The air didn't move.
It tensed.
Like the world itself was bracing for impact.
Four figures.
Identical.
Perfect.
Smiling.
And then—
They vanished.
"—!"
They were already there.
CLANG—
Two blades crashed down toward Rio from opposite sides—
Perfect synchronization.
Perfect timing.
She moved.
Not back.
Not away.
Forward.
CRASH
The Crimson Bloodmoon rose—
Catching both strikes at once.
Steel screamed.
Sparks erupted like shattered stars.
"…Fast."
Rio whispered.
She barely finished the word—
When the other two appeared.
Behind.
Above.
A follow-up strike.
Instant.
Relentless.
CLANG—CLANG—
Rio twisted her stance—
Her arm trembled—
Her blade caught one—
Her body shifted just enough—
To deflect the second.
Not clean.
Not perfect.
But enough.
"…Tch."
They didn't stop.
They didn't hesitate.
All four Allures pressed in.
Steel met steel—
Again.
And again.
And again.
The battlefield disappeared into motion.
Rio—
One.
Allure—
Four.
Yet—
They were equal.
Blades flashed faster than sight.
Footsteps cracked stone beneath them.
Every clash sent shockwaves ripping across the ruined arena.
To the others—
It was chaos.
Blurs.
Afterimages.
Distortions of movement.
"…What the hell…"
One of the Eternity Lions members whispered.
His voice barely held together.
"…Seriously… just who are these people…"
He wasn't the only one.
Even Elias—
Even Hinabi—
Watched in silence.
Because this—
Was beyond them.
Back in the storm—
One Allure slipped behind Rio.
Silent.
Perfect.
A killing angle.
The blade descended—
CLANG—
Blocked.
Not by her sword.
But by her musket.
Rio had raised it without turning—
Catching the strike behind her back—
The metal of the flintlock screeching under the pressure.
"…Too obvious."
Above—
Another Allure lifted her hand.
Energy gathered.
Condensed.
A wave—
Crimson-black—
Collapsed into a single point.
Then—
Released.
A massive energy slash came crashing down from above.
Rio's eyes sharpened.
[Sword Skill: Moonlight Melody]
Her blade moved.
One swing.
Clean.
Precise.
Absolute.
A crescent of crimson energy tore upward—
Colliding with the descending wave—
BOOM—
The two forces exploded against each other—
Light devouring darkness—
Darkness tearing through light—
The shockwave blasted outward—
Forcing the other Allures back a step—
And for a moment—
A single opening appeared.
That's all it took.
"Got you."
Ryota appeared.
No warning.
No hesitation.
Right behind Rio.
His hands shot out—
Grabbing two of the Allures—
One in each arm.
"—Let's go!"
He ran.
Not away.
Forward.
Straight into the nearest wall.
BOOM—
The impact shattered stone.
Cracks spread like lightning across the surface.
Ryota slammed both of them into it—
Hard.
Then—
He raised his sword.
Iron Steve—
Glowing with Indra's power—
"—!"
He thrust forward—
Aimed directly at one Allure's chest—
But—
A hand grabbed his head.
Fast.
Brutal.
The second Allure.
Before he could react—
CRASH—
She slammed his head into the wall.
Stone exploded.
Dust filled the air.
"…GHH—!"
His vision blurred.
His grip loosened—
Just slightly—
Enough.
The other Allure broke free—
Her wings flaring—
She didn't go for Rio.
She turned.
Locked on—
Ayame.
Still kneeling.
Still healing.
Still vulnerable.
"…No—!"
She flew.
Fast.
Silent.
Deadly.
A blade formed in her hand—
Crimson-black—
Raised—
Ready to strike—
And behind her—
The battlefield roared back to life.
Because now—
Rio had only two left.
And Ryota—
Was pinned.
The battlefield cracked—
Not from impact.
But from instinct.
Kiraya's eyes snapped open.
No hesitation.
No confusion.
No delay.
Her body moved before her mind caught up.
Steel flashed.
"—!"
The Allure descending toward Ayame never saw it coming.
[Sword Skill: Lionheart Strike]
Flames ignited along Kiraya's blade—
A roaring arc of fire carved through the air—
BOOM
The strike slammed into Allure's side—
Catching her mid-flight—
Breaking her trajectory—
"…Tch—!"
Allure staggered.
For the first time—
Caught off guard.
Kiraya landed between Ayame and death.
Shield raised.
Blade burning.
"…You picked the wrong target."
She didn't stand alone.
A blur of fire—
A streak of steel—
Fayzan arrived first.
"MOVE!"
He didn't swing.
Didn't hesitate.
He tackled.
His shoulder crashed into Allure—
Driving her straight into the ground—
BOOM
The impact shattered stone beneath them.
Flames erupted instantly.
Fayzan didn't hold back.
Didn't conserve.
Didn't think.
He burned everything.
Fire wrapped around both of them—
A raging inferno—
Consuming—
Restricting—
Punishing—
"Stay down!"
Then—
A shadow loomed.
Elias.
Silent.
Precise.
Final.
He raised his sword—
And in the same motion—
Drove it down.
THUD
Steel pierced through Allure's face.
At the same time—
Fayzan's blade—
Still burning—
THUD
Drove through her torso.
Pinned.
Completely.
The flames intensified—
Eating away at her—
While the blades held her in place—
Silence followed.
Kiraya stepped closer.
Breathing steady.
Eyes sharp.
"…That should—"
She stopped.
No.
It wasn't enough.
Allure's body—
Though pierced—
Though burning—
Was still smiling.
"…Yeah…"
Fayzan muttered.
"…Figures."
Elias didn't move.
Didn't pull his blade out.
"…She's not dying."
Even with everything.
Even with Rio's earlier damage.
Even with this.
She endured.
A monster.
A true boss.
And then—
BOOM—
A blast erupted across the battlefield.
Not from them.
From behind.
"…What—?"
Everyone turned.
Too late.
Ayame stood—
Staff raised—
Mid-heal—
And then—
The light faded.
Her HP—
Dropped.
Zero.
Her body went still.
"…No…"
Silence.
Complete.
"…Ayame…?"
Kiraya's voice broke—
Just slightly.
Even Rio—
From the distance—
Froze.
Because the attack—
Didn't come from the pinned Allure.
It came from—
The one by the wall.
The one holding Ryota.
She stood there—
Hand extended—
Smoke rising from her palm—
And she laughed.
A twisted—
Satisfied—
Cruel laugh.
"…One less problem."
Ryota—
Still pinned—
Still struggling—
Could only watch.
"…You—!"
But he couldn't move.
Couldn't reach her.
Couldn't stop it.
And that—
Was enough.
Rio saw it.
Ayame falling.
Still.
Gone.
Her breath caught.
"…No…"
Just one second.
That's all it took.
One.
Single.
Moment.
Of distraction.
The two Allures in front of her—
Moved.
SLASH—
Both blades struck at once.
Perfect timing.
Perfect alignment.
Rio couldn't fully defend.
The strikes tore across her chest—
Deep.
Brutal.
Blood burst into the air.
"…Ghh—!"
Her body was thrown backward—
Crashing into the ground—
BOOM
Dust rose.
Her blade slipped—
But didn't fall.
Barely.
Her HP—
Critical.
Still alive.
But just barely.
"…Rio…!"
Ryota's voice cracked.
But he still couldn't move.
Couldn't reach her.
Couldn't do anything.
Above—
The two Allures rose into the air.
Hovering.
Watching.
Smiling.
Below—
Three remained standing.
Kiraya.
Elias.
Fayzan.
One pinned Allure beneath them.
One holding Ryota.
Two above.
And now—
No healer.
No recovery.
No second chances.
The battlefield had shifted.
From a fight—
To a countdown.
"…Damn it…"
Fayzan clenched his teeth.
"…This just got worse."
Kiraya tightened her grip.
Shield raised again.
Elias said nothing.
But his stance—
Lowered.
Prepared.
Because above them—
The two Allures laughed.
Looking down at the last ones standing.
Judging.
Enjoying.
Certain.
That this—
Was the end.