The Pact: Bruno and the Crimson Veil

Incursus Dominus Ignis.

A brutal charge — the result of merging my Vitae with Ignis's and Astrel's.

Astrel, beyond lending me part of his energy, unleashed his natural blazing charge, wrapping my spear in a spiral of fire.

At the same time, I channeled my Vitae and Nex directly into the weapon, forging the ultimate attack:

Incursus Dominus Ignis.

The Charge of the Lord of Fire.

A devastating strike — but with a steep cost.

About 35% of my Vitae, and 50% from both Ignis and Astrel.

In practice, using it twice in a row was impossible.

Not for me — but for them.

In the sky, a black crystal began to fall.

The Vitae crystal of the Harudrak.

I pulled it toward me using telekinesis.

A 2★ crystal — powerful, versatile, and immensely valuable.

As soon as I caught it, I ordered Astrel to retreat.

My Vitae had dropped below 10%, and we were face to face with another 2★ Harudrak.

Any mistake could kill us.

Furious, the second Harudrak let out a deafening roar.

It absorbed the remaining limbs of its fallen companion.

Its body grew — wounds sealed within seconds.

With one mighty leap, it launched a bone-crushing charge.

I blocked with my spear, but the impact tore through me, Astrel, and Ignis like a wave.

—I didn't know it could change its fighting style… — I thought, stunned, as it began a relentless barrage of heavy strikes.

I couldn't keep up.

I was thrown, my body dragged across the snow.

With my Vitae nearly gone, I was defenseless.

I never imagined I'd burn so much energy on just two of them...

Now it fought completely differently.

Heavy. Direct. Cruel.

With no energy, all I had left was my spear — which weakened my attacks but kept me in the fight.

Still, I continued.

Mounted on Astrel, I struck again and again — but the Harudrak's wounds regenerated quickly.

Ignis, perched on my shoulder, roared with excitement.

Astrel neighed wildly, breathing jets of fire like a reawakened dragon.

They were excited.

Unlike me…

I felt darker by the second.

The lack of Vitae was eating me alive.

The only way to recover was through blood or crystals.

But all I had were two 1★ crystals — barely worth anything.

The 2★ crystal was in my hands...

But it was too powerful. Almost unbearable to absorb.

Maybe even lethal.

And so, the fight dragged on.

Exhausting. Relentless.

A dance of steel, fire, fury... and fatigue.

---

POV: Tyler

I had brought one of the squads with Varnel to the right flank.

We were holding our ground — thanks to the soldiers' tireless effort and the archers' precise support.

The surprise attack had been shockingly effective.

Our leader, Ashen, led the charge, drawing the Harudraks' attention to the center — leaving the flanks more vulnerable.

Just as planned, our guerrilla tactics began to work.

We'd strike, retreat, then repeat, forcing the Harudraks to alternate between heavy attacks and reattaching to their trees.

Where we passed, we destroyed their sacred trees — clearing our vision and isolating the Harudraks into smaller groups.

Now, we faced a real front line.

I fought five near-2★ enemies, while Varnel handled four.

Their abilities were infuriating:

Mental illusions, wooden whips, mini golems, and absurdly strong melee blows.

They were only five…

But with all the golems they summoned, it felt like an army.

Using my Air element, I flung golems into the sky and sliced them with my sword —

But managing everything was a nightmare:

Golems, illusions, whips, frontal attacks, and that black mist they released when dying.

— What a hellish pressure... — I thought, cutting one more Harudrak clean in half.

As I stepped back, dozens of whips wrapped around me —

But I summoned my familiar: the Cloud Bull.

With his innate skill, I dodged mid-air and charged atop him toward the Harudraks.

I used my strongest technique: Cloud Whirlwind.

A wind slash spiraled from my sword, morphing into a cutting vortex of clouds.

It tore through two Harudraks, shredding their upper bodies.

Then I reactivated my familiar's skill: Walking in the Clouds.

I appeared in front of another Harudrak and took off its head in a single swing.

Only one left.

— Come on, you disgusting thing! — I shouted, rushing to finish it.

---

POV: Ysra

We were dominating the Harudraks on the left flank.

Using Elga's Earth abilities, we set up countless traps.

Among them, a sub-trench to restrict their movements and limit enemy numbers.

With the Harudraks confined, soldiers bombarded them from afar with fire magic.

When they tried to advance, they fell into the traps and were finished off in close combat.

---

POV: Orlim

Beneath the Stones

From atop a large rock formation, I positioned the archers.

From there, I had a full view of both battlefields — including Ashen's fight.

— What a monstrous brat... — I muttered, impressed.

He had annihilated a 2★ Harudrak in one strike.

I considered helping… but stepped back, stunned.

I turned my focus back to the archers.

We had to keep more Harudraks from disrupting the central push.

With my black bow in hand, I fired accurate shots at the approaching enemies.

The bow is the deadliest weapon:

The arrow comes from nowhere — and when it hits, death follows.

— A hundred true arrows! — I roared, raising the bow.

I fired a single shot.

Midair, it split into a hundred ethereal arrows — raining down over the forest, slaughtering dozens in seconds.

---

Back to the center.

POV: Bruno

As I fought the Harudrak, my mind was yanked from the battlefield —

Thrown into a white void.

An empty space.

Memories floated around like fragments of a drifting mind.

Burning emotions raged within me like embers:

Hatred, fear, terror, despair, immaturity…

— Where am I...? — I whispered in confusion.

— Inside your mind. — said a voice I knew far too well.

Eorin.

The only person I've ever truly hated.

We had clashed since childhood. Fought twice. One win each.

Even if he wasn't my declared enemy…

I despised him. Always did.

— Eorin...? — I muttered, trying to grasp his presence.

— Scared, princess? — he sneered with his crooked grin.

— Son of a... — I growled, fury rising.

But he vanished like smoke.

And in his place appeared… me.

A childish, immature, selfish version.

— You're turning into a child again. — he said, eyes full of scorn.

— What do you mean by that?! — I snapped.

But he, too, dissolved.

Then came Flávia.

Her wings were charred, a lightning-shaped scar stretching from her shoulder to her thigh.

— Why did you abandon me...? — she whispered through tears.

— I... I'm so—...

But she vanished before I could finish.

Then came Selena, in casual clothes, her left leg exposed —

Revealing a grotesque, bleeding burn.

— Why didn't you help me against the Night Panther? — her trembling voice cracked.

— Sele... — I tried to answer, but she disappeared too.

Then Ignis.

A spear pierced his chest. He was lifeless.

— IGNISSSS!!! — I screamed, unheard.

Then Astrel.

Laid out, impaled by three wooden whips.

His final neigh echoed in the void.

— Astr...

Then came the faces of my recruits.

Tyler. The soldiers. Syborn's elders.

All dead.

Pierced. Exploded. Crushed.

Twisted corpses scattered like broken dolls.

All illusions.

All grotesque.

Only I remained.

Before I could cry — they vanished.

And then… he returned.

Eorin.

His hand pierced Flávia's chest.

In his palm... her heart.

Her voice, gentle as ever:

— I love you, Bru...

But it was cut off. Her body hit the ground.

— FLÁVIA!!! — I howled in agony, blood tears pouring from my eyes.

Eorin laughed.

Not with rivalry —

But madness.

— Eorin...? — I asked, shaken.

— Not anymore. Call me... Branor.

Sounds like Bruno...

Just corrupted.

Blood tears streamed down my face as I charged —

Filled with the purest hatred I'd ever felt.

But he dissolved into mist.

The illusion didn't end.

Now it was the Level 3 wolf.

It lunged at Selena.

Ripped off her burned leg with a single bite.

Then crushed her neck with a dry snap.

— SELENA!!! — I roared, eyes drenched in blood.

From my throat came a scream soaked in rage.

The deepest hatred I've ever known.

— WHY? WHY? WHYYYY?!

Whywhywhywhywhy...

Screams erupted from my mouth like warped cries.

I wasn't myself anymore.

A shadow wrapped around me.

A new form emerged — twisted, animalistic.

Dark. Grotesque.

Like... a Snow Demon.

Snow demon...?

— Where did that come from? — I wondered, dazed.

— Where... am I? — I whispered as my mind drowned in fog.

Ignis? Astrel? Where are you?

— What... was I doing?

A searing headache tore through me —

As if invisible claws were ripping my mind apart.

— I…

— I…

— I…

— I...!

What was I doing?! Something important…!

Fighting.

My thoughts cleared —

Like fog wiped from a window.

My eyes snapped open.

I was still on Astrel.

Ignis roared desperately, trying to wake me.

They had kept me mounted while fighting the Harudrak.

I had fallen into one of its illusions.

With no Vitae, I was completely vulnerable.

Now awake, I gripped my spear with trembling hands.

Tried to focus.

But with no Vitae… what could I do?

I'd already consumed the two 1★ crystals.

Pathetic. Useless.

— Should I consume the 2★ crystal...?

Could I even survive such a surge?

That energy wasn't just stronger — it was wild,

like dozens of near-2★ creatures crammed into one core.

But there was no escape.

The other fronts were still engaged.

We had to win — here. Now.

— Screw it.

I swallowed the crystal.

Pain hit instantly.

My body burned from within.

The Vitae surged wildly through me —

At least twelve times more than my Blood Star could handle.

I felt bloated.

Overwhelmed.

My Star began to expand, forced to absorb the flood.

The pain was unbearable.

But I couldn't back down.

Still atop Astrel, I charged with everything I had.

The 2★ Harudrak roared and rushed me.

My spear ignited —

Fueled by the raging Vitae.

With all my strength and hatred, I thrust into its head.

A deep cut split my chest.

But his head — was obliterated.

The body dropped, lifeless.

— DEAD!!! — I howled in triumph.

But victory brought more pain.

Much more.

My body convulsed.

The Vitae tore through my veins, muscles, bones, organs...

My Star swelled like it would burst from my chest.

My wounds healed rapidly —

But the cost was brutal.

I could barely move anymore.

I collapsed over Astrel.

— Grrrr... the pain...