Amid the collapsed earth, scattered rubble, and fragments of nearby building walls strewn across the open ground that has partially sunk into ruin—
CTHAAMNH—KRAK—KRAK—KTHAAAHMNHN!
Leon rises from the debris that fails to bury him deeply, emerging through the dense clouds of dust still billowing into the air.
However, the warm sunlight now shines unobstructed after the great tree has fallen, gradually diminishing the thick dust swirling around the battlefield.
BRUK—BRAK—DUK—DAK—DUK!
Leon continues walking unevenly across the shattered ground.
Through the dust, rubble, and buried fragments of collapsed structures, he keeps moving, searching for something, ensuring that the weakening presence he senses is no longer far away—
Albert.
Unable to rise, his body remains buried beneath earth, stones, and fragments of a collapsed wall, with only half of his face exposed. He continues staring at the sky, waiting for something.
DUK—DAK—BRAK—BRUK—DAK!
Footsteps sound not far from Albert.
His gaze immediately shifts toward their source.
Albert raises his brows.
BRAK!
Leon stands motionless atop a collapsed section of wall.
The dust has completely settled.
Their eyes meet clearly through the silence, a silence that is no longer as tense as before.
They stare at one another for a long moment.
Albert closes his eyes.
"Huft..."
A long, light breath escapes him.
He opens his eyes again and looks at Leon once more—
who furrows his brows.
DAK—BRAK!
Leon turns away and begins walking off.
BRAK—DUK—BRAK—DAK!
He continues moving farther away without looking back even once.
A faint smile forms on Albert's face.
"I truly did avoid this battle, didn't I?" he says.
He glances around.
His entire body is buried beneath soil and small stones from his chest down to his abdomen. Mounds of earth, rubble, and fragments of broken walls cover his thighs and legs.
However—
"I don't have time for this—"
KRAAKKK!
His left arm cracks loudly.
"—ARGKHH!"
He hisses through clenched teeth, his face twisting in pain.
His shoulder has shifted out of place, and his arm has gone numb. Beside him lies another collapsed section of wall.
Gritting his teeth, he draws a short breath.
CKTKHAAAHMNH—KRTAHM!
—Albert slams his shoulder violently into the wall.
"EEKKHH!"
A harsh grinding sensation tears through his shoulder—
KRRKK!
—forcing it back into place.
His breathing grows ragged as he endures the pain.
"YOU PATHETIC FOOL, ALBERT!" he hisses at himself.
GRRKKK—KHAHMNH!
His half-buried body begins to move.
"—GET UP, DAMN IT!" he snarls at himself again.
He keeps struggling, pulling himself backward, trying to free himself from the debris.
However—
PKHAM—CTHAMNHN!
—the collapsed wall pinning him down shifts along with his movements, making it even more difficult to escape the rubble.
Albert closes his eyes, furrows his brow, and clenches both fists tightly.
"DAMN ME!" he shouts, filled with frustration and disappointment in himself.
---
SKWLAAAAASHHH!
—Another deep and lengthy slash tears across his body, carving a second wound over the first. The crossing injuries darken as blood continues pouring from them.
CKHAAAAAAAAHMNH!
Predator's massive blade crashes down beside Zeco, cracking and shattering the ground between them.
Olivia's greatsword slips free—
SWHUMH—SWHAAAHMH!
—leaving Predator's grasp as it is thrown away, spinning through the air.
"BLUARK—"
Blood erupts from Zeco's mouth.
He has been fighting wildly and erratically, yet Predator is even wilder. The pressure Zeco once exerted is now being turned back against him—
—and Predator continues to press him relentlessly.
HLSHAAAHMNHHH!
Predator swings his sword forward once more—
Olivia's massive blade—
CHAAAAAAHMMH!
—buries itself in the ground near Olivia, who lies half-conscious. Yet she forces herself to remain awake, continuing to watch the battle through blurred vision.
Zeco staggers backward, struggling to remain standing, his steps uneven and unstable.
Yet he continues forcing himself to withstand the attacks coming at him.
KRKKK!
His hands tighten around his sword's hilt.
The massive blade swings before him—
CLAAANG—CLIINGHH—CLIINGHHH—CLANGNH!
The two blades collide once again without pause.
CLIIINGGHHH—CLIIING—CLANNGGHH—CLAAANGHH—CLINGNHHH!
Again and again, steel crashes against steel. Their breathing grows increasingly ragged, leaving no opportunity for a proper breath between exchanges.
CLAAANG—CLAAANGHH—CLIIINGHHH—CLANGNH—CLAAANNGHHH!
The relentless clash continues.
Zeco furrows his brow.
"EHMPH?!"
He notices a small opening near Predator's ribs—a brief gap created as the blade is drawn back before another strike.
CLAAAAAANNNGNHHH!
The collision suddenly ceases.
Both fighters pull their weapons back and take several steps away from one another, seizing a fleeting moment to draw breath.
Zeco grimaces.
He forces himself onward, determined to exploit that opening—
CLIINNGG—CLIINNNGGG—CLANGNH—CLAAANGGNNHH!
The blades collide again.
Again.
Again.
And again.
Albert furrows his brows, his eyes widening as he notices the brief opening once more—
SPWKRAAAAAHSSHHH!
"BASTARD!"
A broad, savage grin spreads across Zeco's face.
"ERKH—"
Blood bursts from Predator's mouth as he is driven several steps backward.
DAK—DUK—DAK!
He staggers unsteadily—
"YOU ARE GOING TO DIE BY MY HAND—!" Zeco shouts.
DUK—DAK—DUK—BRAK!
—and continues advancing with an unstable gait, his pupils beginning to disappear.
"—VERY SOON!" he roars again.
"EHMPH?!"
Olivia freezes in shock.
The oppressive atmosphere spreading across the battlefield is coming from Zeco.
"... no no—no no no."
Olivia stares in disbelief, now fully conscious.