Livio met him mid-air. Their swords clashed, each coated in their respective energies. Sparks flew as they exchanged rapid slashes, their reflexes pushed to the limit. Oliver twisted, slashing one of his swords toward Livio's ribs. Livio parried with his katana and countered with a straight kick, forcing Oliver to retreat.
Ethan capitalized on the gap, slamming his palms together. Shesha expanded instantly, cutting off all abilities within a ten-meter radius. Oliver's ability vanished, leaving him to rely solely on raw PBV martial skill.
Livio stored his katana back in his inventory.
Not missing a beat, Ethan lunged at him with a precise elbow strike. Livio redirected it, using Ethan's momentum against him and attempting a shoulder throw. Ethan reversed it mid-air, landing on his feet before countering with a low sweeping kick. Livio jumped, twisting his body into a spinning heel kick that barely missed Ethan's chin.
Oliver put his swords away.
Seeing an opening, he dropped in with a scissoring kick, catching Livio's arm and flipping him over. Livio hit the ground but used the momentum to roll backward onto his feet.
All three paused, breathing heavily.
Livio's hand drifted toward his sword. Ethan and Oliver exchanged glances before drawing their own weapons.....Livio's katana gleamed, while Oliver's twin curved swords caught the sunlight. They took their stances, the weight of the battle shifting into something more refined.
Livio made the first move, dashing forward with a diagonal slash. Oliver blocked with his left blade and countered with a horizontal swing from his right. Livio ducked, pivoting low to strike at Oliver's leg, but Oliver hopped over the attack.
Ethan, seeing an opportunity, stepped in between them and delivered a powerful PBV-enhanced palm strike toward Livio's back.
Livio twisted at the last moment, letting Ethan's force carry him into Oliver, forcing Oliver to block and skid backward. Seizing the moment, Livio flipped his katana into a reverse grip and spun, his blade whistling through the air. Ethan narrowly avoided the strike, bending backward before using his momentum to launch a knee at Livio's ribs.
Oliver lunged forward, his swords dancing in a flurry of attacks. Livio blocked one, deflected the other, then used the flat of his blade to push Oliver's weapon aside. Ethan, regaining his stance, charged back in. The three warriors clashed in a mesmerizing storm of steel and precision.
Sparks lit the battlefield as their blades met over and over, their movements fluid yet calculated. Livio, reading their patterns, dropped low and swept his blade in a wide arc, forcing them both to leap back.
Then he smirked.
Shesha reactivated.
The transparent snake roared into existence, enveloping the battlefield. Ethan and Oliver felt the shift instantly.....abilities were nullified, but their PBV enhancements remained active.
Oliver grinned. "Nice trick. Let's see how long you can keep it up."
He shot forward, Ethan mirroring his movements. Livio met them head-on, the fight escalating into a breathtaking clash of skill, tactics, and raw power, none willing to back down.
The sun had begun to turn red, birds returning to their nests.
The battlefield lay silent.
Livio, Oliver, and Ethan were sprawled flat on the ground, panting heavily.
Livio lay on the ground, panting, when a sharp, stinging sensation burned his nose. His face twisted in discomfort as the thick scent of sweat filled the air.
"What the hell?" He winced, glancing at Ethan and Oliver, who were fast asleep on the grass, completely unbothered.
He sat up, pinching his nose shut. "Hey, don't you guys smell that? It's like a damn sauna in here.....burning my nose." Forced to breathe through his mouth, his words came out strained.
Oliver chuckled, and Livio's sharp eyes caught the smirk playing on his lips.
"You bastard," Livio growled, fists clenching. "It's your ability, isn't it?"
Oliver's grin widened. "So, you noticed."
Livio narrowed his eyes. "How the hell did you do that?" His voice was still off from breathing through his mouth.
"It's a little trick I've been practicing," Oliver admitted. "It's not perfect yet, but I can trap someone's scent.....stop it from diffusing. Basically, I hold it in one place, like bottling up a smell. Then, when I want, I can release it...just like spraying perfume."
Livio's nose twitched as the air suddenly cleared. He took a cautious sniff.
Oliver stretched his arms. "Of course, I need to be within five meters to control it. Any farther, and I lose my grip."
Livio exhaled sharply. "Damn, that's annoying."
Oliver just smiled.
Livio suddenly stood up, his eyes cold. "Teach me the ability."
Ethan sighed, sitting up. "Not today. Tomorrow." He looked at both of them. "After that….... in seven days, we'll split up to chase our own goals."
A black bird passed over the moon, as the king's palace gleamed under the silver light.
In the grand hall of the palace, Valens swirled the wine in his glass, watching its deep red color reflect under the chandeliers.
"So, that bastard survived the Dungeon of Sacrifice?" He smirked, swirling the liquid again. "Now that's a surprise. Not even the strongest players dared to enter that place. But he came out alive…...."
Wolfsbane, kneeling before him, bowed his head. "Sir, I heard he's still recovering. He'll need extra time, but once he's back to full strength, we can use that information."
Valens took a slow sip, exhaling. "Good…... Very good." His gaze sharpened. "Once we uncover more secrets about the dungeons, we'll be one step closer to Neelam."
He tightened his grip on the glass. "And after I get my hands on Neelam...… that bitch…"
His voice trailed off as an image flickered in his mind.....a woman. A dark figure, details obscured.
The wine glass shattered in his hand.
The moonlight bathed the bridge in a silver glow as three shadows stretched across its surface.
Ethan was the first to cross. "You should meet with Athena."
Oliver walked backward, glancing at Livio. "Yeah. After everything that happened, you should at least apologize to her."
Livio looked up at the sky, illuminated by the moon. "Yeah…... I know."
A soft breeze lifted his hair as dried leaves drifted across the bridge.
A familiar bell chimed as the door creaked open.
Athena stood behind the counter. She looked up. "Yes, how can I hel....."
She froze.
Livio opened his mouth. "I…... uh…..."
His voice faltered.
Athena's eyes widened. She recognized him instantly.
Tears welled in her eyes. Without hesitation, she ran toward him and wrapped her arms tightly around him.
Livio's hands twitched but didn't return the embrace.
"I'm so glad....…" Athena whispered.
Livio hesitated, struggling to meet her gaze. "…....Thank you." His voice was barely audible. "Thank you for being there for me when I needed you....… even though I hurt you. I....."
Athena shook her head. "Idiot. Don't say it like that." She pulled back slightly, looking up at him with a trembling smile. "I'm just happy you're alright."
She stepped back toward the counter, wiping the corners of her eyes. Her lips quivered, then curled into another smile.
As she reached her table, she turned one last time, smiling again before returning to work.
The door shut behind Livio as he stepped outside.
He didn't look back.
But his gaze lingered on the bakery's reflection in the glass.
It's for the best, he told himself. I lost my friends. I lost everything. I even left a scar on her. If we part ways now...… at least I won't lose her too.
The moonlight faded behind him, swallowed by encroaching black clouds.
The beautiful night slowly turned dark.
Yet a single ray of light still followed Livio as he walked away.