The Gatekeeper's stance shifted—subtle, yet terrifying.
The crimson glow along his halberd deepened into a molten red, as if liquid fire ran through the weapon's veins.
Rondan felt the air tighten, pressing on his lungs. The world dimmed, colors fading until only the red of the rune remained vivid.
Then, the halberd moved.
It wasn't speed—speed could be tracked. This was erasure. One moment the weapon was before him, the next it was simply there, a breath away from his neck.
Instinct screamed. Rondan threw himself sideways, rolling over the black stone just as the weapon tore through the ground. The strike didn't just crack the floor—it shattered it, a jagged fissure racing outward like a lightning bolt.
"Second Form…" The Gatekeeper's voice was lower now, almost ritualistic. "…Crimson Divide."
The weapon blurred again. This time, Rondan raised his sword to block, but the impact sent him flying, slamming against one of the glowing obelisks. His vision swam, the mark on his arm pulsing like a heartbeat.
From the shadows above, Leina shouted, "Don't match his strength! Use the mark—let it guide you!"
But the mark was no gentle guide—it was a storm. Heat coursed through his veins, his senses sharpening beyond reason. He moved, almost without thought, dodging a lethal sweep by mere inches.
For a brief moment, their weapons met again, sparks scattering in the dark. Rondan's eyes locked with the Gatekeeper's—behind that mask, he saw no hatred, no malice. Only purpose.
The halberd came down for the final strike. Rondan stepped into it, channeling every ounce of the mark's burning energy into his blade.
Light exploded between them—crimson and white, clashing like rival suns.
When the glow faded, the halberd's edge hovered a hair from Rondan's throat… frozen.
The Gatekeeper slowly withdrew his weapon and straightened.
"The path ahead is yours… Chosen."
The obelisks dimmed, the oppressive weight in the air lifting. But before Rondan could ask what this meant, the Gatekeeper dissolved into a scatter of crimson embers, leaving him alone in the silent plaza.
Somewhere behind him, Leina landed lightly on the stone.
"You survived. Good… because now the real danger begins."