The lion made from the soil of the Red Moon suddenly broke apart into countless glowing particles and disappeared.
A moment later, a man arrived surrounded by rays of sunlight.
He possessed an unusually handsome appearance, and his presence alone seemed to brighten the area.
The moment he saw the battlefield, his eyes widened.
He looked at the dragon's lifeless body and then at Makhulu.
"What have you done?" he asked in shock.
"You killed the dragon?"
Makhulu crossed his arms and smiled proudly.
"You know that I have only just returned to reality through the influence of a human's memories."
The man nodded.
"Yes, I know."
"The moment pride awakened within Ajina's thoughts, you were freed from the curse."
For a few seconds, silence filled the air.
The man then straightened his posture and spoke in a respectful tone.
"Now then..."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Let's discuss something important, Your Majesty."
Makhulu looked at the man with calm eyes.
"Where is my body, son?"
The man hesitated.
"Y-Your Majesty... it is in the Void."
Makhulu remained silent for a moment.
Then, with an arrogant yet strangely calm expression, he spoke.
"So... have you forgotten about it?"
The man's face stiffened.
"N-No, Your Majesty. It's just that—"
Before he could finish, Makhulu interrupted him.
"Why?"
The single word echoed through the air.
Suddenly, thin streams of smoke began rising from around the dragon's severed head.
Azaz immediately took a step back.
Then another.
And another.
Makhulu slowly turned his gaze toward him.
"Azaz."
His voice was neither loud nor angry.
Yet it felt heavier than the sky itself.
"What did I tell you?"
Azaz's body trembled.
For the first time, genuine fear could be seen in his eyes.
"I-I..."
He lowered his head.
"You said..."
Answer properly!"
Makhulu's voice thundered across the battlefield.
"What did I tell you?"
Azaz flinched.
Then, as if terrified of making another mistake, he immediately replied,
"You told me that until you were freed from the curse, I had to find your body."
Silence followed.
Makhulu's expression remained unchanged.
Then he spoke in a calm voice.
"And what did you do?"
The moment those words left his mouth, blood began to trickle from Azaz's nose and mouth.
Yet Azaz didn't even notice.
His entire attention was focused on the figure standing before him.
He's become even stronger...
Azaz's eyes trembled.
How is that possible?
He has been struck by countless curses, yet he always finds a way to return.
A chill ran down his spine.
He truly is Makhulu's Curse...
Or perhaps...
The curse itself is called Makhulu.
You know what we desire, don't you?" Makhulu asked.
Azaz immediately lowered his head.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"The rise of truth in this world."
A faint smile appeared on Makhulu's face.
"Then stop wasting time."
His voice was calm, yet impossible to ignore.
"Move forward."
"Find my body and bring it before me."
Azaz glanced behind him.
The moment he did, blood began to flow from one of his eyes.
Yet he remained silent.
Without another word, he stepped forward and disappeared into the distance.
Makhulu watched him leave.
For the first time, a trace of concern appeared in his eyes.
I may be discovered by the Gods sooner than expected.
His expression darkened.
And if that happens...
My dream will shatter.
Everything I have endured... every curse, every sacrifice, every year of waiting...
All of it will become meaningless.
The wind howled across the battlefield.
Makhulu slowly closed his eyes.
No...
I cannot allow that to happen.
By then, Azaz had already moved some distance away.
"Azaz."
Makhulu's voice stopped him in his tracks.
Azaz slowly turned around.
"Blood is flowing from your eyes... and from several parts of your body."
Only then did Azaz raise a hand to his face.
His fingers touched the warm liquid running down his cheek.
Confused, he looked at his hand.
Blood.
His eyes widened.
For a moment, he simply stared at it.
Then his legs gave way beneath him.
He fell to his knees.
A cold shiver ran through his body.
Makhulu watched him silently.
"Do you know why this happened?" he asked.
Azaz remained silent.
He couldn't find the words.
The fear in his heart was growing with every passing second.
A faint smile appeared on Makhulu's face.
"You will."
His calm voice echoed in Azaz's ears.
"And when you do..."
Makhulu turned away.
"You'll understand just how grave your mistake was."
"I think I'll spend some time looking for a beautiful and peaceful place."
Makhulu's voice was unusually calm.
There was no pride.
No arrogance.
For a brief moment, he sounded almost... tired.
Then his body slowly began to rise into the sky.
Higher.
And higher.
Suddenly, the dragon stirred.
Its eyes opened once again.
With a powerful flap of its wings, it soared into the air, circled once above the battlefield, and silently followed behind Makhulu.
Far below, Azaz remained on his knees.
His eyes followed the distant figure.
He's never spoken this much to me before...
A strange thought crossed his mind.
Has he become weaker?
The idea vanished almost instantly.
No.
That's impossible.
Fear crept into his heart.
That man has endured countless curses.
He has become something closer to death itself than a living being.
Azaz clenched his fists.
One of Makhulu's curses was terrifying beyond imagination.
Anyone who listened to his voice for too long would slowly suffer damage to their hearing.
Anyone who gazed directly at him would risk losing their sight.
And those who spoke with him would find their throats gradually deteriorating.
Azaz's hands suddenly began to tremble.
The blood flowing from his eyes no longer seemed so mysterious.
For the first time in a long while...
He felt afraid of Makhulu.
Azaz stared at the blood covering his hand.
His mind raced.
Without speaking to him...?
Without even standing near him...?
How could his curse still affect me?
Slowly, Azaz rose to his feet.
Then another thought struck him.
Wait...
Makhulu's curse only affects those with whom he spoke before the curse took hold.
Then why am I suffering from it?
His eyes widened.
A sudden realization hit him.
"I understand now... Big One."
The words escaped his lips almost as a whisper.
A moment later, he sank to his knees once again.
"Please forgive me, Big One."
His voice trembled.
"I called you by the name Makhulu."
For several seconds, he remained silent.
Then he stood up and wiped the blood from his face.
A bitter smile appeared on his lips.
"For the last thousand years..."
"While Makhulu was absent..."
"I traded something that should never have been traded."
His gaze darkened.
"Something far too valuable."
Suddenly, a large stream of blood burst from Azaz's mouth.
His body trembled violently.
It was as if he had spoken something he was never supposed to say.
Azaz immediately covered his mouth.
"Big One said that he was going to look upon something beautiful and peaceful..."
His eyes widened.
"But..."
A chill ran through his entire body.
"He can't see."
For a moment, complete silence surrounded him.
Then another realization struck.
"If his body returns to him..."
Azaz's face turned pale.
"Everything will be over for me."
Fear gripped his heart.
Slowly, he calmed himself.
A few seconds later, he raised his hand.
"Gyan Mudra."
Countless glowing particles erupted from his body.
The particles scattered into the air before gathering once more.
In the next instant, Azaz vanished at tremendous speed.
Only the cold wind remained behind.