_______
The ocean changed.
It didn't roar.
Didn't crash.
It pressed.
A deep, suffocating pressure descended from above the ruins, sinking through the water like a collapsing sky.
Dianara's head snapped upward.
"…They're here."
Ravian didn't move.
"…Two."
Mira grinned.
"…Finally."
Izumi stepped forward slowly.
His grip tightened.
"…Everyone ready?"
Seraphina raised her blade.
"…We don't have a choice."
Lior swallowed.
But nodded.
"…Yeah."
The sphere behind them pulsed.
Once.
Heavy.
As if reacting—
To what was coming.
The Arrival
The ruins trembled.
Then—
The water split.
A violent spiral of wind and fire carved through the ocean itself, forcing the currents apart.
From within it—
A figure descended.
Tall.
Armored in scaled plating that shimmered like burning metal.
Eyes glowing like embers.
A halberd rested on his shoulder—
Radiating destructive force.
"…So this is the place."
His voice carried effortlessly through the water.
Heavy.
Dominant.
Dianara's eyes widened.
"…That's—"
Ravian finished it calmly.
"Arman Dagahra."
The second presence followed.
No explosion.
No chaos.
Just silence.
The water darkened unnaturally.
Shadows bending inward.
Reality distorting.
A woman stepped forward—
Graceful.
Elegant.
Eyes filled with something unreadable.
Her staff glowed faintly—
Wrapped in illusion and shadow.
"…How nostalgic."
Her voice was soft.
But it echoed unnaturally.
Dianara's breath caught.
"…Velkira Sylth…"
Two leaders.
At once.
Confrontation
Arman looked around lazily.
"…So these are the ones interfering with the system."
Velkira smiled faintly.
"…Interfering?"
"…No."
"…They're activating it."
Her gaze locked onto Izumi.
"…Interesting."
Izumi stepped forward.
"…You're not getting any closer."
Arman chuckled.
"…Bold."
He slammed the butt of his halberd into the ground.
The ruins shook violently.
"…But meaningless."
First Clash
He moved instantly.
The water exploded outward as he lunged.
Faster than anything they'd faced before.
Izumi barely reacted in time—
Raising his blade—
CLANG
The impact sent him flying.
"…Izumi!"
Mira dashed forward instantly.
Her daggers flashed—
Shadow slicing through the water—
Arman blocked effortlessly.
"…Too slow."
A burst of wind and fire erupted from his body—
Mira was thrown back.
Seraphina stepped in.
Her blade glowing—
She struck with precision—
Arman deflected.
But this time—
He stepped back.
"…Hm."
"…Better."
Velkira Moves
Meanwhile—
Velkira raised her staff.
"…Let's make this more interesting."
The space around them shifted.
Illusions spread instantly.
Multiple copies of her appeared.
Dozens.
Surrounding the battlefield.
Lior panicked.
"…Which one is real?!"
Dianara clenched her fist.
"…All of them—and none of them!"
Ravian stepped forward calmly.
"…Focus."
His aura flared.
Golden-red light cutting through the illusions.
Several copies shattered instantly.
Velkira tilted her head.
"…A Paladin."
"…How troublesome."
Team Struggle
The battlefield split into chaos.
Izumi, Seraphina, and Mira engaged Arman—
Each clash shaking the ruins.
His power was overwhelming.
Every strike carried weight.
Destruction.
"…You're weak."
Arman said plainly.
Izumi gritted his teeth.
"…We'll see about that."
Mira smirked.
"…Try saying that again after I cut you."
Seraphina remained silent—
Her attacks precise.
Calculated.
Meanwhile—
Dianara, Lior, and Ravian faced Velkira.
Illusions twisted reality.
Attacks came from nowhere.
Lior struggled to keep up.
"…I can't track her!"
Dianara focused.
"…Don't track—feel!"
Ravian stepped forward.
"…She hides in distortion."
He struck—
And one illusion shattered—
Revealing the real Velkira—
For a split second.
"…Found you."
End Build-Up
The sphere behind them pulsed violently.
Reacting to the battle.
Reacting to the presence of the leaders.
Cracks glowing again.
Dianara's eyes widened.
"…This is bad…"
Izumi blocked another strike from Arman—
Barely holding on—
"…We can't let them near the core!"
But Arman smiled.
"…Too late."
He raised his halberd—
Energy gathering—
And aimed—
Not at them.
At the sphere.
Arman's halberd fell.
Not toward Izumi.
Not toward the team.
Toward the sphere.
"…Stop him!" Dianara shouted.
But it was already too late—
Or it should have been.
Interception
A flash of gold-red light cut through the battlefield.
CLANG
Ravian appeared in front of the sphere—
Blocking the strike.
The impact shattered the ground beneath him.
Cracks spread across the ruins.
But the sphere—
Remained intact.
Ravian didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
"…You won't touch it."
Arman grinned.
"…Now that's interesting."
He pushed harder—
Wind and fire erupting violently—
Ravian slid back slightly—
But held.
The Shift
Velkira's voice echoed across the battlefield.
"…Enough playing."
The illusions intensified.
The entire chamber distorted.
Reality bending.
Space folding in unnatural ways.
Dianara clenched her teeth.
"…She's increasing output—!"
Lior stumbled.
"…I can't tell what's real anymore!"
Even Izumi's vision blurred.
Mira clicked her tongue.
"…Annoying."
Seraphina stepped forward.
Her aura expanding—
"…Then we cut through everything."
Her blade glowed—
Bright.
Pure.
She swung.
A wave of light tore through the distortions—
Shattering multiple illusions at once.
Velkira's real form flickered into view.
"…Impressive."
Team Coordination
Izumi saw the opening.
"…Now!"
Mira vanished—
Shadow trailing behind her—
Reappearing behind Velkira—
Daggers striking—
But—
Blocked.
"…Predictable."
Velkira whispered.
Before she could counter—
A blast of energy struck her from the side.
Dianara.
"…You're not the only one thinking ahead."
Velkira was pushed back—
Just slightly.
But enough.
Ravian moved instantly—
His strike landing clean—
Forcing her further away from the sphere.
Arman Unleashed
Meanwhile—
Arman broke through.
With a violent surge—
He pushed Ravian back—
"…You're strong."
"…But not enough."
He turned—
Facing Izumi.
"…Let's see what the 'chosen one' can do."
Izumi stepped forward.
"…I'm not alone."
Mira smirked.
"…Damn right."
Seraphina raised her blade.
"…Focus."
Resonance in Battle
Without planning—
Without words—
They moved together.
Izumi attacked head-on.
Arman blocked—
Mira struck from the side—
Seraphina followed with precision.
Three attacks—
Perfectly timed.
Arman's expression shifted.
Just slightly.
"…So that's it."
"…Resonance."
He pushed back—
But this time—
He didn't dominate instantly.
Awakening
The sphere pulsed violently again.
Reacting.
To the fight.
To the connection.
Dianara's eyes widened.
"…It's responding to their synchronization!"
Lior held the fragment tightly.
"…It's getting stronger!"
A surge of energy spread outward—
Reaching Izumi—
Mira—
Seraphina—
Their movements sharpened.
Faster.
More precise.
Not stronger—
But better.
Counterattack
Izumi stepped forward—
His blade glowing faintly—
"…Let's push him back."
Mira grinned.
"…Now you're talking."
They attacked again—
This time—
Cleaner.
Sharper.
Arman blocked—
But—
He stepped back.
Just one step.
But enough.
"…Interesting…"
Velkira's Decision
Velkira watched from a distance.
Her expression calm.
But her eyes—
Sharp.
"…We've seen enough."
Arman glanced at her.
"…Already?"
"…Yes."
She raised her staff.
The illusions collapsed instantly.
The pressure in the chamber eased—
Just slightly.
Withdrawal
Arman stepped back.
Rolling his shoulders.
"…You got lucky."
Izumi didn't lower his guard.
"…Next time won't be the same."
Arman smirked.
"…I'm counting on it."
Velkira's gaze lingered on the sphere.
Then—
On Izumi.
"…You're progressing faster than expected."
Her voice softened slightly.
"…That will make things more interesting."
The space behind them distorted.
A portal.
"…Until next time."
And just like that—
They were gone.
Aftermath
Silence returned.
Heavy.
But different.
No longer fear.
But realization.
Mira exhaled.
"…Yeah…"
"…We're in deep now."
Lior dropped to the ground.
"…We actually survived…"
Dianara stared at the sphere.
"…Barely."
Ravian stepped forward.
"…They were testing you."
Izumi looked at him.
"…And?"
"…You passed."
Seraphina lowered her blade.
"…For now."
Final Scene
The sphere pulsed softly.
More stable than before.
The floating piece glowed brighter.
Responding to all of them.
Dianara spoke quietly.
"…We're getting closer."
Izumi looked at his team.
"…Then we keep going."
Far away—
In the shadows of another land—
Two figures stood.
Arman smirked.
"…They're improving."
Velkira nodded slightly.
"…Yes."
"…Which means…"
Her eyes darkened.
"…we accelerate the plan."
The war—
Had officially begun.