Velgon nodded slowly.

"…Yeah," he said. "It really was him who destroyed the city."

Azgus watched his face closely as Velgon spoke.

The usual sly confidence of the information broker was gone.

His shoulders were tense, and his hands kept moving, rubbing together as if he could not stay still.

"Not only the city," Velgon continued. "He destroyed the Demon Gate too."

Azgus frowned deeply.

"That doesn't make sense," he said. "Humans are weak. Even the stronger ones struggle to survive demonic mana."

Velgon let out a short, bitter laugh.

"I know. That's what we all believed."

He looked up, eyes sharp despite the fear in them.

"But that human wasn't ordinary. Not even close."

Azgus crossed his arms. "You're exaggerating."

Velgon shook his head and swallowed hard.

"How can it be an exaggeration when I saw him with my own eyes?"

He raised his one trembling finger.

"One... He only used one skill."

Azgus stiffened.

"One?"

Velgon nodded.

"Just one. [Gravity Hole]."

He raised his hand slightly, as if trying to describe it.

"Everything collapsed inward. Buildings. Streets. Even space felt like it was being pulled apart."

Azgus's brows knit together.

"…Impossible."

Velgon lowered his voice.

"And that same skill destroyed the Demon Gate. Like it was nothing."

They stood in silence for a moment, the ruined city stretching around them.

Azgus straightened and let out a breath.

"Still," he said firmly, "Lord Kravos is here."

Velgon glanced at him.

"I know."

Azgus's lips curved into a confident smirk.

"Let me tell you something," he said. "Lord Kravos is not like those four on the council."

He took a small step forward, voice lowering with certainty.

"Even if they used all their power together, they would never be able to defeat Lord Kravos."

Azgus gestured toward the ruined city.

"And think about it. That human destroyed the city. He destroyed the Demon Gate. He killed the council."

He tapped his chest once.

"He can't possibly be in full condition anymore."

Azgus continued, his tone steady and assured, looking back in Kravos' direction.

"Now, Lord Kravos will definitely be able to kill him."

Velgon stared in the same direction.

He wanted to believe that.

He really did.

"…I hope that's the case," Velgon said quietly.

Far away, the ground trembled faintly.

---

Kravos stood in the middle of the ruined street, his gaze locked onto Garion.

His expression was calm, but the anger underneath it was clear.

"I will make you pay," Kravos said slowly, each word heavy. "For destroying my city."

Garion rolled his neck once and smiled.

"Of course," he replied. "I knew you'd say that."

He lifted his hands slightly, relaxed, almost inviting.

"Come on. I want to see just how powerful the true ruler of this place really is."

Kravos did not answer.

He raised one hand.

The air changed.

"[Black Ash Dominion]."

At first, nothing seemed to happen.

Then fine black ash began to appear across the land.

It drifted quietly through the air, settling on broken walls, shattered streets and slowly spreading outward.

The ash moved with purpose, creeping like it belonged there.

Garion frowned slightly as some of it brushed against his skin.

"…Huh?"

More ash stuck to his arms and shoulders.

It did not burn. It did not freeze. But Garion felt it clearly.

Something was being taken.

His breath felt a bit heavier.

His body still felt strong, but the flow of energy inside him slowed, like resistance had been added.

Garion chuckled.

"So this is your trick," he said. "A domain skill, huh? And one that drains."

He brushed some ash off his arm, but more immediately replaced it.

"Not bad," Garion added. "Annoying, though."

Kravos's voice came from somewhere else.

"You noticed quickly. Good."

Then he vanished.

"[Judgment Step]!"

Garion's eyes sharpened.

"Where did you go?"

The ash around him shifted.

Garion twisted his body just in time.

Kravos appeared behind him.

"Die."

Before Garion could fully turn, Kravos's palm slammed forward.

"[Ruler's Verdict]!"

The force was not explosive.

It collapsed inward.

Garion felt the impact deep inside his body, like his insides were being crushed all at once.

His feet left the ground as he was sent flying backward.

He crashed straight through a half-standing building.

Stone and debris exploded outward as his body slammed into the far wall.

The street went quiet.

Kravos lowered his hand slowly.

"A human," he said coldly, walking forward. "Is still a human."

Ash continued to spread, covering the area.

Then laughter echoed from the rubble.

"Hahaha!"

Kravos stopped.

"What?" he muttered.

Garion pushed himself out of the broken wall, dust falling off his shoulders.

He rolled his arms once, testing them.

"…Wow," Garion said, still smiling. "It's been a while since I actually got hit."

Kravos stared at him.

"You should be dead," Kravos said.

Garion laughed again, louder this time.

"Yeah," he replied. "I figured you'd say that."

He stepped forward and cracked his knuckles, one hand at a time.

"That was interesting," Garion continued. "Really interesting."

His smile widened, but his posture changed.

Lower. More grounded.

"Alright," Garion said. "Now it's my turn to move."

Kravos felt it.

Something was coming.

His instincts screamed.

Garion disappeared.

It wasn't speed in the normal sense.

It felt like the space between them collapsed, like Garion was suddenly being pulled straight toward him.

Kravos's eyes widened.

"So fast!"

He reacted instantly.

Black ash surged from his body, wrapping around him in tight layers.

"[Ash Reversion]!"

The ash hardened, overlapping like armor as Kravos braced himself.

Garion was already there.

He didn't wind up.

He stepped in and punched.

The moment Garion's fist connected, the air exploded inward.

The ash armor shattered on contact.

Kravos's eyes went wide as his body was launched backward.

He skidded across the ground, tearing a deep line through stone before crashing into what was left of a building.

He coughed.

Blood splattered onto the broken ground.

Kravos wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and stared at the red smear on his glove.

"…Tch," he muttered.

He pushed himself back up, breathing heavier now.

"It seems," Kravos said slowly, "that I've been working at my desk too much."

Garion stopped a few steps away and tilted his head.

"Oh?" he said. "Still joking after that?"

Kravos stared back at Garion intently, knowing this human was not easy anymore.

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