Chapter 9:The Fateful Encounter

Chapter 9: The Fateful Encounter

The ground shook beneath Kaito’s feet.

A massive wave of demons surged toward him and Aldric, their war cries roaring through the battlefield. Dozens. Hundreds. Their weapons gleamed under the moonlight, their eyes burning with fury.

Kaito’s chest tightened.

"They’re coming straight for us."

It wasn’t just another raid. This time, the enemy was targeting them specifically.

It made sense. He and Aldric weren’t just ordinary warriors—they were commanders. If they fell, the entire human army would crumble.

But as Kaito scanned the advancing horde, his eyes locked onto someone.

And for a moment—everything else faded.

She stood at the front of the demon army, her posture regal, her blade drawn. Her presence alone commanded attention.

He didn’t know her name. He had never seen her before.

But the moment he laid eyes on her, something inside him stirred.

She was breathtakingly beautiful.

Her long, flowing silver hair shimmered under the firelit sky. Curved obsidian horns protruded from her head, only enhancing her inhuman elegance. Her golden eyes gleamed with sharp intelligence, cold yet captivating.

For the first time in his life, Kaito felt something completely irrational.

He was in the middle of a battlefield. He should be preparing to fight.

But instead, he found himself staring.

"Who is she?"

His heart pounded—not out of fear, but something else entirely.

Before he could think too much, Aldric grabbed his arm.

"We’re pulling back," the knight ordered, his voice firm. "They’re after us specifically. We can’t fight them all here."

Kaito glanced at him, then at the approaching demon forces.

He made a split-second decision.

"Go, Aldric," Kaito said. "I’ll hold them off."

Aldric frowned. "Don’t be stupid. You’ll be surrounded."

"Just trust me."

Aldric hesitated, then cursed under his breath. He wasn’t happy about it, but he knew Kaito wasn’t the type to change his mind once he decided something.

"Don’t die, Hero," Aldric muttered before retreating with the other knights.

Kaito watched him go.

Then, he turned back to the approaching demon army.

A crazy idea formed in his head.

Faking His Death

Kaito exhaled. His decision was made.

If he truly wanted to understand the demons, he had to see their side firsthand.

And the only way to do that—was to go with them.

But they would never accept a human.

Which meant…

He needed to become something else.

He took a deep breath, then whispered under his breath:

"System."

For the first time, the System responded immediately.

> [Yes, Host?]

Kaito grinned slightly, despite the chaos around him.

"System, my brother," he muttered. "I haven’t asked you for anything until now. Can you help me?"

There was a pause.

> […What do you need?]

Kaito tightened his grip on his sword, his mind racing.

"Change my appearance," he said. "Make me look like a demon."

A long silence followed. Then—

> [Request acknowledged.]

[Activating Temporary Disguise Mode.]

[Modifying Host’s physical appearance…]

A sudden wave of energy rushed through Kaito’s body. His skin tingled, his bones ached, his muscles burned. It was quick, but intense.

Then—it was done.

Kaito stumbled slightly, his body feeling different. He glanced at his reflection in a blood-stained puddle nearby.

His once-black hair had turned a deep crimson, his eyes now glowing a piercing violet. Small dark horns curled from his forehead, and his ears had sharpened slightly.

"Holy shit… it worked."

He barely had time to process it before the demon warriors reached him.

Captured… or Accepted?

The first demon soldier hesitated, his sword still raised.

"He’s not human," one of them muttered.

Another narrowed his eyes. "Then why was he fighting for the humans?"

The silver-haired woman—the one who had captured his attention earlier—finally stepped forward.

She studied him closely, her golden eyes unreadable.

Kaito’s heart pounded.

This was his only chance.

So he did the one thing that could make them believe him.

He collapsed to the ground, letting himself fall unconscious.