Journey to Become the Zenith

Echoes Beneath the Crimson Sky

”Hey Videl, what are you doing here?” It was obvious to Azriel that Videl was the trigger for the teleportation, so going further wasn’t needed.

The wind moved softly between the trees.

Silver Moonlight light filtered through the forest canopy, painting the ground with shifting shadows. Videl had been standing alert until she heard that familiar voice behind her.

Her body froze slightly.

Then she turned.

When Videl heard the familiar voice she looked at her side and was surprised to see Victor smiling while waving his hands casually at her.

For a brief second, relief appeared across her face so naturally that even Azriel noticed it immediately.

But then—

Something felt strange.

Videl’s sapphire-blue eyes narrowed slightly.

Victor looked the same.

The same sharp handsome features.

The same black hair.

The same golden eyes.

The same relaxed posture she had memorized over years of being beside him.

Yet...

Something was different.

Not physically.

It was deeper than that.

The aura around him felt older.

Heavier.

Dangerous.

Like some ancient predator was staring through Victor’s eyes for the briefest moment.

Videl instinctively felt that there was something different about Victor, but she just couldn’t understand what was different.

Her brows furrowed faintly.

”...Am I just tired?”

She muttered softly to herself.

After everything that happened earlier, her mind was exhausted. Teleportation, ambushes, missing nobles, mysterious enemies, and an ancient winged hero appearing out of nowhere—

Anyone would start imagining things.

In the end Videl didn’t bother trying to figure it out, since this man she loved carried countless secrets already.

And strangely...

She trusted him enough not to pry.

The next second—

Videl suddenly walked straight toward him and wrapped both arms around his waist tightly.

Azriel blinked once.

Then laughed softly inside his mind.

”So this is the type Victor likes...”

The blonde beauty buried her face against his chest and released a long exhausted sigh.

”As usual you have such great timing Victor.”

Her voice sounded tired.

Relieved.

Comforted.

Azriel looked down at her quietly for a moment before naturally returning the embrace. His hand gently rested on her head while the other wrapped around her waist.

The movement was surprisingly smooth.

Because even if this was Victor’s body—

the emotions lingering within it were real.

This woman mattered deeply to him.

Azriel could feel it clearly. Victor’s instincts themselves reacted protectively around her, almost naturally, as though his body had memorized the feeling long ago.

A faint smile appeared on Azriel’s face.

”Looks like this brat really treasures his women...”

The Blood Monarch found it oddly amusing.

Despite every incarnation having different personalities, different lives, and different paths... at their core, they were still the same soul. Some became calmer. Some colder. Some more ruthless. Some carried kindness while others drowned themselves in battle and bloodshed. Yet certain things never truly changed.

Their obsession with combat.

Their hatred toward those who harmed what belonged to them.

Their terrifying revenge against universal emperor and when someone touched the women they loved.

That instinct remained constant across every incarnation.

If someone threatened their lovers, every version of them would react the same way—either by killing the enemy outright... or making them wish they had died instead.

So to Azriel, hugging Videl back felt completely natural.

After all,...

Victor was simply another version of himself.

For some reason, that thought amused him.

Videl slowly pulled back from the hug, though one hand still lightly held onto his jacket as if reassuring herself he was truly here.

Then Azriel went straight to the point again.

”So why are you here?”

Videl exhaled softly before explaining everything.

As she spoke, the atmosphere gradually became heavier.

She started by telling Victor about the missing nobles.

How several important people connected to Skyfall Kingdom had vanished without leaving behind traces.

Then she explained how she had searched for clues only to be ambushed midway through her investigation.

Her expression darkened slightly while recalling the battle.

”There were too many of them,” she admitted quietly. ”And they were organized.”

Azriel listened silently.

No interruption.

No jokes.

Only calm focus.

Videl then proceeded to explain the appearance of the ancient hero with dragon wings.

The moment she mentioned crimson-golden eyes and massive dragon wings—

Azriel immediately knew who she was talking about.

Niklaus.

The Fourth Hero.

”So that idiot from victor previous incarnation demon emperor Anos’s life still alive...”

A grin almost appeared on his face.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Videl then told him the message the ancient hero wanted her to relay.

Even though Videl couldn’t understand how Victor was able meet the ancient hero, seeing as they’ve been together all their lives, she still wasn’t that bothered by it.

Victor had always been unusual.

Too unusual.

Sometimes she felt like the world itself bent strangely around him.

Still—

She trusted him.

Someday, she believed he would tell her everything.

The blonde beauty then carefully handed over a horn wrapped in cloth.

”This is what he gave me.”

Azriel accepted it calmly.

The instant his fingers touched the object—

His eyes narrowed slightly.

A faint pulse traveled through the cloth.

Ancient.

Wild.

Powerful.

’This is something that could potentially make Victor a bit stronger.’

Azriel immediately understood its value.

Yet he did not unwrap it.

Instead, he casually hid the horn away beneath Victor’s jacket.

Videl noticed the subtle shift in his expression.

”You know what it is?”

”Something useful.”

That simple answer only made her more curious.

But she didn’t press further.

The forest grew quiet afterward.

Only the sound of rustling leaves remained.

Then—

Videl noticed Victor’s expression slowly changing.

The warmth in his eyes faded slightly.

Not toward her.

Toward the people responsible for the ambush.

Even Azriel, who rarely cared about lesser matters, could feel the possessiveness hidden deep within Victor’s instincts.

This incarnation cared greatly for the women beside him.

Very greatly.

The moment Videl explained she had been cornered and nearly captured—

A dangerous pressure quietly leaked from Victor’s body.

The nearby leaves trembled.

Videl blinked.

”...Victor?”

Azriel immediately controlled the aura leaking out and smiled casually again.

”Nothing.”

But internally—

His thoughts were colder.

”If Victor himself heard this story...”

Azriel chuckled darkly.

”He’d slaughter every single one of them.”

And honestly?

He wouldn’t blame him.

This woman clearly mattered to Victor far beyond ordinary affection.

Azriel could see it from the body’s natural reactions alone.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

”Videl, you better go back to your academy. I’m sure the people you are looking for will show up a bit later.”

After saying that to Videl, Azriel casually turned around.

But before he could leave—

A hand grabbed his sleeve gently.

He stopped.

Videl looked at him quietly.

”...Be careful.”

Her voice was soft.

There was worry hidden beneath it.

Azriel stared at her for a brief moment before smiling lightly.

”You sound like a wife.”

The blonde woman’s cheeks reddened instantly.

”...Idiot.”

Despite the embarrassment, she didn’t deny it.

That alone made Azriel laugh softly.

Then—

His expression sharpened again the moment he turned away from her.

The playful atmosphere vanished almost instantly.

Cold wind moved through the forest.

After saying that to Videl, Azriel proceeded to head towards the area Videl pointed out where she was ambushed.

His footsteps were calm.

Unhurried.

Yet every step carried invisible pressure.

’If it were Victor he would have dealt with the enemies efficiently by killing all of them, but that’s too boring.’

A vicious grin slowly formed on Azriel’s face.

Instead of immediate slaughter—

He wanted something more entertaining.

’Instead I will make them fear me.’

The crimson glow hidden deep within his eyes flickered briefly.

’Then that would force them to sharpen their fangs.’

His Zenith Aura quietly spread outward through the forest like invisible blood mist.

Animals fled instinctively.

The atmosphere itself seemed to darken around him.

’Once they feel that their fangs have sharpened enough they will once again come to bite my... no, Victor’s neck off.’

Azriel corrected himself halfway.

A strange look appeared in his eyes afterward.

Even he found it amusing how naturally he started thinking of Victor as his successor already.

’At that time surely they would prove a challenge for my new incarnation...’

The grin on his face widened.

’And with that challenge my incarnation will be able to become stronger than before.’

That was how all of them grew.

Pain.

Battle.

Death.

Evolution.

Again and again.

Yet despite his confidence—

Something still bothered him.

Even though he didn’t show it on his face, nor did he think much about it consciously, Azriel was actually feeling a bit nervous.

Victor was the weakest incarnation he has ever seen.

And he was already the fourth incarnation they had after defeating a main part of the Universal Emperor.

That fact alone was deeply unsettling.

The Blood Monarch’s smile slowly faded.

The forest suddenly felt colder.

Azriel couldn’t help but feel that something was going wrong.