Then the five demons dissolved into ash and shadow, vanishing into the collapsing ruins.
Kael and Elysia stood amidst the rubble, breathing heavily, the red glow of Kael’s shard fading to a faint pulse.
Elysia looked at him silently, sword still in her hand, the urge to kill him warring with the mory of him saving her life monts ago.
Kael t her gaze. "We’ll talk later. Right now, we need to get out before this whole place buries us."
The ground trembled again, dust falling from the ceiling as ancient stones cracked apart.
Together — unwilling allies, bound by circumstance — they ran toward the collapsing stairway, the echoes of the demons’ laughter fading into the depths behind them.
The Abyssal Gate had been opened — and the sins were awake once more.
The ruins shuddered as a crimson glow pulsed from the Abyssal Gate.
Kael staggered backward, shielding his face from the blast.
His red crystal shard, now burning against his chest, pulsed like a living heart.
Elysia stood opposite him.
"Step away from that gate, Kael!" she shouted over the rumbling.
Kael’s eyes snapped toward her, shadow and fire reflected in his irises.
"You shouldn’t open things you don’t understand," she said coldly.
Kael’s expression hardened. "Neither should you point a sword at soone you don’t plan to kill."
Before either could move, the gate split apart with a deafening BOOM.
From within, black mist and crimson lightning poured into the air.
Out of the smoke, five silhouettes stepped forth—each human-shaped, yet clearly not human.
Their presence made the air thick and heavy.
"There we go again".
Wrath appeared first—a flaming demon whose molten eyes burned.
Flas dripped from his arms like liquid tal, sizzling against the floor.
Then ca Envy—a mirror-like being, its surface rippling as it copied Elysia’s form perfectly, down to her sword and stance.
Greed followed, a hulking creature covered in golden cracks and glowing veins.
His eyes shimred with avarice, staring at everyone as if they were treasure.
Next, Lust—an ethereal woman whose every breath dripped with allure.
Her voice was a whisper that slid into their thoughts.
And lastly, Sloth—a decaying, misty giant whose re presence drained the warmth from the air.
His touch withered the ground, and Kael felt his mana begin to falter just by being near.
The five demons stood still for a mont, like dark kings erging from centuries of sleep.
Then, one by one, they opened their eyes.
Kael’s breath caught in his throat.
"Just... how many demons are there?" he said.
"They’re supposed to appear next year... this isn’t right."
The chamber shook again. The runes on the walls cracked, and ancient stones began to fall from above.
Without warning, Wrath roared and charged.
The explosion of fla and hatred sent both Kael and Elysia diving aside.
Elysia slashed upward, her sword glowing with azure, striking against Wrath’s arm.
Sparks burst out, the clash echoing like thunder.
Kael dashed to the side, eyes scanning the demonic figures.
He had no plan—just survival. But as he turned to retreat, sothing inside him pulled.
The shard on his chest throbbed violently, drawing him back toward the gate.
He hesitated.
And then he ran.
But only for a mont.
The sound of Elysia’s strained breath stopped him mid-step.
She was fighting alone, surrounded by shadows, her blade flashing in a blur of light and fury.
The Envy demon mirrored every movent, mocking her every strike with flawless precision.
Her sword locked with her own reflection. "Stop copying !" she shouted, sweat dripping down her forehead.
Kael clenched his jaw. He cursed under his breath and turned back. "Damn it..."
He sprinted forward, slashing through a cloud of cursed mist to reach her.
"Save your blades for them, not !" Kael yelled, kicking a chunk of stone at Lust’s feet to distract her.
"Don’t order around!" Elysia barked, twisting and slashing through Envy’s mirrored strike.
"That thing’s copying your mana rhythm," Kael shouted. "Break it with reverse flow!"
Elysia’s eyes narrowed. "What—?"
"Just do it!"
She shifted her mana pattern in an instant—her blade dimming, then flaring erratically.
The Envy demon faltered, unable to mirror the sudden disruption.
Elysia lunged and pierced its chest, shattering its mirrored form into fragnts of light.
For a brief mont, their eyes t.
Neither spoke. But the mory of a distant battle—of fighting side by side, unknowing of who the other truly was—flashed across both their minds.
And then, the tremors grew louder.
The entire ruin roared.
The explosion of mana was so massive that it reached far beyond the ruins’ borders.
Not far away, three figures sprinted through the dark forest.
"Did you feel that?!" Jin shouted, gripping his twin swords as he ran.
"Yeah!" Edwin panted beside him. "What the hell did they do this ti?!"
Cecelia followed closely behind. "The mana levels are unstable—it’s demonic energy!"
They burst into the ruins’ entrance.
Dust and fire filled the air. Broken pillars littered the ground, and in the distance, Kael and Elysia were surrounded by monstrous silhouettes.
Edwin’s eyes widened. "What in the na of—"
Wrath turned toward them, flas roaring higher. His eyes locked onto Edwin.
"You," Wrath growled.
"You reek of arrogance... the perfect prey."
"Excuse ?!" Edwin snapped, raising his greatsword.
In an instant, Wrath lunged forward, slamming his fiery fist into the ground.
The shockwave sent everyone flying backward.
"Stay focused!" Jin shouted, twisting mid-air to land on his feet.
He charged in, his twin blades glowing white. But before he could reach Wrath, a soft, sultry voice brushed against his ear.
"Why so tense, swordsman?"
Lust materialized beside him, brushing her hand across his cheek.
Her eyes shimred with illusionary beauty.
Jin froze. For a heartbeat, the world blurred.
He saw his mother’s smile, his childhood dreams, and a vision of victory—him as the strongest hero, praised by all.
He shook his head violently. "Get out of my head!"
He swung his blade, but Lust dissolved into mist, laughing.
anwhile, Cecelia stood her ground, summoning radiant magic.
Light blood around her palms, forming a healing circle around the group. But as she focused, a deep voice whispered from the dark.
"Such power... such purity. Wouldn’t you rather keep it for yourself?"
Cecelia turned sharply. A massive golden creature—Greed—stood before her, each movent making the floor quake.
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