It pronounced the names like a blade: "Celia, Linda, and Lyra. Those three—your comrades. The ones you care about. Join me… or I kill them."

The threat hung in the air like smoke. Around the watching crowd, a chill settled—because the demon had not only spoken; it had seen into Nolan's life, and now it held that life in its palm.

Nolan's eyes narrowed. "Do you understand what you just said? Do you?"

His voice deepened as his aura began to pulse around him, the air trembling with every word. "I know what you did. The moment you touched my head with your finger, you intercepted a part of my memory. You saw the path—you saw the people I care about. My loved ones."

His expression hardened. "But what you just said now… is deeply unforgivable."

A crimson aura erupted around Nolan's body. The ground began to shake violently—civilians outside fell to their knees, unable to stay on their feet. The air distorted, and the earth groaned like an earthquake was ripping through it.

The demon's eyes widened. "W–What is this power?! He's not scared of my threats… he's furious! I've made him even stronger!"

Panicked, the demon turned and tried to fly away. But the moment it did, it slammed into an invisible barrier—an unanchored energy field.

It clawed at the air, pounding the invisible shield. "No! No! No! No! No!" the demon screamed, hammering at the barrier.

Nolan rose into the air, moving slowly but with an overwhelming presence.

The demon kept striking the barrier, desperate to escape. "I can't… break free!"

In an instant, Nolan vanished from sight.

The demon's eyes widened in horror. "Wha—?"

Nolan appeared right before him. The demon swung, roaring, "Get away from me!"

Nolan tilted his head calmly—the punch missed by inches.

He countered with a brutal strike to the jaw.

BOOM!

The demon was launched high into the sky, spinning violently. Clouds scattered.

Before it could even steady itself, Nolan was already there—above it.

Nolan raised his leg high, eyes burning red. "This ends now."

He brought it down like divine judgment.

SLAM!

The demon crashed into the ground with a thunderous impact—

BOOOOOOM!

A massive crater ripped through Empire City, shockwaves tearing across the streets. Buildings shook, glass shattered, and dust filled the air.

As the rumble faded, Nolan looked down at the motionless demon. Then he extended his arm backward, gathering power. His aura flared bright—gold and red intertwined.

He thrust his fist forward.

BOOOOOM!!!

The entire city quaked. Houses trembled. The streets cracked open. The shockwave split the ground, and the demon's body disintegrated instantly—erased from existence by the sheer power of the blow.

Silence.

For a long second, the world was still. Then, out of the crater, Nolan slowly descended, his coat fluttering in the fading wind.

He landed softly, looking at the destruction around him. "Oh no… looks like I made quite the mess."

Civilians peeked from their shelters. Slowly, they stood and began to clap—hesitant at first, then louder, stronger.

Nolan blinked. "Wait… they're clapping? For me? But I almost destroyed their city…"

From among the crowd, the King of the Empire stepped forward, awe in his eyes.

"Thank you, Sir Nolan. I still can't believe what I witnessed. This is the first time I've ever seen a demon. The last time one appeared, our ancestors said it destroyed entire cities—countless lives lost. But because of you… not a single life was taken."

Nolan gave a small smile. "Still, I may have gone a bit overboard. Some houses collapsed just from the impact of my punch."

The King laughed, shaking his head. "Don't worry about that. I am the King. Everything will be repaired. The city will be as good as new."

Nolan smiled faintly. If only you knew…

He looked up at the sky. "There's no need for repairs."

He whispered, "Rewind."

The wind shifted as Nolan rose into the air. A massive, glowing clock materialized in front of the city—ancient runes spinning around its edges as the hands ticked backward.

Vwooooom.

The cracked ground sealed itself.

Collapsed buildings reassembled, bricks and walls snapping into place.

Even the wounded citizens felt their injuries fade away as the world reset to the moment before the devastation.

Gasps spread through the crowd.

"Wh–What's happening?"

"The damage—it's disappearing!"

"Is he… is he a god?"

Celia stared in awe. "Master… look at Master. He's incredible."

Linda nodded. "He really is… the leader."

Above them all, Nolan's silhouette hovered in the orange sky, the ticking clock fading into light behind him.

The sky slowly returned to its normal blue as Nolan landed gracefully on the ground. Dust settled around him, and the crowd erupted in applause—continuous, deafening claps that echoed through the streets.

"Wow! What… what was that?!" someone shouted. "Who are you?!"

Another voice added, trembling with awe, "You're one of the greatest mages… no, not even just a mage—you're a fighter! A miracle has appeared before our eyes!"

Nolan smiled faintly. "Well… that was a skill I learned, but it can only be used once," he said. "So… I won't be able to use it again."

"Oh, is that so?" someone murmured in amazement.

The King of the Empire stepped forward, his eyes shining with admiration. "Yes… that is true. Your power is incredible."

The applause continued, louder and stronger, filling the entire city square.

"I see," Nolan said, humbly bowing his head.

The King's voice boomed with warmth and authority. "Thank you, Nolan. You have saved countless lives today. As my guest, I now invite you—come to my home. Come to my royal castle, Pestale. You will meet my daughter, the princess, and my wife, the queen."

Nolan raised an eyebrow, a faint smile on his lips. "I will accept… on one condition. I bring my companion with me."

The King of the Empire nodded slowly. "And what is this condition?"

"Only if I bring my companion with me," Nolan said firmly.

The King chuckled and extended his hand. "Then it is a deal."

The crowd cheered once more, the city alive with joy and relief. Nolan's calm presence radiated strength, yet his humility only made him all the more revered.

Soon, two carriages arrived at the square, polished and grand, their wheels glinting in the sunlight. Nolan looked around. Where are my companions? he thought, scanning the crowd.

Then, he spotted Celia, her hand raised high, and beside her, Damian and Lyra. Nolan extended his hand. "Come."

They quickly came forward, bowing their heads in respect as they approached the King.

"There's no need to bow," the King said with a gentle smile. "You may raise your heads. Please, enter your carriages."

One by one, Nolan's companions stepped into one carriage, while Nolan himself entered the second, his aura calm but commanding.

The two carriages rolled forward, wheels clattering over the cobblestones, and the people of the city erupted in awe-struck applause.

"Wow… today was incredible!" a voice called from the crowd. "We just witnessed it—the battle! Nolan, that man… defeating the champion of the empire!"

"And saving the city from destruction by a demon," another added, eyes wide. "It's truly amazing."

A third voice murmured, shaking with excitement, "Did you see that skill he used just now? To reverse everything… the city, the streets, even injuries—it's unbelievable."

"But he said it can only be used once," someone else added, still in awe. "Even so… to have such a power, even once, is incredible."

As the carriages slowly drove off through the cheering city streets, Nolan and his companions looked out over the crowd. The people's eyes shone with hope and admiration, and the city buzzed with the thrill of witnessing a true hero in action.

Dalvin and Alaric pushed through the crowd, having already cleaned up the assassins who'd been fighting on the ground. They'd handled their side—but what unfolded in the sky stole their breath.

Alaric's mouth hung open, stunned. He could still feel the echo of that demon's terrifying aura in his bones—an aura that could have vaporized them with a single strike. Yet Nolan had defeated it.

Dalvin's eyes darkened. He tightened his fists until his knuckles blanched. Fury and something colder—jealousy—coiled in his chest.

Just a bastard, he thought through clenched teeth. He gets everything.

"I was supposed to be the one," Dalvin muttered, voice low and cracked with resentment. "I was summoned as the hero. I'm the hero. Why is he getting the king's favor? The king hasn't even invited me to his palace to meet the queen."

Heat rose in him, a dangerous, hungry flame. "That Nolan—he can't keep taking everything. He has to go. I have to kill him."

The words hissed out of him, bitter and resolute. Jealousy filled every syllable, sharpening into a silent vow.

Alaric glanced at him, uncertain. Around them, the crowd still cheered Nolan—the city's new miracle—while Dalvin's eyes stared up at the bright sky, plotting. The stage had shifted. A new threat had been born—not from below, but from within the ranks of those who called themselves heroes.

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