Skotadi stood in silence, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. His crimson eyes never left his opponent.
"This fight won't be easy," he muttered under his breath, voice calm, almost bored. "So I'll use it… my soul power. Why must everything require hard work? This world needs improvement, Mister Knight. I, for one, hate working hard."
Darkness rippled off his body. A low hum filled the air as a shadowed aura coiled around him like smoke, growing thicker with every heartbeat.
"Raven Soul."
Black flames erupted, hissing like whispers of the abyss. They surged upward, wrapping him in a vortex of fire until his figure vanished inside. From within that inferno, the flames twisted, shaping themselves into a colossal raven. Its wings stretched wide, blotting out the light. The ground itself seemed to bow, shadows bending toward him. A chilling caw echoed, and the battlefield dimmed as if the sun itself recoiled.
Skotadi's voice resounded from within the blaze, heavy with unspoken menace.
"This… is my soul. You don't want to know how I obtained it."
Across from him, Igetis stood firm, unfazed. He placed a hand over his chest, eyes steady, expression unreadable.
"Then I suppose I should get serious too." His voice was quiet, yet carried absolute conviction.
He inhaled deeply, closing his eyes for just a moment. Then he spoke.
"Phoenix Soul."
A blinding golden light burst forth, clashing against Skotadi's darkness. Heat rolled across the field, melting away the raven's shadows at the edges. Golden fire rose around him, feathers of light unfurling until the majestic form of a phoenix spread its wings. The air shimmered, glowing with divine radiance in stark defiance of the black inferno.
Igetis opened his eyes, his gaze unwavering.
"You don't want to know how I use my soul either."
The two stood locked in silence, raven and phoenix spreading across the battlefield. The very air trembled beneath their power.
Then, with a sudden flare of wings, they moved.
The raven's talons raked forward, tearing shadows into the ground. The phoenix answered with a screech, its wings exploding with fire that cut the darkness apart. Heat and shadow collided, sparks scattering like falling stars. Each strike shook the earth, yet neither combatant yielded.
The storm of fire and shadow raged—then froze. Both warriors circled, eyes fixed on each other, waiting for the one opening that could decide everything.
---
At the café…
In a quiet corner of the city, far from the battlefield, warm sunlight spilled into a small café. The smell of roasted beans lingered in the air as cups clinked gently on wooden tables.
Halfy sat with Theodora, Eleni, and Sophia, but her thoughts were far away. Her gaze locked on the ring around her finger—just as it cracked, dissolved, and fell into nothing but ash.
Her eyes widened.
"The ring… it just disintegrated. Was it some kind of conditional spell?"
Theodora took a calm sip of her coffee, unfazed.
"Correct. Impressive deduction, Halfy. You really did study at the academy, didn't you?"
Halfy smirked, though her hand trembled faintly as she set her cup down.
"Knowledge is power. You should collect as much of it as you can if you want to survive."
Theodora chuckled.
"True. I read nearly ten books a day."
Halfy blinked, staring.
"Ten? Is that even humanly possible?"
Eleni laughed.
"It is—but only for Theodora."
Sophia sighed softly, brushing her finger where her own ring had just turned to ash.
"I wonder who's unlucky enough to face that soul power…" She pushed her chair back, her eyes hardening. "We should meet up with the other knights."
Eleni rose too, determination lighting her face.
"We'll cheer for your victory in the coliseum, Halfy. Go and get it!"
Halfy smiled, masking her unease.
"I will. Count on it."
Theodora lingered a moment longer, eyes narrowing in thought as she studied Halfy.
"Something strange is happening lately. Don't let yourself get caught in it."
Halfy forced a light laugh.
"I'm not looking for trouble with the knights, believe me… but you'll be shocked when you learn who my friends really are."
Theodora's gaze sharpened.
"You were holding back on purpose, weren't you? So Eleni and Sophia wouldn't notice your true abilities."
Halfy's chuckle came out nervous, and she rubbed the back of her neck.
"You really are the smartest among us, Theodora."
Only when Theodora finally left did Halfy exhale, her shoulders sinking.
"Finally… I was nervous about keeping my guard down. She noticed everything from the start. If I hadn't controlled my heartbeat, she would've figured me out completely."
She brushed the ash of the broken ring into her palm, staring at it with unease.
"Something happened… Igetis is using his soul. But against who?"
Her reflection in the café window stared back, troubled.
"Smart people who play dumb… are the most dangerous. I just hope Igetis doesn't go too far. If he and Anazitis cross paths now… it'll bring back too many memories."
---
At the tavern…
The tavern was alive with laughter and clattering mugs, but at a corner table, Lion and Dynatos sat quietly, drinks in hand.
Suddenly, Dynatos' ring cracked and crumbled away.
Lion raised a brow.
"Your ring just turned to ash. Something serious?"
Dynatos leaned back, expression grim.
"It means Igetis is using his soul power."
Lion's lips curled into a grin.
"Who's the unlucky guy facing him?"
Dynatos glanced down, catching the faint tremor in Lion's hands.
"You look excited. Want to fight him yourself?"
Lion set his drink aside, smirking faintly.
"What about you, Dynatos? Your hands are shaking too. Guess you want a battle as well."
Dynatos chuckled.
"It wouldn't be serious between us. Just friends playing around."
Lion sighed, leaning back.
"Yeah. My companions don't enjoy sparring with me either. We just mess around sometimes."
Dynatos tilted his head with a knowing smile.
"Every fighter dreams of facing someone stronger. That's how we grow."
Lion stared into his cup, thoughtful.
"I remember when I used to challenge everyone like a fool."
Dynatos stood, placing a coin on the table.
"We all did. I've got to go. See you next time."
Lion waved lazily.
"Yeah, see you. Good talk… I was dumb thinking of causing trouble with a guy like him. I should tell Anazitis about my blind spots before I act like an idiot again."
---
Deep in the forest…
The forest stirred with shifting shadows. Theo and Evangeline moved as one, blades flashing in perfect rhythm. With every strike, wisps of darkness scattered like smoke.
Theo's eyes glowed, his voice sharp.
"Igetis is using his soul… We need to finish this quickly!"
Their hair shimmered under the pale glow of their aura, bodies weaving through the swarm like dancers. Each slash was precise, clean, merciless.
But the shadows began to chant.
"Ehima!"
Their bodies warped, swelling with new strength. Some broke under the weight of it, collapsing, but others grew fiercer—faster.
"They're adapting!" Theo shouted.
"Then we'll push harder!" Evangeline spun, her blade cutting through three in a single motion.
The air grew heavy with black smoke and whispers, until one voice rose above the rest. A leader among shadows, whispering a single word.
"Desapai."
Theo and Evangeline struck the last of the creatures down. Both dropped into guarded stances, panting, sweat glistening in the moonlight.
"They're all down," Theo said between breaths. "Let's go check the battlefield."
"Barrier first," Evangeline countered, already sketching a glowing sigil into the air. "We can't let the city notice."
Together, they set enchanted talismans into the earth, forming a circle that pulsed with protective energy.
Theo looked toward the battlefield, determination burning in his eyes.
"Let's move. This fight is far from over."
They vanished into the trees.
But from the shadows, the leader remained. His grin spread, unseen.
"They didn't even notice I wove my spell into their battle." His voice was soft, amused. He turned toward the city, darkness curling at his feet.
"Now I'll find what I need. People always feel safe when they think they've won. But their leader won't defeat Skotadi. Not in this lifetime."