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Chapter 17 - Ashes of the Past

Liora hurled a fireball at me, a sphere of swirling orange and red that hissed through the air. I barely dodged it, the heat scorching my cheek as I threw myself to the side. Another came, then another, a relentless barrage that forced me back, her attacks fueled by a cold, precise rage.

"You betrayed me, Ashen!" she shouted, her voice trembling with a mixture of rage and sorrow that echoed through the ruined cathedral. "I considered you my friend. My closest friend! Why?!"

I stared at her, my face a mask of cold indifference. "I never considered you one."

Her breath hitched, the sound sharp and painful. "Then what about the memories?" she whispered, her voice cracking. "We played together in the palace gardens. We laughed together when you fell in the fountain. When our engagement was fixed, I was happy. Genuinely happy."

Her voice broke as she continued, the memories a fresh torment. "I wanted to stand by your side in your darkest days… I wanted to help you find the real Ashen, the one I knew was still in there somewhere. But you…" Her eyes burned with a hurt that was deeper than any physical wound. "You called me a whore in front of my own mother. I was shattered. And as if that wasn't enough—on your birthday, you tried to sleep with me. As if I was some… some gift to be unwrapped."

She looked at me, her beautiful face a mask of broken trust. "You really have changed… And today, on this battlefield, you're toying with another girl like she's your next replacement. How nice."

I clenched my fists, the leather of my gloves creaking in protest. The original Ashen's sins were a heavy, suffocating cloak, and I was tired of wearing it.

"System," I whispered internally, a silent plea. "Look at your master now. Look at the mess he left me."

Liora kept staring, her teary-eyed gaze a weapon in itself.

"Enough," I said, my voice hollow.

I stepped forward, my own shadows coiling at my feet. "I don't need anyone. The ones who once loved me… they're long gone. And I realized it too late." My words were a lie, a shield, a performance. "I stand alone now. I don't want your pity. I've had enough of your fake sympathy."

I looked directly into her eyes, my own a reflection of the cold, dead void I felt inside. "You can think whatever you want about me. And yes, I have changed — for the better."

I smiled bitterly, the expression feeling alien on my face. "Isn't that what you wanted? For me to become someone strong? Someone worthy of your love? Well, congratulations. Now, go find someone better. Someone pure. Someone who'll fit your childish fantasy. I don't care anymore."

Her lips trembled. "Ashen… What happened to you?" Tears streamed down her face, carving clean paths through the grime of battle.

Before she could react, I hurled five Shadow Bombs in a wide, strategic arc.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

Dust and debris clouded the area. She dropped to one knee, coughing, her defenses shattered by the unexpected, brutal assault.

I summoned a Shadow Sword and approached slowly, my footsteps the only sound in the ringing silence.

"I am Ashen," I said, my voice like steel. "The one who only wins."

CRACK.

My blade, a thing of pure, solidified darkness, struck her chestplate. The impact was enough. Her form flickered, and the system's elimination protocol activated.

[DING! Liora Nowa has been eliminated.]

Meanwhile: Nowa Empire

In a towering palace draped in firelight and silk banners, Liora's mother, Queen Laura Nowa, clenched her fists, her knuckles white as she watched the image on the crystal projection. "This bastard… What has he become?"

In the Crimson Estate, Selene watched the same scene unfold, her own hand covering her mouth. She closed her eyes, a single tear escaping. "Ashen…"

Back to the Battlefield: The Top 4

The mighty trio stood exhausted in the heart of Sector Zero—Rin, Nyx Voxx, and Cecilia. The ground around them was a testament to their power, a chaotic landscape of shattered earth and lingering magic.

Before the momentum of their battle could shift, I jumped into the arena, my cloak fluttering behind me like shadow-fire.

All eyes turned to me.

"It's time," I whispered, a slow, predatory grin spreading across my face, "to become the hero."

Nyx sneered, her dark lipstick a stark contrast to her pale skin. "So, how'd you make it to the Top 4? Let me guess—cheated?" She crossed her arms, her gaze dismissive. "Or maybe you and your little ex-fiancée teamed up before she 'accidentally' got eliminated?"

Cecilia cut in, her voice as sharp and cold as her blades. "No… They had a falling out. Their engagement was annulled months ago. The scandal was the talk of the capital."

Rin narrowed his eyes, his gaze analytical, searching. "You fought the Whitehounds alone, didn't you?" he asked, his voice steady. "That's how you got here. But how? What trick did you pull?"

I smirked, my confidence returning like a familiar cloak. "These days, people call raw talent a 'trick'. Cute."

I raised a hand, silencing any further questions. "I'll answer everything. But just know—I'm buying you time. I'm letting you recover. Because I want to fight you all at your full strength."

The System buzzed in my mind, its voice laced with its usual brand of sarcastic logic.

[System: Why are you letting them recover? You could have crushed them in their weakened state, especially that bitch Nyx. This is strategically inefficient.]

"To make a show," I replied internally. "If I don't talk now, Rin will. He'll impress them with his noble speeches and heroic posturing. He's already becoming the favorite. I need to shift the spotlight. I need to own this moment."

[System: A bold, if arrogant, move. Very well. Make them remember your name — even if you fall. Especially if you fall.]

They stared at me, their expressions a mixture of suspicion and grudging respect.

I grinned, my shadow stretching long and menacing behind me.

"Let's make this memorable. One vs. three."

I looked at them, my heart pounding with a mixture of terror and exhilaration.

I guess I die like a joker here.

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