The King's massive fist thundered toward Riku again—Essence swirling like a typhoon behind it.
But this time…
He missed.
The impact hit nothing but empty air and shattered earth.
The King's eyes narrowed.
"…Where—?"
The Queen blinked.
Yumi and Toru were frozen still, eyes locked on the claws at their throats. The Queen hadn't moved them yet—she was savoring the fear.
But something was off.
The wind shifted.
Her body tensed. Instinct screamed—danger.
"No one vanishes from my senses," she hissed, scanning wildly. "Where did he—"
Then she felt it.
Behind.
Just as she turned—
Shhhk.
A clean, seamless slash.
The Queen froze, eyes wide.
Her arms dropped, and her claws clinked lightly against the ground.
A line of silver aura shimmered across the air where Riku had moved.
The Queen's head tilted unnaturally…
…before sliding clean off her shoulders.
Her body fell silently between Toru and Yumi, collapsing into dust and vanishing in a swirl of Essence.
Riku stood behind her, his silver aura flickering in silence—calm, deadly, unstoppable.
His voice was cold:
"You were too loud."
Toru and Yumi both looked up, shocked—but unharmed.
Then—
"RAAAAAH!!"
The King's roar shattered the silence like an avalanche.
His eyes burned with unrestrained fury. Muscles bulging, fists shaking, the ground cracked beneath his steps.
"NO ONE TOUCHES MY WIFE!!"
His aura exploded outward, a cyclone of crimson and black.
"YOU—WILL—PAY!!"
But Riku just turned his head slightly, wiped the blood from his cheek…
And narrowed his eyes.
"Then come collect the debt."