Far away, amid the chaos, Kaein stood upside-down on the Eiffel Tower, deeply engrossed in a book, when a call disturbed him.

  He cringed and tapped the emergency call on his ear.

  "I was just getting to the good part!" Kaein wailed, like a three-year-old who had just dropped their ice cream on a hot day.

  "Kael and Blaze are on the brink of death! I can't get in contact with them, but I think a Demon Knight has appeared… uh, Boss? Hello?" Melissa's voice trembled, a mix of fear and excitement.

  "One girl is already down. This being… it's beyond their level. I thought he died ages ago. How soon can you open a portal?" Kaein's eyes glowed as he stared ahead.

  "Your visual prowess never disappoints. From where you are, it should be ready in about three hours."

  "Too long. I'll head over myself. This might prove more interesting than my novel," Kaein grinned, and in an instant, he disappeared.

  "Sir! An ancient demon has been detected in one of the dimensions!" a technical officer burst into the commander's office, panic written all over his face.

  The commander leapt from his chair, sending his coffee splattering across the floor.

  "Which team is there?"

  "Kael and Blaz—"

  "That boy!" The commander slammed the table, shaking the spilled coffee.

  "I just received a report that Kaein is heading there on his own, without… we… thought our portal… which is imposs—"

  The commander sighed, lowering himself back into his chair. "If Kaein is there, everything's fine. Call the receptionist to bring in a new desk. And you know what? Call my therapist."

  Meanwhile, Bill had removed his Scorpion like tail from Rebecca's chest. As she fell, he swung his tail to decapitate her—but it only sliced through a golden feather, leaving her unharmed.

  Blaze held Rebecca in his arms, his face etched with shock. Black veins, like gnarled tree roots, covered half of her body. My katana shook in my hands as I struggled to keep my balance.

  "What did you do to Bill?!" Blaze shouted, swinging a punch, but Bill effortlessly dodged and struck him in the stomach. Blaze flew past me like a cold gust, crashing into the wall with a bone-rattling thud.

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  He coughed up blood, stumbling out of the crater. Bill stood there, a red marking across his eyes, staring at us with dark red eyes, as if we were toys in his chamber.

  Wings sprouted on my back, golden veins spreading over my body. Strength surged back into me—I felt healed, alive.

  "This won't last, but it's the best I can do. Try to keep up," Blaze said in a cold, steady tone, drawing his katana. I mirrored him, matching his stance.

  He seemed to know this person—or at least, he had known him before.

  "Friend of yours ?",I asked.

  He snarled, "His Bill but he seems to be controlled by something ".

  "How can you tell ? He could have turned sides ?"

  "Though true that heroes can become villains ,but this idiot is to much of sn idiot to do so",Blaze said , sounding like an idiot.

  "I'll ask you again," Blaze's flames erupted around him. "What did you do to Bill?"

  Bill smiled, a cruel glint in his dark eyes.

  "So… this is my replacement."

  A few years ago…

  Swords clashed as Bill and Blaze fought with sticks, each desperate to win. Bill gained the upper hand and declared victory.

  "No fair! You cheated!" Blaze cried.

  "Huh ha! I guess I'll be the leader of our hero squad. Mmmh… let's call it BBK," Bill said, grinning.

  "BBK? What's the K for?" Blaze asked, wiping his tears.

  "'Beat me. Just sounded cool," Bill replied with a smug laugh.

  Present…

  Tana stood with the other children, hands clasped tight, praying for Blaze and everyone else.

  "Let no weapon formed against them prosper," she pleaded, voice trembling.

  "You draw your weapons like warriors ready for battle," Bill said casually, "but I fear mine will rust."

  "Cut the crap! Tell us what you did to Bill—"

  Bill waved his hand dismissively as he turned, "I have a key to find. No time to play with ants. Make yourselves at home; if my schedule permits, I might entertain you shortly."

  Blaze's body tensed, veins spreading like molten lava beneath his skin. Heat rippled through the room. I could sense Bill's presences —it was stronger than the Knight I'd lost to earlier. Rushing in blindly would be suicidal, and Rebecca was in critical condition.

  "Blaze, let's take a—"

  He vanished from my sight.

  In the blink of an eye, Blaze appeared before Bill and slammed his sword onto the ground, fists clenched.

  "If swords won't do, then I'll have to beat it out of you."

  Bill looked at Blaze like one inspects poop his lane—annoying, insignificant, not worth a second thought. He ignored Blaze and walked past him.

  Annoyed, Blaze swung a punch, but Bill effortlessly dodged, not even moving a step.

  Blaze unleashed a flurry of strikes, faster than before. Each punch, each kick—blocked. One-handed. Still, Bill barely acknowledged him.

  "There's no way we can handle this guy…" I muttered under my breath.

  I launched myself behind Bill, aiming to behead him, but his tail clashed with my katana. Every strike I threw was blocked—and each was retaliated. Bill's tail moved like a cow brushing away a fly: casual, efficient, and humiliating.

  He yawned with his free hand.

  Blaze tapped into his awakened form, flames roaring. “Stop playing around! I’ll show you the power of a Phoenix!”

  “Humor me,” Bill replied, unbothered.

  His hand twisted, forming a scorpion-like skin with red thorns, deflecting every strike. Somehow, during the flurry of attacks, they even went through a secret handshake, a mocking callback to their past.

  There's no weakness I can find in him. I I felt the power seeping away from me and his tail glowing ever so red.

  Blaze ground his teeth. “Why do you always have to be the hero, Bill? I’ll save you, just like you saved me.” He finally grazed Bill with a punch.

  Bill paused.

  I smiled as I fought my way past that tail.

  Blaze swung for another strike—but hit only air.

  Bill leaned lazily, one hand on his chest. His tail shot out, impaling my chest. Blood splashed across Blaze’s face.

  “Not bad,” Bill said, voice calm, almost playful as he felt Blaze's heart. “As a token of appreciation for the entertainment, I’ll give you the honor of being my souvenir… though you’re not the true Phoenix.”

  Then, in a flash, he froze all the water in Blaze's body.

  He walked.

  "Stop holding me back",he muttered .

  My wings vanished. The pain returned—tenfold. Every muscle, every nerve, burning.

  Not yet...not yet...not yet

  i reached out my trembling bloody hand at a blurred vision of my mother .

  mama if i die would i join you in heaven ?

  if it exist that is...

  Darkness swallowed me.