The wind returned.
Not gently.
Not naturally.
But with intent.
Ravin stood still, his senses sharpening as the air around him shifted. The forest that had just witnessed his victory fell into an unnatural silence. Even the leaves seemed to hesitate, as if something far greater was approaching.
He didn't need to guess.
"…You came back."
His voice was calm.
Steady.
Prepared.
A powerful gust tore through the trees, bending them violently as a familiar presence descended from the sky. White wings cut through the air with absolute authority, and within seconds—
It landed.
The Pegasus.
Its eyes locked onto Ravin once more.
But this time—
Something was different.
It wasn't curiosity.
It wasn't dismissal.
It was recognition.
Ravin tightened his grip on his sword, the faint glow of fire and healing mana rising around him in perfect balance.
"…I'm not the same as before."
The Pegasus stepped forward.
The wind gathered instantly.
Stronger than before.
Denser.
Sharper.
Ravin inhaled slowly.
Then—
He moved.
Not reacting.
Initiating.
His body surged forward, flames igniting along his blade while healing energy flowed beneath his skin, stabilizing every movement. He closed the distance faster than before, his steps precise, controlled.
The Pegasus responded immediately.
A burst of wind shot toward him—
But this time—
Ravin didn't block.
He cut through it.
His sword, wrapped in flame, split the current apart as he pushed forward without slowing.
A shift.
A change.
The Pegasus moved to the side, avoiding his strike with effortless grace.
But Ravin expected it.
He turned instantly, his second strike already in motion.
Faster.
Cleaner.
Closer.
The blade grazed the Pegasus' side—
A visible cut.
Small.
But real.
The wind surged violently.
The Pegasus lifted into the air, its wings spreading wide as the sky itself seemed to tighten around it. Pressure built rapidly, compressing the air into invisible blades.
Ravin's eyes sharpened.
"…Again."
But this time—
He understood.
The attacks came.
Faster than before.
Sharper than before.
Deadlier.
Ravin moved.
Not wildly.
Not desperately.
But with rhythm.
Step.
Dodge.
Turn.
Counter.
Each movement connected to the next, his mana flowing continuously—fire fueling his strikes, healing maintaining his body at peak condition.
A blade of wind cut across his shoulder—
Blood spilled.
But vanished almost instantly.
No pause.
No hesitation.
He kept moving.
"…Flame of Renewal."
The technique activated naturally now.
Not forced.
Not unstable.
Perfectly integrated.
Ravin dashed forward again, his sword blazing as he launched a rapid series of attacks. The Pegasus weaved through them, but the difference was clear.
It wasn't untouched anymore.
It was reacting.
Adjusting.
Respecting.
The clash intensified.
Fire and wind collided violently, each impact sending shockwaves through the forest. Trees split, the ground cracked, and the air itself trembled under the pressure of their battle.
Ravin pushed harder.
Faster.
He forced the Pegasus downward, limiting its movement, bringing the fight to the ground where his control was strongest.
For a moment—
He had the advantage.
His blade struck again.
And again.
Each hit precise.
Each movement calculated.
But then—
The Pegasus changed.
The wind stopped.
Completely.
Ravin froze for a fraction of a second.
"…Not again—"
Too late.
The air compressed.
Far denser than before.
Far more dangerous.
The Pegasus wasn't holding back anymore.
Its wings lifted slowly—
And then—
Released.
A massive storm exploded outward, far beyond the one Ravin had faced before. The force tore through everything, ripping the ground apart, destroying anything in its path.
Ravin reacted instantly.
All his mana surged.
Fire and healing combined at maximum output.
He crossed his blade in front of him, anchoring himself as the storm hit.
Impact.
The world shook.
The ground beneath him shattered as he was pushed back violently, his body straining under the overwhelming force.
Pain surged.
Bones screamed.
But—
He didn't fall.
Not this time.
He held.
Barely.
But enough.
The storm faded slowly.
Silence followed.
Ravin stood there, breathing heavily, his body trembling—but upright.
Still standing.
The Pegasus hovered above, its gaze fixed on him.
Different.
Not dismissive.
Not curious.
Acknowledging.
Ravin lowered his sword slightly, his chest rising and falling.
"…I can reach you."
His voice was rough.
But certain.
"…Next time…"
A faint glow flickered around him.
"…I'll surpass you."
The Pegasus watched him for a moment longer.
Then—
It turned.
The wind returned.
And with a single motion—
It ascended into the sky once more.
Gone.
Ravin remained where he stood, his legs finally giving in as he dropped to one knee, breathing heavily.
"…Not enough…"
But his eyes—
Burned with something new.
Not defeat.
Not frustration.
But hunger.
"…But close."
He looked toward the sky where the Pegasus had disappeared.
"…Very close."
For the first time—
The gap didn't feel infinite.
It felt reachable.
And Ravin—
Was already moving toward it.