The floating sky island groaned. Massive cracks radiated from the heart of the fissure, chunks of stone and debris spiraling into the endless void. Ashen Heart Demon stood at the epicenter, molten wings unfurled, eyes blazing like supernovae.
Zephyr's hurricane-force winds had stalled its advance, but the Demon roared, a sound that rattled the very air and sent the trio tumbling across floating platforms.
Isaac struggled to his knees, chest heaving. The memories—Irithel's skills, instincts, battle precision—flowed into him stronger than ever. His hands tingled as dual blades appeared in his mind, and then, instinctively, he summoned them in reality.
"Irithel… guide me."
⸻⸻⸻
THE BLADES AWAKENING
Wind wrapped around his twin knives.
Faint after-images shimmered as he moved.
Isaac lunged. Wind Step made him vanish and reappear behind the Demon. His knives became streaks of light, slicing through molten rock and fiery appendages.
Unlike before, he now combined speed, precision, and multi-angle strikes—a dance of blades that cut like a storm through molten stone.
The Demon roared in fury, but Isaac didn't hesitate. Each strike was sharper, faster, and more deliberate. He felt the rhythm of battle, Irithel's essence guiding his movements.
"Dual blades… the way of the storm… unstoppable."
Kael's eyes widened.
"You… you're moving like… like her!"
⸻⸻⸻
A REFINED TORNADO FIRE SLASH
Kael spun his broadsword, this time deliberately channeling wind currents that Isaac manipulated.
Kael:
"Okay… this time, it's NOT ridiculous! I call it…"
He hesitated, then grinned.
"THE MAGNIFICENT FIERY SPINNING APOCALYPSE SLASH!"
The fire tornado formed perfectly—a controlled, spiral inferno that cut through the Demon's molten armor without destroying the surrounding floating islands.
Isaac synchronized with him, guiding the wind with his blades to stabilize the spin, focusing its force directly on the Demon's weak points.
The Demon staggered, molten shards flying in every direction.
Kael cheered, flames licking the edges of his hair:
"I… I actually made something awesome!"
⸻⸻⸻
HELENA'S BATTLEFIELD STABILIZATION
Helena closed her eyes, raising her hands above her head. A golden dome expanded, larger than anything she had attempted. The air vibrated, calm winds countering the chaotic blasts around them.
Her new technique—Riftlight Bastion—stabilized floating platforms, solidified crumbling stone, and healed minor injuries for everyone in range. Even Isaac and Kael, moving at superhuman speed, felt the stabilizing effect.
Helena:
"Hold on! I've got you!"
The Demon's next strike—molten wings smashing the ground—was absorbed partially by the energy dome, lessening impact and protecting the trio.
⸻⸻⸻
THE COORDINATED ASSAULT
Zephyr's hurricane now served as the backbone. He created wind tunnels, slashing debris aside and forcing the Demon to stagger.
Isaac dashed with Wind Step, appearing in perfect sync with Kael's spinning fire tornado. Together, they struck multiple angles at the Demon's molten core.
Helena's Riftlight Bastion rippled outward with each impact, counteracting the heat and debris, keeping everyone steady.
The Demon shrieked, molten armor cracking, wings flailing violently. Its next attack was a sweeping strike, aiming to crush all three.
Isaac vanished—Wind Step—reappearing above the Demon, dual blades slicing downward with deadly precision.
Kael's Magnificent Fiery Spinning Apocalypse Slash wrapped around Isaac's blade strikes, intensifying the firestorm at the Demon's core.
Helena's Riftlight Bastion surged, creating a perfect shield around the impact zone.
The Demon staggered. Molten fragments shattered, its roar turning into a screech of pain.
⸻
FIERY END & THE FALLEN WEAPON
Isaac leapt, spinning midair, blades tracing arcs of lethal wind. He landed on a crumbling ledge, pivoting perfectly with Kael's fire slash. Together, they unleashed a combined assault—wind, blades, and fire converging in a controlled explosion of destruction directly on the Demon's chest.
The molten creature howled one last time before collapsing into the fissure, molten wings folding in defeat. The red glow dimmed, leaving drifting clouds and cracked stone islands.
And then it happened.
From the Demon's chest—the core itself—slid free a broadsword of molten wind and fire, humming with elemental energy. Its blade rippled with heat and wind currents, almost alive in the air.
Zephyr's eyes narrowed, impressed.
"That was its essence… its soul. A weapon of unimaginable potential."
Kael staggered forward, eyes wide.
"Wait… that's for me, right? I mean… it's huge, but… awesome, right?"
Helena smiled faintly.
"Kael… I think the team already decided."
Isaac nodded.
"You've earned it. And maybe… now you can unleash your fire tornado without relying on me."
Kael beamed, grabbing the broadsword. Flames sparked along its edge as he swung it experimentally. The air whistled. Wind and fire danced together, responding to his movements.
"Okay… let's try this—GRAND… UHH… MAGNIFICENT… FIERY TWISTY APOCALYPSE SLASH!"
Kael spun wildly. Fire and wind surged in a spiraling inferno, cutting through debris perfectly.
…And promptly ignited his own sleeve, sending him squealing into a pile of rubble.
Helena groaned.
"Kael! I said focus!"
Isaac smirked despite exhaustion.
"You're still a disaster… but a powerful one."
Kael popped his head out of the smoke, holding the sword triumphantly.
"I'll get it right next time! Maybe!"
Zephyr's faint chuckle drifted on the wind:
"Patience, child… you wield the weapon for the chosens. Clumsiness is expected… mastery will come with time."
Isaac looked to the fissure, sensing a faint trace—a ripple of energy. Lucy's presence.
"She's here… I can feel her."
The team regrouped, battered but victorious, each strengthened by the battle. Kael now wielded the Demon's broadsword—his own weapon to grow into, and Helena's healing had become more than just survival magic. Isaac's mastery of Irithel's blades gave the team precision they had never possessed before.
And the fissure pulsed ominously, as if aware that this was only the beginning.