Kaela's boots splashed into the crimson mud, the blood of Viles and warriors mingling beneath her feet. The battlefield outside the ruined port town of Virell burned with the stench of sulfur, steel, and death. Blackened husks of buildings smoldered behind her, while monstrous screeches echoed in the distance—remnants of a Vile pack still prowling the edges.
In her hand, Ren pulsed with heat in his sword form. The obsidian blade shimmered faintly with veins of red energy—Crimson Sync still active. His voice echoed in her mind, clearer now than ever before.
"They just keep coming…" Ren's voice was strained but steady. "You sure we're not overdoing it?"
Kaela snorted. "What, tired already? I thought you wanted more 'field research' with my squad."
A blush might've crept over his face had he still had one. "Well, yeah, I didn't expect a bloodbath before breakfast."
A scream cut the air—feminine, not monstrous.
Kaela's eyes snapped toward the source. A squadmate. One of the newer recruits—Riva—was pinned beneath a collapsed turret, a Vile looming over her with its bone-bladed arms raised.
Kaela didn't hesitate. She moved.
A burst of speed, one step—then two—and she was airborne, her body twisting mid-leap. She raised Ren, blade glowing violently.
"Crimson Arc—!"
She slashed, and a half-moon of raw crimson energy tore through the air, cleaving through the Vile's torso. The creature shrieked, convulsed, and collapsed into ash before it could land a killing blow.
"Captain Kaela!" Riva gasped, her eyes wide with awe—and terror.
"Get back with the others," Kaela barked, grabbing Riva by the arm and yanking her free. "This zone's not cleared yet."
As she turned to survey the battlefield, Ren's voice dropped to a low murmur. "They're not coordinated. It's like they're being pushed forward… herded."
Kaela narrowed her eyes.
"Which means someone's leading them."
Back at the mobile command tent, the Crimson Squad's medic worked on patching up Kaela's minor cuts while she sat still, Ren—now back in human form—sat cross-legged nearby, holding a plate of half-eaten rations.
"You got a little too into that last fight," he said, glancing up at her. "I'm starting to think you enjoy the chaos."
Kaela cracked a smirk. "What gave it away? The laughing while covered in monster guts or the part where I yelled 'more'?"
Ren gave a nervous chuckle. "Definitely the yelling."
Kaela stood, rolling her shoulders. "Still, you're right. That wasn't normal. We've seen Viles attack in swarms, but this had structure. There was a pattern."
"And patterns mean planning," Ren finished, his brow furrowed.
Just then, the tent flap opened and in stepped Captain Lucina, her platinum braid damp from the battlefield's mist. She nodded at Kaela.
"You survived."
"Disappointed?"
Lucina's smirk was faint. "Never. We've got a problem. Scouts report sightings of a new Vile type on the outskirts of the nearby ruins. It was seen issuing commands—telepathically."
Kaela's expression sharpened. "A commander-class Vile?"
"Worse. A Hallowed Vile."
Silence settled like a thundercloud.
Ren blinked. "Wait, what's a—?"
"Hallowed Viles are smart. Evolved. They're rare, and they tend to lead hives or form cults around themselves. If one's here…" Kaela cursed. "We'll need full squad deployment."
Lucina hesitated. "That's not all. There's rumors—rumblings from the higher-ups in the Matriarchal Council. They want to evaluate your Pact again."
Ren perked up. "Wait, evaluate?"
Kaela's jaw tightened. "They're still afraid of what you are. Of what we are."
Ren frowned. "But I'm helping. I've saved lives."
"Power that doesn't belong to them makes them nervous," Lucina said, arms crossed. "A male wielding a weapon's form… It disrupts everything they've built."
Kaela growled. "Let them come."
Later that night, under the canopy of a dying moon, Kaela and Ren walked through the temporary base's outskirts. The others had retired—some resting, others tending to their weapons or rituals. But sleep eluded Kaela.
Ren walked beside her in silence, the air between them charged.
"You're restless," he said.
Kaela glanced at him. "You noticed."
"I might be new to this whole 'bonded soul weapon' thing, but I can still tell when you're burning too hot." He gave a lopsided grin. "You always get that twitch in your left eye."
She stopped.
Ren looked back, a little confused. "Did I say something wrong—?"
Kaela turned toward him and stepped close. "You're observant."
"I mean, I am your sword."
Her fingers lifted his chin.
"Then be sharp."
He blinked as she pulled him into a kiss—soft but charged with fire. When she pulled back, she grinned. "There's your reward."
Ren's cheeks flushed. "I-I didn't even do anything that heroic this time!"
"You're alive," she said. "That's good enough."
The ruins loomed the next morning, jagged and broken like the ribs of a buried beast. Moss clung to shattered stone, and fog curled around the base like smoke.
Kaela led her squad with Ren now back in weapon form, his presence humming in her grip. They moved carefully, scanning for any signs of movement.
Suddenly—movement.
A silhouette emerged through the fog: humanoid, cloaked in black mist, with long limbs ending in bone blades and a cracked porcelain mask over its face.
Lucina whispered, "Hallowed Vile."
It spoke, voice layered with a thousand whispers.
"Crimson-tainted… you bring the cursed blade."
Kaela raised Ren. "We brought your end."
It howled—and the earth split.
Dozens of Viles burst from the ground. The battle began.
Kaela roared into the chaos, unleashing arcs of crimson energy, each slash of Ren cleaving through monstrous flesh. The Hallowed Vile moved like liquid shadow, taunting her between slashes.
Ren spoke in her head, sharp and focused. "You need more power. Push deeper into the Pact."
Kaela gritted her teeth. "You sure?"
"Trust me."
She closed her eyes—just for a moment.
Their souls touched.
The Crimson Pact deepened.
Her body surged with heat—pleasure and pain intertwining as her veins glowed red. The battlefield slowed. She could feel every heartbeat, every motion.
She became the weapon.
With one fluid motion, Kaela danced through the enemies, faster, sharper, unstoppable. Her blade sang with raw energy.
Finally, she reached the Hallowed Vile, and with one scream, she buried Ren into its chest.
Light exploded.
When the dust settled, only Kaela stood—smoking, victorious.
Back at camp, as the medics cleaned her wounds, Ren returned to his human form and collapsed beside her, both of them drenched in sweat.
He stared at her.
"You're insane," he said. "But I think I'm getting used to it."
Kaela turned her head slightly, her smirk weak but satisfied.
"Get used to it. This is only the beginning."