The moment Jury's blood-stained smile appeared on her lips— a fleeting, mysterious smile also bloomed on Humbha's face. That smile was not ordinary— it was like an acceptance of the destruction that was about to come. But this scene did not escape Snehwal's eyes.
A faint wave of worry rose in his heart. An unknown unease… a fear that could not be shaped into words.
The very next moment— Jury raised both her hands toward the sky. And it was as if the sky itself obeyed her command. A massive vortex of red clouds surged upward.
It began to spin, roar, and howl— as if a living storm born of blood had come into existence.
Jury's eyes gleamed with distorted delight. With a mere gesture of her hand— hundreds of flames, blazing fireballs, and terrifying infernos stormed toward Lily.
The sight was such— as if the entire sky was burning and collapsing downward.
But— Lily did not waste even a single moment. At that very instant, she drew out her staff. Her eyes were calm— unyielding. The next moment— a circular armor of spiritual power formed around her. A white light— tinged faintly with blue. Dense, solid, unbreakable.
The flames collided with that barrier— and were shattered into nothingness. Explosions rang out. All the fireballs and flames scattered apart. Yet Lily— remained unmoving.
Seeing this— Jury burst into mad laughter. Her laughter was twisted. Maniacal. As if she were savoring some horrific game.
But— within just a few moments—
her laughter stopped. Her expression changed, her eyes widened in shock, and from her mouth escaped a sharp, panicked scream—
"This… this can't be possible!!"
Because now she understood.
Lily… was absolutely right.
The very next moment— a faint, cold smile surfaced on Lily's lips.
And then— with lightning speed— she swung her staff and struck Jury's forehead with full force.
Boom.
The air split apart, and the sky trembled.
Jury's body fell straight down like a broken doll. And becoming almost lifeless, she sank into the ground.
Dust, stones, and debris burst in all directions.
When everything grew quiet— Jury lay embedded deep within the arena floor. Upon her utter defeat, pain appeared on Humbha's face, while an image of joy surfaced on Snehwal and Master Jins.
Jury was buried in the earth— as if the land itself had swallowed her whole. And above— Lily stood calmly.
As if all of this had been nothing more than just another ordinary battle for her.
Jury was no longer in any condition to speak. Two soldiers lifted her up and carried her away, and Lily once again returned to her seat.
At that moment, it seemed difficult for Humbha, Lith, and Shon Yakshini to even sit— as if their chairs themselves were cutting into them.
Just then, the King of Chintamani stood up once more and declared—
"In this duel, Lily Yakshini has claimed victory. And now, the next match will be between Shon and Lith."
Shon and Lith had been sitting together, and together they stepped down into the arena.
Lily said softly— "This will just be a fight for show."
Then Shon and Lith stood facing each other. The tension that was already spread through the atmosphere grew even deeper. There was no sympathy in their eyes for one another— only cold calculation and hidden strategy.
The very next moment— both of their swords flashed together.
Clang—!
From the collision of metal, sparks burst forth as if stars were falling from the sky. Shon struck first— fast, precise, and without the slightest hesitation. Her sword cut through the air toward Lith's neck, but at the very last moment, Lith stepped back and blocked the strike.
Lith snarled as she counterattacked with three rapid slashes in succession. Her style was aggressive— not crude, but impatient. Shon kept deflecting every blow with minimal movement, as if she wasn't truly fighting— but merely stalling for time. Waves of energy began to rise all around them. With every clash of swords, the arena trembled. At times Shon advanced, at times Lith— but it was clear that neither of them was using her full strength.
After a short while, Lith's breathing grew heavy. Haste began to show in her attacks. Shon, however— remained composed. There was no fatigue in her eyes, only a cold determination. Then suddenly— Shon increased her speed.
In a single instant— she knocked Lith's sword aside, spun, and stopped her blade just inches from Lith's neck. The entire arena fell into silence. Lith's body stiffened. There was rage in her eyes— but even more than that, a bitter truth. She had lost.
A few moments later— Lith let her sword fall to the ground.
Clang.
The sound echoed across the arena. In a slow, heavy voice, she said—
"I… accept my defeat."
Shon lowered her sword without pride, without mockery. This was not a display of victory— it was merely a formality.
Watching from afar, Lily spoke very softly—
"I told you… this would only be a show fight. But Lith was more powerful than Shon— so what was it that made her accept defeat?"
And in that very moment, it became clear—
the real battle was still yet to come.
Then the King announced once more—
"Tomorrow, the match will be Shon Yakshini versus Lily."
Saying this, the King vanished from the spot.
At that moment, Shon lifted her sword, pointed it toward Lily, and said—
"Tomorrow… you will die."