Kronoran slowly turned toward Haegar.
"I pierced your brain…" he said in a near whisper. "How did you recover? Is there a hidden ability I don't know about?"
The only answer he received was a glare—dark and filled with hatred.
"Enough talk, worthless creature," Haegar growled, rising from the floor. "I'll destroy you… and everything you stand for."
He stood to his full height, his body cracking under tension as streams of pulsing energy burst from the fractures in his skin.
Then he spread his four arms wide, as if ready to embrace the entire world.
"Skill—Hands of the Apocalypse. Activate."
In an instant, each of his four arms ignited with a different color of power:
First — Crimson Fire: trembling on his fingers like living flame.
Each strike caused an explosive shockwave that erased everything in its path.
Second — Deep Blue: emitting unstable vibrations.
It disrupted balance and shattered concentration from afar.
Third — Bright Orange: like liquid gold.
It absorbed the enemy's energy and strengthened Haegar himself.
Fourth — Dark Violet: swirling with miniature distortions of space.
It opened micro-portals, allowing him to move and attack from impossible angles.
Kronoran smirked faintly, but a note of irritation crept into his tone.
"You're using everything at once? Do you really think your final trick will save you?"
He stepped forward, and the air compressed around him.
"It's useless, Haegar. Absolutely useless."
But Haegar was already moving—four streaks of light tore through space, and the battle began anew.
Kronoran raised one hand, effortlessly catching a fist aimed at his left side.
"Hm… you're using portals immediately. Clever," he said coldly.
A moment later, the portal vanished along with the arm—but then Haegar appeared right in front of him.
His second hand glowed blue, vibrating violently. The air trembled—but Kronoran didn't even flinch.
"Useless," he said.
Then Haegar roared, channeling all his fury into one devastating punch.
Impact.
A flash.
An explosion.
But Kronoran didn't move an inch.
The destructive energy coiled into a ring of light—like a trap—and then reflected straight back toward Haegar.
"What!?" he hissed, already reacting—his violet hand reached toward a portal to escape—
Too late.
Kronoran took a single sharp step forward.
A blade of light erupted from his palm and sliced off Haegar's arm in one motion.
"You won't make it."
"Damn…" Haegar growled, staring at the incoming energy. "I can't dodge this…"
But then—
the explosion never came.
A dome of water enveloped him, sealing him in a shimmering barrier.
The rippling surface reflected the blast like a mirror.
Kronoran turned sharply.
Standing before him was Kianir—his long, waterfall-like hair glowing faintly in the ruined hall, three bowls spinning slowly above his head, water flowing endlessly between them.
He smiled faintly.
"Remember this day, Kronoran…
Today, you'll learn what Peace truly means."
"I'll remember it, Kianir," Kronoran replied with a cold smirk—
and vanished.
An instant later, he appeared directly before Kianir.
A beam of light shot from his hand, tearing through the air with a metallic shriek—
But—
SKRIIIK!
The strike froze midair, colliding with a pulsing red shield between them.
"Oh…" Kronoran narrowed his eyes. "Your reaction is sharp. Don't tell me… you've drawn your trump card too?"
He looked closer—and froze.
Kianir's eyes were fully open now: one crimson, one bright blue.
The left half of his body shimmered beneath a red aura—a perfect balance of control and wrath.
"You're too loud, Kronoran," Kianir said calmly. "It's time you learned what true Serenity means."
He called the bowls to his side—they spun rapidly around him—
and in the next moment, Kianir was ten meters away.
Skill activated: "Killer Waterfall: Shimmer."
The floor was instantly flooded in a thin sheet of white water, streaked with glowing crimson circles.
The surface pulsed gently—emitting both peace… and mortal danger.
"Damn…" Kronoran muttered. "I need to end this quickly. That's one of his strongest abilities."
He lunged forward—
and then stopped, eyes widening.
His legs sank into the water, as if trapped in liquid sand. It pulled him down, slowed him, restrained him.
"You've upgraded this ability…" he hissed. "Clever."
Suddenly, Kianir teleported, moving through one of the red circles.
He appeared beside Kronoran, striking at his ribs—
"Too slow," Kronoran whispered, parrying and detonating the water beneath him, freeing himself in a violent burst.
He reappeared before Kianir, swung his leg—and drove it into his chest!
But the blow passed straight through.
"What?!" Kronoran's eyes widened.
Kianir's image faded—leaving behind only a red-and-white shimmer.
"Another second… and he would've hit me," Kianir thought.
Skill activated: "Shimmering Judgment."
The three bowls halted above him.
One filled with blood-red water.
The other two remained crystal blue.
Massive torrents of water surged out, crashing toward Kronoran—but slammed into his barrier of light.
"That's all?"
But Kianir didn't stop.
The bowls activated again—blue, red, blue—merging their energies into one devastating strike, faster than sound.
VZZZZ—BOOM!
The barrier cracked—then shattered.
The blue streams destabilized it—
The red wave pierced through, exploding at the center.
Kronoran barely tilted his head—
But a thin line appeared across his cheek.
A drop of crimson slid down.
"Interesting…" he said, touching the wound.
"You actually managed to injure me… alone.
Impressive, Kianir."
"Now I understand," Kronoran's voice turned low, almost respectful.
"Kianir… you've surprised me. Your technique, your sense of the battlefield—it's extraordinary. You're… a worthy opponent."
A flicker of genuine admiration crossed his face—then vanished.
"But… this is the end," he whispered.
A flash—
Light tore through space.
A blade of energy pierced Kianir's chest—straight through the heart.
He didn't even react in time.
His eyes widened, lips parted—
and blood sprayed outward.
"Wh-what…?" he gasped weakly. "S-so fast…"
His body went limp. His legs gave out.
He fell backward, the water from the bowls spilling across the marble, mixing with the drops of his blood.
A moment passed—
From a portal inches from Kronoran's face, a massive fist shot out, shattering the air itself. It flew straight toward his skull—
but Kronoran cut it off mid-swing, leaving only a fragment of an arm pulsing with energy.
He stepped calmly onto the marble floor again, as if it were nothing but morning training.
"Kianir…" he murmured. "I know you're not dead. Not with an ability like yours."
His eyes glowed faintly. He turned—
and his body vanished into light.
Akito, who had been standing behind him all along, caught only a glimpse of the bloody flash.
When he turned around—he froze.
Kronoran stood behind Lumen.
His arm had passed straight through Lumen's chest—
and in his hand, a heart was still beating.
"K-Kronoran…" Lumen choked, blood filling his throat. "Stop… You'll… destroy… so many lives…"
Silence.
Only labored breathing, a trembling aura, and the soft drip of blood onto the marble.
"I know," Kronoran said gently.
"I'm sorry, Lumen… but your ability is too dangerous.
You're too strong—even if still young."
He met his friend's gaze.
"Thank you… You were my best friend.
Even though I never truly understood your power…
I'm glad I met you."
Lumen smiled faintly, blood still trembling on his lips.
[Noxveil]
Hey there, reader!
If you've made it this far, thank you so much. I'm writing this story in Russian and translating it into English — so I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Even one small comment gives me huge motivation 💬💙
Let me know who your favorite character is so far!