No one moved.
The entire city had become a muted backdrop,
as if the world itself had taken a step back
and left the stage for only two.
Liren
and
Chimera.
The collar around her neck was cold.
Fixed.
A silent reminder that she was human… nothing more.
No powers.
No miracles.
No second chances.
Chimera stood three steps away.
He didn't attack.
Why?
Because he was thinking.
Chimera (thinking):
She has no energy. No magic. No enhancements.
Yet… she hasn't made a single mistake.
He lifted his foot slightly…
then put it back down.
A test.
Liren noticed.
She didn't move.
Not because she was confident—
but because she refused to give him any information.
The first rule in fighting someone who learns:
> Don't show them how you think.
Chimera suddenly advanced.
Not at full speed.
But fast enough to force a reaction.
—A sideways strike.
Direct.
Aimed at the shoulder.
Anyone ordinary would have flinched.
Liren didn't.
She slid half a step forward.
Chimera's strike passed behind her
by the width of a finger.
At the same moment—
her heel slammed against the ground.
Not an attack.
Just a noise.
Chimera stopped.
His eyes narrowed.
Chimera (thinking):
Why make a sound?
That was the first mistake.
Not a fatal mistake.
But an uncalculated question.
Liren didn't attack.
She only used the moment
to shift her stance.
Three centimeters.
But that meant:
The sun was no longer behind Chimera.
His shadow broke.
His left eye focused less.
Chimera noticed too late.
This time he charged with real force.
Two successive strikes.
Pressure.
Acceleration.
Liren retreated.
Not randomly.
Step.
Step.
Then sudden stop.
Chimera attacked empty air.
And for the first time—
He lost his balance.
Not because Liren was stronger.
But because the ground under his feet
had been shattered earlier
by a previous explosion.
She had seen it.
And registered it.
And didn't tell anyone.
Chimera regained balance quickly.
But that second—
Was enough.
Liren moved.
Not to attack.
But to close in dangerously.
Chimera raised his arm immediately—
But she wasn't there.
She ducked.
Passed beneath him.
And didn't touch him.
Why?
Touch… is information.
When you touch an adaptive opponent,
you tell them your strength.
She didn't.
Instead—
she pulled a small dagger,
not enough to kill a child.
And threw it.
Not at Chimera.
But at the ground behind him.
The dagger bounced.
Spark.
Sharp sound.
Chimera instinctively turned.
And here—
She struck.
Knee. Joint.
Not with force.
But with timing.
Chimera stepped back two paces.
Then stopped.
Then—
He laughed.
Not mockingly.
Chimera:
"…You are not fighting me."
"You are controlling me."
She didn't respond.
Now she was panting.
Her body was tiring.
The collar reminded her of every breath.
But her mind—
was faster than his.
Chimera changed.
His stance altered.
The angles of his movement became less aggressive.
Chimera (thinking):
She uses the environment.
Hides intentions.
Delays strikes.
Relies on my reactions.
He smiled.
Chimera:
"So… let's see if you can keep up with this."
He vanished.
Not an instantaneous teleport.
But movement beyond human perception.
Appeared behind her.
Any fighter would have ended here.
But Liren—
Had anticipated it
three moves ago.
She didn't turn.
She fell deliberately.
Chimera's strike passed over her.
When he tried to adjust—
His foot was within the range of her shadow.
She twisted.
Not with force.
But at the wrong angle.
Chimera lost his balance
for the first time clearly.
He fell to one knee.
The silence exploded.
The city gasped.
Liren didn't attack.
She didn't capitalize.
She just stepped back.
Stood.
Looked at him.
And said calmly:
Liren:
"You learn fast."
"But your problem…"
"Is you only learn from one opponent."
She raised her hand.
And pointed to the ground.
The arena was now—
filled with invisible marks.
Pressure points.
Collapse zones.
Calculated shadows.
Escape paths.
A network.
Built during the fight.
Without anyone noticing.
Chimera rose slowly.
Not angry.
Excited…
Chimera:
"…Now."
"Now, this is a real battle."
Liren tightened the collar briefly with her hand.
Sharp pain.
Reminder.
Then she smiled.
Liren:
"From the moment you didn't kill me…"
"And you were inside my calculations."
They stood.
Face to face.
Body against body.
Mind against mind.
And now—
Any wrong move
wouldn't just mean loss…
But the end.
They faced each other.
Three steps apart,
between a body learning unnaturally fast
and a human body that knows its limits… yet fights despite them.
Chimera didn't attack.
And Liren…
Made her first small mistake.
Her foot slid half a step.
Not a fall. Not an obvious stumble.
But a timing delay
less than a heartbeat.
Chimera noticed immediately.
He struck.
Not a flashy strike.
But a short, close, deadly blow.
Liren raised her arm to block—
And that was the mistake.
The strike didn't hit the arm.
It hit the head.
—CRACK—
A sharp sound pierced the arena.
Her mask… cracked.
A tiny shard scattered in the air.
Chimera stepped back.
Not because of the blow.
But because of what he saw.
A part of Liren's face
was revealed for a moment.
Not completely.
But enough.
Liren tried to cover her face quickly,
not wanting anyone to see her true form,
but her true height was revealed.
The soldiers gasped.
The commanders froze.
And they thought to themselves: Who is this girl?
Chimera stared.
Not with delight.
But with genuine astonishment.
Chimera:
"…So this is the price."
Hahahahahahaha
I didn't expect to see you again, weakling.
I thought you were in the knight's hands, as they say.
Liren didn't move.
No blood was shed.
But the pain was present.
Not just physical.
But tactical.
Exposure.
Yet—
This moment…
was calculated.
Chimera took another step,
ready to finish it.
And said: This is your end, traitor.
And here—
Liren raised her hand.
Not a spell.
But a pure mental command.
Sirel:
"Now."
The first—
Sirel Dantas
stood above,
eyes fixed,
mind calculating like a machine.
He raised his hand.
Said nothing.
But everyone understood.
The second—
Valira Krist
Black energy didn't explode,
but compressed—
as if restrained until the right moment.
The third—
Galin Turk
Planted his feet,
struck the ground once.
The vibration wasn't an attack—
but a field lock.
The fourth—
Eleanor Valley
Her shields spread like transparent walls,
trapping Chimera without touching him.
The fifth—
Draix Haron
Was unseen.
But his presence alone
prevented any retreat.
The sixth—
Marisa Lind
Raised her spear,
Not at Chimera—
but at the ground.
Marked the point.
The seventh—
Thalor Green
Hovered slightly,
gathering fire in his chest,
But did not release it.
The eighth—
Kyra Mace
Summoned water from the humidity,
From the air itself,
Creating an invisible pressure layer.
The ninth—
Neron Valdin
Drew his bow.
One arrow.
But aimed with surgical precision.
The tenth—
Selina Thorn
Placed her hand on the string,
And her magic wrapped around the arrow
As a final seal.
Chimera looked around.
For the first time—
He hesitated.
Not out of fear.
But late realization.
Chimera (thinking):
Since when?
When did they position themselves?
When did I end up in the center?
Then—
He understood.
Looked at Liren.
Chimera:
"…The mask."
"That wasn't a mistake."
She smiled.
A tired smile.
But sincere.
Liren:
"It was the price."
"I had to show you something real…"
"So you'd be reassured."
"So you'd stop calculating."
She raised her hand.
This time—
It wasn't a trick.
It was the real command.
Liren:
"Now."
The ten attacked.
At once.
Energy.
Power.
Pressure.
Fire.
Penetration.
Lock.
Arrow.
And then—
The unified strike.
The air split.
The ground sank.
The arena vanished behind a single flash.
The aim wasn't killing.
But—
Breaking.
And when the light faded—
Liren stood.
Mask broken.
Body exhausted.
But her eyes… unshaken.
And her gaze said only one thing:
In this battle…
Whoever thinks they've gained insight
Has already lost position.
Chimera (thinking):
Damn… can't escape.
Liren:
Where do you think you'll run, fool?
For your information, I enchanted the mask—
If my opponent breaks it, it will paralyze them until death.
Chimera:
You eyes—
Then a huge explosion occurred,
making Chimera scream in pain,
And a blinding light flashed.
After the explosion,
silence reigned.
The light faded.
Dust settled slowly.
The arena that was once ground…
was now a cracked, jagged pit, shapeless.
The ten…
were standing.
But barely.
Sirel Dantas lowered his hand finally,
knee trembling,
mind—delayed in calculation for the first time.
Valira Krist bent forward,
black energy violently withdrawing from her body,
as if her body refused to endure it twice.
Galin Turk breathed loudly,
each breath a broken roar.
Eleanor Valley's eyes dimmed,
her shields retreated,
cracked as if they carried the strike's weight alone.
Draix Haron appeared last—
one knee on the ground,
his knife stuck in the soil to prevent falling.
Marisa Lind closed one eye,
the other staring at the pit's center,
trying to confirm…
trying to believe.
Thalor Green landed with difficulty,
his flames flickering before settling.
Kyra Mace pulled water back to herself,
but blood trickled quietly from her nose.
Neron Valdin dropped his bow,
his final arrow turned to ash.
Selina Thorn was the last to lower her weapon,
her voice a hoarse whisper:
"…Is it over?"
For a second—
Nothing happened.
Then—
The dust moved.
Slowly.
Heavily.
Unnaturally.
Sound.
Not a roar.
But the friction of flesh against earth.
Liren stiffened.
The ten felt it at once.
From inside the pit—
A body rose.
Not as it had been.
Chimera…
was twisted.
Half his face broken,
one horn bent at an unnatural angle,
his body filled with slow-pulsing black cracks,
as if trying to heal.
But—
He stood.
Unyielding.
Laughed.
A low, broken laugh,
but full of mockery.
Chimera:
"Haha…"
Lifted his head with difficulty,
looked at the ten, one by one.
Chimera:
"Beautiful."
"Perfect."
"If this were a strike from any other faction…"
"You would have destroyed everything in this world."
He stepped forward.
The ground screamed beneath him.
Chimera:
"But unfortunately…"
Stopped.
Looked at his twisted hand,
opened and closed it.
Chimera:
"This…"
"A strike that wouldn't even kill the mighty."
Lifted his gaze.
Smiled.
Pointed at Liren.
Chimera:
"And you, Liren, weaker than the mighty,
You are just a nobody, a disgrace among the mighty."
Blood froze in everyone's veins.
Silence prevailed.
No one expected to hear that the girl thought to be the Northern Princess
was actually one of the ten mighty.
The ten tried to move—
but their bodies refused.
That was one strike too many.
Chimera turned slowly.
Not to them.
But to Liren.
Stood in front of her,
one step away.
Then—
Reached out.
And touched the mask.
He didn't break it.
Didn't attack.
Just pushed the cracked part further.
CRACK—
The rest fell.
And with it…
The secret.
The city saw.
The soldiers saw.
The commanders saw.
The true face.
Absolute silence this time.
Chimera (loud, sarcastic):
"Do you still think she's a princess?"
Looked at everyone.
Chimera:
"She's not a princess."
"Not a leader."
"Not even a super fighter."
Stepped closer,
whispered—but loud enough for all to hear:
Chimera:
"She is… a powerless girl."
"Bound by a collar."
"Fighting with nothing but her mind."
Laughed.
A louder laugh.
Chimera:
"And yet…"
"She nearly killed me."
He paused.
Then added, coldly:
Chimera:
"And that…"
"Is what makes her more dangerous than all of you."
Liren didn't look at him.
Didn't look at anyone.
She stood,
tired,
mask broken,
her secret exposed.
But her eyes—
Did not break.
Liren (very calm):
"So…"
"You admitted it."
Chimera tilted his head.
Chimera:
"Admit what?"
She finally lifted her gaze.
A look with no fear.
No anger.
Just certainty.
Liren:
"That you had to reveal the truth…"
"Because you didn't win."
Deadly silence fell.
And in that moment—
Everyone realized:
This battle…
Is not over.
Suddenly—
The Black Knight appeared behind him.
No sound.
No aura.
But the threat was absolute.
Chimera sensed it.
Not fear…
But awareness.
He tried to turn.
Tried to protect what remained of him.
But—
It was too late.
One strike.
No flash.
No explosion.
His head was shattered completely.
The body fell…
and did not move again.
Dead.
The Black Knight stood silently behind,
looking at Liren.
Black Knight:
"You are still alive…
Good."
Liren:
…
Black Knight:
"Don't be afraid.
You did well… and you can take that little girl."
Liren:
"Really?!"
Black Knight:
"Go ahead.
Drink it… and take the girl.
We'll leave now."
Liren:
"So fast? But—"
Black Knight (coldly):
"If you want to stay with them, go ahead.
Anyway… they won't welcome you."
Liren:
"That's the problem… you think they—"
Suddenly—
A magical attack cut through the air, heading straight for Liren.
She only saw a black shadow pass in front of her.
The Black Knight blocked the attack with his sword,
and the magical wave exploded into shards of light scattering everywhere.
An angry voice advanced.
Sirel:
"Who do you think you are?
You won't leave that quickly!"
Took a step forward.
Sirel:
"We may be exhausted and uninjured…
But that doesn't mean you can leave without explanation."
Black Knight:
…
Sirel (harshly):
"What happened to the real Northern Princess, you rogue?
And why is that filthy little mighty disguised as the princess?!"
Black Knight (low, tense):
This is well known…
To the one who risked himself to protect you.
Liren (thinking):
…?
Why did his tone change?
As if… angry?
Galin shouted, eyes blazing:
Galin:
"We know only one who destroyed our kind and our land!
Are you mocking us?!"
Black Knight:
Yes.
Deadly silence fell.
Then he continued:
Black Knight:
"Because he is under my command.
And also… he helped you sincerely,
Even if she didn't want it."
Marisa Lind clenched her fist.
Marisa Lind:
"Just so you know… we are ten.
And you are only one.
You cannot defeat us."
Thalor Green stepped forward, his voice carrying a clear challenge:
Thalor Green: And don't think that defeating Chimera with a single strike means you're stronger than the Ten.
Then—
The Black Knight drew his sword.
It wasn't the sound of metal that terrified them.
It was the pressure.
The air around compressed. The ground cracked slightly. Breaths grew heavy… as if the world itself was resisting his presence.
Some were terrified without even realizing it.
Black Knight: So… let's see who kills whom.
Liren (thinking, worried): What is he doing? Does he want to start a massacre? And why is he this angry…?
Suddenly—
???: Stop.
Silence fell.
The voice was young… calm… yet carried an authority that could not be ignored.
Everyone turned.
A young man stepped forward with steady steps.
His eyes bore the weight of truth.
Cyril (in shock): …That voice—
Then he bowed slightly, and his tone completely changed.
Cyril Dantas: The Young Prince.
The prince looked at the battlefield… at Chimera's body… then at the Black Knight.
He spoke in a deadly calm voice:
Young Prince: Enough. If this continues… the loss will be ours all.
Young Prince: Hello… how are you, Lo—
Black Knight (sharply): Don't you dare call me that name again. Or… I'll make your head a crown.
A heavy silence fell.
Selina Torn drew her bow a step forward.
Selina Torn: How dare you threaten the Prince—!
Young Prince (sternly): Selina, be quiet. You'll only make things worse.
Then he looked at Liren, specifically at the collar around her neck.
Young Prince: And for your information… the Black Knight is stronger than you imagine. And the proof… is this collar.
A grave silence settled.
Then suddenly—
The Young Prince smiled and laughed.
Young Prince: But I must apologize. As you know… my jokes are a bit heavy. Hahaha.
Everyone (nervously, forced laughter): …Too funny.
The Black Knight did not laugh.
Black Knight: What matters… is that I want the little girl Liren cares for.
Young Prince: Very well, very well, very well. I'll ask the soldiers to bring her now.
Then he turned to Galen.
Young Prince: And you, Galen… must apologize to the Black Knight. I'm sure you angered him this time.
Galen Tork (shocked): What?!
Black Knight (coldly): Calm yourself, Orc. This time… it's not your kind.
But two other races.
The Young Prince raised an eyebrow.
Young Prince: So… who are the two?
The Black Knight paused. Then said:
Black Knight: First… the male of the Alfa you know. The top of the Ten leaders.
Then—
He looked at Liren.
It wasn't a look of pride. Nor of satisfaction.
It was… appraisal.
Liren (thinking): …Why is he looking at me like that? Didn't he praise me just now?
Young Prince: Don't get angry at her. The mask broke due to an attack—
He was cut off by the Black Knight's voice.
Black Knight: I'm not angry about the mask breaking. But about the reason… that made it targeted in the first place.
Liren froze.
Liren (thinking, shocked): Wait… he saw me… when I showed Freila my real face?
Black Knight (harshly): Clearly, you understood the reason, you fool.
Liren clenched her fist but did not respond.
Young Prince (sighing): Alright… that's a problem I have nothing to do with, but—
The Black Knight suddenly raised his hand.
And at that very moment—
The sound shut down.
The noise disappeared. The whispers of the leaders vanished. Even the wind… stilled.
Everyone opened their mouths… but no sound came out.
The Black Knight looked at the Young Prince.
Black Knight (voice audible only to him): Speak now.
Then he turned to Liren.
He stepped closer.
Black Knight: And you… cover your ears.
He stepped even closer, whispering in a tone that left no room for argument:
Black Knight: And don't… you dare try to hear anything. Do you understand?
Liren (in a low voice): …I understand.
She put her hands over her ears.
But her heart raced violently.
Liren (thinking): …What will be said now? And why do I feel… this is more dangerous than any battle I've faced?
At that moment—
The Young Prince bowed slightly.
For the first time… his smile completely disappeared.
Young Prince (in a low, serious voice): For your information… this time you've crossed the forty-first limit. Do you really want to become like those from the other world… in that way?
The Black Knight slowly raised his head. His eyes did not flinch.
Black Knight: If this achieves what I want… I won't stop until I reach it.
The Young Prince remained silent for a moment.
Young Prince: To this extent… do you love her? Or do you want to do as you always did? You know… I don't want to finish this sentence.
The Black Knight answered without hesitation.
Black Knight: This time is not like before. This time… I want to live with her in true love.
The Young Prince's eyes widened slightly.
Young Prince: …
Black Knight: Yes, I know. Strange… and the first time you hear it from me.
The Young Prince sighed.
Young Prince: Alright… she's lucky to be with you. But know one thing— you've started to become more violent than before.
Black Knight (calmly cold): It doesn't matter. If this will make what I wish for a reality… even if I am stabbed, the important thing is that she survives.
Then a short silence fell.
Black Knight: Nohan… may I ask you a favor?
The Young Prince raised an eyebrow.
Young Prince: Best if no one hears. Otherwise, they won't allow you to call me by name. Go ahead.
The Black Knight lowered his voice further.
Black Knight: If she survives… I want you to take care of her. Even if the price… is that you marry her.
The Young Prince's eyes widened suddenly.
Young Prince: W-w-w-what—? Hahaha! What are you saying?!
He wiped a tear of laughter from his eye.
Young Prince: I will not marry her. I have no feelings for her. But… I will take care of her. So she won't grieve if you die.
Then he lowered his voice.
Young Prince: And for your information… I am loyal to you. Every time you protect me, even if no one remembers.
He paused a moment, then added:
Young Prince: I hope… you succeed this time.
The Black Knight looked forward.
Black Knight: And I too… hope you succeed.
Then he stepped back one step.
Black Knight: Now… I will remove this spell. And we leave.
He extended his hand.
And at the same moment—
The pressure began to dissipate.
Sounds returned suddenly. The air moved. The leaders breathed as if they had been trapped underwater.
Liren slowly removed her hands from her ears.
Liren (thinking): …I didn't hear anything. But… why do I feel that something big has changed?
The Black Knight approached her, without looking into her eyes.
Black Knight (softly): It ends here. Take the girl… and don't look back.
Liren clenched the vial he had given her.
Liren: …Thank you.
He did not respond.
And in an instant—
He vanished.
As if his presence had been only a shadow passing through the city.
But his impact… remained.
TO BE CONTINUED…