The fight between Emilia and Ivan intensified, until their clashing magical auras created circles of atmospheric pressure that shook the arena. The battle was no longer a mere exchange of magic, but a violent dance of fists and lightning-fast strikes that shattered all speed barriers.
Ivan rushed at her like a whirlwind, his fighting prowess leaving Emilia on the defensive. She gathered her strength and summoned the "Eagle Spirit" within her; everyone felt the pressure of her illusory wings encircling her, enabling her to deflect Ivan's relentless attacks with remarkable skill.
As Emilia struggled to regain her balance, she thought to herself: He's incredibly skilled in close combat... I still remember how he took down Dan with those same moves. I won't hesitate any longer; I'll unleash everything I've got...
Suddenly, her heart pounded with a force she had never known before. Time stood still for a moment, and that cursed whisper returned to torment her mind: Kill... kill... surrender yourself to me, and I will grant you the power you crave.
On the other side, Ivan paused his attack, his eyes widening as he felt an unsettling chill emanating from Emilia's aura. "Damn it," he muttered, his gaze fixed on the growing darkness that surrounded her. "She has no control over this beast. This destructive force will devour her before it can devour its opponent."
With each violent clash of their fists, memories of the past flashed through Emilia's mind like a fast-forward film; glimpses of her old training sessions with her brother Lumière under the tutelage of Jean Moto. She could hear her brother's laughter, see the pride in Jean's eyes, and feel the eagle spirit envelop her in its golden glow. Meanwhile, the aura of Phoenix Shura blazed around Ivan with a mythical flame.
Naofumi watched the scene with concern, saying, "This isn't just a training exercise anymore... It's like what happened in that dungeon." (He was recalling Ivan's epic battle against the vampire Elena Frankenstein, Princess of the Kingdom of Kong.)
The fight was no longer based solely on magic; it had become pure martial art. Fists clashed with terrifying force, and precise, geometric movements reflected the legacy of Jin Muto, passed down to his student and heir.
On the VIP platform, King Dimitri Rose watched in amazement, murmuring, "Jin... you've always been the best. They didn't call you 'God Conqueror' for nothing. You were the only one who stood toe-to-toe with the God King Zosen when you were just twenty... I'll never forget that battle."
Flashback: The scene was ominous and devastating; a celestial bolt of lightning struck Jin Muto's fist in an explosion that obliterated an entire continent. A battle immortalized by history in ink of destruction, a moment when a human being stood up to say to the gods: "No."