The silhouette finally stopped.
Its dark wings slowly folded.
Silence took over for a moment.
In that instant, Koharu realized—
it wasn't a "monster."
It was a breathing being.
The smoke rose and fell with the rhythm of its heart,as if power was being reborn with every breath.
As if…
it was cultivating.
With each inhale, the black smoke receded slightly.
A strange sense of peace filled Koharu.
She wasn't afraid anymore.
On the contrary…
she wanted to get closer.
She took a step—
then stopped.
Her hands clenched.
Her heart was pounding wildly.
"Could it… talk to me? Someone with a heart like that… can't be evil."
But her legs gave out.
She couldn't take that step.
She couldn't gather the courage.
So she just watched.
Panic spread among the soldiers.
They couldn't see the silhouette clearly—
only feel its presence.
And even that was enough to break their formation.
Whispers grew.
The lines began to falter.
Prince Kaito clenched his jaw.
He immediately called a soldier over.
"Hey! You—come here!"
The soldier ran forward and knelt.
Kaito's voice was sharp and commanding:
"You will go to the king."
The soldier hesitated for a brief moment.
Kaito's gaze hardened.
"Repeat every word I say. Exactly."
"Yes, my prince."
Kaito lifted his head, looking toward the golden dome.
He didn't blink.
"The golden barrier is under attack by an extremely powerful demon."
"The army is fully engaged."
"Our attacks are ineffective."
"The entity either nullifies or absorbs everything we send."
He paused.
His voice grew heavier.
"This… is no ordinary demon."
Kaito's jaw tightened.
"If this continues… the barrier may be damaged."
The soldier's face paled.
Kaito stepped closer.
"Go. Now."
The soldier ran without looking back.
When the report reached the palace…
The king did not move as he listened.
The golden dome—
the absolute shield that had protected the kingdom for over a thousand years—
was in danger.
That thought shook everything he believed in.
But only for a moment.
Then his eyes hardened.
"If the dome falls… nothing else matters."
He turned.
"Let's go to the altar."
Moments later…
The king and the High Priest stood before the sacred altar in the palace courtyard.
Michael's Spear rose toward the heavens, bathed in golden light.
The High Priest spoke cautiously:
"My king… we came to pray for Michael's protection, did we not?"
The king did not respond.
His gaze was fixed on the inscription carved into the altar:
"No matter what happens… do not remove the spear."
Silence thickened.
The High Priest's voice grew tense:
"My king… I hope you are not about to do what I think you are…"
The king stepped forward.
His voice was unshakable.
"If the golden dome falls…"
His hand reached toward the spear.
"…what meaning does this spear have?"
The High Priest held his breath and stepped forward.
"You are breaking Michael's only command, my king… the consequences will be grave."
The king did not stop.
His fingers closed around the shaft of the spear.
There was only one thing in his eyes:
Resolve.
"The lives of my people…" he said, his voice low but firm,"…stand above any command."
And then—
He pulled the spear free.
At that moment—
The sacred light that had pierced the sky vanished.
The golden dome rippled violently.
For a brief instant…
it seemed like it would collapse.
But it didn't.
It still stood.
The king gripped the spear.
Golden light enveloped his body.
It flowed into him.
Filled him.
His breathing deepened.
His posture changed.
His aging body…
rejuvenated.
Power surged through his veins—
greater than anything he had ever felt.
His eyes gleamed.
"I knew it…" he whispered.
Then he raised his head.
"This spear… was always meant for me."
Golden energy pulsed outward from him.
"For the moment I must protect my people…"
The king began walking toward the battlefield.
The disappearance of the pillar of light that once rose from the center of the kingdom—and the rippling of the golden dome—sent waves of panic through the soldiers.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
"This must be Koharu's doing…""Michael is withdrawing his blessing…""We are being cursed because a demon was among us…"
After a while, the crowd suddenly parted into two.
Koharu's gaze shifted in that direction—
And she saw him.
Her father.
Walking forward in heavy steps, clad in golden armor.
In his hand—
A radiant weapon.
Michael's Spear.
The king's face was cold.
No anger.
No fear.
Only unshakable resolve.
Koharu's breath caught.
"Father… why are you here?"
The king stepped before the barrier.
The soldiers around him dropped to their knees.
Hidden behind the rock, Koharu held her breath.
When she lifted her head—
Kaito was now beside the king.
The king spoke, his voice sharp:
"Report, Commander Kaito. What is the situation?"
Kaito knelt, lowering his head.
"Your Majesty… the entity we are facing is unlike anything we have ever encountered.""It has withstood all of our attacks. Light arrows, sacred flames… it reacts to none of them.""Even the golden barrier has trembled… yet it still stands. Its power seems limitless."
The king's face darkened.
His brows furrowed, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"No demon… should be able to endure Michael's light for this long."
Kaito raised his head slightly, his voice wavering:
"There is… another possibility. Rumors are spreading among the soldiers.""They say… that entity might be the princess who was exiled into the Void… Koharu."
The spear in the king's hand trembled faintly.
The golden light flickered for a brief moment.
"What… did you say?"
Kaito's eyes narrowed.
"I do not know, Your Majesty. But if it is true… then that demon may have been among us all this time."
The king fell silent.
For a moment, only the wind could be heard.
Then—
"So… the king of demons has been hiding among us all this time.""As one of my own blood!"
His voice thundered across the battlefield.
The soldiers lowered their heads.
"We thought exile to the Void was enough… yet we allowed the darkness to grow with our own hands.""But no longer."
The king raised the spear to the sky.
Golden light burst outward.
"Michael's Spear will shine once more today!""This curse… will be sealed forever!"
Koharu stood frozen behind the rock.
Her heart was racing.
Her eyes shifted between her brother and her father.
But her voice…
still would not come out.