CHAPTER 261: CHAPTER 262: BOUND TOGETHER

The battlefield had grown eerily still after Veil’s swallowing of the six titans—too still for a place that had just moments ago been an ocean of chaos and screaming metal.

The shadows Veil had woven still lingered like black tar beneath their feet, trembling faintly as if exhausted. The stench of burnt stone and scorched titan flesh hung in the air, mixing with the sharp tang of mana that still crackled between the scattered corpses.

The demon lord’s knees threatened to give way the LAW forcing her to bend the knee....but she locked them, refusing to kneel—not here, not now. The echo of her own thoughts rang in her head like the toll of a deep bell:

’I am the Chosen one.’

She could still feel the phantom weight of the LAW pressing on her—like chains of glass biting into her skin—but she shoved it away with the same stubborn fire that had carried her this far.

’I reigned supreme not because of my strength... but because of the way I chose to live.’

Her lips curled into a faint smile. She could taste iron in her mouth—whether blood or mana residue, she didn’t care.

’All who are judged unworthy belong in my shade.’

Her red hair lifted slightly in the heated wind sweeping across the broken plain, her cat-like golden eyes narrowing as they locked on the distant point where she knew she was buried. The air itself seemed to tremble.

{{{And it’s my responsibility to lead them to heaven}}}she murmured under her breath, as if repeating a prayer to herself. {{{Where they deserve. Where they all deserve.}}}

Aurora’d hands tightened on her staff, mana collecting at the tip in a pale-blue sphere that hummed like a living heart. She took a step forward, ignoring the faint tremor in her legs.

Veil’s voice broke through her focus, ragged and strained.

{{This is the best I can swallow right now.}}

He was coiled on the ground’s shadow, form flickering from the sun’s burning touch. The edges of his black silhouette smoked faintly every time he shifted.

One by one, the titans sank into the black, their massive forms folding into the impossible space beneath the battlefield. The ground gurgled like wet mud swallowing them whole. Their guttural death-sounds faded into nothingness.

When the last one disappeared, the silence that followed was heavier than the sound of battle. Even the distant winds seemed to hesitate.

As she was holding her staff, her LAW shattered like glass in her mind. The sudden absence of its oppressive pull left her momentarily breathless.

"She’s coming," she said aloud, eyes narrowing as she scanned the ground. Her mana sphere brightened.

There was a pause. Too long.

"...Where is she?"

Atlas’s head turned, his eyes shifting into the crystalline clarity of the Truth Eyes. They glowed faintly in the dim battlefield light, his gaze cutting through debris, shadow, and stone.

"I see her," he said, his tone sharpening like a drawn blade. His body coiled in that subtle way that meant he was about to move.

"Wait—" Aurora began, but the air cracked before she could finish. Atlas was already gone, breaking the sound barrier in a blink, vanishing past her reach.

Veil slumped deeper into the shadow of the wall, letting out a loud, almost satisfied burp. The exertion had taken its toll—his form was sluggish, his edges softer.

"...I need to evolve... soon," he muttered.

{{{Child...}}}

The voice slid into the air like a knife through silk.

Veil’s body stiffened, his shadow-flesh twitching as he instinctively tried to melt away, but the moment he sank into the dark, he felt it—a pull.

It wasn’t a grab. It wasn’t forceful in the normal way. It was gravity itself bending toward her.

He rose into the air against his will, his form twisting and spiraling as it was drawn into her hand.

{{{...You are... also one of a kind.}}}

Her voice was low, almost reverent.

Veil thrashed in her grasp, his shape bending unnaturally, but no matter how violently he shook, he couldn’t slip free.

"...Aaaa... I don’t know you, miss... please let me go—"

{{{Haha... after you ate six of my children? I don’t think so.}}}

"...Your children?... what?... those giants? "

’She’s also a psycho....’ Veil thought. As he beloud for help.

"... Atlas... ATLAS!"

The sound of the wind came before the sound of impact. A fist wrapped in steel-like flesh connected with the side of her face. The blow was so sharp it split the air, creating its own sonic crack.

The demon queen flew back, smashing into the distant wall hard enough to leave a jagged crater before sliding down into the rubble.

Atlas landed beside Veil, catching him in his palm.

"You okay, buddy?"

"...No!!!... Obviously."

"Haha... I think she likes you."

"Fuck you. Get rid of her quick. I don’t wanna see her again. Never ever never... something about her gives me the creeps."

Atlas chuckled, placing him gently back on his own shadow. Veil melted into the dark at once.

Then Atlas turned toward the rising figure.

The demon queen pushed herself up from the wall, her movements deliberate, almost ceremonial.

{{{...You...}}} she said, her tone still calm despite the blow. {{{...You also seem unique.}}}

"Go. Away," Atlas said flatly.

{{{...Join me. I am the one who is chosen. I am here to guide the misguided unique ones like you.}}}

"...Are you crazy? I said go. Away."

A faint cracking sound followed as the plates of her armor began to grow over her skin. Starting from her collarbone, they rippled outward—red, glassy, and gleaming with a faint inner glow—until her entire body was encased.

{{{...Don’t worry. You will understand eventually... my guidance.}}}

Her hair was bound into a high ponytail by the armor itself, the red strands swaying behind her like a banner.

Atlas saw her move before most would have even registered it.

’...She’s fast.’

Her fist came within a millimeter of his face. He tilted, letting it pass so close it brushed the hair at his temple.

Then—

Another kick from behind. Again, he shifted just enough to avoid it.

Her smile widened behind the mask. She vanished.

Atlas pivoted, his instincts screaming, but the third strike came faster, forcing him to raise his forearm to block.

The impact thundered.

{{{...Impressive.}}}

The compliment was ragged and metallic inside the armor.

He felt the bruise bloom under the block. Then came another strike—then another—each one harder, each one faster.

She was adapting.

Atlas’s skin, once impervious, now bore faint marks and purpling shadows where her blows had landed.

’...Okay....she’s also brutally strong.... Counter time.’

The next time her leg came for him—aiming low—he caught it in one hand.

"I think I gave you enough time," he said, fingers digging into the armor around her calf until it bent under his grip.

Then came his favorite move.

With the momentum of a predator, he whipped her upward and smashed her into the ground.

Smash.

Pulled her up again.

Smash.

Again.

Smash. Smash. Smash.

The earth split beneath them, cracks spidering out like black lightning. The sound drowned the battlefield.

Her armor buckled and cracked before she finally slipped free, stumbling back.

Her face was bloodied, nose streaming—but she smiled.

{{{...You... I was right. You are not...human.}}}

"You think I’ll give you time to talk?" Atlas lunged, his hand clamping around her throat.

"You should have listened."

His grip tightened, her feet leaving the ground.

"I gave you time to listen." He muttered. Gripping her throat tight. As she felt the tightness.

"...Atlas, wait."

Aurora’s voice cut through from behind.

But Atlas kept his grip as the demon lord smiled. A symbol on her arm glowing.

"At....las" Aurora voiced. Her own throat leaving her breath.

Atlas looked back at Aurora. His hand coming lose.

The demon queen seized the moment, dissolving into movement and retreating.

{{{Thank you love....I will come back again... more prepared.}}}

And then...She vanished.

Atlas could have caught her—but he turned to Aurora.

"...Why? I had her."

Aurora held out her arm. A mark glowed faintly there—the shape of a contract seal like the one the demon lord had.

"...I could have killed her as well. But I didn’t. Because I need her... and she needs me."

She lifted her collar just enough to show the faint bruise around her throat—the same as the one he had just placed on the queen.

"...fuck."