Night fell heavier than steel as Kazuki and Lyria fled deeper into the shadow-soaked forest. The Eclipse King's projection had vanished, but the threat lingering in the air had only grown sharper—like a blade pressed against the back of Kazuki's neck.
A cold wind howled.The leaves rustled in a circle.
Then—silence.
Kazuki stopped."…He's here."
A massive, armored boot stepped into the moonlight.
Then another.
From the darkness emerged a towering figure—seven feet of pure killing intent, clad in runic moonsteel armor that drained the light around him. His long silver mane flowed like spectral fire, and his eyes burned with twin moons of merciless white.
A status flare flickered before Kazuki's eyes—
Moonfang General: Raizel
Level: 72Rank: Mythic EliteTitle: Eclipse King's First Fang, Royal ExecutionerThreat Level: CATASTROPHIC**
Kazuki's breath caught in his throat.Level 72.He wasn't facing a soldier—he was facing a calamity.
Lyria immediately recoiled in terror."R–Raizel… No… They didn't send a squad… They sent him?!"
Raizel's voice cut through the forest like a blade shearing stone.
"Princess Lyria.Bearer of the Lost Lunar Bloodline.You will return with me."
Kazuki stepped in front of her, trembling—but unwilling to break.
"You'll have to walk over me first."
Raizel tilted his head.A faint, amused exhale escaped his lips.
"Very well, boy. Let us measure your worth."
He lifted one gauntlet-clad hand.
The moon turned blood-white.
And a crushing weight slammed onto Kazuki like a collapsing mountain.
MOONFANG DOCTRINE
GRAVITY VEIL (Royal-Type)
Kazuki's knees crashed into the dirt.His arms buckled.His bones creaked like cracking ice.
I… can't move…!
Lyria screamed his name and tried to run to him——but a crescent barrier of pale light trapped her, locking her in place.
"Don't struggle, Princess. You will not die.Only the boy will."
Kazuki's vision blurred. The edges of the world curved inward…
And then—something deep inside him ignited.
A lunar spark in his chest.
A soft silver glow surrounded his body.
New Passive Unlocked
MOONLIT TENACITY— All lunar suppression effects weakened by 65%— Strength and speed increase when under pressure
Kazuki's back straightened.
A shockwave burst outward as he stood, forcing Raizel's gravity field to falter.
Raizel's eyes widened a fraction.
"…Mid-battle awakening? You are indeed the anomaly the King predicted."
Kazuki roared and launched forward.
Shadowrend clashed with Raizel's moonsteel blade.
BOOM!
The impact tore apart trees, crushed stones, and rippled shockwaves through the entire forest. Kazuki skidded back—his arms numb, lungs burning—but he wasn't down yet.
Raizel moved.
Just once.
In that single move—Kazuki saw only a blur of moonlight.
A diagonal crescent slash cut through the air—
And Kazuki was hurled backward, smashing through a tree and skidding across the dirt.
"KAZUKI!!" Lyria cried—
—but her voice triggered something within her too.
A silver-blue symbol erupted on her chest—a piece of her long-lost heritage awakening violently.
Lunar Royal Seal Fragment — Activated
Moonblood Resonance Unlocked
Raizel froze.
"…Impossible. The Seal should only awaken during coronation."
Moonlight surged from Lyria like a storm—but she couldn't control it. Her body shook violently, struggling against both fear and unleashed power.
Raizel's expression hardened.
"Then I will restrain you myself."
He spread his arms.
A second Gravity Veilstrongerdenserdeadlier—formed above her.
Kazuki's eyes widened.
"Lyria—MOVE!"
He shoved himself forward, body screaming in pain.
But he knew.He felt it.
They couldn't win this fight.Not against a Level 72 General.
Kazuki grabbed Lyria's hand.
"Lyria… we're retreating."
"But—Kazuki—he'll—"
"I DON'T CARE! JUST RUN!"
Raizel didn't chase immediately.He watched them sprint into the trees, his moonlit stare cold, calculating.
"Run while you still can, Lost Evolution."
He lowered his blade.
"The next time I find you…one of you will die."
The hunt had begun.