The jagged rock formations loomed high above the battlefield, creating a natural coliseum of uneven terrain. Shadows flickered across the cracked ground as the moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the bloodstained field.
Within this rough terrain, a lone figure moved like a blur—darting in and out of the encirclement while the Bone Devil chased him relentlessly.
Kalem.
He weaved through the uneven landscape with precision, the jagged edges of the rock formations barely missing him as he sidestepped with measured footwork. In his hands, a serrated red spear gleamed ominously under the moonlight—an improved version of the weapon he had once used to slay a Garon.
"This thing sure is persistent," Kalem muttered, shifting his grip as he lunged forward, piercing the devil's exposed flank before retreating.
The Bone Devil screeched, its massive frame twisting unnaturally as it lashed out, but Kalem was already gone, moving just out of range.
"Garron was lying," Kalem huffed, flipping his spear in his palm. "A Garon would've run after the first strike to avoid fatal wounds."
But this creature?
It kept coming.
A Few Moments Earlier
Before the fight reached its current state, Commander Varik had ordered the formation of an encirclement. Their mission was to ensure that the Bone Devil did not escape, forcing it into an engagement where it could be eliminated without collateral damage.
"We need someone to bait it out," Varik had said, eyes scanning the gathered troops.
Before anyone could respond, Kalem stepped forward.
"I'll do it."
Garron's expression darkened. "Sir, reconsider. The kid's capable, but this is a Bone Devil we're talking about—"
Varik cut him off with a look. "He's the only one who can sense it underground. We need someone to force it into revealing itself."
Garron gritted his teeth. He knew it was true—Kalem had the ability to spread mana through the terrain, using it like an extension of his senses to detect the monster's movement beneath the surface.
That was how they had found the damn thing in the first place.
So, against Garron's protests, Kalem was assigned the role of bait, while the rest of the deployment worked to keep the Bone Devil trapped within the encirclement.
The Present
"Kalem! If you need rest, signal me, and I'll switch in!" Garron shouted from the backline.
"Okay!" Kalem called back, still focused on dodging the rapid strikes of the Bone Devil.
Garron grimaced, watching the fight unfold from his position near a group of veteran soldiers.
One of the older warriors nudged him. "You should trust the boy more."
Garron exhaled sharply. "It's not about trust. Our job as veterans is to make sure the young live longer than us. Yet, he's fighting that thing while we're stuck on the backline."
The veteran shrugged. "Then why don't you take the front?"
Garron's hands clenched into fists.
"Because I know when I'd be a burden." His jaw tightened. "I hate it, but I'd just get in his way."
The veteran studied Garron for a moment before nodding slowly.
"Then, what should we have done, according to you?" the older warrior asked.
Garron frowned, his gaze flickering across the hundreds of warriors standing ready in the encirclement.
"We have around a thousand newbie warriors," Garron muttered. "We should've sent them back to the city and baited the Bone Devil somewhere further away."
The veteran raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
Garron's expression hardened. "What do you mean?"
The older warrior sighed. "There are many among the veterans who don't support the idea of selfless sacrifice anymore."
Garron narrowed his eyes. "You're talking about the ideological shift that's been spreading, aren't you?"
The veteran nodded. "Some believe that Gehenna's traditions—throwing ourselves into death so the younger generation can live—are outdated. They think we should be prioritizing the strongest warriors, regardless of age or rank."
Garron's face darkened. "That's reckless. Strength alone isn't what keeps Gehenna standing. If we stop protecting the next generation, we'll run out of warriors faster than the Abyss runs out of monsters."
The veteran chuckled. "Not everyone agrees. Some think warriors like Kalem should be given free reign—pushed to fight as much as possible, because they're the ones most likely to survive."
Garron's grip on his sword tightened. "That kind of thinking will get a lot of good men killed."
The veteran shrugged. "Perhaps. But let's see how this fight plays out."
The Battlefield
Kalem launched himself forward, using the natural rock formations as stepping stones. His speed was increasing, the mana in his body adapting to the fight.
The Bone Devil twisted, its razor-sharp tail lashing toward him.
Kalem dodged, twisting mid-air to land on the creature's back. With a flick of his wrist, his serrated spear carved through the bony ridges of the monster's spine, sending cracks spiderwebbing through its exoskeleton.
The creature shrieked, its entire body convulsing as it tried to shake him off.
Kalem grinned. "Got you now."
He raised his spear, mana surging through his arms.
Then—
The Bone Devil suddenly stopped moving.
Kalem's eyes widened in alarm. "What—?"
Before he could react, the ground beneath them cracked open.
The Bone Devil wasn't just fighting—it was digging.
It had spent the entire battle positioning itself near a weak section of the terrain, and now, it was using its own weight to break through.
"Kalem, GET OFF IT!" Garron roared.
But it was too late.
The ground beneath the Bone Devil collapsed, sending both it and Kalem plummeting into a dark chasm below.
Dust and debris exploded into the air as soldiers scrambled back, shielding their eyes.
Garron's heart stopped.
"KID!"
For a few, agonizing seconds, there was only silence.
Then—
A single spark of red mana flickered from within the pit.
Then another.
And then—
A fiery explosion erupted from the chasm, illuminating the night sky as a familiar figure emerged from the depths.
Kalem, his serrated spear glowing crimson, soared through the air, landing with a controlled skid on the battlefield.
His armor was scratched, blood dripped from a cut on his forehead, but his eyes burned with exhilaration.
He pointed his spear at the abyss below.
"Garron. That thing isn't dead yet."
The ground rumbled.
The Bone Devil was still alive.
And now, the real fight was about to begin.