( Warning: This chapter contains violent and graphic scenes that may disturb sensitive readers)
Chaos still ruled the battlefield. Several hours had already passed since the first clashes, and exhaustion was spreading through every body.
Each confrontation grew sharper, more desperate, as if the fighters were carving the last remnants of their will into steel and flesh.
Fidri, Elizir, and Arnaud, drained after their narrow victory over Sasha, no longer had the strength to throw themselves into another melee.
They lingered behind, gasping, their limbs trembling under the weight of survival itself.
And yet, even though Sasha had been struck down and Orion's forces seemed to reclaim the upper hand, one figure still remained on Mercury's side a presence capable of tipping the balance.
He had already set his sights on two unfortunate prey, busy softening them up before savoring the feast to come.
The battle between Lucy and Gracia against Stoneheart had reached a deadlock.
