"I see."

Seated at the high table, Yuno gave a slow nod as the old serpent king finished speaking. His fingers rested lightly against the armrest, rings glinting as torchlight shifted. What Victoria sought was no trivial item. It was a sacred relic of the shadow clan, one entrusted to him alone.

"It's a bit irresponsible on my end to give her this, considering she lost the Void Coffin all those years ago." Yuno exhaled softly, the sound carrying more weight than the words. "But aside from its ceremonial value, it means little to us now."

As the current leader of the shadow clan in Rune City, there was little beyond his reach. Orders bent easily when spoken from his mouth. Still, power came with appearances, and appearances demanded restraint.

"Well then, let's not waste time. I'll go grab it for you."

A faint smile crossed Yuno Al'K's face as he rose. Without another word, he turned and walked past Qonas, disappearing into a shadowy opening behind the dais. The darkness swallowed him whole, as if he had never been there at all.

The shadow clan was infamous for discarding conventional paths. One step into their shadows could mean crossing a street, or leaving the city entirely. Following him was pointless now.

Qonas remained still, the quiet stretching thin. His thoughts drifted unwillingly to Raz and his men, to the possibility of them appearing without warning. He pushed it down and waited.

Moments later, the shadows stirred.

Yuno emerged as suddenly as he had vanished, a pair of curved daggers in his grasp. Each blade was arm-length, dark and faintly reflective, bound together by a heavy chain that seemed older than the hall itself.

"This is what she's looking for," Yuno said, calmly sheathing the weapons before holding them out. "Do your best to hide it properly. The mere sight of this will likely make everyone here turn against you."

He placed the weight into Qonas' hands, his gaze steady and unreadable. He did not know what Lady Victoria intended to do with such a relic, nor did he care to speculate too deeply. Whatever her plans were, they would not be gentle.

It was better that no one here knew a thing about it.

"I'm aware," Qonas nodded. Without hesitation, he lifted the chained daggers and swallowed them whole, his throat expanding unnaturally before returning to normal.

Aside from being the king of serpents, Qonas bore another name whispered across the world. The World Devouring Serpent. It was both the title of his species and a testament to his existence. There were few places safer than his stomach.

"Good luck," Yuno said lightly as he dispelled the barrier surrounding them. The pressure in the air lifted, and the path outward revealed itself.

Qonas wasted no time leaving.

Left alone, Yuno smiled faintly and turned his gaze skyward. Dark clouds drifted slowly, stretched thin across the heavens.

"Something fun is about to happen," he murmured. "I wonder if I'll be allowed to join in."Somewhere within Greenwood Forest.

"We are grateful, Lord Kilgar, for your continued health. The rumors were false, by the mercy of the Monarch."

Five demigod creatures stood in a loose formation, heads bowed just enough to show respect. Fear lingered in their eyes, no matter how carefully they tried to hide it.

Word had spread that a hunter was stalking demigods through the forest. Ordinarily, such matters would fall to the forest's guardian. Kilgar. But believing him dead, they had worked together and set a trap to draw the culprit out.

The one who answered their call was Kilgar himself.

"Is that so?" Enzo said, a bitter smile pulling at his lips. His gaze drifted past them, toward the charred remains smoldering nearby.

To lure him out, they had slaughtered an entire tribe of Doff creatures, piling their bodies together and setting them aflame. Smoke still clung to the air, heavy with the stench of burned flesh.

It was an unforgivable insult to the dead.

"Yes, sire," one of the demigods said quickly. A horned rabbit-like creature stepped forward, lifting his head just enough to meet Enzo's eyes. "We are eager to inform the elders of your safety. They have been deeply worried since the rumors spread."

The elders had always despised Enzo. This performance was nothing more than a thin veil, a desperate attempt to earn mercy and be allowed to leave unharmed.

Enzo watched them in silence, the forest itself seeming to hold its breath.

"Denizens died. Blood has to be spilled. You should pick amongst yourselves who will die."

Enzo's voice was flat and unyielding as he moved aside and sat on the tree trunk he had cut down earlier. The wood was still fresh, sap glistening faintly along its broken edge. He leaned back slightly, posture relaxed, as if he were about to watch a mundane performance.

"I…"

The demigods frowned, eyes darting between one another. Confusion crept across their faces, followed by disbelief. Their breathing grew shallow, instincts screaming at them all at once.

He was still just a tyrant. Did he truly believe he could force them to turn on one another? The thought felt absurd. A nightmare born of arrogance.

"You may refuse," Enzo continued calmly. "Then perhaps we all die here. After all, you are not the first demigods I have killed."

There was no pride in his words, no anger either. Only certainty.

If he had slain so many of their kind in a matter of weeks, then killing two more here was hardly unthinkable. Whether it was a divine treasure left behind by his father or power earned through blood, the threat carried weight.

"Kill Fathran."

The rabbit spoke without hesitation.

His gaze flicked backward, cold and decisive. There was no tremor in his voice, no sign of regret.

"Hm?"

Fathran barely had time to react.

The other four lunged at him at once, claws and fangs tearing into flesh. Screams cut through the forest before being drowned out by snarls and wet, brutal sounds. Blood soaked into the soil as Enzo watched from his seat, eyes lowered, a silent spectator to the act.

It ended quickly.

Enzo shook his head slowly.

"One down," he said, lifting his gaze. "Four to go."

A thin smile curved his lips.

The moment the words left his mouth, the remaining four scattered. Each chose a different direction, fleeing through the trees with desperation fueling their steps. None of them wanted to stay and find out what Enzo truly had planned.

"Don't kill too much. The forest still needs powerful creatures."

Victoria's voice echoed softly as she emerged, her presence felt before she was seen. The air itself seemed to settle around her as she approached.

Kilgar's father was still alive. Even if the true Kilgar had fallen, it did not justify reducing this place to ruin. Some balance still had to be preserved.

"Besides," Victoria continued, "we already have everything we need. Qonas is approaching."

She turned her gaze into the depths of the forest. Her vision sharpened, piercing through layers of green and shadow until it locked onto a distant figure flying swiftly toward them.

Before long, an old man with white, fuzzy hair emerged from the trees. His robe fluttered softly as he descended, the air rippling around him before he came to a slow, respectful bow.

"Good job. Your help is duly appreciated." Victoria smiled as her gaze settled on the old man before her. She had originally intended for Yuno Al'K to appear within the forest.

However, she was certain her divine-ranked beings were being watched. Despite his ascension remaining a secret, it was wiser to keep him within Rune City.

As for Qonas, he was not merely a denizen of Greenwood Forest. He had recently lost his daughter in the city. It made perfect sense for him to enter Rune City in search of answers.

She had even arranged for the old man to cause a scene within her villa.

"Here you go."

Without wasting time, Qonas spat out the pair of daggers and offered them to Victoria. She accepted them and gave a small nod of thanks, the weight of the weapons settling easily in her grasp.

"From this point on, you have nothing to do with this case," Victoria said calmly. "You may leave and wait for news in the capital city."

The weapon he had delivered would soon be used to take Raz's life.

"I understand." Qonas bowed deeply. His eyes flicked toward Enzo, worry flickering briefly across his face, before he turned and slowly retreated into the forest.

A heavy feeling lingered in his chest. It felt like he had committed a grave sin today. Even so, he could not deny the truth.

He would do it again.

Whatever fate awaited Raz was a burden Qonas was willing to carry alone.

"Here."

After watching the old man disappear among the trees, Victoria handed the daggers to Enzo. Without another word, she turned and walked deeper into the forest, her presence fading beneath the canopy.

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