The duel was about to begin.
Yet, strangely, there was no crowd.
No roaring spectators, no whispers of excitement—only an eerie silence blanketing the arena. It was only natural. No one truly knew what was about to unfold here. Though the incident from earlier had begun spreading through hushed rumors, fear had already sealed people's lips.
Moments ago, the Royal Knights had arrived.
And with them—Charlee Anthony Octavius.
A man rarely seen in such places… yet today, even he had no choice but to come.
"My lord!" A knight rushed forward and bowed. "Julius has engaged in a duel… with an unknown opponent."
Charlee's expression darkened instantly.
"That idiot never learns," he growled. "Like father, like son. If he were my child, I would've beaten proper manners into him long ago."
Without another word, he ordered a fallen knight to investigate and spurred his horse toward the stadium. It wasn't far—but something felt terribly wrong.
Who would dare face Julius… without fear of death?
If such a person existed—
Then this was no ordinary duel.
---
At the center of the arena—
Valerina and Julius stood face to face.
A massive bell echoed through the air.
GONG—
"So… shall we begin?" Julius smirked.
Valerina hesitated.
She already knew the gap between their strength. It wasn't just wide—it was overwhelming. Even with pure swordsmanship, she might barely survive a few exchanges.
And Riana… was silent.
Because Valerina herself had done it—she had forcefully separated her core from Riana's soul.
If things continued like this…
Riana's soul would be dragged into the Soul Realm.
Valerina clenched her teeth.
I need you… Riana.
---
"I was wondering the same," Julius chuckled darkly. "Let's see just how strong you really are."
Valerina charged.
CLANG!
Their swords collided, sparks exploding into the air.
Riana instinctively retreated, her presence flickering uncertainly. Against someone like Julius… she couldn't even comprehend how to fight.
"Hahaha… just as I thought," Julius laughed.
"I know you're hiding something."
He lunged again.
CLASH!
The impact sent Valerina flying across the ground.
"I… can't last much longer…" she whispered, struggling to stand.
Julius didn't give her time.
This time—
It wasn't a sword attack.
It was something far worse.
"Gravity Falls: Ground Breaker."
The world itself turned against her.
An overwhelming force of gravity crushed down from all directions, binding her body, forcing her knees toward the ground. Her bones screamed under the pressure.
And in that moment—
Julius charged.
"Sword Slash: Breaking Down."
The strike landed.
Valerina's body trembled violently under the combined force of gravity and the devastating blow. Blood sprayed from her lips.
Standing… was no longer an option.
She was on the brink of collapse.
But Julius wasn't done.
Not yet.
"Soul Sovereign: Cut Down."
Valerina's eyes widened.
She understood.
This… will kill me.
If that strike landed—there would be nothing left.
No survival.
No second chance.
Her body refused to move.
Tears streamed endlessly down her face.
What do I do…?
With the last fragments of strength, she raised her sword—slowly, painfully—
And then—
SHNK—
Something pierced through her.
Valerina froze.
Warm blood spilled from her mouth as her vision blurred.
Julius grinned, a horrifying smile spreading across his face as he prepared to strike again—
But suddenly—
SLASH!
Valerina retaliated.
A fierce strike forced Julius to leap back.
"Hah… not bad," he said, amused.
He studied her carefully.
"I know you're hiding something," Julius continued. "Now's your last chance. Bring out that version of yourself—the one who slaughtered hundreds of knights."
Valerina's heart sank.
He knows…
He had realized it.
There was more than one soul within her body.
And that was exactly why he chose her.
But something didn't make sense—
I should be dead…
Her body had clearly taken a fatal hit.
So why… was she still alive?
---
"…Valerina?"
A voice.
Familiar.
"…Riana?"
"Oh, so you're finally awake?" Riana's voice sounded faint… distant.
"I thought you'd already gone to the Soul Realm."
Valerina frowned.
Something was wrong.
"…Riana? What are you—"
"Tell me," Riana interrupted softly. "What do I look like to you?"
Valerina clenched her fists.
"…A devil. What else?"
"Oh… I see."
A pause.
Then—
"…Goodbye, Valeri— no… Valerina."
And just like that—
Riana's presence vanished.
Completely.
Valerina's body trembled violently.
"No… no—WAIT—!"
Understanding struck her like lightning.
"That attack…!"
Riana had taken it.
She had used her own soul as a shield—
To protect Valerina.
"Who told you to do that?!" Valerina screamed into the void.
But no answer came.
No voice.
No presence.
Riana… was gone.
---
Moments earlier—
Riana had regained consciousness just in time to see Julius unleashing Soul Sovereign: Cut Down.
Without hesitation—
She stepped forward.
Not with her body—
But with her soul.
Becoming a shield.
"Heh… not a bad life…"
Her thoughts drifted.
"But… I couldn't say goodbye to Enric…"
"What is that idiot doing now…? Crying? Or trying to live like a proper man?"
"…I don't know."
"I missed Mom and Dad… so much…"
A faint smile.
"So this is the end…"
"Goodbye… my friend."
---
Back in the present—
Valerina's scream tore through the sky.
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING?! YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME ALONE!"
Silence answered her.
There was no Riana anymore.
No annoying voice.
No presence.
Nothing.
---
Rage.
Pure, uncontrollable rage.
Valerina's entire body trembled as her eyes burned with fury.
"You bastard!" she roared at Julius. "HOW DARE YOU?!"
"Didn't you promise me?!" Her voice broke. "You said you wouldn't use techniques that harm souls! WHY DID YOU BREAK YOUR PROMISE?! WHY?!"
Julius blinked—then laughed.
"Promise?" he said mockingly. "Did you seriously believe your enemy?"
"How amusing."
His expression turned cold.
"Now… rest in peace."
He charged.
---
But—
Valerina moved first.
All her mana surged violently into her blade.
Every ounce of pain.
Every drop of grief.
Every fragment of rage—
Condensed into a single strike.
She dashed forward like a storm.
"Sword Art: Distr—"
CLAAAAANG!!!
A massive collision shook the arena.
Julius blocked.
Using the same technique.
Yet—
He was blown far back, his feet tearing through the ground.
"What—?!" His eyes widened.
How is she—?!
---
And then—
The sky changed.
Dark clouds swallowed the heavens.
Lightning exploded across the battlefield.
BOOM—!!
Thunder roared like the end of the world.
Bolts of lightning struck endlessly, tearing the earth apart.
The air itself trembled.
Something—
Was coming.
From within the storm—
A figure emerged.
A young man.
Stepping forward…
Through lightning and destruction.