Chapter 6


    The Chains of Light and Shadow


    The crimson warrior’s smirk vanished.


    For the first time since the battle began, he wasn’t in control.


    The Suppression Field locked him in place, the swirling chaotic energy around his body sputtering like a flame being smothered. The Black Star party had trapped him, and now—


    It was time to strike.


    “Kaito! Hit him now!” the mage called, still holding the suppression sigil active beneath her feet.


    Kaito didn’t hesitate. He could feel power surging within him—Thoth’s blessing, his rare Light and Dark affinity, everything was guiding him forward.


    I need to use both.


    I need to use them in ways no one else would.


    His mind raced.


    Light magic was divine, radiant, pure—it could cleanse and bind.


    Dark magic was insidious, consuming, adaptive—it could seep into the cracks and take hold.


    An idea flashed through his mind.


    Kaito thrust out both hands, his left crackling with radiant white light, his right pulsing with dense black shadows.


    The light surged forward, twisting into chains of pure energy, wrapping around the enemy’s arms and torso.


    But then—the shadows followed.


    The dark energy slithered into the gaps of the golden chains like inky tendrils, reinforcing the bindings with an unnatural strength.


    The result was a new spell—a fusion of Light and Dark Magic, one that shouldn’t even be possible.


    “Chains of Twilight!”


    The chains tightened around the crimson warrior, constricting his movements even further.


    The beastman’s eyes widened. “What the hell—? That’s not normal magic!”


    The mage’s smirk returned. “I like this kid.”


    The warrior didn’t waste time marveling. He stepped forward, raising his greatsword overhead. “Perfect. Hold him still.”


    Kaito pushed everything he had into maintaining the bindings, his arms trembling from the sheer force of the spell.


    The warrior swung.


    His blade came down like a meteor, aimed directly at the enemy’s chest.


    It should have been a finishing blow.


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    But then—


    Something changed.


    The air shifted.


    A wave of red energy erupted from the warrior’s body, breaking the chains in an instant.


    “Tch—!” Kaito staggered backward, his body reeling from the force.


    The Suppression Field faltered, the mage letting out a pained gasp as the sigil cracked under the pressure.


    And then—he moved.


    The crimson warrior vanished.


    Kaito barely had time to react before he felt something cold press against his throat.


    He froze.


    The enemy was behind him.


    The Black Star party turned sharply, their faces shifting from triumph to sheer horror.


    The warrior’s serrated blade rested lightly against Kaito’s neck, just enough to send a sharp pain prickling against his skin.


    “Impressive,” the crimson warrior murmured. “You almost had me.”


    Kaito’s breathing was shaky. His mind raced. Teleport!


    But the moment he reached for his mana, the enemy’s blade pressed tighter, warning him that one wrong move would end him.


    “Smart boy,” the warrior chuckled.


    The Black Star party was tense, watching, waiting.


    The warrior grinned, voice lowering. “You fight well… for a child of a traitor.”


    Kaito’s heart stopped.


    He felt his stomach drop, his mind screaming. What?


    “That’s right,” the warrior said, sensing the shock in Kaito’s silence. “You have his blood, don’t you? That pathetic coward who thought he could escape the fate Tau gave him.”


    Kaito’s vision blurred. What is he talking about?!


    The crimson warrior tilted his head, as if enjoying his reaction. “Did they never tell you? Did your mother keep you sheltered in that quiet little village, pretending your blood wasn’t soaked in Chaos?”


    Kaito’s entire body shook.


    His father—a traitor? A servant of Tau?


    The thoughts overwhelmed him.


    And in that moment—he hesitated.


    The crimson warrior took advantage of it. His blade flashed, slashing toward Kaito’s throat—


    But then—


    A burst of light exploded outward.


    Not from Kaito.


    From the elf.


    “NOT YET!”


    The elf’s blade ignited in a brilliant mix of red and orange energy, his attack fueled by the blessing of Tau himself.


    He lunged, colliding blades with the crimson warrior just in time.


    The force of the impact knocked Kaito away, sending him rolling across the dirt. He coughed, gasping for air, his mind still reeling.


    The elf stood between him and the enemy, his stance firm, unyielding.


    “You’re not killing him,” the elf snarled.


    The crimson warrior laughed. “Oh? Is that loyalty I hear from a child of Chaos?”


    The elf’s eyes burned. “Shut up and fight.”


    Kaito forced himself up, pushing down the storm of emotions flooding his mind. Not now. Focus. You can figure this out later.


    The battle resumed.


    The warrior and elf clashed, their blades sending shockwaves through the air. The Black Star party flanked—


    The beastman barreled in, slashing low at the enemy’s legs, forcing him to jump—


    The mage, waiting above, unleashed “Arcane Spears”, raining glowing energy lances from the sky—


    The enemy twisted midair, dodging the worst of the impact, but—


    Kaito was already there.


    He had teleported directly into the enemy’s trajectory.


    His arms outstretched, mana surging through him, a spell forming instinctively.


    He didn’t know what he was casting.


    He just let the magic flow.


    Dark tendrils coiled around his arms, while radiant symbols etched themselves into the air.


    And then—the two magics combined.


    “Twin Collapse!”


    The spell exploded outward, a wave of light and darkness intertwined, forcing the enemy downward—right back into the beastman’s path.


    The warrior swung upward, his greatsword slamming into their target’s midsection. The enemy was sent flying, crashing into the burning wreckage of a nearby hut.


    Silence.


    For a moment, no one moved.


    Kaito panted, his vision flickering. Did we—?


    A low chuckle rumbled through the battlefield.


    From the wreckage, the crimson warrior rose, his body bloodied, his armor cracked—but he was still standing.


    He touched the wound on his side, glancing at the blood on his fingers.


    Then—he smiled.


    “That was fun.”


    The air grew heavy.


    Kaito’s stomach twisted. This wasn’t over.


    The crimson warrior raised his blade, its chaotic energy crackling with power.


    “But let’s see how long you last…”


    Then—


    A thunderous boom echoed across the battlefield.


    A new presence arrived.


    One that froze even the crimson warrior in place.


    Kaito turned sharply, his breath catching.


    A lone figure stood at the edge of the battlefield, his golden armor gleaming against the backdrop of fire and destruction.


    His aura was immense, radiating the unmistakable presence of divinity.


    Kaito’s eyes widened.


    It was a Heavenly Knight.