SCARED BY BLOOD ( Beast, God, Man?)

The streets of Zoria were drowning in blood. Screams echoed between burning buildings as civilians ran for their lives, chased by the monstrous Land Malugna—beasts covered in countless razor-sharp teeth, their bodies twisting unnaturally as they devoured anything in their path. Overhead, the Ralugna swooped down like vultures, snatching people into the sky before tearing them apart.

Samuel stood amidst the carnage, Lancelot's broken body lying behind him. His chest heaved with fury, his hands trembling from the power that had surged through him. The spectral beast he had summoned—a massive wolf with glowing blue eyes—still hovered at his side, growling at the approaching monsters.

But even with this power, he knew he couldn't save everyone.

The city was falling.

Then, the heavens split open.

A golden radiance flooded the battlefield as a figure descended from the sky. A man clad in ornate silver and blue armor, wielding a massive halberd that shimmered with divine light. The moment his feet touched the ground, the monsters recoiled.

The King's God had arrived.

Gasps spread through the surviving soldiers and civilians. Whispers filled the air.

"It's him…!"

"The King's God is here… we're saved!"

"He will push them back!"

Samuel felt a strange pressure in the air, like the very world itself bowed before this man.

The warrior's voice rang out like thunder. "Zoria will not fall this day."

With a single swing of his halberd, golden energy surged forward, cleaving through the Land Malugna in an instant. Their grotesque bodies were disintegrated, reduced to ash. The remaining beasts shrieked, their frenzy turning into hesitation.

For the first time since the attack began, there was hope.

The Nobles Take Control

While the King's God fought on the front lines, others took command behind the scenes. The nobles of the capital—the ruling class who advised the king—began organizing the survivors, creating safe zones, and rallying what remained of Zoria's forces.

Samuel, still dazed from the battle, found himself watching as one woman commanded the city's response with perfect precision.

Her name was Lyra Edevane.

Dressed in elegant yet practical battle robes, her dark hair framed a sharp, calculating face. She moved with authority, giving orders with a voice that brooked no hesitation. Knights and soldiers obeyed without question, civilians flocked to her for safety.

Samuel couldn't look away.

Even in the middle of all this devastation, she looked untouchable—strong, confident, and breathtakingly beautiful.

For a moment, all the pain, the rage, and the loss faded.

He didn't even realize he had taken a step toward her until someone grabbed his arm.

"We need to move!" One of his remaining teammates—Elaine, the quiet but sharp-eyed girl—snapped him out of his trance. "The nobles are organizing an evacuation point. We have to go now!"

Samuel clenched his fists. Lancelot was dead. The city was burning. But there was still a battle to fight.

Samuel ran through the wreckage of Zoria, his boots splashing through puddles of blood and ash. Buildings had collapsed, the streets were littered with bodies—both human and beast. The once-proud capital was barely standing.

Elaine led the way, her sharp eyes scanning for threats. Behind them, their remaining allies—Marianne and Sylvia, the other two girls in their team—followed closely, their expressions tight with exhaustion and fear.

But there was no time to grieve. Not yet.

They had to survive.

The King's God vs. Ezekiel

In the distance, the golden light of the King's God clashed against the crimson aura of Ezekiel, the Vox Sanguinis. The air trembled with power as their forces collided.

Samuel could barely comprehend what he was seeing—two beings beyond mortal limits, fighting like gods of war.

Ezekiel, dressed in blood-red armor, stood atop a pile of corpses, his eerie crimson energy pulsing with each movement. Around him, dozens of Malugna beasts responded to his call, moving like an extension of his will.

"You're persistent," Ezekiel said, his voice carrying a mocking amusement. "But you're fighting a losing battle, old man."

The King's God didn't flinch. "I fight for my people. You fight for nothing but blood."

Ezekiel grinned. "And yet, blood is what always wins in the end."

Then, he raised his hand.

A new wave of Malugna burst from the shadows, stronger and more vicious than before.

Samuel felt his breath hitch. The city wasn't safe yet. Even with the King's God fighting, Ezekiel had too many monsters under his command.

"We have to move faster!" Elaine urged.

Samuel clenched his jaw. He knew she was right.

But his eyes flickered back to the battle, to the monsters that had killed Lancelot, and his fists tightened.

He wasn't strong enough.

Not yet.

The Nobles' Stronghold

After running through the ruins, they reached a fortified district near the palace. Soldiers stood at the entrance, their armor gleaming under the flickering torchlight. These weren't just any knights—they were the King's elite forces.

And leading them was Lyra Edevane.

She stood on the high wall, surveying the battlefield like a queen commanding her domain.

The moment Samuel's group arrived, she turned to them, her piercing gaze locking onto him.

"You're late," she said.

Samuel felt a strange chill run through him.

There was something about her—the way she held herself, the way people obeyed her without question—that made him feel like she was something more than just a noble.

"We were held up," Elaine said, panting. "What's the situation here?"

Lyra exhaled, turning her gaze back to the burning city. "We're securing this zone. The civilians are being evacuated, and the knights are holding the last defensive lines."

Her voice was steady. Unshaken, despite the chaos.

Samuel had never seen someone like her before.

She was strong. Beautiful. Untouchable.

And in that moment, for the first time since Lancelot's death, something in him stirred.

A Moment of Weakness

For a fleeting second, he forgot the blood on his hands. Forgot the burning rage.

All he saw was her.

She turned back to him, her sharp eyes scanning his face. "Are you hurt?"

Samuel blinked, caught off guard by the question.

"I—" He started to say something, but nothing came out.

He wasn't hurt. Not physically. But something inside him felt broken.

And yet, standing before her, he felt… something else.

Something he didn't want to understand.

Lyra didn't press further. She simply turned back to the battlefield. "If you can still fight, we need everyone on the front line."

Samuel clenched his fists. He wanted to fight. He wanted revenge.

And maybe, just maybe, he wanted to prove himself in front of her.

Even if he didn't know why.

The Final Stand of Zoria

The battle wasn't over.

Ezekiel was still standing. His Malugna horde was still growing.

The King's God was strong, but he couldn't hold the entire city alone.

The nobles had taken control. Lyra was leading the defenses. But Samuel knew the truth—Zoria's survival would depend on more than just them.

It would depend on him, too.

Lancelot was gone. His best friend had died protecting this city.

And Samuel wouldn't let his death be in vain.

As the next wave of Malugna surged forward, Samuel took a deep breath, stepping onto the battlefield once more.

His journey was just beginning.