Renn moved first.
The moment Malveris finished speaking, Renn vanished from his position—his body surging forward in a burst of golden speed, closing the distance in an instant.
Mist Wraiths rose to intercept.
They did not last.
Renn's movements were precise, cutting through the shadows before they could fully take form. Each step carried him forward, each strike clearing a path.
Malveris watched.
"…Impressive," he murmured, a faint smile forming.
Then his voice lifted.
"More, Valehart… show me more."
The ground responded.
More Mist Wraiths surged upward, surrounding Renn from all sides, filling the chamber in waves.
Outside the tomb—
The air shifted.
Seris Valenne's gaze snapped toward the forest.
"… Something's coming."
From beyond the ruins, black mist began to gather—spreading unnaturally fast across the ground before rising into form.
Mist Wraiths
Kael frowned. "…Why the hell are they here?"
Lio stepped forward, already drawing his blade. "Something's wrong. There's no corrupted aether here outside the tomb."
The first wave lunged.
Kael didn't wait.
"Then we clean this up!"
He charged forward, blade raised high, meeting the first Wraith head-on.
Blade Art: Tyrant Breaker
His strike crushed through multiple forms at once, dispersing them into fragments of shadow.
Lio moved alongside him, controlled and precise.
Blade Art: Astra Sever
A clean series of cuts—minimal movement, maximum effect. Each strike erased a Wraith before it could retaliate.
Seris disappeared from sight.
Veil Art: Silent Execution
One by one, Wraiths collapsed silently as her rapier found their core points from unseen angles.
Taren stepped back at first. His breath caught.
"…There's too many…"
The Mist Wraiths advanced again. Closer. Faster. He tightened his grip.
"…No—don't come closer !"
He dashed forward.
Pulse Art: Flash Barrage
A rapid series of thrusts burst outward, each strike accelerating with sudden speed, forcing back the advancing Wraiths.
The battlefield outside the tomb erupted. Steel met shadow. Movement replaced hesitation.
Kael pushed forward aggressively, cutting a path through the Wraiths without restraint.
"Keep moving! Don't let them surround you!"
Lio adjusted position, watching the flow.
"There's too many."
Kael glanced toward the sealed tomb behind them. "…Don't tell me..."
Another wave surged. Kael gritted his teeth.
"Then Renn better be alive in there."
Inside the tomb—
Renn stood alone, surrounded. The Mist Wraiths closed in again. He exhaled once. Then moved.
Aether Art: Orbit Severance
A perfect circular motion. A golden arc expanded outward—clean, controlled.
In a single second, everything around him was erased.
The center cleared.
Renn surged forward again, closing the distance toward Malveris. A massive hand of mist formed instantly above. It struck down.
Renn twisted mid-air, barely avoiding the impact before landing several steps away.
Malveris smirked. "You move well… but not well enough."
Renn steadied himself. Then lowered his stance.
Aether Art: Piercing Collapse
He launched forward. A straight-line burst—fast, direct, overwhelming.
Malveris raised a wall of mist. Renn broke through it. Fragments scattered.
Malveris said quietly."…You Valeharts, are a curse that refuses to fade."
The red orb flared.
A violent explosion filled the chamber.
Outside—
The ground shook.
Kael paused mid-strike. "…What the hell was that?!"
Lio narrowed his eyes "…Something happened inside."
Seris spoke calmly. "The Wraiths are still coming."
Kael raised his blade again. "Then we end this."
They pushed forward once more.
Inside—
Renn struggled to steady himself against the fractured wall of the tomb. The impact had drained what little rhythm his body still held, his breathing uneven, his grip tightening around the dagger that now pulsed faintly with golden light.
"Lumindelle…" he called, his voice lower this time.
The golden cat appeared beside him, floating just above his shoulder, her usual arrogance replaced with something sharper—alert, watchful.
"You're not thinking clearly," she said. "That last exchange already pushed your limit."
Renn didn't answer immediately. His gaze remained fixed on Malveris in the distance.
"…If this fight ends," he said quietly, "I want you to go outside… find them… tell them what happened here."
Lumindelle blinked. "…What are you talking about?"
Renn's voice did not change. "…Just do it."
Lumindelle stared at him for a moment, then exhaled in frustration.
"…You're planning something reckless."
Renn placed his hand slowly over his chest. A faint pulse answered him. Lumindelle's expression shifted.
"…No… don't."
"Aether Overdrive," she said, her voice losing its usual tone, becoming serious, almost urgent. "It's not just a power boost—it's a forced state where your body stops regulating Aether and instead releases everything at once, amplifying your speed, strength, and precision beyond natural limits."
She moved in front of him, locking eyes.
"For someone like you—someone who doesn't have a stabilized Aether foundation—this isn't control… it's surrender."
Renn's hand tightened.
Lumindelle continued, faster now.
"Your body won't hold the output, your mind won't filter the flow, and your Aether will start overriding your senses—your instincts, your decisions—everything. You won't just run out of energy…"
A pause.
"…you'll lose yourself."
Silence.
Renn lowered his hand. Then raised his head.
"…It doesn't matter anymore."
The ground beneath him trembled slightly as golden light began to gather.
At first, it was faint.... then it surged.
A pulse erupted from his chest.
Golden veins spread across his body, visible beneath his skin like cracks of light. His eyes ignited, burning with an intensity that no longer felt human.
Aura burst outward. Unstable, violent yet alive.
Lumindelle stepped back, stunned.
"…Stop doing it…"
Renn didn't respond.
Across the chamber, Malveris watched. His smile widened.
"…Yes…"
A low chuckle escaped him.
"Thats right, boy... Show me what a Valehart can do."
Renn took a step forward. The stone beneath his feet cracked.
Then—
He vanished.
The chamber blurred as he moved, his speed now beyond controlled motion, beyond precision—pure force driving him forward.
Mist Wraiths surged to intercept.
They were erased instantly.
Malveris raised his staff, summoning wave after wave of shadows, forcing distance, building defense.
But Renn did not slow.
Each step closed the gap. Each movement tore through everything in his path.
Malveris narrowed his eyes. "…So this is your answer."
Renn appeared again—closer now. Too close. Malveris reacted instantly, retreating, summoning more Wraiths, layering defenses between them.
Renn broke through all of it.
Then—
He spoke.
"…This ends here."
He threw his dagger. It struck Malveris' staff. The opening appeared. Renn was already there.
A clean thrust.
The blade pierced Malveris' chest.
Outside—
Every Mist Wraith vanished.
Kael stopped. "…They're gone."
Lio lowered his blade. "…All at once."
Seris looked toward the tomb. "…It's over."
Inside—
Malveris staggered.
"…My role here… is complete…"
Renn pulled his blade back.
"…Pity you, Valehart…" Malveris whispered. "
...you will never live quietly from now on. Try not to die… Valehart."
He fell.
Silence returned.
And deep within the tomb—
Only Renn remained standing.