Ginara still stood where he had struck them.
Unmoving.
Unshaken.
Uninterested.
Kros wiped blood from his mouth. Aiya struggled to stand. Her ribs screamed in pain. Her left arm trembled.
They finally understood.
This was not a fight.
This was survival.
Aiya quickly cast healing magic on both of them. A soft green light wrapped around their bodies. Wounds closed… slightly.
Barely.
She exhaled.
"Winning… will be impossible."
Kros nodded.
"Then we use everything."
He lowered his voice.
"Endolin."
Black fragments spread across his body like liquid metal. The armor formed piece by piece — shoulders, chest, gauntlets — until he stood fully clad.
But this time…
It wasn't gold.
It was black.
Dark. Elegant. Terrifying.
Aiya smirked.
"You son of a—"
She chuckled.
"Nothing you do surprises me anymore."
Then her expression hardened.
"Belzura."
The ring glowed.
Three spirits appeared behind her.
Fire.
Water.
Earth.
Each radiating ancient power.
She looked sideways at Kros.
"Hey… anything to say before we die?"
Kros blinked.
"...No?"
She stared at him.
Inside… she sighed.
Two years… and he still didn't get it.
"Idiot…" she muttered.
Then—
Ginara moved.
The ground exploded.
He vanished.
Kros barely reacted. Steel clashed. Shockwaves erupted. The impact pushed him across the battlefield, carving trenches into the ground.
Aiya jumped in.
"Fire spirit — merge!"
Flames wrapped around her body.
Her sword ignited.
She swung.
Ginara blocked with one hand.
The flames shattered.
He countered.
Aiya summoned stone instantly. Earth spirit formed armor around her body. The blow still sent her flying.
She coughed blood.
"Water spirit — merge!"
Water flowed around her wounds, boosting regeneration. Her eyes began glowing faintly.
She dashed again.
Faster.
Stronger.
Ginara swung.
She blocked.
The ground beneath them cracked.
Kros entered.
Black lightning sparked across his armor.
He slashed.
Ginara stepped sideways — but the speed surprised him.
Their blades collided.
For the first time…
Ginara slid back.
Aiya noticed.
"He's not invincible!"
They attacked together.
Sword. Flame. Stone. Water. Lightning.
Ginara countered everything.
He moved faster than sight.
Each strike nearly killed them.
Minutes felt like hours.
Hours felt like days.
Their bodies broke.
Their minds blurred.
But they didn't stop.
---
Aiya's breathing grew unstable.
Her three spirits began resonating.
Fire burned brighter.
Water surged violently.
Earth cracked beneath her feet.
Her pupils shrank.
Her hair began floating.
The three spirits merged simultaneously.
Energy exploded outward.
Her eyes glowed.
Her body changed.
She moved differently.
Colder. Sharper.
Almost inhuman.
She vanished.
Ginara blocked instantly.
But this time…
She pushed him back.
Shock.
Her sword blurred.
Each strike precise.
Each movement flawless.
Her perception from Edimantle evolved further.
She could see trajectories.
Intent.
Muscle movement.
She wasn't reacting anymore.
She was predicting.
Ginara smiled slightly.
For the first time.
Kros jumped in again.
Their teamwork became perfect.
She attacked high.
He attacked low.
She cut left.
He struck right.
Ginara was forced on the defensive.
But still…
He dominated.
One strike.
Both flew.
Both nearly unconscious.
Kros fell to one knee.
His fingers sparked.
Lightning spread.
Unstable.
Uncontrolled.
Then—
The sky darkened.
Thunder roared.
A domain formed.
Thunder Domain.
Lightning covered the battlefield.
Ginara's movements slowed.
His aura flickered.
His undead body destabilized.
Kros looked confused.
"I… didn't…"
Aiya realized instantly.
"This is our chance!"
She gathered everything.
All spirits. All mana. All will.
Her body glowed white-blue.
She rushed forward.
Kros followed.
Final strike.
Two blades crossed.
Ginara's chest split.
Silence.
He stood.
Then smiled.
"...Well done."
His body began fading.
But suddenly—
He appeared behind them.
This time…
Alive.
Beside him stood his liege.
Ginara held a crown.
He walked to Aiya.
"You… have earned this."
"The Crown of Valor."
He placed it on her head.
Instantly—
A blue colorless veil dress formed around her body. Elegant. Divine. It fused into her skin, then vanished.
Her aura exploded.
She had ascended.
Demi-God.
Ginara smiled.
"Your determination… brought you here."
"You are the second human in a thousand years… to reach Demi-God."
Aiya's eyes widened.
Kros looked at Ginara anxiously.
Waiting.
Hoping.
Ginara turned to him.
Silence.
Then spoke.
"...Your path is stained."
Kros froze.
"Be always on guard."
"Your fate… is not a good one."
"The destiny of this world… does not want your existence."
Then Ginara faded.
Leaving only silence.