Before Zaraf reached HQ…

  He and Gray were preparing to head toward the battlefield.

  Shin narrowed his eyes. Then he glanced at the other Creators standing beside him.

  His gaze stopped on Zaraf.

  “Zaraf!”

  Zaraf looked up. “?!”

  “Leave this battle to us,” Shin said firmly. “And go to HQ.”

  Gray frowned. “HQ?”

  Shin crossed his arms slightly.

  “It’s just a hunch… but Kal is not here.”

  His voice grew heavier.

  “And I have a feeling he might be there.”

  Zaraf’s eyes widened.

  “Kal… at HQ?”

  Suddenly—

  Abeth’s face flashed in his mind.

  His expression stiffened.

  An uneasy feeling rose in his chest.

  Shin noticed.

  “For now, go and watch over them,” he continued. “I’ll send some reinforcements later.”

  Ben finally spoke.

  “…If you meet him—”

  Everyone turned to look at him.

  Ben’s eyes were cold.

  “Then stop him.”

  A brief pause followed.

  “That’s all I want now.”

  Zaraf’s eyes sharpened.

  He clenched his fist.

  “I will stop him, Master.”

  Ben’s House

  Makima sat quietly on the couch.

  Her hands were clasped together.

  Her thoughts were filled with worry—about Kal… and about Father.

  Auntie slowly approached her.

  She gently placed a hand on Makima’s shoulder.

  Makima looked up quickly.

  “Mother!”

  Auntie smiled softly.

  “Why are you sitting here alone?”

  Makima lowered her eyes.

  “…Why am I this weak?”

  Auntie didn’t answer immediately.

  She simply watched her daughter.

  Makima continued.

  “They are all on the battlefield with him… and I’m here.”

  Her voice trembled slightly.

  “I can’t even help them.”

  Her hands tightened.

  “I feel… useless.”

  Auntie gently shook her head.

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  “It’s their fight.”

  Makima looked up.

  “And about helping them…”

  Auntie smiled warmly.

  “They will need your help.”

  Makima blinked.

  “But not in battle.”

  A moment of silence passed.

  Auntie continued,

  “When the battles end… it will be our job to welcome them.”

  Makima’s eyes slowly brightened.

  “To give them a warm and cheerful welcome.”

  She squeezed Makima’s shoulder gently.

  “And remind them that this is their home.”

  Makima stood up slowly.

  Hope began to return to her heart.

  “Then… I should prepare something for them to eat.”

  She forced a small smile.

  “After all, they’ll be tired, right?”

  Auntie nodded.

  “Yes. Do that.”

  Makima turned toward the kitchen.

  But a thought quietly crossed her mind.

  I hope Kal won’t hurt Father any further…

  Her gaze lowered.

  And I know Zaraf will handle him.

  HQ

  Zaraf arrived.

  The first thing he saw—

  Was Abeth.

  She was injured.

  Her body was covered in blood.

  Zaraf caught her before she could fall, holding her in midair.

  His eyes trembled with anger.

  But then—

  She looked at him.

  “Brother…”

  The word softened his fury slightly.

  Zaraf looked at her carefully.

  “You’ve become strong.”

  Abeth gave a weak smile.

  “I don’t feel like it.”

  Zaraf shook his head slightly.

  “For now… just focus on healing yourself.”

  His voice turned cold.

  “I’ll deal with him.”

  Abeth slowly raised her hand and touched Zaraf’s face.

  Her eyes were gentle.

  “Can you become my brother… in this unknown world?”

  Zaraf looked at her.

  Then he smiled softly.

  “I thought of you as my sister from the start.”

  Abeth closed her eyes.

  Relief washed over her face.

  “Thank you… for being there for me…”

  Her voice faded slightly.

  “…Brother.”

  Zaraf carefully lowered her onto the ground.

  Then he looked up.

  His gaze turned sharp.

  Blood surrounded her.

  And ahead of him—

  Kal stood there.

  Watching him.

  His expression serious.

  “Did Shin send you here?” Kal asked calmly.

  Zaraf stepped forward.

  “If he did… what can you do about it?”

  Kal narrowed his eyes.

  I underestimated him…

  He was the only one who could keep up with my plan.

  Zaraf raised his sword.

  “I wanted to ask for your reasons.”

  His voice became colder.

  “But after seeing her like this…”

  He pointed the sword toward Kal.

  “I’ve changed my plans.”

  Kal tilted his head slightly.

  “Reasons?”

  Wind began to gather around Zaraf’s blade.

  Kal smirked faintly.

  “You think you’re Ben’s successor?”

  He shook his head.

  “You’re wrong.”

  “Ben was the one who chose me.”

  His eyes sharpened.

  “If you want to fight…”

  Purple energy slowly flickered around him.

  “Then use your Creator Mode.”

  He pointed at Zaraf.

  “Let’s see who is stronger.”

  “Who is truly worthy of becoming his successor.”

  Zaraf closed his eyes for a moment.

  He took a deep breath.

  Then opened them again.

  “I won’t use my Creator State…”

  His voice was calm.

  “…to defeat someone like you.”

  Kal froze.

  “What did you say?!”

  Anger filled his voice.

  “You weren’t even chosen by him!”

  His aura flared.

  “I was the one he personally chose to train!”

  Zaraf’s eyes didn’t waver.

  “Then why did you betray him and leave?”

  Kal smiled coldly.

  “To gain greater power.”

  “And the title of Creator.”

  Zaraf frowned.

  “What?”

  Kal continued calmly.

  “In my plan… only one person stands in my way.”

  His eyes moved toward Abeth.

  “You.”

  “To take her powers.”

  “And become Ben’s true successor.”

  Zaraf tightened his grip on his sword.

  “You are not qualified to become his successor.”

  Kal smirked.

  “Then are you?”

  Zaraf paused.

  “…No.”

  His voice was honest.

  “But I won’t allow someone like you—”

  Wind surged around him.

  “Someone who steals the power of others…”

  “…to achieve strength.”

  Kal chuckled softly.

  “Then you cannot defeat me.”

  Purple light began to glow around him.

  “Without your Creator State… you are nothing.”

  Zaraf stood silently.

  Ready to strike at any moment.

  Kal continued.

  “You know… when reincarnations stay beside Creators for long enough…”

  He raised a finger.

  “Some develop powers.”

  “A side effect.”

  “Like Abeth.”

  He glanced toward her.

  “She gained Creator-copy abilities.”

  Zaraf narrowed his eyes.

  “So what?”

  Kal smiled.

  “When Master first came to take me…”

  “I spent some time beside him.”

  “And during that time…”

  He clenched his fist.

  “My body changed.”

  “The longer I stayed with Ben…”

  “The stronger my physical body became.”

  He looked proud.

  “My body is now considered a true body.”

  “Almost like a Creator’s.”

  “But I lacked one thing.”

  “The energy state.”

  “The power needed to create a world.”

  He continued,

  “One day… I met another reincarnation.”

  “He had the energy state of the Creator of Reality.”

  “But his body couldn’t handle it.”

  Kal’s smile widened.

  “But mine could.”

  Zaraf’s voice was cold.

  “So you stole it.”

  Kal nodded calmly.

  “Yes.”

  “I took his energy core… and made it mine.”

  Zaraf’s eyes darkened.

  “What happened to him?”

  Kal shrugged.

  “I heard he became like a doll.”

  “And Shin sent him back to the human world… to die.”

  Silence filled the air.

  Zaraf slowly raised his sword again.

  “You will not take her powers.”

  His voice became deadly quiet.

  “As long as I am here.”

  Suddenly—

  Kal’s body began to glow.

  Purple energy exploded outward.

  His hair and body shone with intense light.

  He activated his Energy State.

  Inside Zaraf’s mind—

  Bell spoke.

  (This is dangerous for him.)

  Zaraf frowned slightly.

  (How can he activate that… and maintain it?)

  Bell replied,

  (It’s a natural energy state created when fairies and humans fuse through contract.)

  (But he is controlling it alone.)

  (His body is extremely strong.)

  (You must use your Creator State.)

  Zaraf shook his head slightly.

  (No.)

  (I will defeat him using what Master taught me.)

  Bell sighed.

  (You’re stubborn… aren’t you?)

  A brief pause.

  (Fine.)

  (If you need me… just ask.)

  Zaraf replied quietly.

  (I will.)

  Kal slowly raised his hand.

  Energy gathered.

  Zaraf pointed his sword forward.

  Wind erupted beneath his feet.

  And he dashed forward.

  Kal moved at the same moment.

  Their attacks collided.

  The battle began.