Rocky and Carter launched themselves at Red Wolf.
Red Wolf formed a sword in his hand—not matter, not metal, but something beyond anything the world could forge. With a single motion, he swung at Ron.
Rocky hurled a bolt of lightning to intercept. Red Wolf twisted his wrist, letting the blade drink the electricity. The sword absorbed the attack and hurled the shockwave back at Rocky, blasting him across the battlefield.
Ron reached him first, a violent violet aura erupting around his body. His fist connected with Red Wolf's jaw—
—and every structure within fifty kilometers collapsed from the shockwave.
Red Wolf shot across the planet like a meteor.
"This man… has gotten stronger," Red Wolf growled mid-flight.
A gigantic flaming serpent materialized behind him and slammed into his body.
The mid-air detonation carved a crater the size of a city.
The moment Ron's punch connected, a memory flashed into his mind.
A voice ordering Red Wolf to bring Locki back alive.
A threat: If you fail, your family dies.
Humans in the Demon Realm.
Red Wolf… was one of them.
Dream's voice guided the vision as it unfolded.
"He was called Red Wolf because he protected his family. A wolf defending his pack."
Ron saw Red Wolf's little brothers and sister playing happily.
He saw Red Wolf—a simple worker—just wanting to keep them smiling. A man willing to do anything for them.
"These are orders from above," someone told him. "Locki holds the secrets of Foster and Scars. With those, Ross and Rio will kneel before us."
"Sir… I can't leave my family," Red Wolf whispered.
He needed money. Desperately. He sought help from a "generous" man—one who knew Red Wolf would do anything for his siblings.
"Sir, must I really do this? There has to be another way."
"The Demon King election is soon. I am busy. Do as you're told."
Red Wolf walked out ready to refuse. But when he reached home, his siblings ran to him with bright, innocent smiles.
His resolve shattered.
He accepted the mission.
The memory ended
Ron floated motionlessly in the air.
But it triggered a memory, a memory from long ago.
A bonfire.
Two teenagers.
Daniel sat beside a younger Ron.
"You look tired," Ron said.
"Well… it's for my brothers and sister," Daniel replied. "Our parents died early. Someone has to take care of them. Their big brother is still alive."
"You can always ask me. Or Rio."
"No, no… how can I trouble you two?"
"We're friends. We help each other."
Daniel smiled.
Back in Present
Red Wolf crashed into the ground. Before he could rise, a colossal lightning eagle dove from the sky and clamped its talons around his throat. The explosion that followed dwarfed the previous one—leaving Red Wolf's jaw shattered and both arms nearly torn off.
He hid in the dust cloud.
But a thin, glowing purple line slithered toward him.
Carter's trap.
The moment Red Wolf stepped out of the haze, the line snapped tight—
and his body split cleanly in half.
His upper body fell.
Ron stepped on the ground near the upper half. Ron stared at him, his eyes filled with something, he didn't knew.
"What are you staring at? You defeated a demon. Celebrate," Red Wolf coughed, his form reverting to his human self.
"I saw it," Ron said quietly.
"Saw… what?"
"Your brothers and sister."
Red Wolf's eyes widened, then softened into a weak smile.
"I'm sorry," Ron said. "If you had told us, we would've helped you. We would've saved them."
"You would help me?" Red Wolf barked a bloody laugh. "You barely survived against me—just a half-demon—three against one! What can you do against the Demon Realm?"
Rocky and Carter approached from the distance, supporting each other, hearing only the shouting.
"I knew someone like you," Ron said. "Someone who gave everything for his siblings. You reminded me of him."
He placed a hand on Red Wolf's shoulder.
"It doesn't matter if you're human, demon, or something else. Humans can be far worse than demons—but they can also be the ones who never ignore someone in need."
Ron leaned closer.
"I will save them. But I need answers."
Tears filled Red Wolf's eyes. He nodded.
Ron listened to everything.
"Don't worry about your loved ones," Ron said gently. "I promise—they're in the right hands."
Red Wolf smiled as tears fell.
Then his remains vaporized into nothing.