Caline Arc's body stood in the middle of the forest clearing, still… yet radiating power no 17-year-old should possess.
Her eyes had turned completely black, her veins glowing faint crimson.
A wicked pressure surged through the land, so dense it crushed birds mid-air. Even monsters in the far-off woods ran howling.
---
Far above, Reina Arc, in mid-flight on her patrol, came to a screeching halt.
> "This… this can't be..."
Her senses were screaming.
> "That aura... is the same. No—it's worse."
Without a word, she vanished in a flash of lightning.
---
Ryu Arc was already there, frozen.
The moment his daughter's body twitched unnaturally, he had rushed to her.
But what stood before him now—wasn't her.
> "Caline?" he called gently.
The thing in her body tilted its head.
Then it grinned.
> "How curious, Ryu Arc," it said in a twisted version of Caline's voice. "Even after all these years… you still look like prey to me."
---
Reina landed beside Ryu, sword unsheathed.
> "Get out of her," she demanded.
> "Oh? But I like this body," the entity said. "It's strong. Pure. And best of all… loved."
It raised a finger. A pulse of God-level energy exploded outward—cracking the earth, bending trees backward.
Ryu stepped forward, fists clenched.
> "I'll ask once," he growled. "Let. Her. Go."
The being laughed.
> "Oh, hero. You destroyed your foundation to stop me once. What will you break now?"
It charged.
---
The battle began.
The possessed Caline moved faster than light, throwing punches that distorted the air.
Reina and Ryu fought together, their coordination flawless from years of battle—but even they were being pushed back.
The being's voice echoed as it fought:
> "She resists me, even now. Annoying girl. But resistance is temporary."
Suddenly—Caline's body froze, mid-attack.
A single tear fell from her eye.
> "Mom… Dad… help me…"
That voice. That was her.
---
Reina gasped. Ryu roared, pushing through with raw willpower, and slammed his palm into her chest—not to hurt her, but to connect his energy with hers.
> "Caline! Fight it! You're stronger than this!"
---
Inside her mind realm, Caline stood again.
Wounded. Bleeding. But standing.
The shadowy figure sneered.
> "You'll break."
> "No," she whispered, raising her blade.
> "I'll break you."
---
To be continued…