I hope this letter finds you safe and well.
My brother's condition has improved greatly. The doctor said his body is responding well to the treatment.
Thank you for what you did.
If it's not too much trouble... would you mind writing back, even briefly? I just want to know you're still alive.
Wishing you strength on the frontlines,
Fiona Elvareth
When Kairos received the letter, he could hardly believe his eyes. He never expected Fiona to write to him first.
He responded without hesitation.
To Fiona,
I received your letter. Thank you for your concern.
I'm alive, and fulfilling my duties as ordered.
I'm glad to hear your brother is recovering. I hope things at the manor are peaceful.
If there's nothing urgent, I'll try to write again when I can.
Take care,
Kairos Arkelis
From then on, the two exchanged letters regularly. What began as stiff and formal correspondence slowly turned into genuine, heartfelt conversations.
Until Fiona's final letter...
To Kairos,
It's getting colder here.
I used to like the cold. It's quiet.
But lately... it's too quiet.
I don't know when you'll read this—or if you'll have the time to—but writing to you... it's the only thing I can do when I miss you.
If you return, I want to tell you so many things. Some of them aren't even important. I just... want you to hear them.
And if you have anything to share, I'll listen. Every word.
Because I've realized... I want to know more about you.
Fiona Elvareth
And then... Kairos' final letter arrived.
To Fiona,
Thank you... for all your letters.
I don't know how to say this properly.
I told you I'd prove my sincerity to you... but in the end, I haven't done much at all.
You probably think I haven't changed—or maybe that I never intended to.
But the truth is... I want to take care of you. I want to be there for you when you have no one to talk to.
If I ever return, I want to spend more time beside you than I ever did before.
Would that be okay?
I don't know if I'll really make it back... but I want to believe that I can.
I'll try my hardest.
Kairos Arkelis
After that, no matter how many letters she wrote, no reply ever came.
The demon attacks had grown more violent than ever. She knew the war had entered its most dangerous phase.
She worried about him constantly.
Yet she kept telling herself—if it's him, he'll survive. He'll return.
Her brother, seeing her distress, offered comforting words.
"Don't worry, Fiona. That brother-in-law of mine is as tough as they come. He'll come back. I'm sure of it."
She knew her brother wasn't just trying to reassure her. Everyone here cared about Kairos—and everyone was waiting for his return.
And she was no different.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield—
Kairos had become a legend. No one could stop him. The tides of war had turned.
In just half a year, he had slain over thirty demon nobles.
And now, at last, he stood before the greatest threat of all—
The Demon King, Drazhmir.
"After nearly a year of war... you finally show yourself, Demon King."
Kairos' voice was calm but sharp, eyes fixed on the towering figure ahead.
"Your nobles are dead, one by one. And you chose to hide all this time... Don't you think it's a bit late?"
Drazhmir chuckled darkly.
"Everything I do is by design, human. Sometimes, one must sacrifice pawns for the sake of a greater goal."
His words made Kairos pause.
'What goal? Why would he willingly let his strongest lieutenants die?'
As if reading his thoughts, Drazhmir spoke again.
"You must be the one they speak of... the boy who's caused me so much trouble. I see now why you think you can challenge me."
Suddenly, the Demon King released a crushing wave of power. Even seasoned human soldiers froze where they stood.
But Kairos didn't flinch. He assessed the power—he believed he could win.
He lunged forward without hesitation, spear aiming straight at the enemy.
Drazhmir narrowly dodged, retaliating with a blast of dark magic. Kairos evaded effortlessly.
"Dragon-Slaying Art, First Form—Crimson Comet!"
He struck with incredible speed, but Drazhmir deflected and unleashed a wave of demonic energy.
Kairos responded with a counter-blow of spear aura. The clash triggered a violent explosion.
Kairos pressed the attack:
"Second Form—Hundred Spears Thrust!"
"Third Form—Soaring Dragon!"
"Fourth Form—Dragon's Fang!"
A relentless barrage of attacks overwhelmed even Drazhmir, who finally had to retreat.
Exploding skull-shaped fireballs filled the sky as Drazhmir tried to regain distance.
He laughed again, now with a note of respect.
"I admit, human... Had I faced you earlier, I might've lost. Your power exceeds my expectations. It's almost... inhuman."
But his grin remained—because he hadn't shown everything yet.
From his robes, he revealed a pulsating, black orb radiating immense power.
Even Kairos felt a twinge of unease.
"What... is that?"
"A shard of divinity."
Drazhmir's voice dropped to a reverent tone.
"Millennia ago, gods of man and demon clashed. The gods of man lost. But even the victors were left wounded. The Demon God left a piece of his power behind.
I searched for it for centuries—never found it in the Demon Realm. So I brought the war to your lands... and finally, I found it."
He laughed darkly.
"I sacrificed my most valuable generals to acquire this... and now, I shall make their deaths worthwhile."
Before Kairos could stop him, Drazhmir consumed the black orb.
A shockwave burst out as his power skyrocketed.
Kairos hurled his spear—but it curved off-course, repelled by invisible force.
The Demon King now radiated divine energy, black and red light pouring from his body.
"Yes... this power... the power of a god! It's mine at last!"
Kairos clenched his teeth.
'This... isn't something a human can fight anymore.'
But he had no choice.
Someone was waiting for him to return.