded, tears streaming down her face, and stabbed the syringe into Kran’s chest, pushing the contents into his body.

  The green liquid surged through his heart and veins. His body began to glow dull grey, and his wounds started healing at a visible pace.

  Moments later, Kran screamed as his body convulsed violently.

  His frame expanded, growing to nearly two meters tall. His wolf ears sharpened and lengthened, his tail split into two, and coarse grey fur spread across his body. His face morphed into that of a werewolf, feral, powerful, and unmistakably changed.

  His mana surged. He broke through into the Knight level and kept climbing, reaching the mid-Knight stage in seconds.

  When the transformation finally stopped, Kran opened his eyes. A smile spread across his lupine face. “Eira… you’re okay! Thank the gods,” he sighed in relief.

  Lucius and Eira relaxed, seeing that despite the transformation, Kran was still himself and no longer dying.

  Then Eira slapped him.

  “You damn fool! You almost died! I had that, I could’ve escaped! But look what you made me do! Look at yourself!”

  Kran blinked, confused. He sat up and looked at his arms, long, fur-covered, clawed. His legs were thicker, more beast-like.

  He touched his face and felt the elongated snout, the sharp teeth. He looked more beast than beastman.

  “What… what happened to me?” he gasped.

  “That was the only way to save you,” Eira said quietly. “We used the same liquid that made me what I am.”

  “She didn’t have a choice,” Lucius added, still shaken. “You were dying, you idiot. Look at you now!”

  Kran stared at his hands, then at Eira. Realization dawned.

  “I’m sorry, Eira. I never meant to put you through that. But I’m glad I could help you survive. And if this is what I look like now… I don’t care. As long as you’re okay with it and would still stay with me.”

  He grinned, his sharp canines peeking through.

  Eira stared at him, then finally laughed. Lucius joined in.

  “This crazy bastard really likes you,” Lucius chuckled, slapping Kran’s shoulder.

  Eira rolled her eyes. “You damn idiot. No wonder your mother always curses at you. Of course, I’ll stay with you, who else would have you like this?”

  She slapped him again, then kissed him.

  Kran froze.

  Lucius turned away, face red.

  Kran hugged her and kissed back.

  They separated, and Eira helped him to his feet.

  “I’ll spend my whole life repaying you for saving me,” Kran said.

  Eira smiled, a bit of her icy heart melting. “You better, or I’ll beat your ass.”

  As they chuckled, Nerva and Xarion ran toward them, both looking battered.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “Is everyone okay?” Xarion called out.

  Nerva spotted the towering wolfman beside Eira and instinctively raised his weapon.

  ?Lucius shouted, “Master! That’s Kran, lower your weapon! I’ll explain everything!”

  Nerva froze. “Did he say Kran? What the hell…?”

  He was speechless.

  ***

  The only ones left in the castle were Liliya and Kai, waiting to see what would emerge from Florian’s madness.

  Tortured screams echoed through the dust. The monster was still hidden, cloaked in swirling mana and debris. Liliya approached Kai slowly, her steps unsteady, trying to recover what little mana she could.

  “Are you okay?” Kai asked, still focused, gripping Noxblade with unwavering resolve.

  “I will be,” she replied, though concern crept into her voice. “You don’t look great, though.” Her eyes scanned his broken, bloodied armor and the barely closed wounds beneath.

  “He’s stronger than before,” Kai said grimly. “But what he just did… It’s insane. He fused two more souls into himself. That makes four, including his own.”

  He didn’t dare approach the rubble, unsure of what was happening beyond it.

  “What?! Four?!” Liliya gasped. “That’s madness. I’ve never heard of a Soul Forger doing anything like this. No one can control that many souls in one body.” She was baffled. Why would someone so skilled do something so reckless? Just how far had Kai pushed him?

  Before she could say more, a scream tore through the air, and a blinding red light burst from the rubble.

  Florian emerged, shrieking in agony. Six crimson wings now sprouted from his back. His head had split, not fully, but enough to give him four eyes and two mouths. His arms had doubled, forming two pairs of reptilian limbs.

  “Hahaha! I’ve evolved again!” both mouths echoed. “This power, these abilities, they’re all mine! And I want more!”

  Liliya’s stomach churned. “That’s… hideous.”

  Kai said nothing. He could feel the overwhelming pressure radiating from Florian’s new form. Four distinct mana signatures pulsed within him, each soul absorbing vast amounts of mana. It felt like four monsters were staring him down.

  “Liliya, we need to work together. This won’t be easy,” Kai said, fear creeping into his voice.

  Liliya nodded, her expression hardening. “Protect me while I prepare a spell.”

  “I’ll cast too,” Scry echoed from within. “But I’ll need five minutes to make something special.”

  Kai exhaled. Five minutes might be too long. “Fine,” he muttered.

  His Thunder Tree flared to life. Red, silver, and black lightning surged through his body, channeling into Noxblade, which absorbed the mana and adapted, crackling with contained power. His fire tattoo glowed, and two magic circles appeared behind him.

  He was going all out.

  Liliya’s eyes widened at the sight of his circles. Her heart raced; she wanted to study them. She’d never seen anything like it. But now wasn’t the time.

  Kai cast Water Barrier, and his Blood Moon tattoo shimmered, drawing in moonlight mana to enhance his body. A purple aura blazed around him as he dashed forward, the floor exploding beneath his feet.

  Florian grinned and summoned his old scythe. His two left arms gripped it while his right side glowed with mana, preparing a spell.

  Kai struck first. Lightning exploded from his blade, pushing Florian back. He hadn’t yet gained full control of his new form.

  Each slash of Noxblade sent triple lightning through the scythe and into Florian’s body.

  Florian laughed, savoring the pain. “Haha! A nice massage!”

  Kai leaped, spinning mid-air, unleashing circular waves of lightning-charged aura. Florian’s spell completed just in time; gray chains burst forth, clashing with the attack and slipping through, wrapping around Kai’s left arm.

  Kai struggled, but the chains only tightened.

  “You can’t break these,” Florian sneered, slashing with his scythe.

  Kai parried, but something was wrong; his mana was being drained through the chains.

  Florian’s broken laughter echoed. “Delicious mana. So special.”

  Kai roared, “Thunderfire – Ignis!”

  Flames surged from his tattoo, guided by his blade, striking the chains. They held, but the fire traveled through, burning Florian’s arms. He screamed, but healed almost instantly.

  “My new ability. Impressive, isn’t it?” he grinned, casting another spell. “Come forth, my servants, Master Wraiths!”

  A gray portal opened. Four spectral wraiths emerged, icy mana swirling around them. They attacked while Kai could only defend against Florian’s relentless scythe, letting the wraiths strike him directly.

  Their claws passed through his moonlight barrier, raking his insides. Frostbite burned his veins, slowing his mana flow.

  “Kai, this isn’t good! I need one more minute!” Scry shouted.

  “Use lightning! Spirits are weak to nature’s forces!”

  Behind him, Liliya was still chanting, mana converging around her.

  What can I do? I have no lightning spells, and I need my other hand to block the scythe…

  Screw it. I’ll do whatever I can.

  He screamed as the wraiths tore into him.

  “Thunder Tree, full force! Give me everything!”

  The tree within him surged. Its branches waved, and three leaves released their stored lightning. Mana and destructive energy flooded his body. He became a being of pure lightning.

  Red lightning danced around his tattooed arm, merging with fire mana to form thunderfire around his blade. Each parry pushed Florian’s scythe farther away.

  His body glowed with the silver lightning of the Barak Tree, and his left hand pulsed with Umbra’s dark lightning.

  A spell whispered to him as the transformation completed:

  “Lightning Tree: Overflow – Lightning Armor.”

  The wraiths recoiled from the lightning, but the scattering bolts incinerated them before they could escape. Florian’s chains tried to absorb Umbra’s dark lightning, now laced with flickers of darkfire, but the volatile energy burned them to dust.

  Finally free, Kai vanished in a thunderclap. He danced around Florian, each strike from his lightning-charged body searing the monstrous foe. But Florian regenerated instantly.

  “You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?” he whispered with both mouths. “I want to open you up and see everything you’re hiding.”

  He grinned, unafraid. “I have a battle form too.”

  Four types of mana erupted from his body: gray, red, blood-crimson, and sickly yellow. He grew larger, exploding with force. A robe of pure mana formed around him as he floated into the air, his wings expanding and blowing Kai back.

  Florian discarded his scythe, letting it crash into the ground, and summoned four grimoires made of condensed mana. Each ethereal tome opened, releasing a pressure that rivaled, perhaps even surpassed, Liliya’s.

  Liliya looked up, fear flickering in her eyes.

  “Quadruple casting… Primordial Magic of the Underworld, Four Guardians,” Florian declared, his voice echoing like an ancient god’s.

  Each book summoned a serpent, hissing as they fired beams of raw, unfiltered mana, each a different color.

  “Liliya! Scry! I need you now!” Kai shouted.

  He pushed his lightning further, unleashing his aura and summoning his Soul Sword.

  “Moonlit Dance – Dance of the Pale God – Dual Thread!”

  His body glowed pure white, lightning crackling around him. He moved, graceful and precise, weaving moonlit threads to intercept the beams. His moonlight mana could negate mana and even wound souls; he bet everything on it.

  “I’m ready! Prepare to run!” Scry shouted, making sure Liliya heard.

  “Ready too!” she called back.

  “Thunderfire – Blood Moon – Blessing of the Fire God!” Scry roared.

  A Blood Moon appeared above them, more radiant than anything Kai had ever summoned. The fire overwhelmed the lightning, but Scry had adjusted the spell; lightning was now the trigger, fire the core.

  The moon blazed forward, hurling itself at the Underworld Guardians.

  Behind them, Liliya activated her magic. “Space Lock. Time Freeze.” Blood poured from her nose as she forced two Arch Magus-level spells into existence.

  Then, with the last of her mana, she cast her final spell.

  “Rage, spirits of fire. Rage, volcanic flame. Rage, fire of creation, First Flame!”

  A small, simple flame appeared above her fingertip. She flicked it toward Florian, now frozen in space and time.

  Kai, seeing them unleash their strongest spells, joined in. He poured everything into his aura, condensing it into a single, devastating slash, and unleashed the stored mana of the Noxblade at the same time.

  The purple arc joined the Blood Moon and the First Flame as they collided with the serpents and with Florian.

  For the first time, fear and disbelief twisted across Florian’s divided face.

  The lightning within the moon ignited the fire mana, triggering a cataclysmic explosion that melted the third floor and tore the roof off the castle, taking two of the guardian serpents with it.

  Kai leaped to shield Liliya with his body.

  The aura slash cleaved through the guardian serpents, severing two of Florian’s four arms.

  And then the small flame landed.

  The room was engulfed in white. A wave of unbearable heat followed, melting half of Florian into a puddle of mana and flesh. The flame sucked in all the air within the space lock and vanished with a soft whoosh.

  Yet the other half of Florian still stood. His remaining head screamed, “If I die, you go with me… ALL OF YOU!”

  He ignited his beast souls, and the resulting explosion obliterated what remained of his body, along with the last standing floors of the castle.

  Kai wrapped his arms around Liliya and activated every defense he could muster. His Blood Moon pulled moonlight mana and enveloped them as they fell through the crumbling floor, crashing into the castle’s lower levels.

  What remained of Florian fell through the cracks behind them, a small, twitching puddle of blood.?

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