Lawine stood motionless, her sword still in hand as she stared at the devastation before her. The ground ahead had been split cleanly in two, and everything beyond it had been completely annihilated by her attack.
She tightened her grip on her sword and clicked her tongue.
"Tsk... she escaped."
Breathing heavily, Lawine slowly exhaled before turning toward Shin and Kim, who were staring at her in disbelief. As she walked over, Shin eyes sparkled with excitement.
"That attack was so cool!" she exclaimed.
Lawine couldn't help but smile.
"Oh? Thank you."
Her expression soon turned serious as she glanced toward the trembling building.
"We have to get out of here. This place could collapse at any moment. And... we need to help Kondo."
Both girls nodded immediately.
Lawine continued,
"The moment you get the chance, take Kondo and leave this place. Our next opponent is far more dangerous... and I don't want any of you children getting caught in that battle."
Shin looked at her anxiously.
"But staying here isn't safe for you either."
Lawine gave her a gentle smile.
"I know. But someone has to stop her."
Kim lowered her gaze, her voice filled with sadness.
"Kondo won't leave with us... He cares about you too much. He'd never abandon you like this."
Lawine smiled softly at both of them.
"I know. But you'll have to convince him. I don't want him carrying this burden alone."
From a distance, King Veld had been silently observing everything.
Resting a hand on his jaw, he muttered,
"I never expected Sam wife to defeat Alice... And what exactly is that transformation? I'll have to ask Sam about it later."
At that moment, the entire building shook violently.
"Looks like it's time to leave. Besides... knowing the Emperor Force, they'll probably arrive only after I'm dead."
Kiora quickly tried to reassure him.
"Please don't say that, Your Majesty. They'll be here soon."
King Veld sighed before turning away.
"Come. Let's get out of here before this building buries us alive."
On the rooftop...
Yen stood with his sword pointed forward.
He was exhausted.
Every breath felt heavy, and sweat dripped from his face as he stared at the massive scar carved across the battlefield by Lawine attack.
"What kind of attack was that...? Good thing I wasn't caught in its path... Otherwise, I might've been erased along with everything else."
Yonk noticed Yen attention drifting for a split second. Instantly, he teleported behind him and swung his hand, aiming to slash his back.
But Yen sensed the attack at the last moment.
Clang!
He blocked it with his sword, though the force of the impact sent him sliding backward through the air before he finally regained his balance.
Yen was exhausted.
His breathing had become uneven, and the hand gripping his sword was beginning to tremble.
"How much longer can I hold these two off...? I can barely keep up with one of them... fighting both at the same time is impossible."
His gaze briefly shifted downward.
Below him, Ishita and Yina were still locked in battle. Their swords collided so rapidly that they looked like two violent gusts of wind crashing into one another over and over again.
Yen turned his eyes back toward Yonk.
Yonk smirked.
"So? Is that all you've got? Don't tell me you've already run out of tricks."
Yen smiled faintly.
"We'll see."
The moment those words left his mouth, he charged straight at Yonk once again.
Elsewhere...
Kondo remained on one knee.
He spat out a mouthful of blood before using his sword to slowly force himself back onto his feet.
Standing before him was Yirina.
She looked at him with amusement.
"What happened? Is that all? You can't even stand anymore?"
Kondo forced himself upright despite the pain.
"Shut up..."
He took a heavy breath before glaring at her.
"I'll... defeat you."
A smile spread across Yirina's face.
"That's more like it."
She raised her sword high into the air.
A confident smirk rested on her lips as she prepared to bring the blade down—
Suddenly...
Her instincts screamed.
Without hesitation, she spun around and raised her sword.
Clang!!
Another blade crashed against hers, releasing a powerful shockwave that rippled through the battlefield.
Yirina smiled.
"So... you've finally arrived, Lawine."
Kondo's eyes widened.
"...Mom?"
He stared at her in disbelief.
Her appearance had changed because of the ritual.
"Mom! What are you doing here?!"
Lawine answered with actions instead of words.
She forced Yirina backward before swinging her sword.
"Wind Strike!"
Yirina blocked the slash, but the impact pushed her back several meters, giving Lawine the opening she needed.
Lawine glanced over her shoulder at Kondo.
"What? Did you really think I'd sit back and watch my son fight alone?"
She then looked behind him.
Kim and Shin immediately understood her intention.
Both nodded and hurried toward Kondo.
Kondo frowned.
"What are you two doing here? I told you to get out of here!"
Without saying anything, Shin and Kim grabbed one of his arms each.
Kondo blinked in confusion.
"H-Hey! What are you doing?"
Seeing the two girls reach Kondo safely, Lawine smiled before turning her full attention back toward Yirina, who was already waiting for her.
The next instant—
Lawine vanished.
She appeared directly in front of Yirina, her sword already swinging.
Yirina smiled as she blocked the attack.
Their blades clashed repeatedly at incredible speed.
Watching the battle, Kondo struggled against Shin and Kim.
"Let me go! I have to get over there! Why did you let Mom come here?!"
Shin glared at him.
"You're not even in any condition to fight anymore! Your mom will handle this!"
"No!"
Kondo shouted.
"I can't let this happen! You both know what's going to happen next!"
Kim looked at him with tears forming in her eyes.
"We know..."
"But look at yourself."
"You can't fight anymore."
Her voice trembled.
"If you keep pushing yourself like this..."
"...you'll die before anyone else does."
Kondo looked at her tearful face.
Then...
He smiled.
"So what?"
"If my death saves everyone..."
"...then I don't mind."
Thump!
Shin punched him on the head.
"Oww!!"
Kondo grabbed his head in pain.
"Shin! What was that for?! That hurt!"
Shin pointed a finger straight at him, her face burning with anger.
"What do you mean everyone will be saved?!"
"Stop acting like you're carrying everyone's burden by yourself!"
She pointed toward Lawine.
"Look over there!"
Kondo turned.
Lawine and Yirina were exchanging countless sword strikes, each collision shaking the battlefield.
Shin continued,
"Everyone here is fighting with everything they have!"
"You have to trust them!"
"You don't fight this battle alone."
"You fight it together with everyone."
"Do you understand?"
Kondo stared at her with wide eyes.
Then...
A small smile slowly appeared on his face.
"...Thank you, Shin."
Shin immediately looked away, her cheeks turning slightly red.
Kondo finally understood.
He didn't have to shoulder everything by himself anymore.
He had people he could trust.
Turning toward both girls, he smiled warmly.
"And... thank you too, Kim."
"I know what I have to do now."
He tightened his grip on his sword before looking toward the battlefield where Lawine was fighting.
Then he spoke calmly.
"I need one favor from both of you."
Kim and Shin exchanged confused glances.
"What is it?"
"Just..."
He smiled.
"...move a little farther away from me."
The two girls silently stepped back.
Then they saw it.
Thin streams of white smoke began flowing from Kondo's sword.
Moments later, identical streams started rising from Kondo's own body, as a faint white aura slowly wrapped itself around him.