The forge had turned into a nightmare.
Thousands of shimmering figures surrounded Lira—clones, illusions, twisted copies of herself and her fallen foes.
Every strike she threw, every block she made, seemed to multiply the enemies around her.
---
Kael and Prince Eldarin watched helplessly from the edge, the heat and tension almost unbearable.
Lira's gauntlets glowed faintly purple, but her movements were sluggish.
Her breaths came in ragged gasps, sweat and blood mixing on her face.
---
Shota, the Demon General of Pride, stood at the center of it all.
He didn't fight directly—he didn't need to.
Every illusion attacked, every shadow obeyed his will.
His eyes gleamed with cold amusement.
---
Lira swung her fists desperately, breaking one illusion after another.
Each punch tore through steel and stone alike—but there were too many.
Her body screamed in pain.
Bruises and cuts covered her skin; even her Mythril gauntlets were chipped.
---
"Why… so many?" she muttered through clenched teeth.
Purple light flickered weakly along her fists.
"…Fun… still… fun…"
---
Shota laughed, a cruel, echoing sound.
"You cannot win," he said.
"Your strength is meaningless against the perfection of my pride."
---
At that moment, when Lira staggered, barely able to stand, her vision blurred, everything slowed…
Kael's eyes widened.
She gritted her teeth.
And with one desperate motion, one last surge of raw purple energy, she leaped.
---
Her fist connected with Shota's chest.
The impact was instantaneous.
The air split.
The sky itself cracked.
---
BOOM.
---
Shota was sent flying.
Higher… and higher…
Beyond the mountains, beyond the clouds…
He became a streak of light against the heavens.
---
The illusions shattered.
Dust and smoke fell like rain.
The battlefield was silent.
---
Lira collapsed to her knees.
Every muscle screamed.
Her gauntlets scorched from the sheer force of the strike.
---
Kael rushed forward, eyes wide with disbelief.
"…You… sent him… into the sky?"
---
Prince Eldarin staggered behind him.
"…I… I helped," he muttered, pale.
---
Lira barely looked at them.
Purple light still shimmered along her fists, faintly humming.
"…Good. Fun," she whispered.
"…Really… fun."
---
And in the heavens above, Shota's pride burned as he disappeared into the clouds, leaving behind only a whisper of fury…
---
To Be Continued…