The corridor tightened.
Not physically—
But in weight.
In intent.
—
On the far side, the mage didn't move.
His eyes stayed fixed forward, calm, calculating—while behind him, a **massive magic circle** slowly unfolded in the air.
Layer by layer.
Complex. Dense. Power gathering.
—
In front of him, the rune master stepped forward.
Wind rose instantly—not wild, but controlled—spiraling tightly around his body.
—
"Make it quick," he said, voice low, steady. "We're not dealing with nobodies."
A faint pause.
"…That's the son of the Vampire King."
—
The mage didn't look at him.
"I'm aware," he said, calm, focused. "I just need time."
"…How long?"
A beat.
"…Three minutes."
—
The rune master exhaled once. Then shook his head.
"…You'll get two."
A faint smirk touched his lips.
"Make them count."
—
He stepped forward.
Wind surged harder. Fire followed.
—
Two runes ignited behind him.
One burned bright—**fire**.
The other spun—**wind**.
—
Flames twisted into motion, pulled tight by spiraling air—condensed, sharpened, forming—
A spear.
—
Across the corridor, the fox girl's eyes narrowed.
"…Wind and fire…" Her voice was quiet, measured.
"…Two-star fire rune… one-star wind rune…"
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
"…Same as me."
—
Then she glanced sideways—at Draven.
"…Sir." A small pause. "…I'll need your help."
Her eyes flicked forward again.
"…I'll take the rune master. You deal with the mage."
—
Silence.
Draven didn't respond. Didn't move.
He just stood there. Watching.
—
Across from them, the rune master smiled.
"…Come then."
He rolled his shoulder once—then drew his arm back.
Fire compressed tighter. Wind screamed around it.
—
"Let's see what the so-called son of the Demon King can really do."
—
And then—he threw it.
The spear tore through the corridor—fast, violent. Fire spiraling under pressure, wind sharpening its edge.
—
At the same time, the fox girl moved.
Lightning erupted around her body. Wind gathered at her feet. Her form blurred—
—
She launched forward.
Two attacks. Two directions.
They met.
—
**BOOM**
The explosion ripped through the corridor. Fire burst outward. Wind shattered. Lightning cracked violently through the blast.
Dust. Smoke. Debris filled the space.
—
For a moment, nothing was visible.
Then the smoke split.
A figure shot through it—fast, focused.
The fox girl.
Lightning trailing behind her. Eyes locked forward.
—
"I'm the one you'll be facing."
—
She closed the distance instantly.
Claws formed along her arms—crackling with compressed lightning.
The rune master's smile widened.
Behind him, the massive circle around the mage continued to spin—faster now, brighter.
Time was ticking.
The real fight had begun.
The distance between them vanished.
—
The rune master stepped in first.
Wind surged around his body, feeding directly into the flames coiling around his fist.
Then—he struck.
—
**WHOOM**
A fire-wrapped punch tore through the air, wind compressing the flames into a dense, spiraling force aimed straight for her chest.
—
The fox girl didn't retreat. She stepped **into it.**
Lightning exploded along her arms. Claws fully formed. She slashed forward.
—
**BOOM**
Fire and lightning collided head-on.
The impact cracked the corridor walls. Heat and static burst outward in a violent shockwave, dust lifting from the ground, forcing both half a step back.
—
But neither broke.
The rune master twisted his wrist instantly. Wind shifted, redirecting the remaining flames into a sweeping arc aimed for her side.
—
She reacted just as fast.
Her body dipped low. Lightning surged through her legs. She spun, her claw slicing upward through the redirected flames.
—
**CRACK—HISS**
The fire split. Dispersed.
She was already inside his range.
Her other hand shot forward—claws tearing for his throat.
—
The rune master leaned back just enough. Wind burst at his feet, creating distance in an instant.
"…Fast," he muttered.
But she didn't stop. She chased.
Lightning snapped beneath her steps, each movement sharp, precise—closing the gap before he could fully reset.
—
Her claws came down.
He met them. Both hands up—fire igniting across his forearms, wind reinforcing the guard.
—
**THUD**
The impact drove him back a step. Stone cracked under his heel.
But he held. Then countered. His knee drove upward, flames bursting at the point of impact.
—
She twisted mid-motion, letting it graze—heat licking across her side. Her tail snapped behind her for balance.
Her elbow came down.
—
**BANG**
Slamming into his shoulder.
The rune master grunted—but didn't falter.
Instead, he smiled. Wind surged again, stronger this time.
"…You're good," he said, voice steady—even as flames intensified around him.
"…But you're not the only one who knows how to fight up close."
The air around them tightened. Fire burned hotter. Wind spun faster.
—
Then he stepped forward again. This time—not holding back.
A barrage followed—punch, kick, strike. Each movement enhanced—wind boosting speed, fire amplifying impact.
She met him head-on. Lightning clashed against flame. Claws against reinforced limbs.
—
**THUD—CRACK—BOOM**
Shockwaves rattled the corridor. Walls splintered. Stone chipped away.
Neither yielded. Her movements were sharper, faster. But his—heavier. Relentless.
—
A punch slipped through.
**THUD**
It struck her side. Air left her lungs for a split second—but she didn't fall.
Her eyes sharpened instead. Lightning surged harder.
Her next strike came faster, more precise. Claws slicing across his guard.
—
**RIP**
Flames scattered. His defense cracked slightly.
He stepped back—just once. A thin line of blood forming along his arm.
Silence—for half a breath.
Both stood there, breathing steady, watching.
—
Behind him, the massive circle continued spinning—faster, brighter, closer to completion.
The fox girl's eyes flicked past him for just a second. Then back.
"…You're stalling."
The rune master smirked.
"…And you're letting me."
Wind surged again. Fire followed. Both moved at the same time. Neither had time left to waste.
Fire and lightning tore through the corridor again.
**BOOM—CRACK**
The fox girl drove forward, claws flashing, forcing the rune master back step by step as sparks and embers scattered across the stone floor.
—
Behind them, the boy and the man stood at the edge of the battlefield. Watching. Tense.
The man swallowed, eyes fixed on the exchange.
"…She's… holding her own," he muttered, voice unsteady but trying to sound assured. "…Pretty well…"
Another explosion echoed. The corridor shook slightly.
The boy didn't answer. His gaze had already shifted—past the fight, past the rune master—to the mage.
The massive circle behind him was no longer just forming. It was **nearing completion.** Layers spinning faster. Mana condensing. The air warping under the pressure.
The boy's expression tightened.
"…That's bad…"
He took a step forward. Instinct kicking in. "…Sir—"
"Shut it."
The words cut clean. Flat. Cold.
The boy froze mid-step.
Draven walked past him. Slow. Measured.
**Clink…**
Broken chains shifted softly with each step.
His eyes weren't on the boy. Weren't on the fight. They were on the mage.
Ahead—the mage didn't move from his position. Didn't flinch. But his gaze flicked up, locking onto Draven as he approached.
For the first time—a shift.
Not fear.
But focus.
"…So you finally decided to move." The mage's voice was calm. Controlled.
The circle behind him flared brighter.
Draven didn't answer. Didn't stop walking.
The pressure in the corridor changed. Subtle—but real. Even the boy felt it. His throat tightening slightly.
"…What is that…"
The man didn't speak. Couldn't. Something about this—felt different.
Ahead—the rune master noticed. Just briefly. A flick of his eyes toward Draven.
And in that split second—the fox girl moved.
Lightning surged. Her claw tore across his guard.
—
**CRACK**
Forcing him back again.
"…Focus." Her voice was sharp. Cold. Dragging his attention back to her.
"…You're with me."
The rune master exhaled sharply. A faint grin remained, tighter now. "…Tch."
Behind him—the mage's circle reached its final rotation. The air screamed. Mana compressed, pulled inward, condensed into something dense. Heavy.
The mage raised his hand slowly.
"…You should've stayed back."
Draven stopped. Just a few steps away. Close enough now.
His gaze lifted slightly. Meeting the mage's eyes.
"…Finished?" Flat.
A pause.
Then—the mage smiled.
"…Just in time."
The circle behind him collapsed inward. All that gathered mana condensed into a single point above his palm—violent. Unstable.
And then—he released it.