Lex wandered through the darkness—silent, endless, and cold. Heavy silence pressed down, broken only by the faint echo of his footsteps. Sweat trickled down his face as shadows stretched all around, and fearful thoughts chased him with every step: What if I lose control again? What if I hurt my friends a second time? The darkness pressed on, gripping his chest.
—
Elsewhere, Lon fought for breath in Roju's "Dead Sea." Blue stretched forever around him, moving and rippling as though he really was underwater. The pressure was suffocating. Every swing of his sword felt heavier; every movement, slower. He glanced around, searching for an edge, but the horizon was always the same blank, shifting blue.
Lon snarled, his voice echoing oddly in this world. "How do I escape from this place? I've been fighting that guy continually—there's got to be a way out."
Roju appeared in a swirl of water, his figure twisting among the currents. His voice echoed, coldly amused. "After you die, that's it. You can't win here."
Lon gritted his teeth and roared, "RAAM!" He slashed with all his might. The sword cut Roju in half, energy arcing like lightning through water. For a split second, Lon saw victory—then Roju's body simply reformed, water knitting the pieces back together without even a scar.
Roju's mouth curled into a grin. "That's a strong move. Where did you learn that?" Water dripped from his blade as if mocking every desperate attack.
"You don't need to know," Lon growled through clenched teeth, frustration twisting his features. In his mind: I need to do something... looks like I can't kill him here. So what the hell am I missing?
—
Meanwhile, in the shattered halls of the castle, Luo and Kirya's battle raged. Each time they clashed, the impacts rattled the walls, dust showering from the ceiling. Kirya drove Luo back, every strike clean and direct, controlling the rhythm, setting the pace. Luo struggled to counter, the force of each blow sent vibrations up her arms.
Kirya raised her chin, eyes narrowed. "Hey, I am done playing." She vanished from sight—appearing in front of Luo, fist plunging into her stomach. The blow knocked the air from Luo's lungs and blood from her mouth as she was hurled back, skidding across cracked tiles.
Luo gasped, clutching her stomach, grit and pain burning in her chest. "Ugh, that bitch— I have to find Lex. But she... I have to beat her, beat her..." Her heart hammered, harder and faster, blood roaring in her ears—thump, thump—a wild thing surging from within.
Kirya didn't waste time. She launched skyward and dove toward Luo, who was sprawled on the ground. As Kirya descended with a killing blow, Luo twisted, igniting a burst of energy. With all her strength, she rocketed her leg up—connecting solidly with Kirya's stomach, sending her foe flying. Kirya's form spun through the air, dust trailing her fall.
But Luo didn't hesitate. She rushed forward in a blur, her own kick cracking into Kirya midair and slamming her down hard onto the fractured stones.
From his vantage point behind a broken wall, Niro watched the chaos with wide eyes. "Kirya! That girl... something is different about her," he muttered, feeling shivers crawl down his back.
Blood trailed from Kirya's lips. She wiped her mouth and laughed breathlessly, her voice echoing strangely. "So your name is Luo, hahaha..."
Above, Luo hovered, leg tense and ready. She dropped down, slamming a kick at Kirya, who managed to block just in time—arms trembling from the force, eyes narrowed and jaw set, measuring her next move.
Kirya lunged, catching Luo's leg in a tight grip, spinning and smashing her to the floor with brute force. The ground cracked, sending fragments flying. Still, Luo forced herself to rise, hand shaking as she clenched it into a fist. In one swift movement, she blurred in close. Kirya blocked, but Luo's drive pushed past—momentum rocking both fighters.
Kirya retaliated, driving a brutal kick into Luo's stomach and following up with a punishing punch that knocked the wind from her. Yet Luo didn't give up—she grabbed at Kirya's arm, locking her grip tight, then delivered a hammering fist to Kirya's jaw before pulling her down with raw force.
The two crashed together again, rolling apart, both battered and breathing hard.
Niro, still on the sidelines, wiped sweat from his brow, his nerves jangling. "These girls... they're crazy. But what's going on with Roju? They're still trapped in Roju's weird technique..."
—
In the heart of "Dead Sea," Lon exhaled, a shroud of smoke pouring from his lips. The water quaked, Roju tensing. In a blur of movement, Lon's strike shattered Roju's head into a hundred pieces. For the first time, Roju faltered—the illusion glitching, rippling in panic.
A new light flared. The dream dissolved. Lon and Roju fell to their knees, gasping, real—the world popped back into focus as both reappeared in the ruined castle.
Niro's voice broke the tension. "Ah, you're back!"
Roju moved to attack, but his gaze narrowed as exhaustion gripped him. "What was that, Lon?"
Lon wiped blood from his mouth, shooting a hollow glare. "I don't want to talk to a guy who's going to die soon."
Roju smiled, darker than before. "Really? Then let me show you real power."
He raised his sword, blue light spreading and twisting into the shape of a dragon at his blade's tip—a droplet forming, blazing.
Lon stared, heart pounding. "This... it's just like mine. Where did he learn that?"
Niro's voice shook, barely audible. "This can't be good..."
Lon raised his katana. Lightning sparked along the edge, purple and wild. "Let me show you my true power too, Roju!"
The air thickened. Lon gathered all his energy.
"RAAM ZERO!"
Roju: "BLUE DRAGON!"
Both warriors vanished in a flash—the ground shattered into flying debris, floors buckled, stone cracked as a hurricane of power lashed the hall. Luo and Kirya were pushed away by the blast.
Niro ducked fully behind a wall, muttering through gritted teeth, "What were they thinking, going all out in here?"
As the dust cleared, Lon and Roju stood face to face—both swaying, then collapsing at the same time, unconscious but still standing through sheer will.
From beneath a pile of rubble, Luo groaned, pain lacing her voice. "Lon, what were you thinking...?"
—
Across the field, Nayor loomed over Lex, who lay crumpled and motionless. "Only one punch needed, huh? Guess I finish up and..."
A shockwave whipped through the battlefield. In a blur, Lex's fist rocketed forward, landing square in Nayor's chest. The attacker flew backward with shocking force, slamming into the ground near Lon and Roju, joining the lineup of unconscious fighters.
Niro opened his mouth, then shut it. "Nayor... what even happened?"
Luo, struggling to her knees, stared, disbelieving. "No way... Lex!"
Kirya spat blood, dragging herself upright. "Hey, I'm still alive... what are you doing—Nayor, hey...?"
Lex stalked toward them, his footsteps heavy. With every step, the air grew dense, like even sound dared not move. A silent dread radiated; even Niro felt his every instinct shriek in warning.
Luo and Kirya were frozen by instinct.
Inside, Niro argued with himself: I want to help, but everything in my body says to stay out.
Lex reached Lon and Roju—both out cold, chests barely rising.
Kirya found her voice, barely above a whisper. "Wait..."
But Lex was suddenly gone from her sight, then behind her—he grabbed her arm and slammed her to the ground. Instantly out cold, Kirya landed hard, blood splattering the fractured floor. Lex carried her limp body, tossing her at Luo; both girls tumbled away, dazed.
Lex paused, sensing something. He turned sharply, strides silent and deliberate as he moved toward the only sound left: clashing blades.
—
In the ruined throne room, Rayn and Ren's swords sparked and rang. Ren glanced up, tension in his jaw. "There's a strong presence... approaching."
Rayn kept his eyes on his opponent. "Yeah. It's unique—I don't know it."
Both fighters shifted their stance, unreadable.
From the haze, Lex appeared, expression blank, presence overwhelming. Even the duel paused.
Rayn's eyes widened. "Lex..."
Ren's attention sharpened; this was trouble.
A new tension hummed. Three deadly warriors—equally dangerous, equally determined—stood ready. 1 vs 1 vs 1