Meanwhile amid the sea of broken bodies of beats, Selena Vega stood alone among the carnage.

Her breathing came in ragged bursts, her chest rising and falling as blood trickled from a deep gash that had nearly torn through her torso.

One of her arms was completely gone, severed during the last exchange. Yet even maimed and bleeding, she refused to kneel.

All around her lay thousands of mutilated corpses—spiritual beasts reduced to lifeless husks, their luminous essence fading into dust. The battlefield smelled of ozone, blood, and burning mana.

Across from her knelt Arya, the green-haired woman. One of Arya's legs and an arm were missing, blackened at the stumps from Selena's void attacks.

For a moment, silence reigned between them—until Arya's body began to glow. Blinding light poured from her wounds as streams of spiritual energy swirled into her like a tide. In seconds, both her arm and leg regenerated, the flesh reforming as if time itself had reversed.

Selena tensed, her expression grim.

Arya straightened, her tone calm yet mocking.

"I know what you're thinking. It's unfair, isn't it? Fighting inside someone else's domain, running out of mana while your wounds refuse to heal. Meanwhile, every injury I take is instantly fixed."

She smiled faintly, raising her newly restored arm.

"You see, the one who made this domain is my master's familiar—his name is Silas. You probably already met him."

Selena's eyes narrowed, her mind racing.

'So, she has a master… which means there's someone higher pulling the strings.'

She glanced down at her battered body, feeling the tightening weight of fatigue.

'I've spent nearly all of my mana… and these wounds won't hold much longer. If things continue like this, my chances of survival are next to nothing.'

Arya's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"You know," she said softly, "I've heard your name countless times across the continent. Tales of the Void Empress, the unbreakable warrior from Avaloria.

I used to think it was just an exaggeration—stories for children. But now I see those weren't lies."

Her tone shifted—less mocking, more solemn.

"You really are the real deal."

Arya bowed slightly, her eyes gleaming with deadly admiration.

"I'll remember your name after your death. You're atleast worthy of that much."

Then, a faint shimmer appeared beside her. A new portal opened—larger than before, glowing with eerie blue light. But instead of beasts, figures stepped out.

Dozens of human-like shapes emerged, their movements synchronized, their eyes empty and cold. Each radiated terrifying power equal to a Master—Peak rank.

Selena's expression hardened.

'Those… aren't humans. Marionettes.'

Arya smirked.

"Looks like you recognize them. They're Marionettes—artificially awakened soldiers created through spiritual alchemy. Each one built to cause destruction."

Selena exhaled, her lips curling into a tired yet fearless smile.

"You've already sent an entire army against me… now this? I have to say, you may remember me as a warrior—but I'll remember you as the coward who needed an army to fight one wounded woman."

Arya's expression twitched, her smile faltered. For a moment, hatred flashed across her face. Then she chuckled bitterly, forcing a calm expression.

"You can say whatever you like. Winning is all that matters—no matter the method. That's what my master taught me."

Selena's voice cut through the air like ice.

"Then your master must be a coward too."

Arya's face turned crimson with fury. Her voice thundered across the battlefield, barely human anymore.

"I've changed my mind! How dare you insult him! I will give you a painful death!"

At her scream, the hundred Marionettes lunged forward, blades gleaming with killing intent. The ground shook under their synchronized charge, dust swirling around their metallic bodies.

Selena could barely stand. Her chest heaved, blood spilling from her mouth, but despite her failing strength, she smiled faintly.

'So this is it… huh.'

A soft laugh escaped her lips.

'I wonder what he's doing right now.'

Then her expression hardened.

'No. I won't go down that easily.'

She raised her remaining arm, gathering every last drop of mana in her broken body.

The ground beneath her feet glowed violently as a massive magic circle began to form, stretching across miles. Its symbols twisted and pulsed, warping reality itself.

Arya froze, eyes narrowing.

"What… what is she doing!?"

Black energy shimmered from the circle, so heavy it seemed to swallow light. The runes pulsed faster as Selena's voice filled the air.

"Devour everything into nothingness… Void Break!"

In an instant, the earth opened.

A massive void burst from the ground, roaring like a cosmic beast. Its gravitational force tore apart everything within sight—the battlefield, the trees, the air itself.

The Marionettes screamed soundlessly as the pressure seized them. Their metallic bodies cracked, bent, and disintegrated, turning into particles of darkness before vanishing completely.

Arya's face drained of color. She reinforced her body with layers of spiritual energy, but the pull was relentless. The void's force dragged her closer, shredding her clothes and armor.

Cracks began to spread across her limbs. Blood and spiritual light leaked through each fracture. Pain coursed through her veins as she screamed in torment.

"No… not like this!"

Her voice echoed as her body neared the edge of destruction, struggling to resist the pull of nothingness.

Then, out of nowhere, a massive explosion shook the entire dimension.

The void shattered instantly—dispersed like mist under blinding light. The backlash tore through Selena's body, flinging her through the air like a rag doll.

She slammed into several trees, each crash cracking bones as she screamed in agony. Blood sprayed across the ruined ground before her body came to rest against a shattered trunk. She twitched weakly, barely conscious.

Arya lay some distance away, her body mangled beyond recognition. Both arms and legs were gone, blood pouring freely. She looked less like a person and more like a corpse.

Then, amidst the silence, a cold voice spoke.

"It's not yet your time to die, Arya. Without my permission, you can't do anything… even die."

Darkness poured from the air, thick and heavy. From within that abyss, footsteps echoed.

A boy stepped out—no older than fifteen. His hair was jet black, his eyes darker still, like twin abysses reflecting no light. His face was calm, beautiful even, but the power that radiated from him was suffocating.

The darkness expanded, wrapping around Arya's broken body like a cocoon. Her flesh began to reform, bones snapping back into place, her missing limbs regrown in seconds. It was as if death itself was reversing at his command.

"Master!" she gasped, immediately falling to her knees. Her voice trembled as she pressed her forehead to the ground. "Thank you for saving my life!"

Kyle Celestian's gaze was unreadable.

"I'm disappointed in you, Arya."

Her entire body froze. Those words struck like a blade to the heart.

'Disappointed…?'

Her lips trembled, eyes filling with tears.

'No… no, this can't be happening. I can't disappoint him… not him of all people…'

Her voice cracked as she looked up, desperation on her face.

"Master, please… what can I do to make it right? Should I take my life? Will that make you forgive me? Please—just give me an order!"

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she begged. Her voice broke into sobs.

Kyle watched her in silence for a long moment, then sighed softly. He reached forward and patted her head.

"You don't need to do that," he said calmly. "But you've smeared my name with failure. Your punishment will come later. For now, finish what you came here to do."

Arya's eyes lit up instantly, the despair replaced with fanatic devotion.

"As you wish, Master!"

Kyle smiled faintly.

"Bring that woman over here."

Arya bowed deeply. "Yes, my lord."

She turned and ran toward the broken body of Selena Vega. Blood pooled beneath Selena, her skin pale and lifeless. Her breath was shallow—barely there.

Arya grabbed a fistful of Selena's hair, dragging her harshly through the dirt. The ground left streaks of crimson in her wake as she pulled her toward Kyle.

Kneeling, Arya bowed once more.

"This is the woman, my lord."

Kyle stepped closer, his eyes studying Selena's battered form. A faint smile curved his lips.

"Looks like you did quite a number on her, Arya."

A small, obedient smile crossed Arya's face despite her exhaustion.

Then kyle said "Its not a compliment she still killed thousands of beats and almost killed you hundreds of times.

I have to say her reputation suits her i even respect her now.

If not for Silas domain you would have does multiple times arya so show her your respect too."

At that arya nodded her head as she said " im sorry for getting carried away."

Kyk nodded his head at that.

Then Kyle reached down, his hand wrapping around Selena's neck effortlessly, lifting her off the ground. Her limp body dangled in his grasp, blood dripping from her fingers.

"You are one of the strongest beings in this world, Miss Selena," he said softly, almost with admiration. "It's unfortunate, but you must die. You would become a thorn in my future plans. So do you have any last words."

Selena could barely open her eyes. Her vision was smeared with blood and blinding pain. But she recognized the voice. That cold, calm tone.

Despite the agony, a faint smile appeared on her lips. She struggled to speak, her words broken and slurred.

"Kill… me…" she whispered. "Kill me, and… he… he will…"

Her throat tightened under Kyle's grip, but she forced the words out again through trembling lips.

"Kill… me… and he will come… for you…"

Kyle leaned closer, his smirk widening in amusement.

"Who?"

Her barely focused eyes locked onto his.

"The devil himself," she rasped.

Crack.

With a swift motion, Kyle twisted his hand, snapping her neck. The sound rang sharp in the silence.

Her body went limp—lifeless and still—as her head slumped to the side.

Kyle released her, letting the corpse fall heavily to the ground. He looked down at her peaceful face, the faint trace of that last, defiant smile frozen upon it.

Then he turned away, smirking.

"I'll be waiting for him."

----

A/N:

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