Violet's breath came in ragged gasps as she forced herself to stand. Blood dripped from her mouth as her crimson eyes flickered with stubborn defiance. Beside her, Leona clutched her bleeding chest, golden energy crackling weakly around her trembling form.
"Three minutes…" Violet spat blood onto the ground, her eyes burning with crimson light. "Tch. Sounds generous."
Leona growled lowly, wiping the blood from her lips with the back of her hand. "Generous? He just cut us down like it was nothing."
"Then we'll just have to make it something." Violet's fangs gleamed as she straightened her back.
Raghav stood calmly a few feet away, his black sword pulsing with crimson light. His expression remained cold, his crimson eyes empty of emotion.
"Two minutes and fifty seconds," Raghav said, his voice devoid of warmth.
Ah Ming giggled softly from the sidelines, her golden-crimson eyes flashing with amusement. "Better hurry. He gets bored easily."
Leona's golden aura flared as her werewolf instincts surged through her body. Her golden eyes narrowed as her claws lengthened, radiating primal energy. "Violet."
Leona's gaze sharpened as golden energy crackled violently around her claws. Her breathing steadied despite the pain tearing through her chest.
Violet's crimson eyes glowed as dark red markings flared across her pale skin. The blood from her wounds hissed as it evaporated, turning into thin trails of crimson mist that coiled around her body.
"Yeah." Violet's fangs gleamed in the dim light. "Let's stop holding back."
Leona's golden eyes flashed dangerously as her werewolf aura surged outward, golden lightning crackling across her body. Her muscles tensed, her form growing slightly larger as her primal bloodline awakened.
Violet's crimson aura twisted around her body, forming a crimson crown above her head. Her vampiric energy surged as her pupils narrowed into thin slits. Her fangs extended, and the dark crimson mist around her coalesced into several spear-like projections.
"Two minutes."
Raghav's cold voice cut through the charged air. His expression didn't change, but the subtle shift in his stance sent a jolt of instinctual fear through Violet and Leona's bodies.
The temperature in the void dropped as his aura condensed—a silent promise of death.
"I'll go high, you go low," Leona growled.
"Don't get in my way." Violet's lips curled into a bloodthirsty smile.
BOOM!
They moved simultaneously.
Leona's figure blurred as golden lightning erupted beneath her feet, propelling her toward Raghav with blinding speed. Her claws gleamed with golden light as her body twisted mid-air, fangs bared.
Violet's crimson energy exploded outward as she flashed to the side, her blood spears expanding into jagged lances. Her hands wove complex sigils in the air as the spears hovered ominously around her.
Raghav's gaze flicked upward as Leona's claws slashed toward his throat.
CLANG!
A single spark of crimson light.
Raghav's black sword intercepted the strike with terrifying precision. The force of the clash created a shockwave that rippled through the void, distorting the space around them.
"Too slow."
Raghav's sword twisted—
Leona's eyes widened.
SLASH!
Golden blood splattered through the air as Raghav's blade carved a shallow line across Leona's side. Her body twisted violently from the impact, but before she could hit the ground—
"Got you."
Violet appeared behind Raghav, her crimson spears forming a cage of death around him.
SHHHNK!
The spears shot forward from all sides, aiming for his heart, head, and limbs.
Raghav's eyes glowed darkly.
"Foolish."
BOOM!
A crimson-black shockwave erupted from his body, shattering the spears into dust. Raghav spun, his sword slicing through the void as Violet barely twisted her body in time to avoid being cut in half.
A thin line of red appeared across her cheek as she slid backward, her feet digging into the void.
"Persistent." Raghav's gaze darkened as his aura surged dangerously.
"Then how about this!"
Leona's golden aura erupted behind him. Her golden claws expanded into massive, gleaming blades as her werewolf form surged with primal rage.
ROOOOAR!
Leona's battle cry tore through the void as she lunged forward, her claws igniting with golden flames.
At the same moment, Violet's crimson eyes flared as her aura condensed.
"Blood Domain—Crimson Prison!"
The darkness around them twisted unnaturally as a massive crimson formation spread beneath Raghav's feet. Thick chains of blood erupted from the ground, coiling toward his limbs with explosive speed.
"Oh?" Raghav's gaze sharpened.
The blood chains wrapped around his arms and legs, locking his body in place.
Leona's golden claws slashed downward.
SLASH!
Raghav's body blurred.
The next moment—
CRACK!
Violet's blood chains shattered.
Raghav stood behind Leona, his black sword pressed against her throat.
"Better." Raghav's eyes flashed with faint approval.
But then—
"Got you."
Violet's voice came from behind him.
Blood-red markings flared beneath Raghav's feet as several crimson lances formed in mid-air—except this time, they glowed ominously with an eerie light.
"Blood Curse—Final Binding!"
The spears shot downward, piercing through Raghav's shadow.
For the first time—Raghav's eyes narrowed.
BOOM!
The formation detonated. Crimson energy erupted upward, engulfing Raghav's figure in a pillar of blood-red light.
Leona leapt back, her breath ragged as Violet's figure emerged from the crimson mist.
"Did we…?" Leona's voice trailed off.
The crimson light slowly faded.
A figure stood at the center of the destruction.
Untouched.
Raghav stepped forward, his suit still immaculate. His crimson eyes flashed ominously beneath the dim light.
"One minute left."
Violet's eyes widened. "Impossible…"
Leona gritted her teeth. "This monster…"
Raghav's sword pulsed with dark light.
"You've shown a little spirit." His gaze sharpened dangerously. "Let's see if you can survive my next move."
Ah Ming's soft giggle echoed through the void.
"Careful now," she purred. "He's getting serious."
Suddenly—
The space around Raghav cracked.
Dark crimson threads spiraled outward as Raghav raised his sword. The threads converged into the blade's edge, distorting the surrounding space.
"If you can't survive this…" Raghav's crimson eyes flashed. "Then you were never worth saving."
Violet's breath hitched as Leona's claws trembled at her sides.
"Come." Raghav's voice darkened. "Show me your strength."