Kros opened his eyes slowly.
The world was blurred. Fading. Quiet.
Warmth held him.
Soft.
Shaking.
Tears fell onto his face.
Not Shennel.
Aiya.
She held him tightly, her hands trembling, her tears falling uncontrollably as she looked down at him. Around them, Endolin's armor began dissolving into particles of light, fading piece by piece. The Shield of a Thousand Blades hovering above the city cracked — then slowly began disappearing.
Aiya felt it.
His life was slipping away.
Her expression changed instantly.
The trembling stopped.
Her eyes sharpened.
"Belzura."
The air rippled.
Three spirits appeared behind her.
Flame. Earth. Water.
Hekirana tilted her head, smiling.
"Oh? And what's this?"
Before she could move—
Laken stepped forward.
Rin and Enora beside him.
They stood between Hekirana and Aiya.
Laken didn't even look back.
"All Sword Masters — defend the city. Assist evacuation. Hold the demons back. We handle this one."
Five thousand swordsmen scattered across the battlefield.
Hekirana blinked.
Then laughed.
A tear slid from her eye.
"You… hold me?"
Her smile vanished.
Her expression turned cold.
Deadly.
"How insulting."
She pointed at Kros.
"Your strength is nothing compared to that one over there… and you dare stand in my way?"
Laken stepped forward confidently.
"Don't underestimate me. Your kind tremble at the mention of my name. Perhaps you've never heard of me. Let me introdu—"
She vanished.
Appeared in front of him.
"How annoying."
Her blade swung.
Rin disappeared.
CLANG.
Steel met steel inches from Laken's throat.
"Watch out!" she shouted.
She pushed him back.
"That was close…" Rin muttered.
Her expression hardened.
"This isn't an enemy we can defeat."
She looked at Enora.
"You feel it too, don't you?"
Enora nodded.
"...Yes, sister."
Hekirana smirked.
"Oh. At least someone has brains."
Rin exhaled.
Then looked at Aiya.
"We can only buy you a few minutes."
Her voice grew sharp.
"Make them count."
She stepped forward.
"Enora. Laken. You're with me."
Her blade ignited.
"Don't hold back."
They attacked.
---
Hekirana welcomed them.
Rin moved first — disappearing into speed.
Her blade struck from behind.
Hekirana blocked without looking.
Enora followed — launching twin arcs of light.
Hekirana stepped through them.
Laken struck downward.
The ground split.
Hekirana parried all three.
Effortlessly.
She moved like water.
No wasted motion.
No hesitation.
She countered.
Her kick struck Enora's guard — sending her skidding back.
Rin attacked again.
Faster.
Hekirana matched her.
Blade clashed repeatedly.
Sparks exploded.
Laken joined.
Three against one.
Yet—
They were defending.
Not winning.
Not even close.
Hekirana smiled.
"This is fun."
She spun.
Her blade slammed into Laken's chest.
He blocked — barely.
The force shattered the ground beneath him.
Enora rushed to assist.
Hekirana kicked her mid-air.
She crashed into rubble.
Rin attacked again.
Desperate.
Hekirana grabbed her wrist.
Twisted.
Rin flipped and landed — barely escaping.
Their breathing grew heavy.
Hekirana wasn't even tired.
---
Meanwhile…
Aiya had transformed.
Her eyes glowed light blue.
A crown of flowing water formed above her head.
A dress of liquid light wrapped around her body.
The air trembled.
A massive magic circle appeared in the sky.
Ancient symbols rotated slowly.
The Fire Spirit wrapped around Kros.
The Earth Spirit formed a stone bed beneath him.
The Water Spirit engulfed Aiya.
She began chanting.
---
Aiya's Ancient Restoration Chant
"Spirits that flow beyond time…
Guardians born before the first tide…
Hear my voice."
"Water that remembers creation…
Flame that carries rebirth…
Earth that holds broken souls…"
"Gather… converge… awaken."
"By the covenant of Belzura…
By the crown of forgotten royalty…
By the blood that speaks to the heavens…"
"I call upon restoration."
"Return breath to shattered lungs…
Return warmth to fading flesh…
Return motion to broken bone…"
"Let the snow of renewal fall…
Let wounds dissolve…
Let scars return to silence…"
"O spirits who bind life and death…
Rewrite the body's memory…
Undo the mark of destruction…"
"Flow backward…
Heal forward…
Restore completely…"
"I command you —
Revive."
Silence filled the air.
Then —
---
Snow began falling.
Light blue.
Silent.
Each flake touched Kros.
His wounds closed.
Bones restored.
Blood returned.
His arm healed.
His ribs reformed.
His breathing steadied.
He opened his eyes.
Slowly.
He lifted his hand.
Touched Aiya's cheek.
"...Shennel…"
Aiya froze.
But she hugged him tightly.
"You're alright…"
Behind them—
Laken crashed into the ground.
Enora fell beside him.
Both barely standing.
Rin still stood.
Shaking.
Her legs giving out.
"I am my sister's blood!" she shouted.
"I will not fall easily!"
Hekirana laughed.
Then—
A hand touched Rin's shoulder.
"Leave it to me now."
Aiya.
Behind her—
Kros stood.
"...Hey Kros," she said softly.
"Shall we dance… like old times?"
Silence.
Then—
"Endolin."
Armor wrapped around him again.
But this time…
It felt different.
Calmer.
Sharper.
Confident.
He walked forward.
Stopped beside her.
"Hope you haven't fallen behind in training."
She scoffed.
"You're still hilarious."
She raised her fist.
"Why don't we find out?"
They bumped fists.
Hekirana trembled.
Laughing.
"Come… come… COME AT ME!"
Her voice shook with excitement.
"Show me your last stand!"
"Fight me till your flesh tears apart!"
She screamed in pleasure.
Kros stepped forward.
Aiya stepped with him.
One step.
Two.
Three.
They vanished.
The battlefield exploded.
The dance began.