The atmosphere had not fully recovered when the announcer's voice echoed through the arena once again.
Commentator:
"After Round Five, which ended without any casualties..."
"...we now enter Round Six."
The pressure in the air shifted once more.
"In Round Six, the first participant is a master sniper."
"The accuracy of his shots... one hundred percent."
"He never misses his target."
"His name is... Shion Carter."
Some spectators began whispering quietly.
"A sniper...?"
"In an arena like this?"
The announcement continued, its tone becoming heavier.
"His opponent in this round is a being known as one of the most evil creatures in mythology."
"A symbol of destruction and savagery."
"He is... Belial."
The atmosphere immediately became tense.
Moments later, a giant holographic screen lit up above the arena.
The image displayed was not an open battlefield, but a dense forest.
Towering trees blocked out the light, thin fog hung between ancient trunks, and the ground looked damp and dark.
"The battlefield for Round Six has been decided."
Inside the hologram, Shion was almost impossible to see.
He had already taken position—hidden among the trees, his breathing calm as he slowly raised his rifle.
Deep within the forest, Belial's dark aura could be clearly felt.
Tree branches trembled lightly, as if something was moving unseen.
Shion did not rush.
He steadied his breathing.
Adjusted his aim.
Then—
FWHIP!!
The first shot was fired from afar, piercing through the silence of the forest.
Round Six had begun—
A silent hunt between a perfect marksman and the darkest of creatures.
FWHIP!
The first bullet shot between the trees.
Not to kill—
But to test.
Inside the holographic forest, the tree trunk it struck shattered in half, splinters flying everywhere.
Belial stopped walking.
The dark aura surrounding him pulsed softly.
He turned his head—not toward the sound, but toward the source of intent.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Belial:
"Someone is aiming at me... interesting."
Far away, Shion had already changed positions.
There were no wasted movements.
Every step was silent, blending perfectly into the shadows of the forest.
He crouched behind a massive tree root and raised his rifle once more.
The target was locked.
But he didn't fire.
Shion waited.
Belial resumed walking.
Every step blackened the ground beneath him, and leaves withered the moment his aura touched them.
Spectators:
"He knows he's being targeted?"
"Usually snipers make their opponents panic, but this is the opposite..."
Belial raised one hand.
Dark pressure spread outward, thickening the fog and blurring vision.
Belial:
"Hiding. Aiming. Waiting.
You are patient... I like that."
Shion adjusted his firing angle.
His breathing remained steady.
FWHIP!
The second bullet passed incredibly close to Belial's head—
Close enough to cut through the air, but not touch him.
Belial chuckled softly.
Belial:
"A miss... are you really the sniper with one hundred percent accuracy?"
He vanished into the fog.
Shion immediately retreated.
He leapt to another branch before landing silently on the ground.
A thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Shion (thought):
The target is reacting.
Inside the arena, the tension was obvious.
Arou:
"This isn't a fast duel."
Lumina:
"The loser will be the one who loses focus first."
Within the forest, the two hunters searched for each other.
There were no flashy attacks.
No shouting.
Only time, patience, and the wait for a tiny mistake.
Round Six had decided nothing yet.
But one thing was already clear—
This battle would not end quickly.
The holographic forest grew even quieter.
The fog hung low, swallowing visibility.
Belial stopped walking.
He lowered his head slightly before smiling.
Belial:
"Then... it's my turn to hunt."
The ground around him pulsed with darkness.
Tree roots began moving slowly, as if crawling—not attacking, merely sensing.
Far away, Shion had already moved again.
He never used the same path twice and left no obvious tracks.
He embedded a small bullet into a tree trunk—a sound-reflection device.
Then moved in the opposite direction.
A few seconds later—
FWHIP!
A gunshot echoed...
From the wrong direction.
Belial immediately turned toward the false source.
At that exact moment—
FWHIP!
Another bullet flew from a different angle, barely grazing his shoulder.
Not a killing shot.
Still testing distance.
Belial:
"You are splitting my perception... interesting."
He raised his hand.
The shadows of the forest stretched unnaturally, forming faint silhouettes that moved on their own.
Spectators:
"Now Belial is the one applying pressure..."
"If Shion gets discovered, it's over."
Shion held his breath.
He pressed his body against the damp ground and cooled his rifle—erasing any heat signature.
One shot was locked directly onto Belial's head.
Yet his finger did not pull the trigger.
Belial stopped in the center of the forest.
Belial (quietly):
"I know you could end it right now.
Why don't you?"
Shion muttered in his thoughts.
The target is too aware. It's a trap.
He shifted his aim—to the tree behind Belial.
FWHIP!
The bullet struck the trunk, causing it to collapse and alter the terrain.
The fog split apart. Sightlines changed.
Belial jumped backward, slightly surprised.
Belial:
"Oh... controlling the battlefield."
In the arena, tension filled the air.
Arou:
"Shion isn't looking for a quick finish."
Lumina:
"He's forcing Belial to keep reacting."
Inside the forest, both disappeared from sight once again.
Only two figures remained—
One hunting with patience.
One responding with slow terror.
Round Six continued.
And the first mistake...
Would be the last.
The fog suddenly trembled.
Belial stopped completely.
His smile disappeared.
Belial:
"Fine... if you want a long game."
He pressed his palm against the ground.
Dark aura spread like a stain through roots and tree trunks.
The forest did not attack—
But it became alive.
Leaves spun without wind.
Shadows moved against the direction of light.
Shion instantly noticed the change.
He jumped backward—
But he was half a second too late.
Belial's shadow appeared directly behind him.
The air became freezing cold.
Shion spun around and fired on instinct.
FWHIP!
The bullet pierced the shadow—
Nothing.
But dark pressure slammed into his chest, sending him flying into a massive tree trunk.
Spectators:
"HIT?!"
"He got blown away!"
"A sniper in close combat—dangerous!"
Shion coughed lightly.
A thin streak of blood ran from the corner of his mouth.
Yet his eyes remained focused.
He rolled away, vanished behind a bush, and shut down all auxiliary devices.
Belial stood where he was.
Belial:
"You're still alive. Good."
He partially opened the seal on his chest.
A black symbol pulsed—a forbidden power that transformed the surrounding area into a miniature hell.
Trees blackened.
The ground cracked.
Shion knelt behind a giant root.
His hands trembled slightly—not from fear, but from holding his breath too long.
He loaded a new bullet.
Not a killing bullet.
An aura-disruption round.
Shion slowly raised his rifle.
His sights locked onto the center of Belial's aura.
But he stopped.
Shion (thought):
One mistake... and it's over.
Inside the arena, everyone fell silent.
Airi:
"He's waiting for a moment that cannot be repeated."
Nova:
"If Shion fires now... the result will decide everything."
Belial slightly turned his head, as if feeling the stare.
Belial:
"I know you're still aiming."
Silence returned to the forest.
Two breaths.
Two killing intents.
No bullet fired.
No winner decided.
Yet Round Six had now reached the point of no return.
The fog in the holographic forest began to thin.
The dark aura surrounding Belial trembled unstably, as if collapsing from within.
Shion stood motionless among the trees.
His breathing was calm.
His eyes were sharp.
He stopped playing safe.
The rifle on his shoulder shifted slightly.
The target was locked.
FWHIP!
The first bullet pierced Belial's shoulder.
His dark aura distorted violently, and the symbol on his chest flickered.
Belial staggered.
Belial:
"...So this is your serious shot."
Shion gave him no time.
FWHIP! FWHIP!
The next two bullets struck the ground to Belial's left and right.
Not misses—
They sealed his movement.
The dark zone around him shattered, and the fog was blown away.
Belial dropped to one knee.
His breathing grew heavy.
His dark wings began fading.
Spectators:
"Belial is cornered!"
"His aura is breaking!"
"He's almost helpless!"
Shion moved to his final position.
Now the distance was straight and clear.
No obstacles.
The sights locked directly onto Belial's head.
One more shot.
Only one.
Shion inhaled deeply...
Then lowered his rifle slightly.
He hesitated for a fraction of a second.
And at that exact moment—
The shadow beneath his feet moved.
Belial smiled.
Belial:
"You are too pure to finish a creature like me."
The shadow emerged directly behind Shion.
There was no time to turn.
No time to shoot.
A dark strike landed at point-blank range.
DUKH!
His rifle flew from his hands.
His body was hurled violently across the ground.
Spectators:
"SHION—!"
"No...!"
"He let his guard down...!"
Shion tried to stand.
But his body no longer responded.
Belial stood before him.
His aura was weak—
But sufficient.
Belial:
"You were almost perfect."
One final attack was unleashed.
Shion's body cracked into light before turning into ash.
The ashes slowly rose into the air...
And vanished among the trees.
The forest became silent once more.
The announcement echoed throughout the arena:
"Round Six has concluded."
"The winner... Belial."
A brief pause followed.
Then the voice continued:
"The current score is:"
"Invaders: 3"
"Warriors: 3"
A tie.
There were no cheers.
No absolute victory.
From this point onward, every round would no longer be about power—
But about who loses a single second first.
The arena fell silent again.
The holographic forest gradually faded away.
Green light disappeared one by one, leaving behind only the arena floor covered with remnants of Belial's dark energy... and Shion's ashes being carried away by the wind.
There were no cheers.
No victorious shouts.
Only a crushing silence.
The scoreboard changed.
Invaders: 3
Warriors: 3
Even.
Airi stared at the arena without blinking.
"He..."
"Shion was so close to winning."
Lumina gave a small nod.
"His attacks were perfect."
"Accuracy, distance, timing... everything."
Arou let out a sigh.
"But Belial isn't the kind of enemy you defeat through calculations alone."
"He waited for a moment of carelessness."
Haru clenched his fists.
"Just one second," he said bitterly.
"That one second..."
Tomo finished in a heavy voice.
"...was enough to end everything."
Nora lowered her head, her usual cheerful smile nowhere to be seen.
"Shion was strong," she said.
"If it weren't for that... Belial would have fallen."
Priscilla looked toward the arena.
"He pushed Belial to his limit," she said coldly.
"That wasn't a shameful defeat."
Hikari swallowed nervously.
"Now the score is tied."
"That means the next rounds will be even crazier."
Rei spoke briefly.
"Shion forced Belial to reveal his forbidden power."
"That alone is proof."
Nova looked at the scoreboard.
"Three to three," he said calmly.
"From this point onward, every battle will determine everything."
A gentle wind blew across the empty arena.
No one spoke anymore.
Everyone understood one thing:
Shion's defeat wasn't merely the loss of a round—
It was the sign that this war had entered its most dangerous stage.