"You gave up."
Ignivar's voice echoed across the shattered arena.
Flames coiled around his spear, rising higher — wilder — hungry.
"It's over."
The sky above the volcanic ruins dimmed beneath thick smoke.
"Now… die."
BOOOOOOM—
Ignivar vanished.
A streak of blazing crimson tore across the battlefield as he launched forward, spear thrusting straight toward Iren's chest like a falling star.
Too fast—
At the final second—
CLANG!
With trembling strength, Iren caught the shaft of the flaming spear with his left hand.
The heat tore into his skin.
Smoke rose.
His palm burned.
"AAARGH—!"
He twisted his body sharply to the left—
THUD!
His right elbow slammed into Ignivar's abdomen.
The impact cracked like thunder.
Ignivar's eyes widened.
Iren gritted his teeth, gripping the spear tighter despite the searing pain. With a roar born from the depths of two years of suffering—
"RAAAHHH!"
He lifted Ignivar off the ground—
And slammed him down.
BOOOOOM!!!
The arena fractured.
Stone splintered.
Cracks spiderwebbed outward from the impact point.
Dust and embers exploded into the air.
Iren staggered backward several steps, breathing heavily.
Ignivar rose from the crater slowly.
Unshaken.
Unbroken.
Iren charged.
Ignivar swung.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Sword and spear collided again and again, sparks bursting with every impact.
The force of each strike rattled Iren's bones.
He pushed harder.
Faster.
But—
THUD!
Ignivar's kick struck his ribs.
Iren flew backward and crashed into a stone pillar.
CRASH!
Rock shattered.
He fell to one knee, coughing blood.
He's faster than me…
Stronger…
If this continues… I lose.
Before he could recover—
WHOOSH—
Ignivar descended from above, spear aimed down like divine judgment.
Iren raised his sword just in time.
CLAAANG!
The impact forced him into the ground.
Stone beneath his feet cracked.
With a burst of will, Iren kicked upward.
Ignivar staggered back.
Both warriors rushed simultaneously.
CLASH!
Spear met sword again—
But this time—
Click.
The blade split.
Steel shifted.
The sword separated into twin daggers.
Ignivar's eyes flickered.
"Oh?"
Iren moved.
Faster.
Lighter.
The daggers danced in his hands like extensions of instinct.
CLING! CLANG! CLING!
The spear struck, but Iren weaved through the attacks, his movements sharper now — more controlled.
The daggers are lighter…
I can match his speed this way.
Ignivar thrust forward—
Iren dropped low.
SHHHH—
He slid beneath the spear and swept his leg.
THUD!
Ignivar lost his footing.
In one fluid motion, Iren rose and delivered a powerful back kick.
BOOOM!
Ignivar was launched across the arena, crashing into a massive stone slab.
Dust exploded outward.
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
Ignivar stood again.
Bruised.
Breathing heavier.
But smiling.
At that exact second, Iren charged with everything he had left.
Ignivar swung his spear vertically.
Iren caught it mid-swing with the dagger in his left hand.
The force vibrated through his bones.
With his right hand—
He drove the second dagger forward.
SHKKKK—
The blade pierced through Ignivar's chest armor.
A shockwave of flame burst outward.
Time slowed.
The fire around Ignivar flickered violently.
Cracks began forming along his armor.
Thin lines of molten light spread like fractures in glass.
Ignivar looked down at the blade lodged in his chest.
Then back at Iren.
The flames around him softened.
"You carry rage…"
His voice was no longer mocking.
"…but not chaos."
The armor continued to crumble.
"The flame accepts you."
Ignivar's body began breaking apart into glowing embers.
Before fully fading, his eyes sharpened one last time.
"Beyond us lie those the sages feared…"
The sky above trembled.
"The Sun does not forgive."
And then—
His body disintegrated into ash and sparks.
Silence fell over the volcanic arena.
Only Iren remained.
Breathing.
Burned.
Standing.