The Domain of Absolute Pride shook.
Mirror after mirror shattered as the battle raged.
Shun's blade carved through dozens of reflections.
Eldarin unleashed wave after wave of sword strikes.
Liren danced through the battlefield, disrupting Shota's attacks whenever she could.
And in the center—
Lira fought.
BOOM!
A punch landed.
For the first time, Shota staggered.
"...Impressive," he admitted.
His smile remained.
But it wasn't as confident as before.
Because Lira had grown.
A lot.
She moved faster than his eyes could follow.
Her gauntlets shattered the air itself.
Every punch threatened to collapse entire sections of the domain.
Yet Shota continued laughing.
"...Is that all?"
Lira punched again.
CRACK!
The General of Pride crashed through dozens of mirrors.
Blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.
He wiped it away.
Then laughed.
"Hahahaha!"
"...You're stronger."
"...But you're still predictable."
Lira frowned.
Predictable?
Shota pointed toward Kael.
The memoryless young man stood behind the others.
Watching.
Confused.
Lost.
A cruel grin spread across Pride's face.
"...You know what's funny?"
Lira stopped moving.
Shun's eyes widened.
"...Shota."
The General of Pride ignored her.
"...The great Lira."
His smile widened.
"...The strongest woman alive."
He looked directly at Kael.
"...Couldn't even save the person she loved."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Kael froze.
Lira froze.
Even the mirrors seemed to stop moving.
Shota laughed.
"...Look at him."
He pointed at Kael.
"...Pathetic."
Another laugh.
"...He doesn't even remember your name."
Lira's fists tightened.
"...Stop."
Shota ignored her.
"...You cry over him."
"...You protect him."
"...You crossed an entire continent for him."
His voice became colder.
"And he doesn't remember a single thing."
"...Not your adventures."
"...Not your battles."
"...Not your tears."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"...Not even your love."
"LIRA!"
Shun shouted.
Too late.
Something broke.
Not the domain.
Not the battlefield.
Lira.
The air stopped.
The wind disappeared.
The mirrors froze.
Everything became still.
Terrifyingly still.
Lira lowered her head.
"...Hopeless?"
Her voice sounded strange.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Shota smiled.
"...Exactly."
"...He's hopeless."
"...Just like your efforts."
The next second—
The sky turned purple.
A deep violet light erupted from Lira's fists.
Not the Purple Fist everyone knew.
Something greater.
Something unstable.
The ground collapsed.
The mirrors cracked.
The entire domain began shaking violently.
Shota's smile vanished.
For the first time.
Ever.
The General of Pride looked afraid.
"...What..."
Lira slowly raised her head.
Her eyes glowed violet.
Tears streamed down her face.
But there was no sadness left.
Only rage.
Pure rage.
"...Don't."
The domain trembled.
"...Talk."
A mountain-sized section of the mirror world exploded behind her.
"...About."
Reality itself distorted.
Shota took a step backward.
For the first time in his life.
"...Him."
BOOOOOOM!
Lira vanished.
Not moved.
Vanished.
Shota's eyes widened.
Then—
A fist appeared in front of his face.
And the Domain of Absolute Pride began to shatter.
To Be Continued...