Humbha's smile made it clear— as if she already knew everything. As if this was not an announcement at all, but merely the formal confirmation of an old plan.
The very next moment, the King announced— "Today, I declare a competition among the Yakshinis. Whichever one among the five Yakshinis emerges victorious— will receive the honor of becoming my bodyguard." Hearing this, Lily remained silent. There was neither joy nor fear on her face— only depth.
But Snehwal… It was as if someone had struck his heart with a deep lash. His soul trembled to its core. For a brief moment, he felt as though he were breaking from within.
This worry was not for himself— it was fear for Lily. Lily said in a calm, steady voice—
"Don't worry. Whoever wins will become the bodyguard."
Her words were simple— But within Snehwal, a tide of emotions surged. This was not logic— this was love.
Then the King spoke again— "Since Humbha Yakshini is invincible, there will be two matches first." His voice was cold and decisive.
"Jury versus Lily.
Lith versus Shon."
The announcement had been made— but there was no excitement among the prisoners. No applause, no voices. The King clenched his fist.
The very next moment— whips rained down upon the prisoners. Screams echoed rapidly in every direction. They cried, wailed, and begged. They pleaded for mercy.
And at that very moment— satisfaction surfaced on the face of the King of Chintamani. He closed his eyes, drew a deep breath— and a faint, twisted smile spread across his lips.
Seeing all this, Snehwal was burning from within. Anger surged through his veins,
but he could do nothing.
Master Jins and Liora too, like stone statues— stood motionless, silent, watching it all.
Then the King's booming voice spread across the entire competition arena— "The first match— Lily versus Jury." As the words echoed— a crooked smile appeared on Jury's lips. Without any hesitation, she stepped forward. Reaching the center of the arena, she planted her feet firmly into the ground. The way she stood— masculine, rigid, and aggressive. As if she were not merely a Yakshini, but a living embodiment of war. On the other side— Lily advanced calmly. She lightly shifted her feet, as if awakening her body for battle. Then she looked toward Snehwal and said in a low, composed voice— "I'll be back after I'm done." There was no fear in that voice, no pretense— only a deep, firmly grounded presence— nothing but confidence. Saying this, she stepped into the competition arena. Their eyes collided. That clash was not of words— it was a direct collision of souls. The King leaned back comfortably on his throne. Delight overflowed on his face. Almost laughing, he said— "Now this will be fun."
The very next moment, Jury manifested her sword. Around her body, red spiritual energy began to flow— but that current… was weak. Broken.
Lily noticed this and said with a faint smile— "What happened? You've become quite weak." Hearing this— for a moment, the past raced through Jury's eyes. That scene— when her host was killed because of her. Then that moment— when Mascar mercilessly drained her spiritual power. How the one who was once a name of terror— Had now become so feeble. But those memories burned to ashes in a single instant. Jury thrust her sword forward. Squaring her chest and slightly pulling herself taut, a roar tore through the sky— "Even this much power is enough to cut you into two pieces!" Lily gave no reply. Just a faint smile.
The very next moment— the necklace around Lily's neck flashed brightly. A white light burst forth, and a sword manifested in her palm as well. And then— both of them lunged at each other. Their collision was such— as if the sky trembled. As if the earth groaned in pain. In the heavens, the scene looked as though white fire and red fire were desperate to devour one another. Strike after strike. Colliding blades. Sparks. The roar of energy. But within just a few moments— it became clear. The balance of the battle was slowly… tilting toward Lily.
Lily recalled the old battle, and to take her revenge, she began injuring Jury in the very same way, using her sword to tear apart Jury's clothes— just as Jury had once intended to do to Lily. So that she would be humiliated. But the humiliation here would be far worse, because even the spectators had been bored for decades. After countless clashes, Jury's arms, abdomen, and thighs were filled with deep wounds and slashes. Then, for a moment, both of them separated and stood facing each other, suspended in the air.
Jury understood it very well— Lily was taking her revenge in an extremely terrifying manner. Yet even so, Jury smeared blood from the wound on her thigh onto her finger, brought it to her lips and tasted it— and slowly, a faint smile appeared on her face.