Desperation. That's what we all felt right now.

  My two companions were still fighting against the Wild Demons currently in control of the chimera one, and I'm still amazed their teamwork was still unbreakable after all these years. Val used the plants he had grown through his abilities to bind the demons, while Thurkith used his dark spells to deal the finishing blow. As for me, I'm still stuck here with the young Master sleeping on my lap. I wish I could join my comrades to stop their advances into nearby civilizations, but Vander's safety comes first. Regardless, the only way we can win against this monstrosity is to have his "other half" wake up in time to join us.

  But it has been about 2-3 years since I saw him again. Even I'm not sure he would wake up due to his conflicted identity with Vander. I just have to pray that he would make it in time to save us from this potential trav-

  "GRAAAGGGHHHH!!!"

  I gasped as I watched Val fly off, almost hitting me and Vander before crashing into the rubble nearby. He was covered in cuts and scars from the demons, and before I could react, Thurkith fell towards Val next in the same condition.

  "S-Sorry, Casia..." Thurkith muttered. "But I fear we've reached our limit..."

  Val screamed and punched the ground. "If only I gained an evolution right now, I could have enough power to push these bastards out!"

  Damn... I don't want to deny it, but they're right. Even as a Drago Nox, there will be a big price if I dare change into my dragon form to stop this chimeric monstrosity from ever reaching the kingdoms. But if I don't do something before Vander wakes up, then there's also the risk of inciting a war from this aftermath due to my passiveness.

  "AlL 0F 7H15 @rE the HuMaN's fault... NoBoDy LoveS m3 becaUs3 oF TheM... If I CaN'T hAve everyTH1Ng, th3N n0 On3 WiLl!"

  Dammit... This monster is getting closer! There is no other way...

  "Val, keep an eye on the young Master for me," I said while handing Vander to him. "I will try stopping that monster with my full power."

  "What?! You can't!" Val shouted. "If you do that, everyone will mistake you in your dragon form and capture you on the spot!"

  "He's right. There will be consequences if you make such an extreme risk," Thurkith added. "Please reconsider this! The fate of the Demons and Humanity rests upon your shoulders, Casia!"

  I paused with a sigh and turned to my comrades. "I'm aware of the consequences. But at this rate, this monster will destroy everything the moment Vander wakes up. Until that time comes, I will do everything in my power to avert that potential crisis. Besides, I don't want to put the large burden on you two alone. Just leave the rest to me."

  I quickly take a deep breath, letting my wings out and claws out of my hands as I start my transformation. While I have no limits on transforming between human and dragon, I know this might be the last time I will see my friends and the young Master. This is a huge sacrifice I'm willing to take, and I have no regrets if it means retaining the peace between demons and humanity and ensuring Vander's safety.

  "If I don't go back, tell Vander to say goodbye for me."

  That's all I can say before I complete my transformation and take off to give chase.

  "Hey! Are you out of your mind?! You're not gonna survive this risky venture, you know?!"

  This is indeed risky. It's true that I won't survive protecting humanity as a demon. But I won't let it roam wild and destroy another so they could satisfy their vengeance and bloodlust. I rushed in front of the chimera as fast as my wings could take me. Just looking at it, along with the demons following its lead, reminded me of the stakes this world has if I don't stop this monstrosity. Yet I felt a bit guilty over disobeying Vander's orders. He would have scolded me for protecting humanity rather than waiting for his reawakening. But he would have been in the same position as I would be in this situation.

  But what I'm doing isn't selfish. I'm doing it to protect both species from their own hatred. Knowing that, I'm willing to give my life to stop this cycle of hatred.

  M0V3!!! I W1LL K111 Y0U IF Y0u DOn'T!!!

  I take a deep breath, absorbing all the Mana spread around the air and letting it change into flames clothed in darkness. If it didn't stop its advances, then I let the flames enter my body and expand to create enough power to take most of the smaller demons out.

  Vander, I'm sorry again. But I hope with this sacrifice, you might able to save everyone. Humanity... Demonic... I pray for the peace that never was in this world.

  Master, I apologize for not keeping my promise until the very end. But I pray for the young Master's success in my stead.

  It's been a pleasure serving both of y-

  "Why don't you cut the tears, Casia? Isn't it too early for you to croak?"

  My eyes widened. That voice...

  I open my eyes and to my shock, right in front of my was the young Master himself with his wings out and his eyes glowing in deep purple. But something is different about him. He's the young Master in appearance, but he is not in demeanor. From his Mana around him, I can sense a great change within him.

  "Vander?"

  The young demon smiled at me. "Yes, but no. It's a bit complicated." He then turned to the chimera. "Still, thanks for holding down the fort while Vander was out picking me up from my nightmare. I'll take over from here."

  My eyes widened at what he was implying. "But that monster might be too much for you two. Even if you came back, it's still too much for a young Demi-Fiend in your current caliber."

  "Don't worry, Casia. I know what we're doing. Besides..."

  Before I know it, I feel a burst of power emanating from the young Master.

  "I just need to take my anger out from that damn nightmare."

  ...I see.

  I was hoping I could try sacrificing myself to weaken the chimera. But something about him made me wonder what changed after his awakening. For some reason, I can feel the Mana of Our Grace from his body. I don't know why, but it's enough to transform myself back into my draconic human form. "Alright. Just be careful, you two. I'll head back to check on Thurkith and Val."

  I quickly fly back to my comrades without averting my eyes from Aster. I'm still concerned about him since he woke up recently. But I have no choice but to trust him with that monster.

  I don't know what happened to him and Vander in his mind, but I pray to Umbaria for his well-being.

  How odd... I had never seen this kind of magic before. Yet, I can recognize the mechanics behind it. It's as if I interacted with it in another form somewhere...

  Yeah. I also don't recall this hidden feature from our ring. But it's enough to help us get through our new power against this bastard.

  I agree. If we want to defeat this monster, then we have to use everything Our Grace gave us. I hope you're ready, Vander.

  I can say the same, Aster.

  "Wh0 7h3 HeLL aRe Y0u?! You LOOk f@mIl1Ar, buT y0uR MaNa f33l5 Diff3rEn7..."

  I smirk at the naughty Demon standing in front of me. "Are you surprised? You could have done a better job trying to take me and Casia out for your so-called vengeance. Or are you too blinded just to make some unnecessary destruction out of your pure enjoyment? And I suggest you make your wording clear! Not all of us can speak demon rage talk, you know."

  "Tch..." The demon stopped moving as his eyes focused on us. "All of you are the same. You never let me do anything and will do everything to make my life a living hell. You're also like me, but why are you still defending those dirtbags?! They are no different to monsters and they're going to keep throwing kids in that damn world again. If I don't do something for those humans and their related species, then who will?! I am the only one who can save them! I'm the only one who can kill those no-good adults! If you keep supporting those evil humans, then I will kill you as well!"

  I sighed. So this is what that demon's raving about. I only have an inkling of Gabriel's fate if Casia didn't save him in time. But I never thought how corrupt some of humanity was against others, especially children like him. I can understand what he felt from the betrayal, but...

  "You're saying your life sucks. Is that correct?" I chuckled with a huff. "Honestly, I don't get you and your childish tantrums. I know the people you treated like trash don't deserve to walk Monochroma alive. But that's no excuse to take out your anger on anyone who didn't deserve it. You thought you were only doing this to better the world. But what you're doing is nothing more a child who treats the whole world as their playground without any care to their toys!"

  "Grrr... What do you know about me, demon?! You didn't have a parent who never looked you in the eye and kids who always threw rocks at me every day! To me, they deserved to be torn apart, tossed around the same way they treated me! And if it wasn't for them throwing me here, I wouldn't get the chance to meet my only friend there who can help me kill the evil kids and adults in that damn village!"

  "Only friend", huh? Now that's an interesting clue. But I think I heard enough. All I'm getting from him is on a repeated record, and I already tell that Vander has already made his decision earlier.

  "Oh, lord... I thought I would try talking more just to probe what makes you tick on those corpses," I groaned. "But now that I got a closer look at you, it seems like I found the reason why Vander is done talking. If he doesn't want to give you any more chances to, then I'd rather not waste my breath on the hopeless and give you any mercy. Besides..."

  "We never give mercy to the immoral."

  With a deep breath, flames erupt around me as I let them consume my body. As they did, my body transformed into what I saw in my dreams: An older version of myself wearing a strange suit and a dark sword made of shadows.

  "Bastard... Do you really think you can stop me and my army of Demons?! 7H1NK @GAiN!!!"

  The sentient demon roared before he swung his arm at us. I would have dodged since it might kill me. But I know my strength, and I know how Our Grace blessed us with her darkness. I raise my sword and with a smirk, I swing it towards his arm and with one move, I cleaved the arm and paw in half.

  "H-Huh?"

  Black blood spewed out from his arm as I raised a barrier without a word to shield myself from it.

  "GGGRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!! H0w DaRE YOu?!" The chimeric Demon roared. "1'Ll k1LL y0u. I 31ll Ki77 Y0u!!! YoU Can N3AEr E5c@PE H3Re @11VE!!!"

  That's enough for him to send out his army. Who knew losing a limb is enough to piss him off? Still, I'm surprised he still has the gall to let his demon army try overwhelming me with numbers alone. However, he's not smart enough to create strategies and the fact he might sense my blessings from Umbaria. Regardless, I would like to try out a taste of power in some way.

  Don't forget that we still have the blessings given by Umbaria. We shouldn't hold anything back if we want to kill this jerk.

  My thoughts exactly.

  "Flames gather in my hand..." I raise my arm out as mana begins to gather in my palm. "And shadows beneath me. Join together as I burn the monster that corrupted this very land."

  The mana then turned into a black fireball as it increased in size to the size of a boulder above me.

  "I'17 kILL y0U!!!"

  I can feel it underneath the malice of the chimera lies the burning soul within the darkness. I didn't feel any exhaustion despite I pump my mana into this spell. Maybe this is another gift from Our Grace's blessings. I know I can't keep this power for much longer, but I know I will use it to stop the monster threatening both worlds.

  "May the shadows bury your despair and bring hope to these lands." I toss the fireball and shout, "Shadow Nova!"

  The black fireball flew towards the chimera, and as soon it made contact, it exploded. I can hear screams of anguish as most of the smaller demons were consumed within the purple and black flames. I flinched at the sight of the lost souls, but I couldn't let their deaths get to me. They might be Wild Demons, but even I know they didn't deserve this fate. But in the end, they killed many humans under the chimera's orders, and they couldn't remain alive for much longer.

  I can't say the same about the chimera, though. When I looked at it again, I gasped to see how it was still standing with its burns slowly healing from his body.

  Well, I did see him healing despite the mercenaries' efforts. That guy must have some high endurance. Even with our boosted spell, it's not enough to stop him.

  There must be some kind of weak point, though. Not every demon is unstoppable. I'm sure he must have given up something to gain this intense power.

  ...Maybe it does. Can you try using Shadow Nova a few more times? I'll see if I spotted something.

  Right. You'll be my eyes.

  "GRAAAAAOOOOWRRRR!!!"

  Damn, that's loud. Thank god I managed to adjust my ears to resist the blowback from his roar. With that in mind, I quickly flew around the large one and threw small fireballs at its back. However, I could see more burns beginning to regenerate as I continued to hear its roars. I already expected my attacks to not affect it, even after it was boosted from Umbaria's blessings, but that's not what I'm going for today. If I play my cards right, he might be able to...

  I found it!

  Bingo.

  The core is located at its nape. It's hidden within the fur, so you need to aim carefully to deal the final blow.

  If that's true, then it's not easy to kill it in one strike. Fewer demons survived the nova, and it might not be easy to aim with them around. However, fire isn't my only strength. I don't know how I know this, but I had a gut feeling after hearing Umbaria's words. I'm not like all the demons and humans out there. I can't get rid of this affliction because of my past. At the same time, it gave me a new friend and the strength to move forward.

  To us, our fractured mind is our special power.

  Bow down.

  The demons quickly stopped flying towards me, and they slowly descended to the ground before they followed my orders. This sight seemed to make me smile as I stared at the chimera glaring and growling at this sudden change of allegiance.

  "W-What the hell did you do?!"

  I smirked. "I simply showed a bit of dominance. I do have a knack for caring for Wild Demons in my care. What's the matter? Frustrated that your so-called army already deserted you?"

  I can't help but chuckle at how shocked he was with my newfound ability. Now that I think about it, I have no clue I have had this power until now. It might be because this must be my potential when I become a stronger demon. A potential that defies expectations and discrimination. And it needs to accept who I really am.

  A demon who never wavers to the status quo and has the power to destroy everything while creating something new.

  "T-That's impossible... Nobody told me there was a demon who controlled other demons. Not even them..." The chimera roared at me in pure rage. "Just who the hell are you?!"

  "Who am I? I think the better question is "Who are we?"." I swung my blade towards the Wild Demon and flashed a grin to him. "We are the Masters of the Lavender. The Demon who will determine the fates of the Demonic and Humanity!"

  "NOW BOW DOWN TO US, DEMON! BECAUSE YOUR END HAS COME!"