Ryo stood still.
Not in a fighting stance.
Not tense.
Not even preparing to dodge.
He was simply there.
Standing before him was The Death.
The silence between them was not empty. It was heavy. Dense. As if the very air hesitated to remain in place. Even the insects had fallen silent. The forest itself seemed to be holding its breath.
Ryo cast a brief glance behind him.
Rael lay unconscious on the ground, his breathing faint but steady.
Blanek was kneeling, struggling to catch his breath, his body still trembling, marked by the violent impact he had suffered moments earlier.
They're still alive after facing him…
Ryo immediately returned his gaze to his opponent.
Just looking at him, you can feel it. That pressure. That monstrous energy.
The Death's aura was not flashy.
It did not seek to intimidate.
It was cold. Heavy. Constant.
A pure, undeniable certainty of death.
Yet a faint smile formed on Ryo's lips.
Even so… he doesn't measure up.
He spoke calmly, almost casually, as if giving an ordinary order.
"Eyrin."
His voice echoed softly through the forest.
"Take these two with you. Join Edward and the others."
"When you come back… this will already be over."
Blanek blinked, confused.
"Huh…?"
He slightly turned his head, trying to understand who Ryo was talking to.
And then—
A figure took shape.
No.
She hadn't appeared.
She had always been there.
An elf.
Slender silhouette, light-colored hair flowing down her back, calm and razor-sharp eyes. Her presence was so subtle, so perfectly erased, that even Blanek, experienced in countless battles, had never sensed her.
Before he could react, she grabbed Blanek by the arm.
Her movement was smooth. Precise. Free of unnecessary force.
In the same fluid motion, she lifted Rael, still unconscious, and placed him over her shoulder as if he weighed nothing.
No words.
No sound.
Then she vanished between the trees, heading toward where Selena and Lyo were.
The moment she left the area, The Death let out a dry laugh.
"Are you done?"
He tilted his head slightly, his grin widening with cold amusement.
"How arrogant. Saying you'll 'finish things' here…"
His aura expanded, pressing down on the forest like an invisible wave. Tree trunks groaned. Roots cracked beneath the pressure.
"Do you know who the strongest being in this forest is right now?"
He slowly raised his scythe, its blade reflecting a sinister violet glow.
"It's me."
Ryo met his gaze without blinking.
"Are you sure?"
A single heartbeat passed.
Their expressions changed at the exact same moment.
The ground shook.
A violent surge of power exploded outward. Their magical energies were released without restraint, crushing the air, warping space itself. The surrounding trees trembled violently, their trunks groaning under the invisible pressure. Branches snapped. Leaves were torn free and hurled into the air like a supernatural storm.
Even from a distance, Blanek felt the energy pierce through his body, sending a chill down his spine.
Far away, Eyrin stopped for a brief moment.
Her brows furrowed ever so slightly.
Shaken by the overwhelming wave, Rael suddenly opened his eyes, gasping as he clung to the elf's shoulder.
"W-What is that…?"
Eyrin did not answer.
Behind them, the forest itself seemed to hold its breath.
Then—
A sudden burst of acceleration.
The battle began.
The Death vanished in a flash of dark violet light. His speed defied reason. His scythe traced a massive arc above his head, overflowing with deathly energy.
"Strike of Death."
The blade came crashing down.
A black-and-violet wave tore through space, slicing the air with a shrill scream. The ground split apart instantly, the earth shattering like glass under the pressure.
Ryo dodged with a single step.
Effortlessly.
The attack grazed the spot where he had stood a moment before, leaving behind a massive gash in the ground.
But already—
The Death was behind him.
His speed was monstrous.
He struck again, the scythe aimed at Ryo's neck. A clean, precise blow. No hesitation.
Ryo raised his hand.
Instantly, dense black magic coated his palm. Compact. Viscous. Almost liquid, like a living substance. He caught the blade with his bare hand.
BOOM.
A violent explosion of energy erupted between them. The impact sent both fighters flying backward, crushing several trees in their path and carving a trail of destruction through the forest.
The Death stood back up immediately.
His gaze fixed on Ryo's hand.
"…Black magic?"
His smile sharpened, turning serious.
"Interesting."
He didn't have time to say more.
Ryo raised his hand again, his eyes now glacial.
"Black Flame Pillar."
A burning symbol lit up beneath The Death's feet.
A colossal pillar of black fire erupted violently, swallowing his figure whole. The flames devoured everything in their path, twisting the air, consuming even the light itself. The heat was suffocating, oppressive, as if the world itself were being reduced to ash.
The pillar lasted several seconds.
Then—
A violet flash split the flames apart.
The pillar was cut cleanly in two, dispersed by a sharp swing of the scythe.
The Death emerged, slightly scorched—but unharmed.
He chuckled softly.
"Black flames…"
His eyes gleamed with twisted excitement.
"A black flame user, huh."
He raised his scythe, his aura surging even further.
"Now this is finally getting interesting."
Face to face, the two monsters measured each other.
The forest already understood.
This was not a battle between adventurers.
It was a battle between predators.