The battlefield went still.
Even the chaos of the burning camp faded into the background.
All attention—
Locked onto two figures.
---
Rai.
And the First Blade of the Shadow Order.
---
The assassin stood calmly.
Black blade in hand.
Aura sharp enough to cut the air itself.
---
Lucian cracked his neck behind Rai.
"…Can I take him?"
---
Rai didn't look back.
"No."
---
Lucian grinned.
"Yeah, figured."
---
Karn stepped slightly to the side.
"…He's dangerous."
---
Ruun added quietly,
"…Different from the others."
---
The First Blade smiled faintly.
"You have good instincts."
---
Then—
He vanished.
---
No explosion.
No warning.
No sound.
---
Just—
Gone.
---
Ruun's eyes widened.
"…Fast."
---
Rai didn't move.
---
A faint shift in the air—
Behind him.
---
CLANG!
---
Rai caught the blade.
Barehanded.
---
The impact sent a shockwave outward.
---
Lucian whistled.
"…Again with the hand thing."
---
The First Blade's eyes narrowed.
"…Impressive."
---
Rai's grip tightened.
The blade trembled.
---
Then—
The assassin twisted his wrist.
---
The blade split.
Turning into multiple thin fragments mid-air.
---
SHHK! SHHK! SHHK!
---
They shot toward Rai from all directions.
---
Rai stepped forward.
Shadow Step.
FLASH.
---
He disappeared.
Reappearing above.
---
The fragments struck the ground—
Exploding on impact.
---
Karn's eyes sharpened.
"…Multi-form weapon."
---
The First Blade looked up.
Already reacting.
---
He jumped.
Meeting Rai mid-air.
---
CLANG!
---
Their attacks collided.
---
Rai struck with his fist.
The assassin blocked with the reconstructed blade.
---
They landed at the same time.
---
No pause.
---
The First Blade attacked again.
Faster.
Sharper.
Every strike aimed for a vital point.
Neck.
Heart.
Eyes.
---
Rai moved smoothly.
Dodging.
Blocking.
Adapting.
---
But—
A small cut appeared on his arm.
---
Lucian leaned forward.
"…He hit him."
---
Ruun's expression darkened.
"…Precision."
---
The First Blade smiled.
"You're not invincible."
---
Rai looked at the cut.
It healed instantly.
---
"…No."
---
"But you're not fast enough."
---
He vanished again.
---
This time—
Faster.
---
The First Blade barely reacted.
---
THUD
---
Rai's knee slammed into his stomach.
---
The assassin's body bent.
Air forced out of his lungs.
---
But he didn't fall.
---
He twisted mid-impact—
Driving his blade toward Rai's throat.
---
CLANG
---
Rai blocked again.
---
The two locked.
Face to face.
---
"…You're holding back," the First Blade whispered.
---
Rai's eyes darkened slightly.
"…You noticed."
---
The assassin smirked.
"Then stop."
---
For a moment—
Silence.
---
Then—
The air changed.
---
Dark energy began to rise around Rai.
---
Lucian grinned.
"Oh…"
"Here we go."
---
Karn narrowed his eyes.
"…Again."
---
The First Blade stepped back.
His instincts screamed.
---
"…That power."
---
Rai's eyes flickered.
Ice blue…
Turning crimson.
---
Dark Dominion expanded.
---
The ground cracked.
The air grew heavy.
---
Several Shadow Order members collapsed instantly.
---
The First Blade gritted his teeth.
"…So this is the vessel."
---
Rai stepped forward.
Slow.
Controlled.
---
"You wanted my full strength."
---
The voice inside whispered—
KILL HIM.
---
This time—
Rai didn't reject it.
---
"…Fine."
---
He disappeared.
---
Not a flash.
Not a blur.
---
Gone.
---
The First Blade's eyes widened.
---
Too late.
---
CRACK!
---
Rai's fist slammed into his chest.
---
The impact shattered the ground beneath him.
---
The assassin flew backward—
Crashing through multiple structures.
---
Silence followed.
---
Lucian laughed loudly.
"HAHA!"
"Yeah! That's it!"
---
But—
From the rubble—
The First Blade stood again.
---
Blood ran down his mouth.
His body trembling slightly.
---
But his eyes—
Still sharp.
---
"…Good."
---
He wiped the blood away.
---
"This… is worth killing you for."
---
His aura exploded.
Sharper than before.
Faster.
Deadlier.
---
The blade in his hand began to vibrate.
Splitting again—
Into dozens of fragments.
---
Floating around him.
---
"…Let's end this."
---
Rai stood calmly.
Crimson eyes glowing.
Dark energy swirling.
---
"…Try."
---
The battlefield held its breath.
---
Because the next exchange—
Would decide everything.