The sky was split by light and shadow. The wind screamed, carrying dust and fragments of soil that flew everywhere. In the middle of the Colosseum arena, two figures stood facing each other: Son and Father.
Altair released his sword. The gold surrounding it collapsed—replaced by fragments of pitch-black metal that materialized from the air, glinting coldly.
The metal enveloped his body, forming jagged, serrated armor. A pitch-black sword formed in his hand. Every movement of the armor let out a heavy sound like the underworld breathing.
Altair's steps pounded the ground; the steel debris armor covering him emitted a sound like a GRROOOWL of iron from hell. The pitch-black sword pulsated as if alive.
Valerian stood opposite him. His empty eyes remained fixed, but a faint light deep within… seemed like something trying to rebel. His hands grasped a luminous silver sword; a bright aura wrapped around his body.
Light against darkness. Son against father.
JDAAAAAR!!!
The steel debris sword and the silver sword clashed, an explosion of light and darkness energy burst out, shaking the arena. Light reflected off the silver, twisted by Altair's black metal, creating flashes like a thousand small lightning strikes in the air.
Altair roared:
"Father!!! If there's even a little bit of you left in there… then look at me! It's me, Altair!!!"
Valerian answered with a silent attack. His sword slash was so fast it created a blinding circle of light. Altair parried with his black sword; metal sparks flew.
Valerian stomped the ground—KRASSHH!
A giant silver wall appeared around them, reflecting the light from his sword over and over, creating a glaring, impenetrable chamber.
"Aaargh!!" Altair shut his eyes, his body reeling.
Every reflection of light became like a thousand phantom slashes, pressing Altair from all directions.
Altair slammed his foot down; steel debris radiated from the ground, forming a black barricade that absorbed the light.
"Then… let my darkness swallow that light!"
His black armor trembled, then the debris metal broke down into dozens of small blades like fragments of black glass—hovering around his body. He swung his arm; the blades struck the silver wall one by one.
DUUUARRR!!!
The wall shattered, light scattered, and Valerian burst through with a straight slash.
Altair blocked, his black sword pressed against his father's silver sword. Two auras clashed, causing the arena floor to crack.
Altair yelled loudly, his voice hoarse, nearly broken:
"Why, Father?! Why did you let them control you?! We still… we still haven't gotten to live together… I haven't had a chance to hear your stories… I haven't had enough time… with you!!!"
For a moment, Valerian's empty eyes trembled—as if something inside was trying to break through Spectralis's control haze.
But immediately, the light from his body burst brighter, pushing Altair back.
Valerian raised his sword high; light focused on the silver blade until it blinded the entire arena.
Altair gripped the steel debris sword with both hands; a black aura engulfed his body.
Both screamed—and charged forward.
DOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!
Their slashes met in the middle. The energy explosion of light and darkness detonated like a dying star. The shockwave ravaged the ground, clearing all the dust and debris around the arena.
In the domain after Rex was previously slammed into the wall by Quartzis's punch.
Dust flew, the wall vibrated violently as Rex's body was hit and thrown by Quartzis's domain-shaking punch.
Rex's body slammed hard into the domain wall; his bones cracked and broke. Cracks spread across his skull; some of his ribs fell off, piercing the bone-ground beneath.
A moment of silence. Only Lazric's heavy breathing and the persistent booming of the wildly growing crystals could be heard.
Then—
"Khh… hahahaha… HAHAHAHAHA!!!"
Thundering laughter escaped from his cracked skull mouth. With one thrust, Rex pulled himself off the wall; his bones creaked but then merged back together by a dense purple mist. The purple flames in his eye sockets burned larger, full of passion.
He grabbed his scythe, which was still half-destroyed, and instantly the black blade regenerated along with his body. Rex raised it high; the scythe spun like a bloodthirsty crescent moon.
"Hohoho! Thiiis is what I've been waiting for! Show me your rage, crystal boy! DESTROY ME!!!"
Quartzis shot forward like a cannon, his steps shaking the domain ground. Every stomp created flying bone fragments; his every movement was enveloped in a burst of wild crystals.
DOOOOM!
His crystal fist struck Rex.
The black scythe held firm—
JDAAAR!!
The collision shook the entire domain; Rex's purple magic shield cracked and splintered. Cracks spread, and then—
CRAAASSSHHH!!
The shield burst into pieces; a blast of crystal light swept over Rex, his skeletal body flung back once more.
Quartzis didn't stop. One punch, two, three—
Every punch created new crystals that exploded like glass shrapnel grenades, stabbing Rex's domain from all directions.
Rex shouted with glee, not fear.
"HAHAHA NOW THIS IS A FIGHT!!!"
His scythe spun, creating a bone vortex that slammed into Quartzis, but Quartzis cut straight through, letting the crystal shards on his body act as a shield. Blood flowed, but his body kept advancing.
Quartzis gathered all the wild mana in his body. From his chest, a giant crystal grew out, which he then shattered with his own fist—turning the fragments into a rain of crystal bullets that pierced everything.
Rex held with a purple magic shield—
CRAAAAAAKKKKK!!!
The shield broke. Quartzis slammed directly into Rex's chest; his scythe snapped, and his skeletal body exploded into pieces in every direction.
Quartzis gasped, his eyes empty, his breath ragged. The crystals on his body began to crack; his energy was too wild.
Rex, though shattered, was still laughing. His skeletal body slowly reformed.
"K…khahaha… amazing… it's been a long time since I… felt pain like this…"
But his skull face looked fractured. He raised his hand, but the mana in his body only came out in small sparks.
"Hhh… damn it… looks like I'm running out of… mana. This domain… can't… hold…"
Cracks of light appeared in the domain sky. The bone-ground trembled, shattering into fragments.
Quartzis and Lazric were sucked out, their bodies violently slammed onto the original arena.
Rex's domain collapsed with a massive explosion, and they all returned to the main arena.
Kael stood, his mouth agape.
"Was that… Quartzis?!"
Sylvia covered her mouth, disbelieving.
"He… is like a monster…"
Riftbreaker smiled with satisfaction.
"Not a monster. That is… a child whose power is being controlled."
Meanwhile, Spectralis merely clapped softly, his face full of a vicious grin.
"Yes… yes… this is what I wanted. Keep raging, keep rampaging… until you devour yourself, crystal boy."
Veyron, who had been leaning back in his chair, finally straightened up. His eyes sharpened as he saw Rex dragged out of the domain, tattered and broken.
"Master, it seems Rex is out of mana and energy… may I take his place?" Veyron asked, his voice serious.
Fulguran did not immediately answer. He stared intensely at the arena, watching Rex whose knees were nearly buckling. Then he sighed deeply.
"No, Veyron. Just let it be. He has to learn."
"Rex always plays around with his opponents… too much showing off, too much laughing. Now, let him feel the consequences. His mana and energy were wasted due to his own foolishness."
Veyron fell silent, but his jaw hardened. His eyes remained fixed on the arena, worried that Rex might truly fall.
Rex himself staggered, his skull head cracked, some of his ribs broken and visibly falling out. The purple flames in his eyes were dim.
"Damn it… damn it… I'm only going to embarrass myself… even Master Fulguran is watching me…"
His growl was mixed with panic. He looked around, searching for an opening.
Nocturnus was still busy fighting Feran—two sword blades clashing with daggers, their movements incredibly fast.
Quartzis, still consumed by rage, rampaged again. His body was coated in cracked crystal, his mana aura was wild, every punch destroying the arena. He shot straight towards Rex.
"A-aaaghhh!!" Rex screamed in frustration, parrying with his scythe. Crystal fragments flew everywhere; his scythe trembled, almost snapping.
Rex looked towards his comrade.
"NOCTURNUS! LET'S WORK TOGETHER!!"
Nocturnus, realizing his friend was cornered, immediately ran over. His maw-sword trembled, thirsty for blood.
But Feran did not allow it.
His body flashed; his two daggers were ready to stab Nocturnus's back.
"You won't get away from me!"
Suddenly Rex, with his remaining strength, threw his scythe—
FWOOSHHH!!
The scythe spun in the air, bisecting Feran's path, holding back the dagger slash that should have plunged into Nocturnus's back.
Feran took half a step back, his eyes narrowing.
Nocturnus seized the opportunity. He reached Rex's side, his sword raised, blocking Quartzis's crystal punch that slammed down from above.
KRRRRRAAANGGG!!
The collision between the maw-sword and the crystal fist exploded, shaking the arena. Rex beside him was still reeling, but this time he wasn't alone.
"Hahaha! Damn, lucky you're here… so glad to see you, walking corpse!" Rex laughed as he reached out his hand, and his cracked scythe instantly returned to his grip.
Nocturnus snorted, his sword trembling while holding back Quartzis's increasingly frantic crystal attack.
"Shut up, skull. So, what's next?"
Feran snuck closer, his sharp eyes focused only on Rex. But Nocturnus immediately turned, parrying Feran's dagger slash with his sword. The collision sparked a greenish-black light.
"I still have a little energy… to become armor. But take off your helmet," Rex said, his voice heavy, his scythe slashed toward Feran, forcing Feran back half a step.
Nocturnus gave him a sharp look.
"What about my body armor?"
"Just leave it. I'll complete it."
Nocturnus quickly plunged his sword into the ground, his voice growling. A black-purple aura circled, forming a large magic sigil beneath his feet.
WUUUUMMM—!!
The mana explosion pushed Feran and Quartzis back several steps.
Without wasting time, Nocturnus grabbed his helmet and threw it far away.
"Now… do it."
Rex's body was suddenly sucked into the magic circle. The sound of breaking bones, grinding metal, and insane laughter were heard simultaneously.
BRRAAAKKKK!!
Rex's body exploded into bone fragments and purple energy, flying wildly before everything stuck to Nocturnus's armor.
The bones fused, wrapping Nocturnus's body in a terrifying layer. Some parts jutted out like spikes, his back was adorned with a skeletal frame, and his hands were covered in elongated bone-scythes.
Finally, Rex's skull—cracked and full of purple magic fissures—attached to Nocturnus's head, forming a terrifying helmet. Purple flames ignited from the eye sockets.
Nocturnus stood tall. His voice now echoed, mixed between his own voice and Rex's laughter.
"Hhhahaha… behold! This is Nocturnus-Rex, the ruler of darkness!"
The arena trembled. Even stubborn spectators like Riftbreaker were momentarily silent, before his wide smile returned.
Spectralis clapped harder, his eyes flashing with excitement.
"Yes! YES! This is how it should be! A mad fight where they devour each other!"
But suddenly—Fulguran's sharp gaze pierced straight towards Spectralis.
Just one look, but it was like a thousand lightning strikes pressing down on his chest.
Spectralis instantly froze. His face was still smiling, but cold sweat streamed down his temples.
"…Uh…"
Kael and Sylvia, sitting beside him, could only cover their mouths, trying to suppress their laughter from erupting.
"Pffft—!"
"Hhh—ahaha—!"
Spectralis glanced at them, getting even more annoyed at being entertained.
The arena trembled. Nocturnus-Rex stepped forward, every stride creating a trail of dark purple cracks in the ground.
"Fufu… one against two? Or three? Doesn't matter. Whoever approaches… I will swallow."
Quartzis, still berserk, shrieked wordlessly. The crystals on his body continued to grow, exploding wildly from his back and arms. He shot forward like a missile, slamming into Nocturnus-Rex with a crystal-plated fist.
BOOOMMM!!!
The first collision shook the arena; arena bones were lifted and shattered. Nocturnus-Rex defended with crossed bone-scythes, but cracks appeared in the ground for dozens of meters.
"Yaahhahaha!! Good, crystal boy! MAKE ME FEEL IT AGAIN!!" Rex's voice echoed, mixed with Nocturnus's laughter.
Feran approached, his sharp eyes fixed on Quartzis. But suddenly—
WHUUSSHH!!!
Sharp crystals shot out wildly, nearly piercing his face.
Feran immediately retreated, growling.
"What—?! He's attacking me too?!"
Quartzis roared again, his eyes empty. His crystal fist punched the air, and the fragments launched in all directions, blindly.
Feran hissed internally:
"What's happening to Quartzis? It seems that crystal power is controlling him… I have to keep my distance. I can't fight him directly. I must find a way to restore his consciousness… before he completely destroys himself."
Nocturnus-Rex raised his hand; the bones on his body spun to form a spiked bone shield. Quartzis slammed into it mercilessly; crystal fragments exploded all around.
Meanwhile, Feran ran in circles, trying to find an opening. But Quartzis's wild crystals kept attacking him, forcing him to slash the fragments with his black daggers.
The arena turned into a chaotic battlefield:
Crystals exploded, bones spun, and Feran's shadow flashed quickly between the two.
The arena continued to shake. Quartzis's wild crystals rained down on Nocturnus-Rex; every glass explosion mixed with bone created a deafening sound.
Nocturnus-Rex laughed madly, enduring everything with the spiked bone shield.
"HAHAHA! COME ON! HIT ME AGAIN, CRYSTAL BOY!!"
Feran narrowed his eyes, his body moving fast to avoid the crystal fragments thrown in all directions.
"This situation is a mess. If I keep staying between them, I'll just be a victim of Quartzis's wild attacks. And… Lazric—"
His eyes darted. Not far away, Lazric lay on the ground, his body still covered in blood after Rex's scythe had slashed his shoulder earlier. His breath was ragged, barely audible.
"Damn… he could die if I leave him."
Feran clenched his daggers, then quickly decided: let Quartzis rampage against Nocturnus-Rex. That was more balanced.
WUUUSHH—!
With the speed of a shadow, Feran shot towards Lazric, slashing the flying crystal fragments. The fragments hissed like glass bullets, but Feran's daggers parried with precision.
He reached Lazric's side, knelt, and immediately pulled his comrade's body.
"Lazric! Hold on!" he exclaimed.
Lazric slowly opened his eyes, his voice faint and hoarse.
"F…Feran… I… can't… my magic… is gone…"
Feran gritted his teeth, his hand pressing the wound on Lazric's shoulder to stop the blood; instantly, soft iron coated the wound like a bandage.
"Don't talk nonsense. You're still alive, and as long as I'm here, you won't die!"
Lazric smiled faintly, a tear mixed with blood dripped from his temple.
His body weakened, but he still tried to pat Feran's chest with his remaining strength.
"Heh… still so stubborn… as always…"
Feran took a deep breath, then carried Lazric on his back until they reached the edge of the arena.
With a decisive movement, the two daggers in his hands clashed—CLANK!—molten iron flowed from the ground, forming a metal wall that towered high, solid as a steel fortress.
Dust flew, the sky grew darker, the fight continued.