Jax was inches away from those lips.

So close he could feel her breath.

So close he could taste victory.

And then—

BOOM.

The doors of the sanctum exploded open.

Two demons in Black Crown Legion armor held the massive doors apart.

And through them walked a figure.

A demon. Fifties, maybe. Face carved with authority and barely suppressed rage.

He walked slowly. Deliberately. Each step echoing through the sacred hall.

Jax's eyes drifted past him.

And his stomach dropped.

Outside the doors stood an army.

Not a squad. Not a battalion.

An entire fucking ARMY.

Demons of every kind. Black Crown Legion soldiers mixed with warriors wearing different insignias. Different colors. Different allegiances.

And one group—their armor gleaming with royal emblems, clearly belonged to someone far above mere generals.

'Well. This wedding just got interesting.'

Another duo entered.

A father and son, judging by the resemblance.

Their outfits screamed highest nobility. Silks. Gold trim. Arrogance woven into every thread.

The son—young, sharp-featured, handsome in that punchable way was already hissing at Jax.

Pure hatred radiating from his eyes.

'What did I do to you? I just got here.'

The duo stepped aside.

And bowed.

Jax's instincts screamed.

Because walking through those doors now was pressure itself.

The demon who entered was... different.

Thirties, maybe. Casual stance. Hands stuffed in his pockets like he was taking a morning stroll.

He wore a simple knee-length coat. No insignia. No decorations.

But his presence crushed the air.

Wings folded against his back. Horns curved elegantly from his skull. And his hands—visible now as he walked weren't hands at all.

They were claws. Real, genuine, could-tear-you-apart-without-trying claws.

Guards flanked him. But they seemed more ceremonial than necessary.

'Wings. Horns. Claws. Everyone bowing. Everyone terrified.'

'That's the Emperor.'

Jax barely had time to process this before movement caught his eye.

The older demon—the one who'd entered first was striding toward Nerith.

His hand rose.

A slap incoming.

Jax moved on instinct.

His hand shot out and caught the demon's wrist mid-swing.

Their eyes met.

The demon's face contorted with fury.

Then—

CRACK.

Something slammed into the back of Jax's skull.

His vision exploded into white.

Then black.

Then nothing registered except pain.

He hit the ground.

Boots found him immediately.

Stomping. Crushing. Soldiers piling on from every direction.

He had...

No sword. No weapon.

Consciousness flickering in and out.

Can't see patterns. Can't activate skills. Can't do anything except feel his body being destroyed.

Blood filled his mouth.

Through the haze of agony, he heard Nerith's voice.

"FATHER, PLEASE!"

She was on her knees. Tears streaming.

"Leave him alone! He has no part in this! He's INNOCENT!"

Her father—General Ithris, apparently looked down at her with a mixture of rage and anguish.

"Nerith. I TOLD you we would find another way. I told you we would figure something out."

His voice cracked.

"And here you are. Marrying a lover you never told me about. A COMMONER. Right before your wedding to Eryndel."

Nerith's sobs grew louder.

She looked at Jax—blood pooling around him, soldiers still grinding their heels into his flesh and something broke inside her.

"How can you DO this to me, Father?!"

Her voice was raw. Desperate.

"You KNOW what will become of me after that marriage! You know how I'll be TREATED!"

General Ithris's eyes glistened.

Tears he couldn't quite suppress.

"I had no choice, Nerith."

His gaze flickered to the powers standing behind him. The Arc Demon. The Emperor's guards. The weight of political necessity.

His expression hardened.

"It was better than being dead."

Nerith shattered.

"FINE!"

She screamed it. A surrender. A defeat.

"I ACCEPT! Just leave him alone!"

She pointed at Jax's broken form.

"Please... just stop..."

The young nobleman who was standing beside arc-demon the father-son due: Eryndel stepped forward.

A cruel smile played on his lips.

"So you're saying we should spare your lover? Let him go free?"

He circled her like a predator.

"So that after our marriage, you can sneak away and warm his bed?"

His laugh was ice.

"Even if you accept me, he dies. That's what it means to go against the Arc Demon family."

Nerith crawled toward him.

"Please, Eryndel. He's innocent. We can leave him out of this. I promise—I'll obey you. I'll do whatever you want."

Eryndel looked down at her.

"Oh, after this unholy act? You certainly WILL obey."

His eyes drifted to General Ithris.

"And I'm afraid this little rebellion won't just bring shame to your family."

His smile widened.

"There will be... consequences. Terrifying ones."

The General stared at the ground.

A failed father. Unable to meet anyone's eyes.

Eryndel turned back to Nerith.

"Your punishment will come after our marriage. I'll take my time with it."

His hand shot out.

Grabbed her hair from behind.

Pulled. Slowly. Harder. Harder still.

Her neck arched backward. His face descended toward hers.

Ready to whisper something terrible.

And then—

THWACK.

Jax's foot connected with Eryndel's stomach.

The noble flew sideways. Crashed to the ground. Gasping. Hissing in shock.

Everyone froze.

Jax stood where Eryndel had been.

Or rather—he swayed.

His face was a mask of his own blood. Dust caked his wounds. His outfit was shredded beyond recognition.

He looked like a corpse that had forgotten to die.

"HOW—"

Soldiers grabbed him before he could move again. Locking his arms. Forcing him to his knees.

Eryndel rose.

His face was twisted with disbelief and rage.

"How DARE you kick ME?!"

His fist slammed into Jax's stomach.

Jax's vision blurred. But through the haze, he could see Eryndel's face.

So he gathered what remained in his mouth.

And spat blood directly onto it.

"I won't let you hurt her."

The words came out broken. Barely audible.

But they landed.

Eryndel wiped his face slowly. Staring at the crimson on his hand.

Then the beating began in earnest.

Stomach. Face. Stomach again.

Over and over until his knuckles were stained red.

"STOP IT!"

Nerith screamed.

"ERYNDEL, PLEASE!"

But Jax was laughing.

Through split lips. Through broken ribs. Through the kind of pain that should have rendered him unconscious.

He was LAUGHING.

"So this is who you're accepting, Nerith?"

His voice trembled. Blood bubbled with each word.

"This weakling? This coward hiding behind his soldiers?"

The hall went silent.

Every demon stared at the broken human who had just insulted the son of an Arc Demon.

Eryndel grabbed Jax's face. Squeezed.

"Weakling? Look at YOURSELF."

His grip tightened.

"A boy from the slums dares call the son of Arc Demon Noir a WEAKLING?"

Jax cut him off.

"The same boy who just kicked your ass across the room."

His grin was savage.

"And what did you do? Call your guards. Hide behind soldiers."

He spat more blood.

"You're not a man. You don't DESERVE her."

The silence was absolute.

"But fine. If you have ANY manhood left—fight me."

Eryndel's eye twitched.

"Right here. Right now. Prove you're worthy of her."

Jax's voice dropped.

"If you win, I'll accept you as her perfect groom. I'll take any punishment you want."

Nerith lurched forward.

"Jax, PLEASE—"

He ignored her.

His eyes never left Eryndel.

"And if I win..."

That devilish smile returned.

"You never cross her path again. Never harm her family directly OR indirectly."

Eryndel stared at him.

Then burst out laughing.

He turned to his father who was standing beside the Emperor himself.

"Do you SEE this, Father? This broken insect thinks he can defeat ME!"

Arc Demon Noir said nothing. Simply watched with quiet pride.

Eryndel faced Jax again.

"Your bet sounds entertaining. Not that the rewards matter, I would have claimed both anyway."

His smile was pure arrogance.

"But it will feel SO much better to earn them."

He stepped back.

"I accept."

The Emperor, who had been observing silently, turned his gaze to Jax.

He studied the broken human. Blood dripping from his mouth. From his lips.

Then he turned away.

"Arc Demon Noir."

His voice was casual. Disinterested.

"I am leaving for the palace."

Eryndel's father stepped forward quickly.

"But Your Majesty, this—"

"This fight is useless."

The Emperor didn't even glance back. "The winner is already decided."

Arc Demon Noir's expression flickered with confusion, but he pressed on.

"I understand, Your Highness. But we still require your presence. Your approval is needed when we punish General Ithris for his daughter's transgression."

The Emperor paused. "You misunderstand me, Arc Demon Noir."

He turned slightly. "General Ithris will not be punished today."

Arc Demon Noir blinked.

"That boy won't lose."

The pride on his face melted into bewilderment.

"What... what do you mean, Your Highness?"

The Emperor's eyes grew distant. Remembering.

"My father once told me something."

His voice carried the weight of ancient wisdom.

"If you ever see a man laughing in his worst pain. If you see him enjoying what everyone believes is his dead end."

He began walking toward the exit.

"Turn back. Run. Don't let yourself be consumed by that storm."

Both the Emperor and Arc Demon Noir turned their heads.

To Jax.

Still held by guards.

Face destroyed.

Body broken.

But wearing that devilish grin.

He spat another mouthful of blood onto the sacred floor.

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