The spinning hatchet struck the masked man's back.

THUNK!!

The dark blade dug into his flesh, sinking deep. Blood spilled. The sound of flesh cutting was sweet.

"GAHH—!!" For the first time, his voice cracked with real pain. He groaned.

He jerked violently. Rage erupting from him like a shockwave. Amon and Arnold were thrown off him instantly, flung backward like they were weightless.

"Agh—!!"

Arnold hit the ground, rolling.

Amon skidded across the dirt, coughing.

But the attack wasn't over.

Because.

"HYAAAH!!"

Aisha's lightning spear crashed into the assassin at that exact moment.

BOOOOOOM!!

A blinding explosion lit up the forest.

Dust shot into the air. Lightning danced across broken trees. The masked man slid back, cape torn, body smoking from the blast.

Amon didn't waste a second.

His hand snapped up.

The hatchet that had hit the enemy's back trembled and flew back toward Amon's left hand.

At the same moment, the shadows covering the assassin's face ripped themselves free and surged across the ground like black serpents.

They climbed Amon's arm and wrapped around the blade of his sword, coating it in dense, liquid darkness. It left a trail of black smoke.

Amon exhaled sharply.

Good. Come here.

He tossed his hatchet straight upward, spinning into the sky.

Then grasped his sword with one hand, turning his entire body sideways.

Darkness swirled around the blade.

His eyes narrowed.

He swung horizontally.

[Umbral Veil Sword Art: First Form – Crescent of Dusk]

SHUUUUU—!!

A pitch-black crescent slash tore through the air.

Silent.

Sharp.

Deadly.

It flew toward the masked man with terrifying speed, widening as it traveled. Like a blade big enough to cleave a boulder in half. Something that could cut trees.

The masked man lifted his head just in time. His eyes widening behind the mask. His body was already injured by lightning spells.

But the slash was already on him.

BOOM!

The slash hit the enemy's sword. The man was able to block it on time. But he didn't get much time to rest.

From the other side, Arnold was ready to strike.

His sword was raised vertically. The blade of the sword started to shine in silver-white. The blade shimmered brightly, releasing star-like beautiful particles.

The sword now raised above his head, his grip tightened around the hilt. The starlight on it intensified, shimmering wildly. Ready to unleash tremor upon the world, ready to shatter anything in its way.

His entire body radiated mana, the air trembling with power.

Arnold exhaled softly, his dark blue eyes full of resolve and confidence. He brought the sword down in a perfect vertical slash.

[Shattering Star]

A colossal slash of silver-white light tore through the forest, silver starlight sparks emitting beautifully.

The attack roared. It was unstoppable, dangerous. Too strong.

"Tch!" The man clicked his tongue. He could feel that the attack was too strong. It could injure him dangerously.

But just then, two shadowy hands grabbed him from the shadows.

It was the spell cast by Amon.

[Shadow Clutch]

He was late. Just a few seconds, and the slash was already on him.

His eyes widened in alarm.

BOOOOM!

"Ahhh!" The man screamed. A long cut appeared on his chest. But he was still standing.

He lifted his head. Arnold was already upon him. The man somehow raised his sword high to block the strike.

CLANG!

Metal clashed against metal as sparks flew.

"Hah!"

"Ahh!"

Both Arnold and the masked man clenched their teeth.

Arnold's eyes glimmered. His expression turned cold as he moved faster. Both his hands left the sword. He ducked down.

The man's balance was disturbed. Arnold extended his right hand up and held the man's collar.

Mana wrapped around his leg and hand. With all his strength.

The man's eyes widened.

"AARRHHH!" Arnold screamed. Not in pain, but because of the force he was applying.

Arnold threw the man in the other direction.

SWISSS!

The masked man flew through the air, straight in the direction where Adelia and Lynira were fighting.

At the same time, a huge explosion appeared in that direction.

BOOM!

Amon, who saw it, furrowed his brow while covering his face from the shockwaves that came from that explosion.

'What the heck is Arnold thinking?' Amon wondered.

---

While on the other side…

A few minutes before Arnold threw that guy in this direction.

Adelia didn't give Lynira a moment to breathe.

The instant Lynira hit the ground. Adelia yanked the chains again.

BOOOOOM!!

Lynira's body bounced off the shattered earth like a broken doll, blood spraying from her lips.

Yet even as her ribs bent inward and her vision blurred.

She laughed.

"Hehehe… hah… you're… stronger than the rumors said…"

Adelia's eyes were burning with wrath and focus. No amusement, no mercy.

"You will fall here."

She pulled her arm back again.

Lynira's eyes widened.

"Oh—"

SLAAAAAAM!!

Adelia smashed Lynira into the ground a second time.

Then a third.

Then a fourth.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!

Each impact ripped deeper craters into the destroyed forest floor. Each hit made Lynira's body jerk helplessly, her mana flickering violently, the darkness around her growing thinner each second.

Her breath hitched.

Blood trickled from her mouth, her nose, even her ears.

Her mask was long gone.

Her beautiful face was bruised, cut, burned.

And finally.

Her smile began to shake.

Not excited.

But strained.

"…heh… you're… rougher than you look… teacher…"

Adelia landed beside the crater, stepping through dust and debris, aura surging like a blazing inferno.

Her voice was low, trembling with controlled fury.

"You threatened my students."

She walked toward the crater.

"You dared to harm them."

Her golden chains tightened even more, glowing hotter and hotter. Lynira hissed as the holy light burned her skin, black smoke rising from where the chains touched her.

"You attacked Amon… Aisha… Eliana…"

Adelia's flames flared.

Her hair danced like strands of fire.

"You will not walk away."

Lynira coughed, her head rolling back weakly.

"…tch… wasn't… planning to walk…"

She tried to summon darkness. But it flickered and collapsed.

Her mana was unstable. Her breathing sharp. Her arms trembling. She was getting tired.

And Adelia?

Adelia looked like an immortal flame.

Unwavering.

Unbreakable.

Lynira struggled, voice hoarse.

"…I was… holding back… you know…"

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