The battlefield fell silent.
Not because the war had ended — but because something far more terrifying had begun.
Hekirana stepped forward, her boots crushing the corpses beneath her feet. Her breathing was calm, but her eyes trembled with excitement.
"You…" she whispered, smiling. "You're not like the others."
Lightning crackled around Kros.
He raised his blade.
She vanished.
Steel collided.
The shockwave alone blasted nearby demons away. Dust exploded outward. The ground fractured beneath their feet.
Kros blocked her strike — but the force drove him back three steps.
His boots carved deep lines into the earth.
"...Heavy," he muttered.
Hekirana smiled wider.
"You're already noticing?"
She spun, both blades moving in perfect symmetry. Kros ducked the first, parried the second — sparks erupted between them like fireworks.
She stepped in again.
No pause.
No hesitation.
Strike.
Block.
Strike.
Block.
Strike.
Block.
Each hit felt heavier than the last.
Commander Fugiri stared from the walls.
He couldn't see them.
Only flashes.
Lightning.
Blue light.
Explosions.
"…What kind of battle is this…"
---
Hekirana pressed forward.
Her blade slid across Kros' guard and nearly cut his shoulder. He twisted, countered with a horizontal slash.
She leaned back.
Barely.
The blade brushed her cheek.
A thin line of blood appeared.
She touched it.
Her fingers trembled.
"...You made me bleed."
She licked it slowly.
Her smile widened.
"I like you."
She attacked again — faster.
Kros blocked.
The impact shook his entire arm.
He slid back again.
She followed.
Relentless.
No breathing room.
No openings.
No mistakes.
He activated Blade Storm.
Lightning blades rained down.
She weaved between them.
Perfectly.
"...Magic won't save you," she whispered.
She closed distance instantly.
Their blades collided again.
And again.
And again.
Kros realized something.
She was learning.
Every strike she adjusted.
Every dodge improved.
She was adapting mid-fight.
"You're getting slower," she teased.
"I'm getting bored."
Kros stepped forward for the first time.
He struck.
She blocked.
He spun — second strike.
She parried.
He vanished — appeared behind her.
She turned instantly.
Blocked.
"...Predictable," she whispered.
She threw one blade into the sky.
Kros frowned.
Why—
She vanished.
Then she appeared in front of him.
Too fast.
"...Don't wander off, darling."
Her knee slammed into his stomach.
Air exploded from his lungs.
Before he recovered — her elbow struck his jaw.
His head snapped sideways.
Then—
Her kick landed.
His ribs cracked.
Kros crashed into the ground.
The impact created a crater.
Dust rose.
He coughed blood.
Tried to stand.
She landed gracefully.
Slowly walked toward him.
"You're disappointing me."
He planted his blade into the ground to stand.
"...You talk too much."
She tilted her head.
"And you break too easily."
She vanished again.
Appeared above him.
Her blade came down.
He barely blocked.
The force crushed him to one knee.
The ground split.
She leaned closer.
"You're strong."
She twisted her blade.
He grimaced.
"But not enough."
She kicked his shoulder.
Bone cracked.
He flew again.
Rolled.
Stood.
Barely.
Lightning surged.
He charged.
Their blades clashed again.
He struck faster.
She matched him.
He vanished.
She followed.
He accelerated.
She adapted.
Their speed increased.
Lightning and blue light collided repeatedly.
But slowly—
Kros began falling behind.
Each exchange ended with him blocking.
Never striking.
Never breaking her guard.
Only defending.
Only surviving.
She smiled.
"You see it now?"
She spun.
Her blade cut his thigh.
Blood sprayed.
He staggered.
She appeared behind him.
Kick.
His back arched.
He crashed forward.
She didn't stop.
Strike.
Strike.
Strike.
Each blow landed.
Each defense weaker.
Each movement slower.
She was dismantling him.
Piece by piece.
"You're strong…" she whispered.
She cut his arm.
"...But your skill…"
She kicked his ribs again.
"...is inferior."
He tried to counter.
She twisted.
His blade missed.
Her knee struck his chest.
Crack.
His ribs shattered further.
He fell.
She stood over him.
Breathing heavier now.
Excited.
"Now… you're breaking."
He pushed himself up.
Blood dripping from his mouth.
Lightning intensified.
Thunder roared.
The Domain responded.
A voice echoed.
"New user registered."
"Kros Arthur Lembert."
His eyes widened.
Hekirana charged again.
He blocked.
Barely.
"Welcome back… son of Arthur."
Her blade cut his shoulder.
Blood spilled.
"Killing intent detected."
She kicked him again.
He crashed.
"Would you like to dispose of the enemy?"
He gritted his teeth.
"...Yes."
Thunder fell.
The divine bolt struck Hekirana.
She screamed.
The ground melted.
The sky roared.
The light faded.
She stood.
Burned.
Scarred.
Still smiling.
"...That hurt."
Kros' eyes widened.
Impossible.
She trembled.
Her breathing heavy.
Then she laughed.
"More…"
She launched forward.
Her kick landed.
His ribs shattered completely.
He flew.
His senses dulled.
Her voice echoed.
"Struggle… struggle more…"
She grabbed his armor.
Slammed him into the ground.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Each impact weaker.
Each breath fading.
He couldn't move.
She stood over him.
"...You're finished."
She raised her blade.
Kros' vision blurred.
One name formed.
"...Shen—"
Then—
He stopped.
He didn't hit the ground.
Someone caught him.
Warm.
Soft.
He opened his eyes.
It wasn't Shennel.
It was Aiya.