"Evvls!"
Shinto slammed his palms against the barrier, the sound swallowed by silence.
"What the hell is your problem?!"
No sound entered or escaped the arena—whatever happened inside, the outside world could only watch.
"The fight started. What're you doing?"
Akio's face remained blank, eyes half-lidded, as if the bleeding body in front of him were nothing more than an inconvenience.
The barrier pulsed outward, expanding just enough to knock Shinto back.
"What did he say? I couldn't hear him!"
Shinto scrambled to his feet, brushing the raw skin on his elbows.
"I don't think he wants interruptions," Sylvia said, frowning. "We can't hear him, and he can't hear us."
"So we really just have to watch?" Shinto muttered, frustrated.
Ken, arms crossed and silent until now, finally spoke.
"Seems like it."
Inside the barrier, Evvls stood with a jagged hole in his stomach. Blood pooled beneath him, soaking the arena floor. His body had already started to go cold.
And still—he summoned his soul weapon: Conqueror's Strength.
Akari watched with wide eyes, cold sweat trickling down her temple.
"I had a feeling something like this would happen," Rain muttered, one hand resting on her hip.
"What do you mean?" Akari asked.
Rain shrugged.
"That guy's been glaring at blue eyes this whole time. Don't tell me you didn't notice."
"...You're right," Akari admitted. "I just didn't think it would go this far. You're kind of pessimistic, aren't you?"
Rain smirked.
"More like realistic."
Maybe it was because Rain didn't have many ties here—aside from Akari and Sylvia—but she didn't seem fazed.
Ken, on the other hand, simply watched in unreadable silence.
Inside the barrier, Evvls spoke hoarsely.
"Xtsy… help me out."
He unsheathed his blade: a pure white katana with golden accents. The moment he gripped the hilt, golden light poured from it like smoke—and the air behind him shimmered.
A woman appeared.
She stepped forward from the mist, pale and radiant, a white blindfold covering her eyes. Her beauty was almost celestial. Without a word, she wrapped her arms around Evvls—six glowing, angelic wings unfurling from her back like divine veils.
"Keharu... you must be more careful."
Evvls grunted and pulled the spike from his gut. The wound began to close, slowly but steadily.
"Betrayal's part of the job," he muttered. "Don't worry so much."
He could tell Akio had silenced the arena—there'd be no interference.
"And I told you," he added, "I'm going by Evvls here, Xtsy."
She frowned, brushing her golden hair behind her neck with effortless grace.
"That name is so... dista—"
"Enough info for today, Xtsy."
He raised a hand, and she stepped back, her wings folding behind her like drawn curtains.
Evvls turned toward Akio.
"Thanks for waiting. I'll be sure to return the favor."
He raised his sword just above his waist, his off-hand open and steady. A grounded stance—inviting a strike, ready to punish it.
"Finally… let's go."
Akio's pendant began to glow.
"Below, Keharu," Xtsy warned.
"Tch."
Evvls jumped as transparent spikes erupted beneath him—narrowly dodging.
More followed.
"Who would've thought to use barriers as weapons…"
"Keharu, swing right."
Evvls's blade flared with energy, and he slashed—
*Crrrggh!*
The sword clashed against translucent spikes. He couldn't break them—but they couldn't pierce him either.
Akio calmly forged a greatsword from the barrier itself.
*Clang!*
Evvls attacked—but Akio blocked with no effort.
"So," Evvls said, meeting Akio's eyes, "what did you want?"
Akio shoved him back and swung the greatsword in a wide arc.
"Keharu, don't block!"
Evvls twisted, dodging barely in time, countering with a slash—
—but caught a solid kick to the ribs. He staggered back.
"Keharu!"
Xtsy reached out, but he raised a hand.
"No. Save it for later."
"...Alright."
Evvls surged forward again, now cloaked in transparent armor.
'To manipulate barriers this well... where did he even learn that?'
He began targeting vital points. This wasn't just sparring anymore—if he slipped up now, he'd die.
Xtsy stayed close, waiting for an order.
"Keharu—behind you."
Evvls sighed and yelled,
"Conqueror's Strength—store it!"
The dragon wrapped around his torso turned, mouth opening wide. It devoured a dozen transparent spikes in one gulp.
"Release!"
The dragon spun back toward Akio and spat the stored spikes like missiles.
Akio crouched, stabbing his greatsword into the ground. He blocked the barrage, though the blade chipped under pressure.
Evvls moved in—but Akio's blade reformed again—barrier energy pulsing through it, repairing the damage from earlier.
"Nice trick," Akio muttered.
He climbed on top of the repaired sword and stomped down on Evvls' guard.
"Is that how you beat him?"
One foot on the hilt, the other crashing into Evvls' katana.
He wouldn't stop. One strike crushed the blade. The next shattered his wrist. Then came the worst—a stomp straight to the face.
"X–Xtsy!"
Xtsy raised a hand. A blinding light burst forth from her palm—forcing everyone in and outside the arena to slam their eyes shut.
Evvls took the chance.
He slashed at Akio's ankles, hitting the barrier armor, and jumped back as the older boy stumbled to the ground.
"Heal my arms, Xtsy."
Her hands glowed as she grabbed his wrist, bruises quickly vanishing.
Akio stood slowly, shielding his eyes.
"There's no way he'd lose to you alone… maybe Ranni had a part in this after all…"
As everyone's vision returned, Evvls spoke calmly.
"Debt repaid."
Akio's glare burned.
"You think this is a game?"
Evvls gave a faint smirk.
"Isn't it?"
Veins bulged along Akio's temple and neck. The arena walls began to close in.
'I knew he'd snap soon enough.'
As soon as the movement stopped—
*SLAM!*
Akio rushed in and brought his greatsword down.
"Keharu, dodge!"
No space.
Evvls raised his sword—but the blade exploded into dozens of spikes.
'So that's why…!'
"Eat!"
The dragon devoured as many spikes as it could—saving Evvls' face.
But not the rest of him.
Over a dozen holes tore through his limbs and torso.
He collapsed to one knee, coughing blood.
"R–…Release…"
Before Xtsy could respond, Akio trapped her in a separate barrier.
*Squelch!*
Spikes burst from Conqueror's Strength's mouth and impaled Akio all over.
But Akio only grinned, his tired dirt eyes looking down at Evvls.
"It's my barrier."
The spikes phased out, disappearing mid-impact—then reformed into a new greatsword in his hand.
'Is this the end? Should I have used Galland instead?'
Akio raised it high above his head.
And swung.
*CRASH!!!*
But it never landed.
A massive serpent, cloaked in violet scales, blocked the blow.
Akio was no longer there.
He had been slammed—through his own barrier—into the prison wall.
"Your barriers are strong," came a calm voice.
Blood trickled from Akio's head. His ribs were shattered. He fell unconscious immediately.
"But not strong enough to do whatever you want. Not in my presence."
Ken stood behind the serpent, arms crossed, green eyes sharp as glass.
He and his beast had moved faster than anyone could track.
"This fight is over," he said. "No... this day is over. Everyone—return to your cells."
Silence fell over the courtyard.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Eventually, the crowd dispersed.
Vesper, Ken's serpent, gently carried Akio to the infirmary.
It tried to lift Evvls next—but the moment Akio passed out, Xtsy's barrier vanished.
She immediately rushed to his side and began healing him.
Akari and Rain watched quietly, then turned and left the courtyard together.
Without a word, yet not to their cells either.