Whatever others were saying or speculating had nothing to do with Yoru. Gripping Frostmourne, he walked forward at an unhurried pace along a path of ice left in his wake.
The first ones he encountered weren't Riser, but rather the queen Yubelluna and Riser's younger sister, Ravel, who hadn't yet reached the battlefield.
"So this is the trump card Rias-senpai was hiding? Just an ice-type Sacred Gear?" Ravel raised her chin proudly as Yoru approached. "Sure, the power and aura are impressive. But what a shame—you're facing the flames of the Phoenix clan!"
Her reaction was identical to Riser's—arrogant and dismissive.
"I respect your bravery. But unfortunately, you won't even get the chance to witness the might of the Phoenix flame. Yubelluna, finish him!"
"As you wish, Lady Ravel." Yubelluna smiled gracefully, raising her staff into the air.
Waving the staff, violet magic surged around it before firing a blast directly at Yoru.
To all the onlookers, the outcome seemed obvious. Once that attack landed, the match would be over.
The powerful spell struck with a thunderous impact, shaking the ground as if mountains had collapsed.
Ravel's lips curled into a smile, waiting to hear Grayfia's voice over the broadcast announcing the battle's conclusion.
But the announcement didn't come. Just as surprise flickered in her eyes, a sharp whoosh—the sound of something tearing through the air—reached her ears.
"Yubelluna, above you!" Ravel shouted in alarm.
"What?!" Yubelluna gasped, looking skyward—only to see a blanket of pure white frost descending upon her.
"How ridiculous! Do you not understand that Phoenix clan servants are protected by flame?!" she sneered. Though slightly surprised that her opponent had dodged and leapt into the air so swiftly, she didn't take the descending frost attack seriously at all.
Flames erupted from Yubelluna's body. As Riser's queen, she was able to summon a portion of Phoenix fire.
"Ice?"
Yoru's lips curved into a faint smirk. Yes, frost was indeed his strongest power—but it was also a dazzling disguise.
Yubelluna had only seen the frost emanating from his palm and had completely ignored the true weapon wrapped within—the soul-devouring sword Frostmourne.
Underestimating this blade would cost her dearly.
In the moment ice and fire clashed, the Phoenix flame indeed lived up to its fearsome reputation—instantly vaporizing the frost from Yoru's hand.
Yubelluna grinned triumphantly—until her expression suddenly twisted into shock.
As the frost vanished, what appeared next was a blinding, sinister black glow.
The frost wasn't the real threat—it was only a smokescreen. The true attack was the artifact hidden beneath it!
A pitch-black two-handed longsword, its blade inscribed with unknown ice-blue runes. The hilt bore the skull of a ram, its eye sockets glowing a menacing crimson—radiating an aura of death.
Death itself—at such close range, Yubelluna could feel that aura emanating from the ominous blade.
Not good… I have to dodge this strike!
By the time she realized the danger, it was too late. Because she had underestimated the ice earlier, she never considered dodging. By the time she reacted, the wicked black sword had already come crashing down on her body.
Yoru had held back—the strike avoided her vital points. Otherwise, he was confident that blow would have obliterated her soul entirely.
This wasn't just an injury or frostbite. A strike from Frostmourne left a rending wound upon the soul—freezing it entirely, bringing utter destruction from flesh to spirit.
"Uwaaaah!" Yubelluna screamed in agony as her left side was struck. Half her body instantly froze, and she lost the ability to fly, crashing hard to the ground.
"Yubelluna! Are you okay?!" Ravel called out in panic. Yubelluna, half-crippled, struggled even to rise to her feet.
"Cough cough cough..." she finally stood up, coughing heavily. Her complexion was deathly pale, and half her body was encased in frost—frost that was still slowly spreading.
If not for the Phoenix flame's protection, she might have turned into an ice sculpture the moment the blade struck her.
I underestimated him... This sword... this artifact is terrifying. That attack shouldn't have landed. If I hadn't been so arrogant—so convinced that frost couldn't hurt me...
Yubelluna was filled with regret, but at least she realized her enemy's true power in time. She still had a chance to fight.
"I apologize for underestimating you. You're a formidable opponent. But this is as far as you go. I won't let that sword touch me again!"
Her expression turned icy as she looked at Yoru gripping Frostmourne. She took out an ornate vial once more.
Phoenix Tears—a divine-grade healing elixir that instantly healed all injuries. But in Rating Games, each team was only allowed to use it twice.
Yoru had heard Rias mention this before. It was likely how Yubelluna had recovered after defeating Akeno and retained near-full combat strength.
But... even if Phoenix Tears could heal all injuries... could it mend a wound upon the soul?
Watching Yubelluna drink the potion, Yoru smiled faintly—a bit cruelly.
Sorry. You only get one chance. And you've already used it.
"Wh... what?! Why?! Why isn't it working?!"
After downing the Phoenix Tears, Yubelluna initially felt the frost begin to recede from her body. But before she could feel triumphant, a chilling sensation surged from within her again. To her horror, the frost began spreading once more.
"How is this possible?! Why didn't the Phoenix Tears work?!"
"Apologies," Yoru replied calmly. "But I don't believe I owe you any explanation."
With that, he ignored the shocked Yubelluna and raised Frostmourne again—launching a fierce follow-up attack.
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