Ari's blade flashes—cutting down the mysterious boy in a blink.
Victory seems hers, until blood spills and she collapses.
But the enemy isn't finished… he rises from the shadows.
Now wounded and vulnerable, Ari faces death's edge once more.
[Scene: Ari's Fight]
Ari (thinking): He's strong—too strong. This pressure… It's like facing a Vice General… maybe even worse. That fire, that control… He's definitely an S-Rank magic user.
Suddenly—
The boy appeared in front of Ari in a flash, his presence overwhelming, heat radiating from his body like a barely-contained furnace.
Boy (coldly): "Don't think while facing me. The more you do… the worse this becomes for you."
His fist lunged forward—fast and brutal.
Ari instinctively ducked low. The punch grazed just above her shoulder. In a fluid motion, she twisted to the side and slashed her glowing blade across his midsection as she slid past him.
SWISH!
She landed a few paces away, spinning with her blade raised—breathing steady.
For a moment, it looked like she had struck him.
Drip.
Blood trickled from the boy's waist, staining the hem of his black coat.
But he stood unfazed—no pain, no weakness.
Ari's eyes narrowed. "What…?"
The boy slowly turned his head toward her, expression unchanged.
Boy (smirking): "Surprised? You cut me—yet I'm still standing, untouched."
His voice dropped into a chilling tone.
Boy: "That's because… I'm not human like you."
He gave a cold, amused smile—empty, detached.
Boy (softly): "Now… let's make this interesting."
A spiraling flame drill spun around his index finger—sharp and fast enough to bore through metal.
He shot it toward Ari.
With sharp focus, Ari timed it perfectly—as the drill neared, she slashed it in two with precision. The pieces veered off, one zooming past her left and the other her right, both embedding deep into the wall behind her.
Boy: "Impressive. You've got some decent swinging skills. But let's see how you handle many."
Around him, twenty more flaming drills formed, spinning wildly.
He launched them—all at once, at full speed.
Ari remained calm, focused.
With graceful motion, she stepped forward, slicing through some of them mid-air. Her movement was so fluid that none of the drills touched her body—only her blade. Like a dance, she advanced with precision and flow.
In a flash, she was right in front of him, her blade at his neck.
Ari: "You're done."
Boy: "Are you sure?"
He flicked his index finger again.
Ari glanced back—some drills were returning, homing in from behind.
She swung her blade at him, but he ducked and reflexively leapt back, creating distance. As her wide arc finished, she inadvertently turned toward the incoming drills.
Too fast.
She reacted with another lightning swing—cutting several—but this time, some struck her.
Slash. Slash. Slam.
Wounds opened across her shoulder, arms, and legs. Blood flowed, and her stance wavered.
Still, without hesitation—
Ari: "Light Magic: Ray of Blade!"
In an instant, multiple glowing clones appeared around the boy.
They attacked from all sides, light beams slashing at him in a coordinated assault.
Amid the chaos, the real Ari emerged—blade aimed at his chest. She drove it forward—right into his heart side.
Pierce!
Blood spurted—but he remained upright, conscious.
Ari, confused, withdrew the blade and stepped back, watching him warily.
He looked disoriented for the first time. "You… you're really not human."
Boy: "I already told you, didn't I?"
________________________________________
[Scene: Tracey's Fight]
Tracey was badly wounded—his arms and legs bloodied, marked with burns and frost.
The flames on his fists and legs had dimmed.
He and Ashenfang stood inside a hall, surrounded by Hollowborn.
Suddenly, the Hollowborn attacked all at once.
Ashenfang created a blazing flame barrier, shielding both himself and Tracey inside.
The moment their enemies paused—
The counterattack began.
Ashenfang, flames engulfing his body, charged forward—slamming into Hollowborn with flaming tackles and fiery headbutts. On the other side, Tracey launched into action—delivering punches, kicks, spinning strikes, and jumping foot slams to the heads of enemies.
They weren't trying to win—just hold the line, buying time for Ari to finish the boy who controlled them.
Ashenfang blasted bursts of flame while Tracey moved with sheer willpower and strength, despite exhaustion.
Both were panting—magic nearly depleted, bodies on the brink of collapse.
But they fought on.
________________________________________
[Scene: Ari's Fight – Final Clash]
Ari took a deep breath. Her blade trembled in her grip.
She focused—pouring all her light magic into it, until it glowed brilliantly…
Then—suddenly—the light vanished. A haunting silence followed.
The boy narrowed his eyes, his body tensing, ready for any incoming strike.
Then—
FLASH!
Ari vanished. A silver blur cut across the battlefield.
She passed him in a perfect arc, her blade swinging as she moved.
SHING!
She stopped several steps behind him, back turned, blade at her side.
The air held still.
Then, a sharp, clean slice appeared diagonally across the boy's chest—shoulder to hip.
For a moment—no movement.
Ari slowly sheathed her blade.
Ari (quietly, breathless): "It's over."
But—
COUGH!
Blood burst from Ari's mouth as she clutched her chest and collapsed to her knees.
Across the chamber, the boy remained standing.
The wound bled lightly, but he stood tall—unshaken.
He looked down at the cut… then at Ari.
Boy (cold, calm): "Close. But not enough."
He began walking toward her, each footstep echoing ominously.
Ari tried to lift her head—vision blurred, strength failing.
He raised his hand—aiming to finish it.
CLACK!
BOOM. BOOM.
Two large metal doors on opposite ends of the chamber slammed open.
From the shadows beyond—more Hollowborn poured in.
The air thickened with dense magic waves.
The boy stopped beside Ari. A new flame drill formed above his finger—aimed directly at her head.
Boy: "Don't worry. After killing you, I won't make your friends wait long. I'll kill them too."
He fired.
But—
A strange white-grayish liquid deflected the drill mid-flight.
The boy turned—startled.
Gray stood there.
In the distance, Dawn charged in, joining Tracey and Ashenfang as they engaged the incoming Hollowborn.
The boy stared at Gray, locking eyes.
Boy: "it's been a while… Gray."(Hisashiburi da Na... gray…)