The battlefield had become a chaotic storm of elemental power.
What had begun as a competition had long since ceased to resemble one. The replica Kingdom of Ryūgū, once constructed to imitate the grandeur of the real kingdom, had been reduced to a battlefield of shattered streets, damaged buildings, and scorched stone.
Explosions continued to erupt throughout the artificial city. Lightning repeatedly tore through the darkening sky, while flames and earth collided across the ruined streets. The deafening sounds of Elemental Arts being unleashed echoed between the towering buildings, creating a constant roar that made it difficult to distinguish one battle from another.
Yet amid all that destruction, one confrontation had become particularly dangerous.
Sandā stood in the middle of a ruined street with lightning crackling violently around his body. Blue-white electricity danced across his arms and shoulders, occasionally snapping through the air with sharp bursts of thunder.
His expression was cold.
His eyes remained fixed on Kasai and Sora.
Neither of them escaped his attention.
Several meters behind the pair, Kayosha remained on the ground. Her body trembled violently as she struggled to maintain her Water Dragon transformation after enduring Sandā's relentless lightning attacks. Her breathing was ragged, and portions of her body continued to ripple unnaturally, as though her physical form could collapse back into water at any moment.
Flick was still trapped inside Melody's barrier, unable to intervene.
Ishi stood between Kasai and the others, surrounded by his Earth Dragon soldiers. The enormous stone warriors remained motionless for the moment, but each one held its massive shield at the ready, prepared to intercept anyone who attempted to interfere.
And then there was Shōgeki.
The man known throughout the Kingdom of Ryūgū as the Death Blow had just withdrawn from the confrontation.
At least, that was what Sandā believed.
Shōgeki slowly turned his back toward the battlefield.
His posture remained relaxed, and his expression was calm. However, something had changed in his eyes.
There was a seriousness there that had not been present earlier.
Venom, who had been watching the confrontation from nearby, immediately noticed.
"Shōgeki??!! What the hell are you thinking?!" Venom shouted.
Shōgeki stopped.
For a moment, he remained completely still.
Then he slowly turned his head toward Venom.
"Is there a problem, Venom?"
His voice was calm.
Far too calm.
Venom clenched his fists.
"I'm withdrawing from the feud. You know you can't stop me."
A faint smile appeared on Shōgeki's face.
"If you don't want to fight, then I will—"
"Then don't."
Venom froze.
The smile disappeared from Shōgeki's face.
His expression became noticeably colder.
"If something happens to the head of the Kūki clan, I can guarantee you that you won't be coming out alive."
Venom's eyes narrowed.
The threat wasn't loud.
It didn't need to be.
Shōgeki spoke with the certainty of someone who had already decided what would happen if Venom crossed that line.
Venom gave a dismissive look.
"Relax. I'm talking about taking down the Hellblitz Knight—"
Shōgeki interrupted him.
"Sadly, I don't want to say this, but the Hellblitz Knight is what you could call an important treasure to the Sky Musketeer."
His gaze shifted toward Sora.
The young woman stood beside Kasai, her weapon still surrounded by traces of Sky Dragon energy. The strange radiance continued to swirl around her, flickering against the damaged buildings around them.
"Which means," Shōgeki continued, "he is also an important treasure to the entire Kūki clan."
Sora's eyes widened.
"Shōgeki..."
Shōgeki looked at her.
For a brief moment, the coldness disappeared from his face.
There was something almost protective in his expression.
He looked less like a feared warrior and more like an older brother watching over his younger sister.
"If something happens to the Hellblitz Knight or the Sky Musketeer, I can guarantee you that the entire branch family of the Kūki clan will come after you."
His eyes returned to Venom.
"Including me."
The atmosphere seemed to grow heavier.
Venom stared at Shōgeki without responding.
Shōgeki's expression remained completely serious.
"If I were you..."
He paused.
"...you'd better withdraw as well."
For several seconds, Venom said nothing.
However, before he could answer, Sandā suddenly laughed.
"Well, I'm not withdrawing no matter what."
Shōgeki slowly turned his gaze toward him.
"Are you sure?"
Sandā's grin widened.
The lightning surrounding his body crackled more violently.
Gēti, who had remained nearby, also looked toward Sandā.
"If you somehow hurt Sora or Kasai, Shōgeki shall come after you."
Sandā shrugged.
"Then I'll come after the Water Girl."
His hand rose.
Immediately, lightning gathered around his fingers.
The surrounding air began to vibrate from the concentration of elemental energy.
"Lightning Dragon—"
Kayosha's eyes widened.
She barely had enough strength to look upward.
"Thunderstorm Striker!!!!"
The sky answered.
A violent crack of thunder shook the battlefield.
A bolt of lightning descended from the storm clouds and struck Kayosha directly.
"GYAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
Kasai's eyes widened in horror.
"Kayosha!!!"
The lightning engulfed her body.
Her entire form was driven into the ground with such force that a crater formed beneath her.
The impact sent dust and fragments of stone flying outward.
For several seconds, Kayosha remained motionless.
Kasai stared at her in disbelief.
Then her body began to shimmer.
The flesh of her arms and legs slowly lost its solid form.
Her skin rippled.
Her body transformed into flowing water before desperately attempting to reconstruct itself.
Sandā narrowed his eyes.
"Trying to heal?"
A cruel smile returned to his face.
"Lightning Dragon Thunderstorm Striker!!!!"
Another bolt descended.
Then another.
And another.
Lightning repeatedly crashed into Kayosha.
Each strike illuminated the artificial city in a blinding blue-white flash. Thunder rolled across the battlefield as the ground continued to shake beneath the repeated impacts.
Kayosha screamed each time another bolt struck her.
Her body repeatedly lost its human form, becoming little more than a mass of violently disturbed water before struggling to reconstruct itself.
Kasai's expression twisted with rage.
"BASTARD!"
Flames exploded around his fist.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
The temperature around Kasai suddenly increased.
The flames surrounding his arm became brighter and more intense.
"Fire Dragon Inferno Knuckle!!!!"
Kasai launched himself forward.
Fire Dragon energy gathered around his right fist as he charged toward Sandā. Flames spiraled violently around his arm, leaving a blazing trail behind him.
He was only moments away from reaching Sandā when—
"Earth Dragon Imperial Defender!!!"
The ground erupted.
Several enormous stone soldiers rose from beneath the ruined street.
Their bodies were constructed from dense layers of earth and stone, their massive frames towering over Kasai. Each soldier carried an enormous shield, which they immediately raised in formation.
Kasai's burning fist slammed into one of them.
BOOOOOOM!
The impact sent fragments of stone flying in every direction.
Kasai's attack cracked the soldier's shield, but the enormous construct remained standing.
Behind the formation stood Ishi.
"I'm sorry."
His expression remained emotionless.
"You're not going near the both of them."
Kasai's teeth clenched.
"You—!"
Before he could finish, Sora raised her weapon.
"Let him through!"
Sky Dragon energy surged around her body.
The air around her weapon began to vibrate.
"Sky Dragon Skyblitz Barrage!!!!"
A barrage of condensed Sky Dragon energy erupted from her weapon.
Dozens of projectiles tore through the air, each one glowing with intense energy as they raced toward Ishi and his soldiers.
Ishi's eyes widened.
"Earth Dragon—"
Before he could complete the spell, Melody stepped forward.
"Melody Dragon Melodious Guard."
A strange sound resonated through the battlefield.
It wasn't loud.
Instead, it carried an eerie quality that seemed to vibrate through the air itself.
A translucent barrier materialized in front of Ishi.
The Sky Dragon projectiles slammed into it one after another.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The barrier trembled violently with every impact.
Cracks of energy spread across its surface, but it held.
Melody glanced toward Sora.
Her expression had become serious.
"I'm sorry."
Sora's eyes narrowed.
Melody continued.
"But I'll be your opponent."
Sora tightened her grip around her weapon.
The two women stared at one another.
Neither was willing to move.
Meanwhile, a strange distortion appeared behind Shōgeki.
The air twisted.
Space itself seemed to bend.
Shōgeki noticed immediately.
"Gēti."
He looked over his shoulder.
Gēti calmly raised his hand.
"Warp Dragon Dimensional Prison."
The space surrounding Shōgeki suddenly warped.
A mysterious barrier materialized around him.
The dimensional structure completely enclosed his body, trapping him within a strange spatial prison.
Shōgeki stared at the barrier for several seconds.
Then he sighed.
"Gēti."
He placed his hand against the barrier.
"What exactly is the meaning of this?"
Gēti gave him a small smile.
"I'm sorry, Shōgeki."
His expression became more serious.
"But I cannot let you intervene."
Shōgeki examined the dimensional prison.
He pressed his palm against its surface.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"And here I thought you weren't a fighter."
He looked toward Gēti.
"As sadly as I have to say..."
His smile disappeared.
"...your skills are troublesome."
Gēti chuckled.
"It's an honor being praised by Shōgeki the Death Blow."
Shōgeki ignored the remark.
His attention shifted toward Kasai.
"Hey, brat."
Kasai turned toward him.
"What?"
"I'm counting on you to protect Sora."
Kasai's eyes widened slightly.
Shōgeki's expression became serious.
"Show me that you can protect my dear cousin from harm."
Kasai looked toward Sora.
Then he looked back at Shōgeki.
"I will."
He clenched his fist.
"But can't you get out of there?"
Shōgeki shook his head.
"No. This barrier is a little annoying."
He placed his palm against the dimensional prison again.
"If I somehow manage to touch it directly, I'd be transported somewhere else."
Kasai's eyes widened.
"Seriously?"
"Gēti isn't a fighter," Shōgeki explained, "but his skills are greater than mine when it comes to dimensional techniques."
His eyes became sharp.
"So be extra careful."
Kasai swallowed.
He looked toward Gēti.
He's saying Gēti is more troublesome than him?
The thought alone sent a chill down Kasai's spine.
No way...
Kasai looked at Gēti again.
He's far stronger than Shōgeki...
A sudden thunderclap interrupted his thoughts.
"Lightning Dragon Thunderstorm Striker!!!!"
Kasai's head snapped toward the sound.
His eyes widened.
Another bolt descended from the storm clouds.
Kayosha was struck again.
"AAAAAAAHHHHH!"
Her body convulsed beneath the lightning.
For a moment, she completely lost her human shape.
Her body became almost entirely liquid, violently splashing against the ground before desperately reforming.
Sandā stared down at her.
His expression held no sympathy.
"You are weak."
Kayosha struggled to lift her head.
Sandā continued.
"Just like Ryūsei."
Kasai's expression darkened.
Sandā's gaze remained fixed upon Kayosha.
"It's true that your healing abilities are off the charts, but even your healing has limits."
He raised his hand.
Lightning danced across his fingers.
Then his lips curled into a cruel smile.
"I must praise you, though."
Kasai's eyes narrowed.
Sandā continued.
"You've endured fifty-two lightning strikes and lived."
Kayosha's breathing became increasingly ragged.
Her body trembled.
She could barely keep herself conscious.
Sandā slowly raised his hand toward the sky.
"But one more should do the trick."
The clouds above him began to churn.
"And finish you once and for all."
Kayosha's vision began to blur.
The battlefield around her slowly faded.
The voices became distant.
The thunder sounded as though it were coming from somewhere far away.
Her body was exhausted.
She could barely move.
She could barely breathe.
Yet even in that moment, her thoughts drifted toward the people who mattered to her.
Ryūsei...
Her fingers trembled against the ground.
Kasai...
She struggled to draw another breath.
Sora...
Sandā looked down at her.
"Your friends aren't here to save you."
Lightning began gathering above him.
The clouds darkened as enormous amounts of electrical energy converged overhead.
"Goodbye, Kayosha Mizu."
Kayosha's eyes slowly closed.
The clouds above the replica kingdom began to rotate.
Lightning converged toward a single point in the sky.
The entire battlefield seemed to disappear beneath the gathering energy.
Sandā raised his hand.
"Lightning Dragon Thunderstorm Blitz!!!!"
A tremendous blast of Lightning Dragon energy descended from the heavens.
For an instant, everything was swallowed by blue-white light.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The impact was instantaneous.
The explosion consumed the entire area around Kayosha.
A tremendous shockwave tore through the surrounding buildings.
Windows shattered.
Roofs collapsed.
Stone walls cracked beneath the pressure.
Dust and debris were launched into the air as the artificial city trembled violently.
Kasai's eyes widened in horror.
"Kayosha!!!"
He stared into the explosion.
His entire body shook.
"Sandā, you bastard!!!"
Flames erupted around him.
The fire surged higher and higher, reflecting the fury burning within his eyes.
"You'll pay for what you did!!!!"
Melody looked toward the explosion.
Even her expression had changed.
"Looks like he went a little overboard."
Sora stared at the destruction.
Her expression was disturbed.
"I never thought he'd be crazy enough to do something like that."
Sandā merely stood there.
The lightning surrounding his body slowly settled.
His expression remained cold.
He appeared completely unaffected by what he had done.
But then—
A voice echoed through the smoke.
"I'd never thought you'd be that low to do something like that, Sandā."
Everyone froze.
Kasai's eyes widened.
That voice.
He knew it.
His heart began pounding.
He slowly turned toward the nearby buildings.
"That voice..."
His breathing stopped for a moment.
"Is that...?"
A figure appeared above the smoke.
Sandā looked upward.
For the first time, his expression changed.
Then a grin slowly spread across his face.
"You took long enough to get here..."
The figure stepped off the roof.
"...Ryūsei!"
Ryūsei descended from the building.
His clothes were slightly damaged from the battle he had been fighting elsewhere in the arena. Dust covered parts of his clothing, and several scratches were visible across his body.
Yet none of that mattered.
His eyes were focused.
Cold.
Serious.
And more importantly—
Someone was in his arms.
Kasai's eyes widened.
"Kayosha!"
Ryūsei landed on the ground.
He immediately lowered Kayosha into a safer position, carefully supporting her injured body.
She was badly hurt.
Her clothes were damaged, and her body was still struggling to maintain its normal form.
But she was alive.
Kasai's relief lasted only for an instant.
Because Ryūsei slowly stood.
And the expression on his face made Kasai's heart tighten.
This wasn't the carefree Ryūsei everyone knew.
There was no smile.
No joking.
No playful expression.
No trace of the usual lighthearted attitude.
Only anger.
Ryūsei slowly turned toward Sandā.
His gaze locked onto him.
The atmosphere around them seemed to change.
Meteor Dragon energy began gathering around Ryūsei's body.
The air trembled.
Loose pieces of debris began lifting from the ground as his elemental power spread throughout the battlefield.
Ryūsei slowly clenched his fist.
"Hurting Kayosha was a big mistake."
Sandā's grin remained.
Ryūsei's eyes became colder.
"I hope you know what's coming, Sandā."
For the first time since Ryūsei had arrived, the surrounding battlefield seemed strangely quiet.
Then Sandā laughed.
"Looks like the F-Rank Loser is finally starting to fight back."
Ryūsei said nothing.
Sandā tilted his head.
"Are you mad because your little girlfriend got hurt?"
The lightning surrounding Sandā intensified.
"For an Elementalist ranked at her caliber, how is it that she's so weak?"
Ryūsei's eyes narrowed.
Sandā's grin widened.
"Come on, F-Rank Loser."
He spread his arms slightly.
"Show me what you've got."
Ryūsei's hand slowly tightened into a fist.
The mysterious black ring on his finger caught the light of the surrounding flames and lightning.
For a moment, Ryūsei's gaze shifted toward Kayosha.
He saw her injured body.
He saw how badly she had been hurt.
Then his eyes returned to Sandā.
The gentle smile that normally rested upon Ryūsei's face was nowhere to be found.
Sandā had made one mistake.
He had hurt someone Ryūsei considered family.
And now, after everything that had happened, there was no reason left for Ryūsei to hold back.
The man everyone had once dismissed as an F-Rank Elementalist had finally arrived.
And Sandā was about to learn exactly how dangerous that mistake had been.