The dungeon trembled beneath the echo of clashing steel. Sparks burst with every impact, lighting the shadows of the enormous chamber.Lior's breath came heavy and ragged, his body screaming from the relentless exchange. The Royal Knight's armor gleamed silver under the flickering light — not a single dent, not a single crack.
The air was thick with the scent of mana and burnt earth.
Sylph's final cry still echoed faintly in his ears.He'd watched her vanish into the void, her wind fading into silence. Then Terra — his steadfast guardian of stone — fell next, shattering under the sheer force of the knight's strike. Even the auto-heal could not save him.
And now… Solaris and Night — light and shadow — were gone too.Their last words still lingered in his mind: "Don't falter, Master."
That left only Lior and Aqua.
Aqua's form flickered, her eyes dimming from exhaustion. Still, she lifted her staff, channeling every drop of her magic into healing him. "Lior… stay standing. I'll—"
She never finished.The knight's blade came faster than lightning. Aqua barely raised her arm before the impact sent her crashing backward, her body dispersing into glowing particles of water.
"Aqua!" Lior screamed, reaching out — but she was gone, drawn back into the void.
Silence.
Only he and Ignis remained now. The fire elemental hovered beside him, his body blazing crimson, his expression grim.
"Looks like it's just the two of us, partner," Ignis said, flames crackling around his fists.
Lior gripped his sword tighter, firelight reflecting in his determined eyes. "Then let's burn everything we have left."
The knight raised his greatsword and pointed it toward them, his deep voice echoing through the chamber."You have spirit… but you lack strength. Yield."
"Not a chance," Lior growled.
The battle reignited. Ignis and Lior moved as one — a symphony of flame and steel. Every swing of Lior's sword was guided by Ignis's fire, each slash blazing like molten light. They struck together, moving in perfect rhythm.
Their combined attack finally drew blood — a single line of red across the knight's chest.
The knight paused. Then he smiled beneath his visor. "Impressive."
But instead of retreating, his power surged — the ground cracked as an aura of pure white mana engulfed him.
Lior's vision blurred as his system interface flickered violently.
📜 [System Alert: Skill Unlocked — Fusion]📜 [Skill Description: Merge with contracted elemental to enhance power, abilities, and shared consciousness.]
Lior's heart pounded. "Fusion…"
He clenched his fist. "System — give me everything you've got!"
A blinding light erupted from his body as he turned to Ignis. "Ignis, let's do this!"
Ignis grinned. "About damn time!"
🔥 Their forms intertwined in a vortex of red light — flame fusing with flesh, mana merging into one heartbeat.When the glow faded, Lior stood transformed — his hair blazing like embers, eyes burning molten gold. His sword shimmered, surrounded by eternal fire.
The knight's aura flared. Lior's flared back, equal in might.
Their next clash shook the dungeon to its core.Every strike ignited explosions, every parry shattered the air itself. They fought not as man and elemental — but as one being.
Minutes passed like hours.
Still, the knight endured. His defense was absolute, his movements precise.Lior gritted his teeth. "He's too strong to take head-on…"
Then an idea sparked — dangerous, but his only shot.
He feigned a reckless frontal assault. The knight raised his sword to counter — exactly as planned.At the last moment, Lior blinked behind him using Dragon Step, channeling all remaining mana into one decisive strike.
"Flameburst — Sever!"
The impact shattered the knight's guard, knocking him to one knee. His sword clattered across the floor.
Lior staggered, barely able to stay standing.Smoke rose from his fusion armor as Ignis's voice echoed faintly in his mind, "That's… all we've got…"
Lior raised his sword for the finishing blow — but then froze.
The knight looked up, removing his helmet. Beneath it was a calm, battle-worn face with kind eyes. "You… fought with honor," he said, voice deep and proud.
He lowered his head. "I, Orion of the Silver Order, accept defeat."
Lior blinked in disbelief. "You… you're surrendering?"
"Yes. My code binds me. The worthy should not be slain, but respected."He knelt, resting one hand on his chest. "End me, and claim my soul for your conquest."
Lior shook his head, sheathing his sword. "No. I don't want to end you."
The knight frowned. "Then what do you seek?"
Lior smiled faintly, exhausted but resolute. "Fight with me instead. I need allies — not trophies."
The knight's eyes widened. Then, slowly, he smiled."Then grant me a name, Summoner."
Lior thought for a moment, his vision blurring as flames around him dimmed. "Your name… shall be Orion."
The knight rose to his feet, bowing deeply. "Then from this day forth, I, Orion, pledge my blade and my honor to you, Master Lior."
Light burst from his chest — the symbol of a summoning contract glowing bright crimson before fading into Lior's hand.
The dungeon trembled again, but this time with warmth instead of wrath.
The newly bonded knight stepped beside him. "What's next, Master?"
Lior smiled weakly, looking ahead toward the endless staircase leading deeper below."The next floor."
And as the portal to the 76th floor opened, a chilling wind swept through the ruins — a whisper that sounded almost alive.
"Welcome… Summoner of Elements."