Clang—
Claudia's blade cut through the air, fast and precise.
But Abel didn't move.
The moment the sword was inches away from his neck, he tilted his head. The blade brushed past him, missing by a hair's breadth.
Claudia's eyes widened.
Too slow.
The thought came instinctively, and it irritated her.
Clang!
Their swords collided, but the force behind Abel's strike sent a jolt through her arms and forced her back a step.
"…What?"
Her grip tightened.
That wasn't normal. Even in her dreams, opponents didn't move like this. They didn't react like that.
This wasn't just skill. It was instinct—refined to a frightening degree.
Abel watched her calmly, taking in every detail—her stance, her breathing, the sharpness in her eyes. Even in a dream, Claudia was still herself.
"As expected," he muttered.
Claudia frowned. That voice… it sounded like Abel, but older. Colder.
She didn't hesitate this time.
She dashed forward.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Their swords clashed repeatedly, the sound echoing endlessly through the void. Claudia's attacks were clean and efficient, each strike carrying lethal intent. But Abel moved with minimal effort, deflecting everything with precise, almost effortless motions.
No wasted movement. No openings.
Claudia's speed increased. Her strikes became sharper, more unpredictable.
Still—nothing landed.
Her thoughts began to race.
Why can't I touch him?
She twisted mid-swing, turning a downward slash into a feint before thrusting straight toward his heart.
Abel stepped aside.
Clack.
Her blade was knocked off course, and in the same motion, his sword lightly touched her neck.
A clean kill.
Claudia froze.
"…I lost?"
The words left her lips in disbelief.
She had never lost before.
Abel lowered his sword slightly. "You're hesitating."
Her head snapped up. "Hesitating?"
"You're thinking too much. Your sword is sharp, but your mind is dull."
Her grip tightened further. "…That doesn't make sense."
"It does," he replied calmly. "You're used to winning."
Silence fell between them.
For a moment, the void itself seemed to grow heavier.
Claudia took a step forward, and her aura began to rise—cold, sharp, and suffocating.
"I've just never had a reason to go all out," she said. "Thanks for giving me one."
Frost spread beneath her feet, creeping outward in jagged patterns.
Abel's eyes gleamed. Finally.
[ Skill Detected: Moon Blade ]
"Hmm, that's new," Abel muttered
The temperature dropped instantly. Ice formed along Claudia's blade as a pale blue glow enveloped her body.
She exhaled—
—and vanished.
Clang!!!
Their swords collided mid-air with explosive force, sending a shockwave rippling through the void. Abel slid back slightly, and a thin cut appeared on his cheek.
A drop of blood fell.
Claudia stared.
" I hit you…"
There was disbelief in her voice.
Abel touched his cheek, glancing at the blood before letting out a quiet laugh. "... That's more like it."
For the first time in a while, his mana began to leak.
Dark. Heavy. Overwhelming.
The void trembled under its pressure.
Claudia's instincts screamed at her. Danger.
She leapt back just as Abel appeared in front of her, his speed far beyond anything she had seen before.
Clang!
She barely managed to block. The impact sent her crashing into the ground, the surface beneath her shattering like glass.
She coughed, struggling to steady herself. '…What is this…?"
This wasn't a dream. It couldn't be. No dream felt this real.
Abel stood above her, silent for a moment before speaking.
" You wanted a challenge, didn't you?"
Her breath caught.
That voice… it felt familiar. Too familiar.
Her eyes widened slightly. "…Abel? Is it really you?"
Abel's expression didn't change, but inwardly, something shifted.
She's noticing.
That wasn't supposed to happen.
Claudia slowly rose to her feet, her sword trembling ever so slightly. "…Who are you?"
For a brief moment, the void flickered.
It was subtle—but real.
Far away, in the real world, Lucius MorningStar stepped away from the window, his brows furrowing.
"…Strange."
The mana in the air had shifted. Only for an instant, but he felt it.
Back in the void, Abel exhaled quietly. This was getting dangerous.
But instead of stopping, he raised his sword again.
"…Finish this."
Claudia stared at him, her heart pounding. Her instincts warned her, her mind questioned everything—but despite it all, a smile slowly formed on her face.
She tightened her grip on her sword. "Now this feels real."
Ice surged once more, spreading across the void as the ground beneath them cracked under the pressure of their auras.
Two figures stood facing each other—one hiding the truth, the other unknowingly approaching it.
And then they moved.
Clang!!!