The countryside was unnaturally quiet.
A dull wind swept across the open field, bending the tall grass as if even nature itself feared what was about to happen.
On one side stood nine figures—Ace, Amagi, Gorath, Norio, Seris, Kael, Liora, Darian, and Tarin.
Wounded. Tired. But ready.
On the other side—
Only one man.
Vaelros.
He stood calmly, his dark cloak shifting slightly with the wind, his eyes scanning them as if they were nothing more than an obstacle.
"Tomorrow was too far," he said quietly. "I decided to end this now."
No one stepped back.
Amagi took a step forward. "Everyone… stay sharp."
And then—
They attacked.
---
Amagi moved first, his body flowing like water as he activated Shark's Fin. His strikes came in a seamless rhythm—fast, precise, relentless.
Kael followed close behind, his blade humming as it adjusted to the energy around Vaelros, each swing aimed to disrupt his magic.
Gorath charged head-on, his sheer strength tearing through the ground beneath his feet.
From the back, Liora's invisible threads spread across the battlefield, tightening like a web.
Seris stood still—but her eyes were focused, ready to bend time itself if needed.
Ace hesitated for only a second.
Then he joined them.
---
At first—
It worked.
Amagi's strikes forced Vaelros to shift. Kael's blade interfered with his movements. Gorath's attacks actually pushed him back.
For a brief moment…
They had the advantage.
Vaelros exhaled softly.
"Impressive."
Then he disappeared.
---
He reappeared behind Gorath.
Before anyone could react, a single strike sent Gorath crashing across the field, his body tearing through the earth before coming to a stop.
Darian stepped in instantly.
Snake's Tail.
He redirected Vaelros' next attack, shifting the force away with perfect timing.
But Vaelros adapted faster.
A sharp counter—
Darian staggered back, his left arm falling limp at his side.
He clenched his teeth but said nothing.
---
"Now!" Amagi shouted.
Everything happened at once.
Liora's threads tightened, binding Vaelros in place.
Kael activated his disruption field, distorting the flow of magic around them.
Seris rewound a brief moment, aligning their actions perfectly.
And Tarin stepped forward.
A massive spatial opening formed behind Vaelros, pulling chains, debris, and weapons into a tight prison around him.
For the first time—
Vaelros was restrained.
Ace stepped forward, fire gathering in his hand.
This was their chance.
---
Vaelros smiled.
"Interesting."
He reached out—
and touched Tarin.
The battlefield froze.
Tarin's expression shifted from focus to shock as his power began to disappear—pulled away, stripped from him.
The spatial prison collapsed—
and then reformed.
Under Vaelros' control.
Tarin dropped to his knees.
Empty.
---
A roar shattered the silence.
Norio charged.
No hesitation. No fear.
Just raw determination.
He struck Vaelros head-on, forcing him back with sheer force.
Vaelros looked at him.
"Still clinging to what you were?"
Then he raised his hand.
Space twisted.
Norio moved again—
but something was wrong.
The air itself shifted.
Everything stopped for a fraction of a second.
Then—
Norio fell.
Silence followed.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
---
Seris screamed.
She rewound time.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
Each attempt pushed her further. Her strength faded, her appearance changing as time took its toll on her instead.
"I… can't fix it…" she whispered, collapsing.
---
Amagi stepped forward again.
Despite everything.
Despite the damage.
"Fall back," he said.
"No," Ace replied.
But Amagi had already moved.
Faster than before.
Beyond his limits.
His strikes became sharper, faster, more dangerous—pushing Vaelros back step by step.
For a moment—
He held him.
Then Vaelros countered.
A single overwhelming strike sent Amagi flying into the distance, his body crashing into stone.
He didn't move again.
---
Something inside Ace broke.
"No more…"
Flames erupted around him—but they weren't stable anymore.
They surged wildly, reflecting his emotions.
Vaelros turned toward him.
"Finally."
He stepped forward—
and reached out.
He took Ace's power.
Once.
Ace staggered.
Then again.
---
At first, nothing happened.
Then Vaelros froze.
His expression changed.
His breathing became uneven.
"…What is this…?"
Memories flooded him.
Pain.
Bonds.
Loss.
Everything Ace carried.
---
Ace dropped to one knee.
Then slowly stood.
A sharp sound echoed—
like chains snapping.
The invisible restraints around his heart shattered.
A wave of energy burst outward, shaking the ground itself.
Ace's presence changed completely.
Unrestrained.
Uncontrolled.
---
Vaelros tried to move—
but something was wrong.
His body resisted him.
His power turned unstable.
Ace walked toward him, each step heavy.
"You took everything…" Ace said quietly.
"But you can't carry it."
Energy surged from him—not just power, but weight.
Emotion.
Will.
Burden.
It wrapped around Vaelros, binding him in place.
Holding him.
---
The battlefield fell silent.
Gorath barely breathing.
Amagi unmoving.
Darian clutching his arm.
Seris collapsed, aged beyond her years.
Tarin powerless.
And Norio…
Gone.
Ace stood at the center, barely conscious, yet still standing.
Holding Vaelros in place.
Not defeated—
but no longer unstoppable.
Vaelros looked at him, his calm finally gone.
"…So this… is your burden…"
Ace said nothing.
He simply stood there.
Until his body began to give in.
---
This was not victory.
This was the price of stopping something far worse.
And the beginning…
of the final war.