Sinan's eyes widened further. She suddenly shot to her feet.
"LUCAS... DON'T!"
The distance between them vanished with every passing instant.
Lucas surged forward through the air, the enormous Zephyr's Scythe sweeping forward with him as its colossal blade tore through the surrounding atmosphere. The greenish Wind energy surrounding the technique screamed under the pressure, sending violent currents racing across the battlefield. Opposite him, Elias drove the Infernal Canon forward, the massive torrent of Fire roaring toward Lucas with enough force to engulf everything in its path. The two attacks were only moments away from colliding, Wind and Fire pressing against each other as the sheer force of their energies began to distort the air between them.
Lucas gritted his teeth and continued forward, completely committed to the attack. Elias did the same, pouring the remainder of his strength into the Infernal Canon. Neither of them had any intention of pulling back now. The gigantic scythe swung downward while the enormous Fire blast surged forward, their paths converging toward a single point. Then, in the instant before the two attacks could collide, someone appeared between them.
Sinan was floating in midair, directly between Lucas and Elias, her body suspended effortlessly above the battlefield. One hand was raised toward the incoming Zephyr's Scythe, and a tremendous amount of energy had already gathered within her palm. The moment the enormous Wind blade came down, she met it head-on, stopping its advance with a single hand.
The collision erupted with a deafening roar.
Sinan remained completely suspended in the air as she held back the scythe, the force of the impact exploding outward in every direction. Violent currents of Wind tore across the Colosseum, whipping through the battlefield and sending dust and debris flying below her. Her clothes and hair fluttered wildly in the storm, yet her arm barely moved.
At the same time, Sinan extended her opposite arm toward Elias's incoming attack and opened her palm.
"Water Style, 19th Form..."
Two streams of Water suddenly emerged from behind her shoulders, twisting upward before curling around her arms like enormous serpents. They spiraled down along her forearms, moving with controlled precision as their bodies continued to grow.
"Tidal Serpent Dance."
The moment those words left Sinan's mouth, the two Water dragons surged forward. They escaped from her arms and rapidly expanded as they raced toward the Infernal Canon, their bodies twisting through the air before colliding with the enormous Fire blast.
The Water erupted across the battlefield, consuming the Infernal Canon just enough to halt its advance. Steam began to explode outward as Fire and Water collided, while Sinan remained floating between the two attacks, effortlessly holding both sides apart.
Lucas could only stare in awe at how effortlessly Sinan had stopped his Zephyr's Scythe. The enormous attack that he had poured so much of his remaining strength into was being held back by a single hand, as though its overwhelming force meant almost nothing to her. Elias, seeing Sinan floating between them, finally realized that they had probably pushed the battle far enough. Neither of them had any room left to escalate with Sinan now floating directly between their attacks.
Within only a few seconds, the enormous Zephyr's Scythe began to fade away, its Wind energy dispersing into the air. The moment the technique disappeared, Lucas's exhausted body lost its remaining strength and dropped from the air. He fell toward the ground, completely unconscious, while Elias carefully descended after him, landing safely on the ground, still intact and relatively unharmed.
Sinan landed on the ground a moment later, her attention immediately shifting toward Lucas. Concern crossed her face as she hurried over and picked him up, supporting his unconscious body in her arms. She then turned her gaze toward Elias and spoke firmly, "Get yourself treated. Then report to the Throne Room."
Elias remained where he was for a moment before acknowledging her command. Meanwhile, high up in the crowd, Mira had already realized what had happened and knew she would be needed immediately. Without wasting another second, she left the Colosseum and hurried toward the Mending Hall.
Lucas slowly opened his eyes in the Mending Hall, his vision taking a few moments to settle. His chest and shoulders were wrapped in fresh bandages, and even the simple act of sitting up made his body feel heavier than usual. He took a few slow breaths, testing his aching body before finally letting out a tired sigh. "Man... I hate it when this happens."
At that moment, the door opened and Mira stepped into the room with a tray in her hands. She paused when she saw Lucas sitting up, a small look of relief crossing her face before she walked toward his bed. "You're awake. That's good news," she said, setting the tray down beside him. "It was almost time for your medicine."
Lucas glanced down at his bandaged chest before asking calmly, though the disappointment in his voice was difficult to hide. "How bad is it?"
Mira's expression softened as she looked him over. She hesitated for a moment, as if choosing her words carefully, before answering, "Well... there's no way to know the full extent of it just yet. Your energy chain took massive damage again. You generated far more energy than your body was ready to handle, and your chain suffered severe consequences because of it. For the next few days, at least, you probably won't be able to generate Wind energy properly."
Lucas's hand suddenly slammed against the side table beside him. "Damn it! I had to ruin everything, didn't I?" His frustration echoed through the room, but as he turned toward the table, something caught his attention. His sword was lying safely beside him. Lucas stared at it for a moment, relieved to see that it had made it through the battle unharmed, before his frustration returned.
Mira gave him a sympathetic smile, her eyes carrying a quiet reassurance as she spoke. "You didn't ruin anything, Lucas. You just displayed what you're capable of, and I think that's amazing." She could tell that her words weren't enough to ease his frustration, but she still wanted him to understand that the fight hadn't been meaningless.
Lucas looked down, disappointed. "But I still lost. What was the point of me doing all that... when all I am is weak?"
Mira slowly shook her head, her expression becoming more serious. "Not at all..." she said gently. "You pushed Elias that far. I was there watching your entire fight, and you did amazing. Every move you made was smart and calculated. You kept adapting to him even when the situation kept getting worse."
Lucas looked up at her, but the words that followed never came. "But..." He stopped himself as the memory of the battle returned to him—the moment Elias's Infernal Canon came rushing toward him, the enormous Zephyr's Scythe behind his back, and then Sinan appearing between them. He remembered how effortlessly she had stopped his attack with a single hand, despite everything he had poured into it. His gaze slowly dropped again, and when he finally spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper.
"I lost... again."
Mira decided to continue with the medical procedures, partly to treat Lucas properly and partly to keep his mind occupied. She knew that if she simply left him alone with his thoughts, he would probably spend the entire time dwelling on the battle and blaming himself for what had happened. The treatment continued for some time, with Mira carefully tending to his injuries and administering his medicine whenever necessary. By the time everything was finished, several hours had passed, and night had already settled over Veylith. Lucas's exhaustion eventually caught up with him again, and before long, he slipped back into unconsciousness.
A few hours earlier, in Veylith's Throne Room...
Deep within the Throne Room was another chamber connected to it, a private brewery. Sinan was inside, carefully working on something at one of the tables, surrounded by bottles, containers, and brewing equipment. The quiet atmosphere was interrupted when the enormous doors of the main Throne Room slowly opened.
Elias stepped inside and looked across the vast chamber before calling out, "Queen Sinan, I have arrived as you requested."
His voice carried through the empty Throne Room, reaching the connected chamber. A few moments later, Sinan emerged from the doorway leading out of her brewery. Unlike when she had intervened in the battle, she now carried her staff in one hand—a long, slender dark staff with golden detailing near its upper end and a glowing blue orb embedded at its tip. She walked calmly into the Throne Room, her expression composed as she looked toward Elias.
As Elias noticed the staff in Sinan's hand, his expression changed immediately. His eyes widened and his mouth fell slightly open as he looked at the weapon, clearly surprised to see her carrying it. After a brief pause, he looked back at her and asked, "Are you going somewhere, Your Highness?"
Sinan gave him a calm look and nodded. "I am. Until I return, I want you to take care of Veylith." Her tone remained composed, but there was a clear sense of responsibility behind her words. "If Bargon and his crew come back, have them report everything to you. I want to know what they found and what happened during their investigation."
Elias nodded, listening carefully. Sinan then glanced toward the connected chamber where she had been preparing her concoctions. "Also, a green potion is being prepared in there." She gestured toward the chamber with her staff. "By the end of tomorrow, make sure you give it to Lucas."
Elias looked toward the chamber before turning his attention back to Sinan. "Understood, Your Highness."
Sinan reached into her belongings and pulled out a map, unfolding it across the table in front of Elias. She pointed toward several areas marked across the surface, explaining where Bargon and his crew should head next. "When Bargon returns, send him here," she instructed, moving her finger across the map. "Have them investigate these areas for any signs of anomalies, especially around abandoned lands. If they find anything unusual, I want the information brought back immediately."
Elias followed her movements carefully, committing each location to memory. Throughout the entire conversation, Sinan remained unusually composed. There was no hesitation in her voice, no casual remarks, and none of the relaxed manner Elias had become accustomed to seeing from her. He had known Sinan for a long time, and it had been quite a while since he had seen her this serious. Whatever she was about to investigate, Elias could tell that she considered it important.
Once she finished giving her instructions, Sinan folded the map and took her staff in hand. Without saying anything more, she turned and walked toward the main entrance of the Throne Room. Elias remained where he was, watching as she left. The great doors closed behind her, leaving him alone in the vast chamber. He glanced around the room for a moment before letting out a quiet breath, still wondering what could have made Sinan leave Veylith personally.
Meanwhile, back on the surface of the world, the night air was still and cold.
Without warning, a figure emerged from the air outside one of Veylith's concealed gates. Sinan stepped out of the hidden passage and onto the surface, her staff resting in her hand as she looked around at the world above. She stood there for a moment, breathing in the fresh night air, her eyes slowly taking in the unfamiliar surroundings.
"It's been so long," she murmured to herself.
Sinan stood quietly for a moment, allowing herself to take in the unfamiliar surroundings. The surface world had changed in ways she hadn't expected, and the silence of the night made the vast landscape feel strangely different from the underground kingdom she had grown accustomed to. She adjusted her grip on her staff before finally beginning her journey.
The castle is still some distance away. I should reach it before dawn if nothing gets in my way.
She began walking through the darkness, leaving the area around Veylith's hidden gate behind her. The road ahead stretched through unfamiliar terrain, with the faint sounds of the night echoing through the distance. Sinan remained alert as she traveled, occasionally stopping to examine her surroundings whenever something caught her attention.
Bargon's team found nothing unusual on the way there... but two of them never returned from the castle.
Her expression gradually became more serious as she continued onward. Whatever happened to them, I doubt it was a coincidence.
Sinan tightened her grip around her staff and continued deeper into the night, the distant journey ahead of her still hiding whatever awaited her along the way.