Thudd!

Drane's massive club slammed into the ground where I had stood a heartbeat ago, the force shaking dust into the air. I skidded sideways, boots grinding stone, dodging the blur of his strike.

Scrreechhh!

An arrow screamed past, scraping along Bloodraven's edge as I barely managed to deflect it away from my face.

Sparks danced red as green aura slid against crimson where metal met metal. Rack's shot cut past me, too close.

I darted toward Lydia-B. She had just pushed herself off Kuro, who was still dazed and useless, blinking like he couldn't believe what just happened.

But she was quick. Even drained, even bleeding, she slid into a stance, twin daggers raised in a cross before her, sharp and steady.

I twirled Bloodraven in my grip. Muscle memory guiding the sword. It felt alive. Like my arm had grown fangs.

Mid-motion, I leveled it at her, the tip pointing dead at her chest.

"Darkbeam."

Black mana, thick and heavy, coiled at the tip, condensed into a small orb. Then it fired, a beam of darkness spiraling forward, wrapped in streaks of my crimson aura that hissed like lightning.

The beam cut straight through its path, not slowing for anything.

Lydia-B's jaw clenched. She could dodge. Her aura was strong enough to pump her agility enough to get her out in time... but Kuro stood behind her, limp and stupid.

If she moved, he'd take the hit.

Her lips split as she bit down hard. Purple aura roared from her daggers, forming an "X" in front of her. The beam crashed into it, shredding the purple apart as crimson and purple devoured each other, eating her defense alive.

Boom!

The explosion from the dark meeting her daggers ripped her backward.

"Ahckk"

She slammed into the wall with a crack, coughing blood, body trembling. But I was already there.

I blurred forward, Bloodraven descending in a crimson flare, aura bursting upward like fire as I brought the blade down on her.

Water armor rippled to life around her forearms. Aqua Aegis.

She crossed her arms high and caught the strike, purple aura sparking as her defense screamed against my sword.

I smirked. Then, giving up on forcing down the vertical slash, I dragged the blade sideways.

The crimson edge bit through, scoring a thin cut beneath her watery armor.

Blood beaded instantly, red droplets running. Her eyes widened. The vibration in my sword humming against her bones.

Drane had been charging at me. But the moment he felt the hum of Bloodraven, he skidded back, retreating fast. He knew what this sword could do. He remembered the blast.

Lydia-B didn't retreat. She was smart. She lunged forward, reckless, trying to drag me into the detonation with her when it came.

"You really are the perfect copy," I muttered, my lips curling into a grin.

A spare rift tore open beside me, black and crimson light crackling at its edges. Her eyes darted to it, panic flashing. She thought I was about to slip away through it.

I jolted toward the rift, baiting her. She blurred with a burst of purple aura, her speed pulling her just past me, aiming to cut off my escape.

Snap.

My fingers clicked.

A hole opened, not beside me, but between Drane and Rack. And Lydia-B tumbled out of it, wide-eyed, realizing too late.

Their faces froze, shock blanking their thoughts as the rift beside me closed.

Boom!

Crimson erupted, splashing the walls and ground in red. Drane and Rack were flung opposite ways, their bodies ragdolling through the air.

Drane hit the ground hard, stone cracking under his weight, dust and rubble spraying up.

Rack rolled, his body ripping open in places, blood painting his path across the floor.

Drane slammed his fists into the floor, the ground trembling from his weight. His teeth clenched as he hauled his towering body upright, eyes burning with rage.

"You bast—"

He didn't finish. His words died the moment his gaze dropped to my hand. My index finger twirled Lydia-B's belt lazily around it as I whistled, strolling toward Lydia-A's unconscious body.

"Wait—" Drane's voice cracked. Sweat ran down his temple.

I plucked a small orb from the belt and rolled it in my palm. Mystic water orb, glowing faint and blue.

His eyes went wide. "No! No." He scrambled, searching frantically for his club. But it had been blasted clear across the field. Out of reach.

Pop.

The orb burst against Lydia's still body, releasing its shimmering liquid in a faint splash of light.

"Drane." I smirked at him. "This makes it your duel number seventeen with Lydia. You ready?"

His legs trembled. His hands shook against his knees as he turned, desperate, toward Kuro.

The boy was still slumped against the wall, gasping like a fish as his copies dissolved and burst apart before his eyes.

"Kuro!" Drane roared. "My artifact! Astral Sigil!"

"H-huh?" Kuro's dazed eyes blinked as he fumbled at his belt. A cube popped free, tumbling into his shaky hands.

I blurred forward.

"Kuek!" he coughed as I appeared before him, the cube slipping free. With a kick, I bounced the falling artifact upward and caught it neatly in my hand.

I rolled it in my palm, inspecting its shifting edges. "So this is the artifact you used against Lydia, huh?" My eyes flicked to Drane. "Explains why your fights always dragged out."

Drane's tongue clicked sharply as he retrieved his club, shoulders tense. Rack was already back on his feet, bow gripped tight, arrow half-drawn.

[Astral Sigil. The shape-shifting artifact that absorbs hostile aura to protect its user from being overwhelmed.]

I smirked. "Makes sense now."

Kuro's eyes darted between me and the cube. With a sudden burst of clumsy desperation, he lunged, fingers snatching for it.

Too slow.

I shoved him back hard, slamming his body into the wall. His breath left him in a grunt. In the same motion, Bloodraven pierced through his right thigh.

"AAAAGHHHH!" His scream tore through the chamber as blood poured down his leg.

"Now, now," I said calmly, pressing the blade deeper just enough to make him twitch. "Stay put. Try moving again, and I'll make you explode just like your copies."

His eyes rolled, sweat dripping down his face, body frozen by pain.

Then—

"Ughh…"

The weak sound cut through the room. Every head turned. Drane, Rack, and me.

Lydia.

Her black hair dragged across the floor as she pushed herself up, arms trembling beneath her weight. Slowly, painfully, she raised her head. Strands of hair slid aside, revealing her pale, bloodied face.

Her eyes locked onto me as I stepped closer, standing over her.

"…Rune."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.