Central Government Castle, Dominatus — Vanguard Residence.
Inside the temple, Johan's footsteps echo clearly across the stone floor.
DUK… DAK… DUK…
He walks out of the room with a calm expression, then pauses briefly in the middle of the corridor. The air around him feels different. Something is wrong.
His brow furrows slightly.
He resumes walking.
DUK… DAK… DUK…
He heads toward the opposite room—the one he previously used to imprison someone.
His hand reaches for the doorknob.
KREEK—
The door opens slowly.
Johan stops at the threshold.
His eyes scan the room.
Empty.
Ropes lie scattered across the floor.
The window is shattered.
WASH… WUSH… Wind flows in freely, pushing the curtains inward.
The drapes sway gently.
Johan's expression turns flat. His brows lift slightly.
"Huft… this person is truly crazy." he murmurs.
He steps inside.
CRK… CRK…
His shoes press against shards of glass.
He lowers his gaze. The signs of struggle are obvious. The restraints have been forcibly broken.
Johan looks up.
His eyes stare blankly at the ceiling.
"I made a mistake… again," he mutters.
His breath escapes slowly.
"I should have killed him from the beginning… along with that old mage."
He stands still.
The wind continues to blow through the broken window.
The curtains never stop moving.
---
The figure lunges forward as well.
Fast.
He moves ahead of Loki.
He leaps.
His body spins mid-air.
"—Huh?!" Loki mutters, startled.
Loki freezes.
SWUUUUSH—
His body is seized and spun—
—JDHAAAAAAAAAMN!
Loki is slammed into the ground.
Violently.
KRAAAK!
The earth cracks beneath him.
Dust scatters.
Loki rolls once.
Twice.
BRUK.
Then stops.
He falls silent for a moment.
His breathing is heavy.
Slowly, he rises.
In front of him—
"Hmph?!" Loki mutters.
The figure grabs his robe.
GRRRK—
The fabric is pulled—
—CKRAAK
The robe tears away, revealing the figure's face completely.
Loki is taken aback.
"Ohh. Now I recognize you." A grin spreads across his face.
He draws a rough breath.
"The one I replaced in Vanguard…"
He steps forward.
DUK! DAK! DUK!
"…the kick fighter—"
"WHAAAHMN!"
He lunges again.
His body lifts into the air—
He is already in front of the figure.
His leg rises.
The figure sees it.
He forcefully twists his body.
The right kick shoots toward his face—
"NICHOLAS!"
—KWHAAAAAAHHM.
It strikes the ground.
Nico evades.
KRAAAK!
Cracks spread widely.
The earth splits.
Dust bursts upward.
"Tck!" Loki clicks his tongue in irritation.
He retracts his leg and moves again.
His leg rises.
SWOOSH—
A sweeping kick aims for the neck—
WHAAAAAAAAAAHMN!
It cuts through empty air.
Nico has already tilted his body away.
"Quite agile." Loki frowns, growing more annoyed.
He does not stop.
His leg drops and his hips twist instantly.
SWAAASH!
A rising kick toward the abdomen—
PKHAAAAAHMN—
—Nico blocks with his elbow.
PHAK!
The impact is clear.
Nico's face tightens.
Loki abruptly shifts the trajectory—
—GDHAAAAAAAAHMN!
—driving Nico down into the ground.
However—
"Hmph?!" Loki mutters.
Nico plants both hands on the ground behind him, one leg already drawn toward Loki's chest.
"Damn—" Loki stiffens.
He freezes—
Unable to evade—
—PKHAAAAAAAAHMN!
Nico's kick lands cleanly on his face, sending him flying.
His body is launched far back.
Nico spins and advances again.
Short steps.
BHUAK!
He leaps briefly—
SLSHHLSHH—
Both feet slide before stopping—
—but Nico is already in front of him.
A left kick to the heart—
BHAAAAAAAAHM!
Loki's face tightens.
"AKH—" Blood escapes his mouth.
Nico continues.
A right kick to the side of the neck—
Loki grits his teeth, twisting his shoulder—
—SWHAAAAAHM!
It misses.
Nico has already shifted position.
His leg draws back again—
SCHAAAAAAHMN!
The kick strikes Loki's side.
Loki is pushed half a step back.
He continues gritting his teeth.
His gaze sharpens.
"So this is the one whose behavior is said to be no different from mine…" he says.
He prepares to counterattack.
His leg rises swiftly.
SWOOSH—
"…I did not expect to meet you like this."
A straight kick toward the face—
CPKHAAAAAHMN!
Nico deflects.
SWAAAAAASH—
"—especially with such a youthful appearance!"
Loki abruptly alters the trajectory—
—CPKHAAAAAHMN!
The tip of his foot strikes Nico's flank.
CTHAAKH!
Nico's face tightens.
His breath falters briefly.
Loki retracts his leg—
And continues.
A right kick toward the face—
WHAM!
Nico tilts his head.
Part of the strike still grazes his cheek.
His head shifts with the impact.
Nico prepares to retaliate—
—his body spins.
He forms his stance in an instant—
—and unleashes a rapid series of strikes aimed at vital points.
C-THAAAAAHMN!
Flank.
C-THUUUUUHMN!
Abdomen.
C-THAAAAAHMN!
Spleen.
C-THUUUUUHMN!
Ribs.
Loki grimaces, blood spilling from his mouth as he grits his teeth.
The next strike—heart!
Nico raises his leg again.
The next kick is ready—
"DAMN IT!"
Loki reacts instantly—
—SCHTHAAAAAAAHM!
His kick strikes Nico's body—
SWLAAAAAAAHSH!
Sending him flying back.
Creating distance.
SLSHHSHH—
Nico's feet drag across the ground.
SKSHH!
He stops.
Dust continues to scatter.
Loki bends slightly, elbows resting on his thighs. His breathing is rapid, then slowly steadies.
A wide grin forms.
"Heh."
A short laugh escapes.
Slowly, he straightens his posture.
No major injuries are visible.
Nico's attacks are rough and powerful.
Nico freezes.
Loki lowers his body.
Both feet plant firmly—
…his stance begins to form.
SREK—
One foot shifts forward slightly.
Nico moves.
DUK!
DAK!
DUK!
Fast.
Faster.
In a single blink—
He is already in front of Loki.
Loki attacks.
A right kick to the abdomen—
SPKHAAAAAAHMN!
It lands.
Nico's body folds.
Moving skillfully—
Loki's leg rises again.
SWOOSH—
A kick to the ribs—
SKLAAASH!
It connects.
Nico grimaces.
Loki continues.
"A formidable opponent, indeed…"
A left kick to the heart—
CPKHAAAAAAAAHMN!
It lands.
Nico grits his teeth.
He attempts to counter—
SCASH—
His kick strikes Loki's thigh.
Loki shifts slightly—
But maintains pressure.
His leg spins.
"And one that will be extremely difficult to defeat!"
A rising kick toward the neck—
—SKHAAAAAAAMN!
Nico ducks.
The attack passes through empty air.
WHOOSH—
A strong gust follows.
Loki does not stop.
A right kick to the face—
SKHWAAAAAHMN!
Partially connects.
Nico's head snaps to the side.
Nico prepares to counter—
—KCTHAAAAAAAHMN!
The strike hits Loki's spleen.
Loki grimaces.
"Ukh—experience… never lies, does it…"
He prepares to retaliate harder—
His foot stomps the ground.
BOOM.
He leaps—
His leg descends—
—CTHAAAAAAAAAMN!
Loki slams Nico's head, sending him flying away.
DAK—Loki lands.
His breathing is heavy.
SHHHHSHH—
Nico's feet drag before stopping, his body bent forward, breathing intensely.
Loki also lowers his head slightly, his breath just as heavy.
"Damn…" he mutters.
He raises his gaze.
Sharp.
Frowning.
Teeth clenched.
"If this continues… how am I supposed to defeat you?!"