Vaarh, along with Ardur, was one of the main forces in the entire region before the Frost Ridge, and even there, he would have had enough strength to conquer a piece of land for himself.

Kreyn changed his Record so that he would have the opportunity to negotiate with Vaarh for help, and he succeeded.

But now, Vaarh had fled the battlefield, not out of cowardice but because of a terrible wound. If he hadn't dodged Ardur's direct attack, it would have been all over right then and there.

Naturally, the escape of such a monster could not fail to cause joy on one side.

"Hahaha!" Liliane exclaimed in wild laughter while blood flowed from the cut on her forehead. "The great and terrible Vaarh has fled the battlefield like a pathetic coward! Now, the outcome of the battle is a foregone conclusion!"

She turned to see the despair on Daren and Azura's faces, but...

"Agh?"

Their expressions were as cold as before.

"It seems you were hoping for this from the beginning, weren't you?" Azura said, flames swirling around her shoulders. "You still don't understand that we never expected Vaarh to do all the work for us. You really are stupid."

A grimace covered Liliane's face as she waved her hand.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

Daren exhaled a cloud of smoke, glancing slowly toward Kreyn's battlefield.

"We're fighting you not because we believe in the giant worm, but because we know that even in a situation like this, Kreyn has a plan."

"K-Kreyn? But he's just as much trash as you are! The First Manifest Origin is nothing compared to the Second Manifest! Even Ozdor, my uncle and the great warrior of the Wurhen Family, couldn't defeat my father!"

Neither Daren nor Azura answered her.

Why?

Because they had no answer.

They didn't know how Kreyn would oppose Ardur now, but for some reason, even deep in their hearts, they did not doubt that he had a solution.

Slash!

Groza swung her sword, tearing through the dark spirits in her path as the pale man jumped aside. He was at his limit, and Ardur's victory was his only chance.

"You can't count on that." Groza stared at the pale man.

"Hmm?" He narrowed his eyes. "What are you talking about, bitch?"

Groza slung her sword over her shoulder with a great frown.

"From what I've learned following this bastard, he's willing to do anything, even the most extreme measures, to win. I know this better than anyone. However..."

She stepped forward as the ground cracked beneath her stride.

"Whether he wins or loses, it doesn't matter, because you won't live to see it!"

At the same time, the third and possibly most important battle after Kreyn vs. Ardur was taking place near the river.

The purple flame covered the ground in the circle while blue fire burned here and there like lonely lights.

Grender and Judith stood steady on their feet, despite the burns covering their bodies.

However, this battle was not easy for Ozdor. A severe burn covered his shoulder as an X-shaped cut bled on his back.

"Looks like... your team is down one fighter, huh?" Ozdor smirked.

Judith shrugged. "Every Origin knows that you have to rely on yourself or your closest ally, but never on a monster."

"Hah, interesting... I wonder if Kreyn knows that? He's much younger than you and not as experienced. If I were you, I'd be worried that this was his last trump card."

Grender shook his head as gusts of wind swirled around his katana. He slowly paced along the fiery ring as Ozdor watched his every move intently.

From their fight, he realized that if Judith's missed attack had cost him a burn, Grender's katana swing could have left his head on the ground.

"You see, my opponent, I don't trust people. And, I would never risk my life for someone else, but..."

Grender stopped, looking at Ozdor like one old warrior to another.

"If you knew what I know, then in my place, you would fight to the very end."

...

Whoooooooosh.

A gust of wind swept past Ardur, ruffling his long black hair, thick as dark flames.

"What is this? Another Artifact?" He stared at the dagger in Kreyn's hand. "You used two of these just to hold me in place! No Artifact will help you against an enemy much stronger than you!"

In response, Kreyn looked at the dagger, seeing his reflection in the wavy blade.

"Who knows, what matters is what you're willing to sacrifice for it, isn't that right?"

Then, he turned west toward the Crimson Crystal Cavern.

"Are you familiar with Merissa? Well, of course you are, you wanted to make a deal with her, didn't you?"

As soon as Kreyn mentioned her name, Ardur's eyes widened as he realized one thing:

"Wait... These Artifacts, are they from Merissa's collection?"

Kreyn nodded.

"Yes, although I won't hide it. The difference in power between us is actually too great, so something special is needed for this."

He pointed the dagger at Ardur, causing him to panic. He didn't know what this weapon was capable of, especially now that he knew it was one of Merissa's Artifacts.

Crack!

Without wasting a moment, Ardur lunged forward. Darkness, like an army of shadows, followed him while his sword left a dark trail on the ground, growing like a plague.

He, like Kreyn, had an Arx Type Catalyst, and one swing of his sword would be enough to end the life of the pathetic First Manifest Origin before him.

'No matter how powerful this Artifact is, it will shatter into pieces when it collides with my sword!

Without fear in his eyes, Kreyn's hand came into motion as moonlight ran across the wavy blade.

And then...

THRUST!

In a wide swing, he plunged the dagger straight into his own heart.

Shock covered Ardur's face, which was soon replaced by fear from Kreyn's haughty gaze despite the blood flowing from his mouth.

He would keep his word.

Even if it cost him his life, but in a deal with the devil, he would gain the power to match Ardur.

The dark red aura, like the cry of a tormented ghost, burst from Kreyn, causing even Ardur's heart to shrink in fear.

Now, not only were his people and family in danger, but he himself was.

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