Arion dodged Luo's attack with a sneer.
"Weak! Let me show you true power."
He stood tall, face perfectly calm as chaos raged around him. "Prepare yourself… ORDER!... freeze."
And just like that, everyone stopped—citizens, even the trio—locked in shock as an unnatural stillness swept through the plaza. For a heartbeat, even the city seemed to hold its breath.
Arion leapt skyward, hammer raised. He drove the weapon down with impossible force. The ground shattered as a supercharged wave erupted outward, buildings splintered, rubble flew—Lex, Lon, and Luo were thrown like rag dolls into the debris.
Lex struggled beneath the rubble, pain surging through his body. "What a power… he's a monster. I need to check if Lon and Luo are okay…"
Luo, coughing, wiped dirt from her eyes as dust choked the air. "I need to get back, but I can't see anything in this mess…"
Meanwhile, Lon was already on his feet—standing before Arion, undeterred by the destruction.
Arion's eyes flickered in true surprise.
Smoke curled from Lon's lips; his presence darkened, katana pulsing with a cruel energy. In a blur, Lon slashed—the air ripping apart. Arion's body seemed to split into ten pieces, bloodless and surreal, before reforming right before their eyes.
Arion gasped. "Huh? What was that?"
Lex crawled through broken stones, shouting hoarsely. "Hello? Anyone here? Are you okay?"
A jagged chunk of wall fell, trapping him.
Scene shift—Luo finally fought her way back toward the heart of the battle, reaching Lon and Arion.
"Lon… did you see Lex? I can't find him."
Lon's gaze never left Arion. "No, I didn't see him. Go look for him—I'll handle this."
Arion scoffed, swinging his hammer in a broad arc. "I don't like overconfidence."
The weapon clashed with Lon's katana, sparks showering. Lon held firm, muscles taut. "Yeah… I'll go check!" Luo said, already backing away.
Lon's voice thundered, "RAAM!"
His speed surged; he pressed the attack. Arion blocked with the hammer's haft, forced back several steps.
Arion smirked. "Is that all?"
Lon's eyes narrowed. "There's more… so just sit and die!"
Meanwhile, Luo rushed through twisted alleyways, finding injured citizens as she searched for Lex.
Cries rose all around:
"Help!"
"My child's under the rubble!"
"My husband—please!"
Luo began digging desperately, moving boulders and debris, helping those she could. "Lex, where are you…"
Somewhere else—total darkness. Lex's voice echoed softly, uncertainty straining every syllable.
"Hello? Is anyone here? Where am I? Luo? Lon?"
The stones imprisoning him shattered—BOOM!—light pierced the void.
Luo spun at the noise, heart racing. Through the smoke emerged a familiar silhouette.
"Who are you?" she called, braced for trouble.
Slowly, it resolved into Lex.
"Lex! Thank God you're okay. I was scared, you—"
But Lex moved inhumanly fast. He appeared before her, fist cocked.
Luo barely had time to gasp before the punch sent her flying.
Stunned, she hit the ground hard. Lex stood expressionless, eyes cold, turning toward the frightened citizens.
"W… what are you doing?! Wasn't she your friend?!" someone shouted in terror.
Lex ignored them, muscles tense with unspoken energy. He paused—sensing something—then vanished, racing toward another presence.
Back at the battle, Lon and Arion's ferocious exchange lit up the clearing.
Lon spotted Lex approaching. "Lex! Are you okay? Luo was—"
Before he could finish, Lex delivered a super-fast kick. Lon was sent flying, pain exploding through his chest.
Lon, dazed: "Lex?!"
Arion raised an eyebrow. "Did you lose your mind or something—"
Before he could finish, Lex seized Arion's face, slamming him mercilessly into the ground. The prince barely had time to react—a spatter of blood marked his defeat.
Luo arrived, panting. "Lex! What are you doing?! Not again!"
Lex vanished, materializing behind her, fist poised to strike—but this time Lon intercepted, blocking with the back of his katana.
"Lex! Come to your senses! What are you doing?!"
Lex lashed out with his other hand, connecting with Lon so fast he could hardly react. Lon crashed to the earth, blood trickling from his lip.
Luo pleaded, voice trembling. "Enough, Lex! This is the same as before… what happened to you?!"
Brief flashes of the past—Lex standing among fallen bodies, his mind lost in turmoil.
In his dark place, Lex crouched alone, confused. "Where am I…"
Arion, struggling, attacked with his hammer, sending Lex flying again. But Lex rebounded, delivering a punch that shattered the ground. Before Arion could find his footing, Lex's fist landed,a perfect clean hit, knocking him unconscious.
Lex turned to Luo, but exhaustion finally caught up. He collapsed, eyes closing as the world faded.
Luo caught her breath, relief mingling with fear. "Huff… huff… Lex, you're truly a monster… haha."
Lon staggered over. "Luo, are you okay? Lex?"
Luo nodded weakly. "We're good now. Let's go quickly—the Prince's people will be coming!"
"Yeah."
Together, they supported Lex, hiding in the maze-like streets. Soon, guards swarmed the city; they slipped through the shadows, avoiding capture.
The old man the Prince had kicked earlier found them and led the trio to a treehouse deep in the forest.
"You should be safe here," he whispered. "Come, let's treat your wounds."
Lon laid Lex gently on the bed.
In the darkness, Lex drifted—then slowly, the shadows became pure white.
Lex blinked.
He was awake.