The campus was silent—eerily so. The breeze carried only the faint residue of power, a distorted pressure that bent light in subtle ways.
Rhyes stood at the forefront, hands tucked behind his back, eyes sweeping the empty courtyard. His voice was steady, though his brow furrowed.
"The building went missing from here."
Neo clicked his tongue sharply, kneeling to run his fingers along the faint cracks in the stone. A sour scowl twisted his face.
"Tch. This place has Heavy traces of Commander Myterl's vana all over it."
Principal Serpahina stood with arms folded, her tone grave as her golden eyes swept the distorted air.
"The entire campus is drowned in an unnatural Vana. However Myterl's vana is slowly taking over."
Rhyes looked around his eyes widening.
"This concentration is… monstrous. No doubt it belongs to an omega."
Neo's fist tightened, knuckles cracking audibly.
Meanwhile, Asher approached Zazm, who had been silent until now, gazing at the void where the building once stood.
"Zazm," Asher asked quietly, "did you discover anything?"
Zazm finally moved. He stepped forward, his voice cold and even.
"The space here is intact. The building itself—along with everyone inside—was teleported."
Neo raised an eyebrow. "Tch. Teleported? The whole structure?"
"No," Zazm corrected, gaze unwavering. "Not through space. Through dimension."
The group turned to him.
Serpahina's eyes narrowed.
"Explain."
Zazm tilted his head slightly, as if speaking to children.
"To put it simply… they didn't move through space. They were shifted upward. Into a higher dimension. Think of it as a form of teleportation that bypasses distance altogether."
Neo scoffed.
"A shortcut."
Zazm gave a single nod.
Asher's eyes widened. "So the building… and everyone inside…"
"They were forced into higher-dimensional space," Zazm finished. His tone was blunt, matter-of-fact. "It was deliberate. A trap."
Rhyes's expression hardened.
"That much is obvious. But can't you track them through space? They have to exist somewhere in this universe."
Zazm shook his head slowly. "I've already scanned the entire universe. There is no trace of Jennie or Commander Myterl's Vana. Nothing."
Serpahina crossed her arms, one hand resting on her chin as she considered.
"Assuming they had a dimensional ability user among them… the most plausible explanation is that their destination itself is also concealed in a higher dimension."
"Correct," Zazm replied immediately. "A fortress hidden in 4D or beyond. Wrapped in dimensions we cannot normally perceive, shielded against all attempts to track."
Neo clicked his tongue again, glaring.
"So what you're saying is… give up?"
"Calm yourself, Neo," Rhyes said sharply. He turned to Zazm. "Is there any way?"
Zazm's gaze didn't waver. "There is one. A black hole."
Asher blinked in disbelief.
"A… black hole?"
"Yes," Zazm answered coldly. "Unlike space-based teleportation, dimensional teleportation leaves anchors. A black hole distorts both space and dimension. If we create one here—at the origin point—it will unravel every layer. It will crush the dimensional shell hiding them and drag it back into visibility."
Serpahina's voice was low, calculating.
"And once the dimensional barrier collapses, you could track their Vana."
"Yes."
Neo barked bitterly.
"And where the hell are we supposed to bring a black hole from? Even if we did, do you plan to wipe out the entire planet?"
Zazm shook his head slightly. "We don't need something so large. A black hole the size of half a fingernail would be enough. Small, but catastrophic enough to bend space and dimensions until they fracture."
Serpahina raised a brow. "That small…?"
Zazm's tone was merciless.
"Black holes do not measure danger by size. A pinhead would be enough to annihilate continents. One half the size of a nail can shatter reality itself."
Rhyes's jaw tightened."Then how do we obtain it?"
Asher's face turned pale as realization struck him.
"You… you aren't planning to create one, are you?"
"I am," Zazm replied coldly. "I will collapse space upon itself until singularity is achieved. A black hole, born here."
Neo swore under his breath. "Oi. That's insane. You just said if too much pressure builds, it destroys everything even space. A singularity cannot be erased."
"Yes." Zazm nodded. "But I can shrink it. Slowly. If I maintain focus, I can control its mass causing the heat to be slowly lost until it vanished."
Rhyes clenched his fists. "Is there no other way?"
Zazm's reply was instant.
"No."
For a moment, silence weighed on them like lead. Then Rhyes closed his eyes, shoulders squaring.
"…Do it."
Neo's eyes widened.
"Rhyes! Are you insane!? This could collapse the entire academy, the planet, everything!"
Asher quickly added, panic in his tone.
"He's right—this isn't even guaranteed! It's just a gamble!"
But Serpahina exhaled, calm and steady, the faintest smile tugging at her lips.
"If Rhyes places his trust in you, I will as well. Do it. Just bring back my students."
Rhyes opened his eyes. His voice carried the weight of command.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures."
Zazm nodded once.
"I'll begin. It will take hours to stabilize the collapse, then at least a day to shrink it. During that time, I cannot be disturbed."
Neo muttered darkly. "We can manage that much."
Zazm moved toward the exact space where the building had once stood. He paused, his voice carrying no warmth, no hesitation.
"In any case… if you encounter the woman with spiral eyes, run. Do not fight."
Neo frowned. "What?"
Without turning back, Zazm continued.
"She is a dimensional manipulator. Hypothetically capable of controlling all twelve dimensions—and the realities contained within them. In her domain, she may even override your powers. Fight her in the fourth dimension, and you will struggle. In the fifth or higher, it's already over."
Rhyes's eyes widened. "She's… that strong?"
"Yes," Zazm answered coldly. "Stronger than you can comprehend."
He stepped into the void, lifted from the ground as though space itself held him aloft.
Neo clicked his tongue sharply. "Tch. Looks like they already know we're moving."
Rhyes's hand went to his blade.
"Then it begins. It's us four against thousands. We must hold them back—no one reaches Zazm."
"Understood." Serpahina's lips curved into a dry smile, though her eyes gleamed with maternal steel.
"My assistance is undeniable. Just bring back my students."
Zazm's arms rose slightly, his body floating higher, shadows coiling around him as reality warped at his presence. His eyes opened fully—cold, alien, merciless.
"Nexus's Gaze."
His palms pressed together, one over the other, and the very air fractured like glass as he began.
---
The clash of steel echoed like thunder across the battlefield. Myterl's dual short swords sparked against the boy's strange, jagged blade, every strike reverberating with violent intent. He grinned through the clash, eyes glittering with amusement.
"This is fun," he said, his tone casual, mocking. "By the way, I know your name. Shouldn't I tell you mine?"
"No need," Myterl answered sharply. She lunged forward without hesitation, kicking him square in the stomach. The impact sent him hurtling through the air like a ragdoll. He crashed against the ground, dirt and stone exploding upward.
The boy groaned, but his grin never faded. He rose, brushing off the dust with one hand. "Fierce, aren't you? Fine then. I'll say it anyway. I'm Yunon."
"Did I ask?" Myterl's words were as cold as her glare. Her blades hovered mere inches from his throat.
But Yunon's smirk widened. In one smooth motion, he raised his own blade and angled it at her neck, steel glinting under the fractured light.
The clash came instantly—metal screeched against shimmering force as Myterl's barrier snapped into existence with a crystalline flash. The impact sent sparks and fractured light scattering around them. Yunon leaned forward, blade grinding against her shield, but her retaliation was merciless; her dual swords flashed in an arc, plunging directly into his eyes.
The sound was wet, sickening. The blades slid past bone and sank deep. Blood sprayed across her armor, hot and metallic in the air.
Yunon staggered back, her swords jutting grotesquely from his skull. And yet—his mouth twisted into another grin, lips torn and blood bubbling through his teeth.
"I got your swords now," he rasped, voice muffled as crimson poured down his chin.
Myterl didn't even blink. She released her weapons without hesitation, springing backward, her boots kicking up dirt and sparks. "I don't need them."
She leapt high, boots propelling her with explosive force. A translucent barrier materialized midair beneath her feet; she kicked off it, then another, climbing skyward like a phantom. Her palms glowed, summoning barriers around the battlefield's scattered boulders. With a sharp thrust of her hands, the stones erupted into motion.
The sky seemed to groan under their weight as massive boulders, each the size of a building, hurtled toward Yunon like falling meteors.
But he didn't flinch. He surged upward flying, weaving between the descending titans of stone. He twisted, spun, and rolled midair, each dodge punctuated by the whistle of stone cutting through the air. The sheer grace of his movements made him look less like prey and more like a predator playing with his environment.
Myterl wasn't finished.
The moment the rocks struck the earth, she snapped her fingers. A ripple of barrier-light pulsed outward—then the boulders shuddered, reversed, and shot back up like they were possessed.
Yunon's eyes widened as the reversed avalanche swallowed the sky. He spun desperately, twisting his blade to deflect one—only to feel another slam into his back with bone-crushing force, hurling him forward. His body smashed headlong into a second boulder.
The collision was catastrophic. His torso folded, bones shattering as blood burst like a crimson fountain. Organs smeared across stone, his body mangled into an unrecognizable mess.
The battlefield fell silent.
But then—his remains twitched. His flattened chest swelled. Broken ribs cracked back into place, lungs refilled, muscles bubbled like boiling tar, and eyes popped grotesquely back into their sockets. Skin knitted itself across reformed sinew.
Within seconds, Yunon stood again. Whole. Grinning wider than before.
"That was a great move," he admitted, voice like gravel. His grin stretched impossibly wide as he launched himself toward her once again, faster than before.
Myterl crouched low, her eyes narrowing like a hawk's. Her boots detonated against the barrier beneath her, sending her zigzagging through the air. She conjured cube after cube of translucent light, rebounding unpredictably, moving so erratically even Yunon's sharp gaze struggled to track her.
His smirk faltered into fascination. "How fast are you? Speed of sound?"
A whisper tickled his ear. "Slightly faster."
His eyes went wide. She was right beside him.
Before he could react, her hand clamped around his skull. With impossible strength, she slammed him down. The ground fractured like glass, a shockwave blasting outward in a deafening roar. Dust and debris billowed high, swallowing the battlefield in smoke.
Yunon rose again from the crater, his movements sharper, strikes faster, heavier. Sparks danced with every clash of his blade, and the rhythm of his attacks pressed Myterl harder with each passing second.
She narrowed her eyes. "So you get stronger every time you die?"
"Bingo," Yunon chuckled darkly. "And I also gain some powers."
Four glowing circles flared to life behind his back, their light dripping like molten steel. From each, chains burst forth, writhing like serpents of fire-forged iron. They hissed through the air, cutting deep trails into the earth as they lunged at Myterl.
Her wrists flicked, and in a blinding flash, her dual blades reappeared, glowing with barrier-light. She spun them in complex arcs, steel ringing against chain, sparks scattering as every strike met another. Each chain recoiled, only to whip back twice as fast, forcing her into a relentless dance of parries and counters.
The battlefield rang with the clash of steel and chain.
One chain snapped around her wrist—she slashed it off. Another lashed toward her leg—she leapt, twisting midair, her boots igniting a double jump to flip away. But the third grazed her shoulder, carving a deep line across her armor. A fourth ripped into her arm, skewering flesh with a spray of blood.
She didn't flinch.
Instead, she wrenched herself free with a violent twist, flesh tearing, blood spraying across the dirt. She landed lightly, panting, sweat dripping into her eyes, crimson staining her sleeve.
Yunon's grin stretched as he stalked closer, chains rattling behind him. "Is that really all?"
Before Myterl could charge again, a blur struck Yunon across the face—a savage kick from a girl, her boot cracking his jaw with bone-snapping force. His head whipped to the side, blood spraying, his smirk finally faltering.
Another figure appeared in the same breath, her barrier spear flashing like lightning. The weapon drove straight through Yunon's chest, the impact pinning him to the ground with a guttural crunch. He roared, twisting against the shaft, but before he could rip it free—
More came. Dozens of girls surged out of the haze, moving as though they shared a single mind. Blades slashed, spears thrust, and bursts of magic flared in synchronized rhythm. Their formation boxed him in, their strikes overlapping so perfectly that Yunon had no room to breathe, no time to reform.
A sword cleaved his arm from the shoulder, another spear pinned his leg into the dirt, a whip of barrier seared across his back. Yunon staggered and thrashed, his chains lashing blindly, but each time he tried to strike back, two more girls closed in, cutting and tearing him apart before he could fully heal.
For every limb that reformed, they took it again. For every wound that sealed, three more were opened. His laugh was gone now, replaced with a guttural snarl drowned out by the chorus of steel and screams.
From behind the storm, Jennie's voice cut through, sharp and commanding.
"Keep wounding him! Don't let him recover! We'll waste his strength while Miss Myterl heals!"
Myterl's eyes widened faintly where she stood, blood dripping from her torn arm. Her heart steadied.
They're using my powers… without me guiding them?
Her barriers, her techniques—mirrored in their formation, their synchronized coordination. Impressive. But she could see it already in their movements—the strain in their faces, the tremor in their arms.
They lack the endurance. They can't outnumber him forever.
Before she could rise again, footsteps rushed toward her. Someone slid to her side, knees hitting the dirt.
Lisa.
Her hands glowed faintly green, trembling with light. "Please, sit down," she said, her voice quivering but determined. Without waiting, she pressed her palms against Myterl's bleeding arm.
A sudden warmth spread through torn flesh as threads of light seeped into the wound. The sting was sharp, the warmth almost searing. Myterl blinked at her, startled.
"…You can use healing?"
Lisa nodded quickly, her face pale, sweat already beading on her brow. "I—I've studied it for a long time. Just the fundamentals."
Then the pain struck like a spike of fire. Myterl's muscles seized, her jaw clenching hard.
Lisa gasped. "I'm sorry!" she stammered, panic cracking her voice. "I can't suppress the pain while healing—I'm not advanced enough—"
"It's fine," Myterl cut her off, her tone iron even as her body trembled. She steadied her breathing, gaze fixed once more on the battlefield.
The girls were a tempest, a wall of coordinated fury. Yunon's body was torn apart again and again—flesh shredded, bones shattered, organs pulped beneath their blades. His regeneration writhed to keep pace, flesh bubbling and reweaving in grotesque spasms, but their relentless storm kept ripping him apart before he could stabilize.
Pinned. Sliced. Crushed. Again. Again. Again.
Myterl's eyes narrowed. She glanced down at Lisa, who was still pouring herself into the healing despite shaking hands and labored breaths.
'She used healing on her first try. If she gains an AMI mark… she'll make a great healer.'
The battle raged on like a storm that refused to end.
Myterl sat down, her chest rising and falling as she steadied her breathing. Lisa knelt beside her, both hands glowing faint green as she worked to mend the torn flesh along Myterl's arm.
The faint hum of barrier energy mixed with the sound of distant explosions — the clash between Yunon and the girls still echoing through the ruined terrain.
Myterl's gaze flicked toward the horizon, where flashes of barrier light and chaotic bursts of wind rippled across the skyline. "They're getting out of my field of sight…" she murmured.
Lisa's hands trembled, but her tone remained firm. "You've suffered more injuries than you think, Supreme Commander. Please… give me a little more time."
"They're going further and further away," Myterl said quietly, her voice sharp with worry.
Lisa's eyes lifted to meet hers. "Please. Trust us—trust them."
Myterl blinked. She was about to speak, but Lisa's next words stopped her.
"I know you want to protect us," she said, her voice soft but unwavering. "But you need to protect yourself as well."
Myterl froze.
Her pupils widened slightly, and in that instant, the world around her dimmed. A memory — old and buried — slammed into her mind like lightning.
A shadowy figure stood before her, backlit by flames.
"Myterl," the voice said, calm even as the world burned.
She reached toward him, desperation cracking through her composure.
"Please stop! Don't sacrifice yourself just to protect us!"
The figure's lips curved upward, a faint smile forming on a face the light couldn't reach.
Then the flash faded — and the memory burned out.
Myterl exhaled shakily. "...Hurry up," she said finally.
Lisa nodded and pressed harder, channeling more energy.
Ahead, the battle thundered on. The girls were no longer fighting like rookies — their coordination was immaculate. Jennie's commands echoed across the field, her voice cutting through the chaos.
"Keep him cornered! Don't let him heal!"
Yunon staggered backward, chains whipping wildly as the coordinated assault tore through him from every side. He tried to counter, but the sheer number of barrier blades and spears was overwhelming.
He slashed left — but a strike hit his ribs from the right.
He turned to parry — but Nirin darted beneath his guard and stabbed both daggers made of barrier energy straight into his throat.
He gagged, eyes burning with fury, but before he could rip the daggers free, Jennie appeared in front of him. Her barrier sword shimmered as she stabbed him through the chest and twisted the blade before jumping back.
Yunon snarled, healing trying desperately to catch up, but he was too slow. Two more girls leapt from above, their blades slicing through his legs, severing them completely. Another girl landed beside his collapsing body, spinning once and cleanly decapitating him.
His head hit the ground and rolled across the dirt, blood trailing behind it.
Before it could even twitch, one girl kicked it into the air while another raised her hands and conjured several barrier projectiles — sharp, crystalline, humming with power. They fired like bullets, impaling his head again and again until it resembled a grotesque pincushion.
Two more girls followed suit, their projectiles shredding what remained of his headless body.
Then — silence.
Only the wind moved.
The girls stopped, lowering their weapons, staring at the shredded remains of what had once been their unstoppable enemy.
Jennie's breath came in slow, measured bursts. Her eyes scanned the scattered fragments of flesh and steel. Why isn't he regenerating…?
A soft laugh broke through the quiet.
One of the younger girls grinned, dropping her sword. "We did it! We actually defeated him!"
Cheers erupted — brief, triumphant, exhausted. Nirin sprinted toward Jennie, a wide smile on her face. "Jennie! We won! Your plan worked—"
But Jennie's expression didn't change. Her body went cold. Something deep inside her screamed wrong.
"This can't be over yet…" she thought.
Her eyes widened in realization. "Wait—!"
"Everyone, it's a tra—"
A massive gust of wind exploded outward before she could finish.
The shockwave tore through the battlefield, sending every girl flying miles away. The ground cracked and screamed under the pressure. Dust and debris filled the sky.
In the center of it all, Yunon's torn body began knitting itself back together, piece by piece. His torso dragged itself toward his head, flesh crawling across the dirt like living vines until they fused.
He inhaled deeply, his grin returning. "You kids… lack experience."
He raised his hands, wind spiraling violently around him, creating a storm that blew the remaining debris and broken weapons away.
When the last echo of the explosion faded, only Yunon remained standing.
He hovered above the ruined field, scanning for survivors. His breaths came heavy — not from fatigue, but irritation. "This is bad… I need to fall back and recover."
He floated swiftly through the air, his silhouette flickering like a ghost between the shadows, until he reached the jagged mouth of a cave.
Inside, darkness swallowed him whole. He landed, leaning against the rough stone wall, his chest still heaving. "They got me in a deadlock there…" he muttered, almost amused. "If I'd stayed longer…"
He trailed off, looking down at his own body — completely regenerated, smooth, and unscarred.
"I need to calm myself."
He closed his eyes and took a slow, deep breath. His aura softened, returning to its cold, controlled pulse. Raising his right hand, he summoned his blade again — a grotesque weapon made of flesh and scattered, blinking eyes.
He stared at it for a moment, disgust and pride mixing in his grin. Then—
Clang!
He turned instantly, raising his sword just in time to block a strike. Sparks burst between the blades.
He looked up — and saw Jennie.
Her eyes were sharp, her stance unshaken.
She followed me here? Yunon thought, surprised for the first time.
But then, his grin returned. "Heh. Bold. But foolish."
He charged, their swords meeting again and again in quick succession, each clash lighting up the dark cave. Jennie ducked under one slash, planted her sword into the ground, and used it as leverage to kick him with both legs.
Yunon blocked, but the force still sent him sliding back.
Jennie didn't stop — she blurred, reappearing behind him, thrusting her blade through his abdomen.
The strike landed.
But Yunon didn't flinch.
He tensed his muscles, forcing the wound to close around her sword, trapping it inside him. Jennie's eyes widened a fraction of a second too late.
Yunon smiled. "Got you."
He drove his own sword forward — straight through her neck. The blade exited cleanly through the other side.
Jennie gasped, blood spilling down her chest as she collapsed backward.
Yunon pulled his sword free and knelt over her, his face calm, almost serene. "You were the commander, weren't you? The one giving the orders…" His tone darkened. "Then I'll inflict on you the same pain you inflicted on me."
Four glowing circles appeared behind his back, and chains slithered out like metallic serpents, pinning Jennie's arms and legs to the ground.
Her bloodied eyes shifted — not toward him, but toward something behind him.
Yunon frowned and followed her gaze.
There, sitting atop a large rock, was Jennie.
Perfectly fine. Calm. Her legs crossed, one draped over the other. She rested her chin on her hand, watching him with quiet amusement.
"He seems to have no weaknesses…" she murmured, eyes glinting faintly. "But I can still hold him."
Yunon blinked. He turned back to the ground and saw that the "Jennie" beneath him was gone.
Vanished.
His heartbeat spiked.
Then, slowly, he began to laugh — low, echoing, menacing. "What the hell…" He looked back toward the rock. "How did you do that?"
The laugh deepened, echoing through the cave, but beneath it — a flicker of unease crept into his smile.
The cave shook with heat and fury.
Jennie stood firm amid the dust and darkness, her expression calm, her silhouette framed by the crimson glow in her palm. She slowly raised her hand — and a small, flickering flame ignited above it.
The faint light painted her eyes amber.
Yunon's pupils constricted. His instincts screamed at him — danger.
Jennie tilted her wrist and whispered, "Let's see if illusions can burn."
The flame erupted.
A massive fireball roared forward, filling the cave with light and pressure. Yunon jerked upward, his body blurring as he floated to dodge. The ball exploded below him, searing the air with heat and shaking the cave walls.
But Jennie didn't stop. Another fireball appeared in her hand — then another, and another — each larger than the last. She hurled them one after another, the heat distorting the space itself.
Yunon zipped between the streaks of flame, the cave's tight quarters limiting his movements. One misstep — and boom — his back slammed against the jagged rock wall, leaving cracks behind.
When his eyes refocused — Jennie was right in front of him.
"Wha—"
Her sword came down.
Yunon barely brought his weapon up in time, steel clashing with steel. Sparks burst between them as their blades screamed against each other.
Jennie moved like a phantom — fast, fluid, relentless — every strike elegant yet unpredictable. Yunon blocked, dodged, parried, his face twisting in irritation. Their swords blurred, ringing like thunder in the narrow space.
Then Jennie flipped backward, landing lightly — and suddenly, there were more of her.
Dozens.
Hundreds.
The entire cave was filled with Jennies — each with identical expressions, each radiating heat and killing intent.
Yunon's eyes darted everywhere, his mind racing. What's her power? What the hell is she doing?
He lunged toward one — slicing through it. The figure shattered into particles of flame.
Another Jennie struck from behind, her sword scraping across his shoulder.
He growled, spinning to counter — but another blow landed from his left.
Then another. And another.
Everywhere he turned, blades slashed, fire flared, illusions burst apart — yet every one of them felt real. The heat, the impact, even the wounds burned as though genuine.
Yunon's fury boiled. "I can't lose… no way I'll lose!"
He lifted his sword, veins bulging across his face. His eyes gleamed crimson.
"I REFUSE TO LOSE!"
The air shattered with the scream.
Power exploded from his body — chains unfurling from the four circles behind him like serpents from a pit. His speed doubled, then tripled, a blur of fury tearing through the illusions.
He slashed through fifty clones at once — each vanishing into embers.
He grinned, blood dripping from his lips. "So… your ability is illusions."
The circles behind him pulsed. This time, each one unleashed dozens of chains — thick, metallic, pulsing with demonic light.
They lashed out in all directions, crashing through the clones and obliterating every illusion in sight.
The cave quaked. Flames were torn apart. Rocks split and collapsed.
When the smoke cleared — only one Jennie remained.
She stood, sweat dripping from her chin, sword in hand.
Yunon's chains twisted like a living storm around him. "Let's see how long your illusions can bleed."
Jennie exhaled softly and raised both hands.
Several boulders lifted into the air, enveloped in barrier light. Fireballs ignited around her — a dance of earth and flame. She hurled them all at once.
Yunon plowed through them without hesitation, taking each hit — flames scorching his flesh, rocks slamming into his torso — yet he laughed through it, eyes burning with insanity.
"Your illusions are so strong," he growled, "they actually hurt!"
He closed the distance in an instant — his blade inches from her face—
—and then—
CRACK!
A single punch landed squarely on his jaw.
The impact was so strong it echoed through the cave like a thunderclap. Yunon's body went flying, smashing through stone pillars and cratering into the far wall.
Jennie blinked, startled — then looked to her right.
Standing in front of her, composed and radiating quiet authority, was Myterl.
"Great job," she said, her voice cold yet proud. "I'll take it from here."
Jennie smiled weakly. "Miss Myterl…"
Yunon staggered up, cracking his neck. "You all… are like pests."
Myterl didn't respond. Her eyes narrowed. Dozens of barrier projectiles formed behind her, floating like blades of light.
She flicked her wrist.
The projectiles screamed through the air toward Yunon.
He roared, bursting through the cave entrance into open air. Chains flew in every direction, intercepting each projectile with violent clangs. The sky above them lit with gold and silver sparks.
Jennie landed beside Myterl, panting. "Nothing works on him… he just won't die."
"Yes," Myterl replied, eyes following Yunon's movements. "However… I have a plan."
Jennie turned toward her. "What kind of plan?"
"I'll create a barrier exactly the size of his body," Myterl said. "Inside it, I'll block the flow of Vana itself."
Jennie blinked, stunned. "Wait—you mean—block all of his power?"
"In simpler terms…" Myterl said, her tone low, focused. "I'll bend reality inside my barrier."
Jennie's eyes widened. "That's—possible?"
"It's dangerous. But yes." Myterl turned her head slightly. The other girls were regrouping, exhausted yet unbroken. "Until I finish—Jennie, you're in charge."
She pressed a gloved fist lightly against Jennie's chest. "Buy me the time."
Jennie nodded sharply, determination hardening in her gaze. "Got it."
She turned to the others, raising her sword. "Everyone! We go again!"
The girls shouted in unison and charged.
Yunon snarled, his chains now numbering in the hundreds, thicker and sharper, spreading like a metallic hurricane. Each chain struck with enough force to split the ground.
But Myterl's barriers enveloped every ally — shimmering domes of golden light — deflecting fatal strikes just in time.
The battle became a blur of movement and sound — chain versus barrier, illusion versus fury, fire and wind colliding in waves of energy that scorched the earth.
Yunon howled, frustrated, tearing through clones and barriers, yet none of his attacks reached Myterl. She stood motionless, eyes closed, both hands forming the sigil of creation as she concentrated.
"Faster," she whispered to herself. "Compress the boundary… anchor the field…"
Yunon's gaze flicked toward her. She's the core.
"I'll have to take her out."
He surged forward, thousands of chains bursting outward, wrapping the air in a metallic storm that forced the girls back. None could reach him — every step forward was answered by a wave of lethal force.
He closed in, blade raised. "Die—!"
But just as his sword neared Myterl's neck—
It vanished.
Every chain snapped out of existence.
Yunon stumbled, eyes wide, falling to his knees. "Wh—what…?"
He tried to summon his weapon again—nothing. His energy was gone. His body felt empty, hollow.
"What did you—"
Myterl opened her eyes, calm and merciless. "I created a barrier around you. It temporarily blocks the flow of Vana within your body."
"You…" Yunon snarled, trembling. "You—bitch! FUCK IT, I'LL KILL YO—"
Her blades crossed in a flash of gold.
Schlick.
His head fell before he could finish.
The body collapsed to the ground with a dull thud, finally still. No regeneration. No chains.
Silence.
No one cheered this time.
Everyone remained ready, eyes locked on the body, waiting… watching.
Finally, Myterl raised her hand. "It's over."
A collective breath escaped them all.
Lisa approached first, her eyes weary but bright. "Supreme Commander…"
"Thank you," Myterl said, turning to her.
Lisa shook her head, smiling faintly. "It was nothing."
Jennie walked up beside her. "Miss Myterl… are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Myterl said, her tone softening. "You all did great."
The girls began lowering their weapons, the tension easing — until a quiet voice drifted from behind them.
"Did you kill him?"
Everyone froze.
Myterl turned sharply toward the sound.
There, standing beside Yunon's lifeless body, was a girl — her posture relaxed, almost casual, as if she'd been there all along.
She stared down at the corpse, then at them, her expression unreadable.
Myterl's mind raced. Who is she? I didn't sense anyone approach.
She spoke cautiously. "What if I did? Are you his accomplice?"
The girl tilted her head slightly, strands of her long purple hair sliding across her pale face. "Perhaps," she said softly. "But I'm more surprised he lost. He wasn't exactly… weak."
Jennie frowned, whispering, "Who is she?"
Myterl's tone dropped to a warning murmur. "Stay on guard. I can't sense her Vana levels…"
Her eyes narrowed. "…That means she's Omega."
Jennie turned to the girl fully now. She was breathtakingly strange — purple hair cascading down to her lower back, dressed in a loose black hoodie and loose trousers. But it was her eyes — swirling, hypnotic, purple like the twilight before nightfall — that froze everyone in place.
Lisa whispered under her breath, almost involuntarily, "Her eyes are… beautiful."
Zephyra smiled faintly. "Thank you."
Before another word could leave her lips, Myterl lunged — twin blades flashing forward, aimed straight for Zephyra's face.
But Zephyra didn't flinch.
She raised one finger — one — and the strike stopped cold.
The blades trembled against that single fingertip, sparks forming in the air but never breaking contact.
Myterl's eyes widened in disbelief.
Zephyra sighed, expression bored. "Come on… why the rush?"
For the first time in a long while, Myterl felt fear.
"How… can she stop that with a finger?" she thought, her heart sinking like a stone.
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