Under a huge tree at Luna's palace, Valdor stood ready to fight Elio.
The two stared at each other in silence. The air around them grew heavy.
Elio spoke first.
"This time, you're coming with me, Valdor." — he said coldly.
Valdor clenched his hand around the hilt of his sword.
"I'm sorry, but no one is taking anyone anywhere."
Elio smiled slightly.
"We'll see."
Suddenly, he leaped off the ground and soared high into the sky.
Valdor looked up.
After a moment, lightning energy began to gather around Elio. Bolts of lightning began to jump between his hands, and dark clouds slowly gathered over the palace.
Valdor narrowed his eyes.
"Lightning magic…"
Elio raised his hand.
"Let's see if you can survive this time."
A bolt of lightning lit up the entire sky.
Valdor immediately readied his sword.
"Go ahead."
In a split second, Elio was right in front of Valdor.
His sword flashed as he delivered a powerful downward slash.
Valdor leaped back instantly.
Elio's sword struck the ground.
At that very moment, a massive bolt of lightning struck the spot where the sword had hit.
"What?!" — Valdor's eyes widened.
The explosion of energy threw him backward.
Valdor quickly placed one hand on the ground and used the momentum to push off.
He performed a somersault in the air, then landed a few meters away.
His gaze immediately turned toward Elio.
Valdor began running toward Elio.
Halfway there, he activated his ability.
"Enhanced Speed!"
Demon Arc glowed green.
In an instant, Valdor accelerated sharply, leaving behind a green trail that resembled the outline of his figure.
Elio barely had time to raise his sword.
Their blades clashed with a thunderous crash.
Valdor didn't slow down. He attacked quickly and aggressively, delivering a series of strikes from all directions.
Elio, however, had far more experience.
Every one of Valdor's moves was blocked or parried.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The swords clashed incessantly.
Valdor made another quick slash.
Elio leaned back, dodging the blade, then immediately parried the next attack.
"You're fast." — Elio said.
Valdor clenched his teeth and swung again.
"But that's not enough!"
Elio blocked his sword once more.
Valdor looked him straight in the eyes.
"We'll see about that."
Elio struck the ground with his other hand.
At that very moment, a massive bolt of lightning struck the spot where Valdor had been standing.
"Valdor!" — Elio's voice rang out.
The explosion of energy threw Valdor backward, and a blinding flash illuminated the entire area.
For a moment, nothing could be seen.
When the light faded, Elio slowly looked up.
His eyes widened.
Valdor was standing right in front of him.
"What…?"
Valdor immediately kicked him squarely in the face.
Elio was knocked back a few meters, but managed to stay on his feet.
He furrowed his brow.
"Not bad…"
He immediately charged at Valdor.
He delivered a quick sword strike, but Valdor parried the attack.
Their blades clashed.
At that very moment, they both swung their other hands.
Their fists collided.
BAM!
A powerful shockwave rippled through the palace.
A moment later, the two warriors were thrown apart.
Valdor quickly regained his balance.
Then he charged forward again.
This time, his movements were much faster.
Elio could barely keep up.
Valdor delivered one strike after another.
Elio tried to block his attacks, but more and more often he couldn't react in time.
"Tch!"
One of the blows forced Elio to step back.
The next one sent him even further back.
Valdor stopped.
He looked at his opponent.
"It's time to end this."
He raised his sword high.
A beam of green energy shot from the blade, soaring high into the sky.
After a moment, the energy vanished.
Suddenly, intense green energy began to gather around Valdor's blade.
The wind around him picked up.
Elio looked at the sword with a serious expression.
"What are you planning to do…?"
Valdor lowered his gaze.
"You'll see for yourself."
In the blink of an eye, Valdor vanished.
He reappeared right next to Elio.
He swung his sword powerfully from the side.
"Dragon Slash…" — he whispered.
Elio raised his sword in a flash, trying to block the attack.
Their blades clashed.
However, Elio immediately felt green energy piercing through his defense.
"What…?!"
Elio's sword flew out of his hand and landed a few meters away, plunging into the ground.
A moment later, Elio was struck in the chest and fell to the ground on all fours.
Valdor stood over him, breathing heavily.
"Just give it a rest already." — said Valdor.
Elio looked up at him from the ground.
Valdor clenched his hand around the hilt of his sword.
"Whatever you do, I won't let Leo be unsealed."
Elio was silent for a moment.
Suddenly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, portable gate.
Without warning, he threw it at Valdor.
Valdor didn't know what the object was.
He simply jumped back and dodged it.
The gate flew past his back.
After a moment, it began to open slowly.
Valdor sighed, unaware of what was happening behind him.
"You really are a desperate man, Elio."
At that very moment, a girl emerged from the gates.
Valdor suddenly heard footsteps behind him.
"Who's there?" — he said, turning around.
But in an instant...
The world froze.
The leaves stopped moving in the wind.
Dust hung suspended in the air.
Only Sylphia could move.
She walked calmly up behind Valdor.
"Too late…" — she whispered.
Then she struck him on the back of the neck.
The White Demon Arc on her hand glowed intensely.
After a moment, its light faded.
Time began to flow again.
Valdor staggered.
"What…?"
His eyes closed.
He fell face-first to the ground, losing consciousness.
Sylphia looked at Elio.
"He cut you pretty badly."
Elio slowly got up from the ground.
"That was close… but a wound like this won't kill me." — he replied.
Sylphia walked over to Valdor.
"We're heading back to Azrok. Mission accomplished."
Elio nodded.
He walked over to his sword and pulled it out of the ground.
Meanwhile, Sylphia tied up the unconscious Valdor's hands.
Elio picked up Valdor and slung him over his shoulder.
"I didn't think it would go this smoothly." — he said.
Sylphia gave him a cold look.
They both entered the portable gate.
The portal began to close.
After a few seconds, it disappeared completely.
The clearing was once again plunged into silence.
And in Luna's palace, no one yet knew that Valdor had just been kidnapped.
Meanwhile, in Azrok, Nathan stood on the balcony of his castle.
After a moment, one of the guards ran up to him and knelt.
"I report that Sylphia and Elio have returned. They've captured Valdor."
Nathan turned toward the guard.
"Finally… We're one step away from victory."
Meanwhile, Valdor had already regained consciousness. He was walking down the castle's vast corridor, his hands shackled.
Sylphia walked behind him, and Elio walked beside him.
Valdor tried to turn toward Sylphia, but Elio immediately struck him and shoved him forward.
"Move it!"
After a moment, they reached the room where Leo was to be unsealed.
Valdor looked up at the door leading to the room. He furrowed his brow.
He knew exactly what they were planning to do.