The Emperor paused at the threshold. His gaze found one of the soldiers standing at attention.

"High Commander Zyrek."

The soldier straightened immediately.

"Make sure they honor the wager. And ensure no shame falls upon the nobility."

His voice carried finality.

Then he glanced back at Arc Demon Noir.

"But... But Your Majesty!"

Noir's voice cracked with desperation.

"How can you say such things? He's just some psycho! A broken, bleeding nobody!"

The Emperor smiled.

"How can I say it? You'll understand soon enough."

His body began dissolving. Dark particles separating from his form like smoke in reverse.

"You didn't just challenge that psycho, Arc Demon."

His voice echoed as he faded.

"You interfered with his love."

And then he was gone.

Scattered into shadows.

Arc Demon Noir stood frozen.

Horror crept through his veins.

'The Emperor never speaks without reason. Never makes predictions he doesn't believe. He SAW something in that broken demon. Something that made him confident enough to bet against his own ally's son.'

His eyes drifted to Jax.

Blood-soaked. Barely conscious. Held upright only by the guards' grip.

'What did the Emperor see that I cannot?'

Fear coiled in his stomach.

'And now, because of my idiot son's arrogance—his LUST for that girl our family would face a major downfall.'

His mind raced through options.

'Cheating. I need to ensure Eryndel wins. But how?'

He scanned the room.

Too many eyes. Witnesses from multiple factions. Soldiers who would report directly to the Emperor.

And High Commander Zyrek himself standing there like a statue of judgment.

'Even if I somehow bribed the Commander, it changes nothing. This fight happens HERE. In the Infernal Sanctum. Before the eyes of Lord Azoth himself.'

His gaze lifted to the demon statue looming over them all.

'I refuse to damn my afterlife for this matter.'

He had no moves left.

'Son... I'm counting on you. Prove the Emperor wrong.'

Eryndel stepped forward.

"Release him."

The guards obeyed instantly.

Jax crumpled to the ground. Face-first into the sacred stone.

Eryndel looked down at him with disgust.

"Arm yourself. Take whatever weapon you need."

He cracked his neck.

"I don't want to waste time on this, so hurry up and fight."

Jax lay motionless for a moment.

Then his shoulders began shaking.

Laughter.

Broken. Wet. Bubbling through blood.

"Oh, I won't need any armor."

He pushed himself up slowly. Every movement screaming agony.

"Or any weapon."

He met Eryndel's eyes.

"To beat your pathetic ass."

Eryndel's fist clenched.

He stepped forward—ready to strike

Then stopped himself.

'No. Not yet. I'll make this proper. Make her WATCH.'

He turned to Nerith with a smile that promised horrors.

"I'll show you exactly how terrifying I can be."

Then he walked away to prepare.

The moment Eryndel left, Nerith rushed forward.

Her mother who had stood frozen in tears throughout the nightmare finally moved as well.

Both women dropped to their knees beside Jax.

"Jax—"

Nerith's hands hovered over him, afraid to touch. Afraid to cause more pain.

She helped him sit up.

And saw his face properly for the first time.

Bruises layered over bruises. Swelling distorting his features. Blood caked into every crevice.

Tears spilled down her cheeks.

"Why did you do it?"

Her voice broke.

"Why did you challenge him?"

Then the answer hit her.

'He had no choice. They were going to kill him anyway. At least this way...'

But then another memory surfaced.

His exact words during the wager.

He hadn't just bet his own freedom.

He'd bet HERS.

'He went against the entire demon realm. For me. Even after I dragged him into this mess.'

"Why?"

Her voice was barely a whisper now.

"Why did you help me? After I put your life on the line?"

Jax moved.

Every motion was pain incarnate. But he lifted his hand anyway.

And gently wiped the tears from her cheek.

Then her other cheek.

Then her whole face.

He didn't realize that his blood-soaked, dirt-crusted fingers were smearing crimson across her porcelain skin.

'Every time I try to do the right thing, it turns into a disaster.'

Her pristine wedding makeup was now a horror show.

But she couldn't see that.

so he decided to ignore this part and said. "Why did I help you?"

His voice was ragged. Destroyed.

But somehow, he managed a smile.

"Isn't it obvious?"

He leaned back slightly.

"I'm your lover."

The smile brightened despite his split lips.

"And soon to be your groom."

Nerith stared at him.

Through the blood. Through the ruin. Through the impossible situation.

She saw something.

Light.

In all this darkness, this broken man was somehow still glowing.

'But why? He'll die here. He can barely move. They won't even provide a healer. This is his end.'

'And yet...'

"I'm sorry, Jax."

Fresh tears fell.

"This is all my fault. My selfishness dragged you into this. My—"

"Stop."

His voice cut through her spiral.

"Don't you ever think this is your fault. Not ever again."

His eyes found hers.

"With that mindset of yours the kind one? This was bound to happen eventually because those stupidly kind like you deserves it."

She blinked.

"And being selfish?"

He laughed—then winced.

"You're only feeling guilty because this is your FIRST time being selfish."

His bloody hand gestured vaguely.

"You probably think the whole world is full of saints, don't you? Good people making good choices for good reasons?"

He shook his head.

"Wrong. Every single one of them is selfish as hell. That's how life works."

His grin turned savage.

"And right in front of you? Sitting in his own blood like an idiot?"

He pointed at himself.

"The most selfish person in the whole damn world."

Nerith's tears slowed.

"You think I put my life on the line for some pretend of yours? Some heroic sacrifice?"

He spat blood to the side.

"No. I CHOSE this. Because I wanted to see what would happen. Because the thrill called to me."

His voice hardened.

"Even now, I could cope out. Blame everything on you. Tell the truth, Make myself the victim."

He met her eyes.

"But I don't. Because I always choose MYSELF. I don't give a fuck about this world or anyone's life."

He spread his arms—immediately regretted it but continued anyway.

"I'm selfish. And I'm PROUD of it. Because being selfish means my life is actually MINE."

His smile was defiant.

"Screw the world. The world only hates selfish people it can't USE."

Nerith sat in stunned silence.

Processing.

His actions. His philosophy. His complete disregard for conventional morality.

It sounded like something a villain would say.

But somehow... it carried weight. Truth.

"But still..."

She shook her head.

"It doesn't make sense. Why go to such lengths? Why risk everything for someone you just met?"

Jax's eyes drifted.

To Nerith's mother.

Standing behind her daughter. Face streaked with worry for both of them.

He remembered their conversation. Her tears. Her desperation.

A mother watching her daughter be sold to a monster.

He turned back to Nerith.

His ruined hand reached up again.

Wiped at her tears with his torn, filthy sleeve.

Smeared more blood across her face without realizing.

"Because I promised someone."

His voice was quiet now.

"That no one would hurt you while I'm standing beside you."

Nerith froze.

'Promised? Promised WHO? When?'

More questions. More mysteries.

Every conversation with this man created ten new enigmas.

She hated it.

And somehow... didn't hate it at all.

Movement caught her eye.

Eryndel had returned.

Clad in ornate demon armor. Ready for slaughter.

Nerith's panic returned.

"You didn't bring your sword!"

She grabbed Jax's arm.

"How will you fight? Should I ask Father for armor? A magical weapon?"

Jax's eyes unfocused for a moment.

[HP: 13,965 / 50,000]

'That's way more than I thought and would be enough I guess.'

Then he tested something.

His consciousness reached toward Eryndel.

Soul Thief.

[TARGET FOUND]

[NAME: UNDEFINED]

[CONFIRM? YES / NO]

He dismissed the prompt.

'So I CAN use Soul Thief on him. Which means I can use Echo Mirror too. And THAT means...'

His internal grin spread.

'...my level is higher than his.'

'I could just grab a wooden stick and beat him senseless. Easy.'

'But that's not the Jax way.'

His mind began crafting something crueler.

'I always find the most humiliating method to destroy my opponents. Always have. Always will.'

Nerith was still talking.

"—at least let me get you a basic sword! Something! Anything!"

Jax laughed.

The sound was broken. Wet. Absolutely unhinged.

"Nah."

He started pushing himself to his feet.

Swaying. Bleeding. Barely functional.

But standing.

"Just leave it."

His eyes found Eryndel across the sanctum.

The demon stood tall. Armored. Armed. Confident.

Jax's smile could have curdled milk.

"I'll fight him without any of those."

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