"Honestly that has to be embarrassing."

Atop a distant building far removed from the battlefield, two figures watched from the shadows. One was cloaked in white, his shoulders relaxed as soft laughter slipped past his lips. The other stood wrapped in black, posture rigid, eyes sharp with barely concealed irritation.

Below them, the echoes of the battle had already faded, but its outcome lingered heavily in the air.

Enzo had defeated Titus. Not scraped by, not won through luck, but crushed him cleanly. The gap between them had been vast, almost cruel in how clearly it had been displayed. This was not merely a loss. It was humiliation laid bare for all to see.

"You would think that at your age you'd understand certain situations better," the man in black sneered, turning his gaze toward his brother.

Enzo's victory was not just personal. It was political. A triumph for the Grand Regents camp, a statement carved into stone for the entire institute to witness. Titus falling meant Snowfall would remain firmly beneath them among the younger generation. No excuses, no ambiguity.

With this single fight, Enzo had all but sealed their ceiling. Until another monster of talent emerged, Snowfall would not touch that tier.

"Heheh, you worry too much," the man in white replied, shaking his head lightly. "The institute is one organism in the end. As long as it grows stronger, what does it matter?"

He truly believed it. Camp divisions, rival banners, whispered alliances. To him, they were conveniences, temporary unions, not lines worth bleeding over. Strength was the only thing that endured.

"Tell that to the snowman," Black muttered as he rose to his feet, irritation evident as he adjusted the rings and chains adorning his hands and legs. Each piece clinked softly, the sound sharp in the quiet rooftop.

The instant the words left his mouth, Master White stilled. The faint smile vanished, replaced by a deep frown.

That old bastard from the Snowfall household was as petty as Inkous, if not worse. There would be no letting this slide, no pretending it was merely a match between youths. Once he woke up, someone would pay for this slight.

And knowing Snowfall, that someone would not be Enzo alone.

""Whatever, when we're done with Galafray, he wouldn't have the time to seek me out." Master White laughed, though the sound carried a bitter edge, and his gaze drifted back toward the stage below.

The battle was over. Applause and murmurs still rippled through the crowd, but the real value of the moment lay elsewhere. What remained now was for Enzo to grasp what the castle offered him. An opening like this did not come twice. If fortune leaned even slightly in his favor, he could seize the supreme star seed, claim it for himself, and take a decisive step forward in his path.

For someone his age, it was an overwhelming victory. One that would echo far beyond today.

Somewhere deep within Rune City,

"Brother, I'm not the…"

A horse like creature leapt down from the shattered edge of a ruined castle wall, hooves cracking stone as it landed beside a broad staircase that climbed toward an ancient throne.

"I saw it, I saw it…"

The creature's voice was cut short as a massive hand rose into the air. Towering horns framed the figure who stood at the top of the stairs, his expression darkening as he silenced the other with a single gesture.

They had watched the match from the opposite side of the city, observing through methods far removed from mortal eyes. Understanding the warriors in Rune City was essential. Soon, they would enter the castle themselves, and when that time came, these same warriors would become pieces on a board meant to be played with.

"The void coffin," the horned demon muttered, his brow furrowing deeply. "It's definitely that treasure. And it's on the back of a night creature."

Recognition settled heavily in his gaze.

There was a prophecy. One left behind by the Red Lady, the Red God herself. If the words carried truth, then perhaps this city did not need to sink into oblivion after all.

He turned slightly, shadows crawling along the walls as his presence pressed outward.

"Report this to older brother," he said at last, his voice slow and deliberate. "I need his opinion before making any decisions."

The bull demon leaned back into the ancient throne, its surface cracked and scorched by ages of ruin. His massive frame settled heavily against the stone as his gaze lingered in the direction of the battlefield, thoughts churning beneath his hardened expression. With a casual flick of his hand, he issued the command.

The nightmare horse bowed its head once, letting out a sharp, echoing neigh. Dark flames rippled briefly along its mane before it turned and launched itself skyward, wings beating against the stagnant air as it vanished through the broken dome of the castle and into the night.

Three days later,

"Godspeed, kid. Just remember to stay safe."

A tense gathering stood at the edge of the dark side of Dune City. Cloaked Shades blended into the shadows, members of the student body stood shoulder to shoulder, and the Holy Eminents watched silently, their presence heavy with restrained power. Every one of them was on high alert.

Before them stretched a host of monsters, packed tightly together, weapons and claws poised, eyes burning with anticipation. They did not advance, but the air trembled with the promise of violence, as if a single wrong breath would be enough to ignite the battlefield.

"Hehe, thank you, Master White," Enzo replied, a relaxed smile curving his lips despite the tension pressing down on everyone else.

Truthfully, he was not worried. Master Seth stood nearby, calm and imposing, armed to the teeth and radiating quiet confidence. If the operation succeeded, the Grand Regent himself would descend. When that happened, every creature gathered here would be nothing more than corpses littering the sand.

"Yeah," White said softly, returning the smile, though concern lingered in his eyes.

This was a dangerous moment for all of them. A deal struck with demons was never clean, never safe. Any misstep could see the consequences come crashing down on their heads.

Still, it was a risk they were willing to take.

"Are they ready?"

The hill demon approached, a massive axe resting in his grip as his sharp gaze swept across the group before finally settling on Enzo. There was curiosity there, and something darker beneath it.

"Yes," Master Seth answered evenly.

The group was small. Himself, Enzo, and a Cloaked Shade known as Talos, whose presence felt more like an absence, as though the light refused to linger on him.

They would enter the castle as agreed with the demi god sand worm, fighting for treasures, for power, for whatever opportunities awaited within those cursed halls. But that was not the true objective.

More than anything, they were after the source. Whatever sustained the forcefields surrounding the city. Once that fell, Rune City would no longer be protected. It would belong to whoever seized it first.

"Good," the bull demon said, a wide grin spreading across his face as he slung the axe onto his back. He turned without another word, beginning his march toward the darkened streets beyond.

"Come with us then."

And so they followed, stepping into the dark side of Rune City, where shadows thickened, ancient forces stirred, and the fate of the city waited to be decided.

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