The battlefield had gone quiet.
Too quiet.
Kensai stood at the center, the vortex of Beezlebub slowly devouring everything around her—energy, pressure, even the faint remnants of Lira's presence.
Kael clenched his fists.
"…She's being completely countered…"
Shun narrowed her eyes.
"…No…"
"…Look at her."
Lira stood still.
No aura.
No glow.
No overwhelming pressure.
Just her.
Her fists trembled slightly.
Not from fear—
But from something building.
"…Not fun…" she muttered.
Then—
She leaned forward slightly.
"…So I'll make it fun."
Her voice dropped.
Barely a whisper.
"…Ultimate Skill…"
Kensai's eyes sharpened instantly.
The vortex paused—just for a fraction of a second.
"…Fists of Power… 4500."
Silence.
Nothing happened.
Kael blinked.
"…What?"
Then—
CRACK.
The ground beneath Lira shattered.
Not outward—
But inward.
Like reality itself had been compressed into a single point.
Her fist clenched.
And for the first time—
The energy didn't leak.
Didn't flare.
Didn't spread.
It condensed.
Perfectly.
Kensai's vortex reacted.
Beezlebub surged forward—
Trying to devour it.
But—
There was nothing to consume.
Kael's eyes widened.
"…She's not releasing power…"
Shun whispered.
"…She's locking it inside."
Lira stepped forward.
One step—
The ground collapsed beneath her foot.
Second step—
The air split.
Third step—
She vanished.
Kensai moved instantly.
Blade raised.
Perfect.
Precise.
But—
Too late.
Lira's fist appeared in front of her.
No aura.
No glow.
Just… impact.
BOOM.
The world didn't explode.
It bent.
Kensai's eyes widened as the strike landed.
For the first time—
Her body moved without her permission.
She was sent flying.
Not violently—
But inevitably.
The vortex shattered.
Beezlebub flickered.
The absorption… stopped.
Kensai crashed into the ground miles away, the earth folding beneath her like paper.
Silence returned.
Kael fell to one knee.
"…What… was that…?"
Shun stared, breath unsteady.
"…That wasn't power…"
"…That was control."
Lira stood there, fist still extended.
Her arm trembling slightly.
"…Good…" she muttered.
"…Very fun…"
Far in the distance—
Kensai slowly rose.
Her blade still in hand.
Her breathing steady—
But her eyes… different.
Not calm.
Not perfect.
Shaken.
"…I see…" she whispered.
For the first time—
She understood.
Lira wasn't just chaos.
She could become something else.
Something even more dangerous.
To Be Continued…