Never Return
King Randolph had placed Leo in charge of the kingdom’s affairs while he went away for the fourth level of training.
He had ignored Collins’ constant warnings and insisted on going.
The pain of seeing Ella lying cold on a sickbed still lingered in his mind.
For some reason, he never wanted her to be hurt again.
The streets were as dark and filthy as they had been years ago.
He had been here before when he first met Collins.
They had come to obtain some items for the ritual he needed when he first tried to control his powers.
Back then, many strange-looking people had taken an interest in him upon his arrival.
He could still remember how Collins had fought against fifty demons just to protect him.
But now, no one seemed to notice his presence.
That was because he had already reached the third stage, and his demon scent was completely concealed.
The streets remained gloomy and dirty.
Poor creatures sat in the corners, their clothes blackened by filth, their hair covered in dust, and their lips dry from thirst.
He remembered Collins telling him not to pity them.
“They are still demons,” Collins had said.
“They are simply cursed by evil spirits. That’s why they live like this, always searching for blood to drink.”
This place was called Skull Village—an illegal settlement where demons who had broken the laws of their realms came to seek refuge after being banished.
It was considered illegal because it had never been approved by the Moon Goddess.
The village survived under the protection of a powerful man who owned almost half the world.
He had ruled from the shadows for thousands of years.
Eventually, they arrived at a massive auction hall.
It belonged to a snake demon who sold rare and powerful items.
However, obtaining them was never easy.
Every customer had to pass her test.
If you succeeded, you got what you came for.
If you failed, you became her servant and never returned.
That was how her store got its name:
Never Return.
The hall was packed with demons gambling and drawing lots.
Some unfortunate contestants had even lost their lives on the spot.
The owner stood elegantly at the center.
She was slim and graceful, with a slender figure that somehow became striking whenever she smiled.
She wore the same long red robes adorned with silver jewelry.
Her lips were the color of fresh blood, and her dark hair flowed all the way to her ankles.
The moment she saw Collins, her face brightened.
Despite the passing years, she had not aged a day.
“I knew you would come back, Blond Hair,” she teased.
“I have no time for games,” Collins replied flatly.
“Neither do I.”
Her gaze shifted to Randolph, who stood behind him observing the crowd.
“I see you’ve grown into a fine man. I told you that you were born to be a king. It seems I was right.”
Randolph met her gaze.
“You haven’t changed.”
She chuckled.
“I’m a snake demon. We shed our skin when it grows old and replace it with a new one.”
“I need the Flame Sword,” Collins said, cutting off further conversation.
The woman’s eyebrows rose.
“That’s a rare request.”
Her eyes moved from Collins to Randolph.
“Is his demon truly that powerful? Will he be able to endure the heat?”
“What heat?” Randolph asked.
“The Flame Sword is an ancient weapon. Once it cuts your flesh, it fills your body with unbearable heat. If you aren’t strong enough, you’ll either burn to death or be left with horrible scars.”
Randolph slowly turned toward Collins, giving him a look that clearly said:
You forgot to mention that.
“What do you want in exchange?” Collins asked, ignoring him.
A smile spread across the woman’s lips.
She turned around and clapped her hands.
Immediately, the crowd stood and cleared a large space in the middle of the hall, forming a circle.
She pointed toward the arena.
“You’ll fight for it. There are ten demons seeking the sword. The winner gets it.”
“I always win,” Collins said confidently as he stepped forward.
But Randolph stopped him.
“I’ll go.”
Before anyone could respond, he vanished.
A gust of wind swept through the hall.
The next second, he appeared in the center of the arena, his arms folded across his chest while a gleaming silver-white sword rested at his side.
“Your student is certainly bold,” the woman laughed as she blew a whistle.
Then Randolph saw his opponent.
His greatest challenge yet.
One of the strongest demons in history.
A Deer Demon.
Its body was dark and tough as stone, while its eyes glowed an eerie green.
Judging from the crystal embedded in its forehead, Randolph immediately recognized it as a forest demon that had lived for over three thousand years.
As a child, he had spent countless hours studying demons.
He knew exactly what he was facing.
“This fight is bound by life and death!” the woman announced loudly.
“To win, you must either kill your opponent or strip away at least two thousand years of their power!”
The crowd erupted into chatter.
“That handsome man will lose!”
“How dare he challenge a Deer Demon?!”
“He’ll be the first one to fall!”
“Poor fellow!”
“And he’s exactly my type!”
“Let’s place our bets!”
The voices grew louder and louder.
Behind the crowd, the woman glanced at Collins.
“Who are you betting on, Blond Hair? Are you sure your student can defeat that demon?”
“It’s a pity,” Collins muttered.
“What?”
“You can still switch places with him,” she said.
“I know you could kill that demon with a single glance.”
“I’m not talking about my student.”
A mischievous smile appeared on Collins’ lips.
The woman frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Collins looked toward the arena.
“I pity the Deer Demon.”
She turned around.
At that exact moment, a silver flash sliced through the air.
Randolph’s blade swept across the demon’s throat.
BOOM!
A violent explosion shook the entire hall.
Dust and smoke filled the arena.
When the air finally cleared, both Randolph and the Deer Demon were gone.
The crowd fell silent.
Everyone knew the rules.
Whoever returned first was the victor.
Collins folded his arms.
“Five…”
“Four…”
“Three…”
“Two…”
“One…”
Then—
BANG!