Reincarnated as a Princess's Pet: With Trash Stats, but SSS-Rank Skill

Max planted his shield against the ground and pushed himself up. His legs still trembled, his chest burned from the impact... but he didn’t stop.

The hammer spun back into his hand with a sharp motion.

And he raised his voice.

"Azael!"

The shout echoed through the entire room.

His eyes locked onto that twisted body.

"I know you’re in there!"

He took a firm step forward.

"Don’t give up now!"

Dante’s body shook violently. His hands were still clutching his head, as if trying to rip something out from inside.

"SHUT UP!"

The voice came out distorted.

"That useless fool isn’t here anymore!"

But his body betrayed him.

Green flames burst from his wounds, stronger, more unstable.

As if something... was answering from within.

Max didn’t hesitate. He twisted his body and hurled the hammer.

BOOM.

A direct hit to the torso. The body jolted, and the hammer returned.

Max caught it, and threw it again.

BOOM.

Another hit.

"Fight Dante, Azael!"

Again.

BOOM.

"It’s your body!"

Again.

BOOM.

Dante staggered back. His knees nearly gave out. Green flames began to erupt uncontrollably, spilling from his wounds like open cracks.

But something changed.

The glow within those flames... began to fade.

Slowly.

The fire still burned, but the light inside it weakened.

"...no..."

Dante dropped to one knee.

"...no... NO!"

The body began to glow.

But it wasn’t the same sickly glow as before.

It was different.

The green flames began to dissipate, leaving the body as if being expelled.

The white hair...

Started to darken.

Until it returned to black.

Little by little.

The wounds stopped leaking that fire. Some even began to close, slowly.

"—AAAGH—!" 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

One last scream.

And then, the body collapsed. Falling forward.

Max reacted instantly. He dropped the shield and lunged forward, catching him before he hit the ground.

THUD.

He held him in his arms.

"...easy..."

Azael breathed. Weak, but he breathed.

His eyes opened slightly. Clouded and tired.

He looked at Max.

Then, from the corner of his eye, at Abby on the ground.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"...thank you..."

His voice was barely a whisper.

"...for not giving up..."

Max let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding.

But then, something moved on the floor.

His gaze dropped, to the green blood.

It hadn’t stopped. It crawled across the ground like something alive. Burning the stone as it moved. Searching.

Searching for a new body.

"—shit—"

Max snapped his head up.

"Moon!"

He turned toward the corridor.

"Freeze the bodies!"

Moonlight reacted instantly.

"I’ve got it!"

She ran forward, raising her sword.

The air tensed.

And in a single motion—

SHHHK.

She cut through the air. A wave of cold exploded forward.

The ground froze over. The zombie bodies were trapped in a thick, crystalline layer.

Frozen. Immobilized.

Just in time.

The blood reached them...

And stopped. For a second.

Then it shifted, climbing the wall. Avoiding the ice.

"No way—!"

Moon frowned.

Abby was already beside her brother, holding him carefully.

"Azael... Azael..."

Max didn’t hesitate. He stood up instantly.

"It’s not over."

And he ran. No plan, but no hesitation either. Only one certainty.

If Dante’s blood found another body... everything would have been for nothing.

Moon followed immediately.

"Wait, Dad!"

Wind magic burst beneath their feet.

They propelled forward, faster, lighter.

Side by side. Chasing that green stain climbing the castle walls.

The hunt... wasn’t over yet.

***

The stairs appeared before them suddenly, the ones leading to the bridge.

Max slowed for just a second, long enough to see the green blood sliding down the wall... and disappearing below the structure.

"—it went down—"

But he didn’t move.

He couldn’t.

Because they weren’t alone.

A group of figures blocked the way. Black robes.

The air grew heavy.

Max narrowed his eyes.

"...you... again..."

He recognized them instantly.

The memory struck him like a hammer blow.

Taniel’s room. The disappearance. The feeling that something didn’t add up.

And above all...

That smile.

One of them stepped forward. The hood concealed most of his face, but the curve of his lips... was unmistakable.

The same blade in his hand.

"...looks like we meet again."

Moon didn’t hesitate.

"I’ll cut you down—!"

She stepped forward, but Max immediately stopped her, extending his arm in front of her.

"No."

His voice was sharp.

"Don’t get close."

Moon frowned.

"Why—?"

The hooded man tilted his head slightly.

"...not getting close is the smartest thing you can do."

His tone was calm. Certain.

Max didn’t look away.

"...I don’t have time for you."

He tightened his grip on the hammer.

"I’ve got something more important to deal with."

Another hooded figure spoke, his voice deeper.

"...too late."

He raised a hand and pointed downward, beneath the stairs.

Max looked.

And saw it.

A knife embedded in the ground. Surrounded by glowing seals.

Dante’s green blood... was there. But it was no longer moving.

It was evaporating.

The fire slowly fading, consumed by the light of the seals.

As if something... was purifying it.

The last trace of Dante... disappearing.

Max clenched his teeth.

"...what did you do...?"

The first one spoke again.

"...we finished the job."

Another added, emotionless:

"...another debt repaid."

A third slightly turned away.

"...it’s time to leave."

Max stepped forward.

"Wait!"

His voice echoed.

"Who are you?"

The eyes beneath the hood glinted faintly.

"What do you want?"

The one with the smile turned around, unhurried.

"...that doesn’t concern you."

He began walking up the stairs.

"...and you’re better off not finding out."

Max didn’t hesitate.

"Don’t leave!"

He ran after them, taking the steps two at a time. Fast.

But not fast enough.

By the time he reached the top, he only caught a glimpse of the last figure stepping through the window.

A portal opened in midair.

And snapped shut.

Nothing remained.

Only... that green dust.

Suspended in the air for a moment.

The same smell.

Sulfur.

Exactly like before.

Max extended his hand. He grabbed some of it and clenched it in his fist.

His jaw tightened.

"...again..."

He didn’t know what to think.

If they were allies...

Or something much worse.

Footsteps behind him. Moon arrived, breathing heavily.

"...Dad..."

She stepped closer.

"Are you okay?"

Max didn’t answer right away.

He released the dust. Looked at the closed window. Then at the stairs.

And finally... lowered his gaze.

"...yeah."

His voice was quiet.

"I’m fine."

Moon tilted her head.

"...who were those guys?"

Max slowly shook his head.

"...I don’t know."

He tightened his grip on the hammer.

"...and they’re definitely dangerous."

He sighed and turned around.

"But that doesn’t matter right now."

He started walking down the stairs.

"We need to go back."

His eyes hardened.

"...and make sure everyone’s okay."