Scy's POV
The moment the formation broke—
everything changed.
The Royal Guards were no longer just testing me. I could see it in their movements, in the way their eyes sharpened, in the subtle shift of their stance.
They were taking this seriously now.
"…So this is where it starts," I muttered.
The one I struck earlier slowly stood up, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. But instead of fear—
he smiled.
"…You're stronger than we expected."
"…And you're still holding back," I replied.
"…Of course."
Silence.
Then—
"Formation two."
The air tightened.
The remaining guards moved instantly, their positions shifting with perfect coordination. It wasn't random. It wasn't rushed.
It was calculated.
Precise.
Deadly.
"…They adapted already."
I exhaled slowly.
"…Good."
They moved at the same time.
Faster.
Sharper.
More aggressive than before.
CLANG!
I blocked one strike—
CRASH!
Another came from behind—
I twisted—
dodged—
countered—
SLASH!
But this time—
they didn't fall.
"…Tough."
Their defense had improved. Their reactions were faster. Every movement I made was being read, predicted, and countered.
"…They're learning mid-fight."
That alone made them dangerous.
But not enough.
"Scy!"
Natalia's voice echoed from behind.
"…Don't get distracted," I said without looking back.
"…I'm not," she replied, but I could hear the tension in her voice.
She was watching everything.
And she was realizing it too.
This fight…
was no longer something she could follow.
"…You're protecting her," one of the guards said.
"…So?"
"…Then that's your weakness."
In an instant—
one of them broke formation and rushed toward Natalia.
"…Tch."
My expression changed.
"Wrong move."
Before he could reach her—
I disappeared.
CRASH.
My blade struck him down mid-step.
He flew back, crashing into the ground.
"…Don't touch her."
The air dropped.
Cold.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
The guards paused.
Not out of fear—
but awareness.
"…So that's the trigger," one of them said quietly.
"…Interesting."
I stared at them.
"…I warned you."
Something inside me shifted.
Not anger.
Not rage.
But something deeper.
Clearer.
Colder.
"…If you keep pushing…"
The blades around me began to change.
Not just sharper—
but darker.
Denser.
"…I won't hold back."
For a moment—
no one moved.
Then—
"Proceed."
They attacked again.
But this time—
I didn't hold back.
I stepped forward—
faster than before.
The world slowed.
Their movements—
became predictable.
CLANG.
I broke through one defense.
CRACK.
Another fell.
SLASH.
A clean strike.
"…Two."
The formation collapsed further.
"…Impossible—!"
"Fall back—!"
"…Too late."
The blades around me multiplied.
Not five.
Not ten.
Dozens.
Floating.
Surrounding everything.
The air trembled under their presence.
"…What is this…?" one of them whispered.
"…Your limit."
"Stop!"
Natalia's voice cut through the air.
For a moment—
everything paused.
"…Scy…"
Her voice was shaking.
"…Don't."
I didn't move.
"…If you keep going…"
She hesitated.
"…you'll become like them."
Silence.
For a brief second—
my thoughts stopped.
"…Like them…"
Kill without hesitation.
Destroy without control.
Lose everything.
Just like—
before.
I closed my eyes.
"…Tch."
The blades trembled.
Then—
slowly—
they disappeared.
The guards froze.
"…You stopped…?" one of them said.
I opened my eyes.
"…This isn't your battlefield anymore."
They didn't move.
Didn't attack.
Didn't speak.
"…We'll report this," the leader finally said.
"…Do that."
He looked at me one last time.
"…Next time…"
"…Send someone stronger," I interrupted.
Silence.
Then—
they stepped back.
And disappeared.
The air returned to normal.
The pressure faded.
The fight—
was over.
"…Scy…"
Natalia walked toward me slowly.
"…You stopped."
"…Yeah."
"…Why?"
I looked at my hand.
Then at her.
"…Because I chose to."
She stared at me for a moment.
Then—
she smiled faintly.
"…Good."
I looked toward the distance.
Toward where they disappeared.
"…Next time…"
My eyes narrowed slightly.
"…I won't need to hold back."