Akin clenched his fist and delivered a powerful punch to Rasin's face. The impact landed solidly, but Rasin didn't even flinch. A smug smile formed on his lips as he said, "I told you—this won't affect me at all."
Akin scowled, realizing brute force wouldn't be enough. "Then maybe I should give my blade some work," he said, drawing his sword from its sheath. The steel gleamed under the dim light as he pointed it toward his opponent. "Are you ready for this, Rasin?"
Rasin remained unfazed. His expression was calm, almost mocking. "No matter what you use, it won't make a difference," he taunted.
A member of the council, standing nearby, narrowed his eyes. "Let's see about that," he muttered, unsheathing his blade.
Without hesitation, Akin lunged at Rasin, thrusting his sword forward with deadly precision. Rasin raised his hand in an attempt to block the strike. Steel met flesh, and for the first time, something changed—blood. A deep gash appeared across Rasin's palm, dark red liquid trickling down his fingers.
Akin smirked. "You said nothing could hurt you. Then what's this?" he taunted, gesturing toward the wound.
Rasin gritted his teeth, suppressing a pained groan. "Erghhh…" His pride wouldn't allow him to acknowledge the injury. Instead, he retaliated swiftly, throwing a punch at Akin's face, followed by a powerful kick. But Akin was faster. He dodged effortlessly, weaving past Rasin's attacks with calculated precision.
One of the council members observed the fight closely. "Let's finish him quickly," he suggested.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, the rest of the council members had successfully defeated the officers guarding the area. With their enemies down, they regrouped and prepared to assist Council Member Zero in his fight. However, as they approached, Council Member Zero held up a hand to stop them.
"Stick to the plan," he commanded firmly. "We don't have time to waste here. Continue with the infiltration."
Understanding the urgency of their mission, the council members nodded and swiftly changed course. They made their way toward the BCB base, and their objective was clear—to uncover the organization's secrets and weaknesses.
The battle wasn't over yet. While Akin held off Rasin, the council members moved like shadows, slipping into enemy territory undetected. The fate of their mission—and possibly the entire war—depended on what they would find inside.
Meanwhile, Senzuko struggled relentlessly, failing time and time again despite his best efforts. Frustration and desperation filled his mind as he realized he couldn't succeed independently. Gritting his teeth, he turned to Hellesa and said, "Call the mysterious light." It was their only hope.
The battlefield trembled under the sheer force of their clash. Council Member Zero and Isan moved like blurs, their weapons clashing with such intensity that the ground beneath them cracked and shattered. Every strike was met with equal resistance, every attack countered with swift precision. They were evenly matched, neither gaining the upper hand—until Council Member Zero spotted an opening.
Seizing the moment, he lunged forward. One of his blades locked against Isan's, holding him in place, while the other slashed across his waist. The sharp edge cut deep, drawing blood. Isan staggered slightly, his breath hitching as pain surged through him.
Council Member Zero smirked. "A fatal injury after ten years—must be painful, huh?" he taunted. "I bet you almost forgot how it feels to be wounded."
Isan gritted his teeth, refusing to show weakness. His grip on his weapon tightened, but before he could recover, Council Member Zero struck again. His attacks came fast, relentless, giving Isan little room to breathe. Desperately, he blocked as many as he could, his blade moving frantically to deflect the storm of strikes. Sparks flew as steel met steel.
But he wasn't fast enough.
A blade sliced across his eye, and a sharp, searing pain followed. He let out a pained grunt, momentarily disoriented. Another slash landed on his hand, forcing him to loosen his grip on his weapon. Blood dripped from his wounds, staining the already battle-scarred ground beneath them.
Council Member Zero didn't let up. He pressed forward, his movements calculated and ruthless. "You're slipping, Isan," he said, his voice calm yet mocking. "Maybe ten years of peace made you soft."
Isan narrowed his remaining good eye, breathing heavily. He wouldn't fall so easily. This fight was far from over.
The council members moved cautiously through the dimly lit corridors of the enemy base. Their entry had not been smooth—deadly traps had awaited them at every turn. Razor-sharp spikes shot from the walls, floors crumbled beneath their feet, and dart launchers fired from hidden crevices. Yet, they were skilled. With swift reflexes and precise movements, they dodged every threat, pressing deeper into the labyrinthine stronghold.
Council Member Six, who had been scanning their surroundings carefully, suddenly stopped in his tracks. His eyes widened as they fell upon a glowing green crystal embedded within a stone pedestal. Its eerie light pulsated gently, casting a faint glow on the metallic walls around it. It looked strikingly similar to the Ember—the powerful artifact Council Member Zero had spoken of before they embarked on this mission.
But something felt off.
His brows furrowed as he examined it. "It's just… out in the open?" he muttered to himself. The Ember was said to be the enemy's most treasured weapon, hidden deep within their fortress. Leaving it so exposed didn't make sense.
Still, he reached for the crystal, carefully prying it from its resting place. Holding it up, he turned to the others. "I found something. It looks like the Ember," he said, his voice uncertain.
The other council members gathered around, their eyes narrowing as they studied the object. Council Member Five ran a finger over its surface before shaking his head. "This isn't real. It's too perfect—too artificial."
Council Member Two sighed. "A decoy," he muttered. "We need to go deeper if we want to find the real Ember. But keep in mind, the further we go, the deadlier the traps will become."
The others exchanged knowing glances. They had barely survived the traps so far. If what lay ahead was worse, they would need to be even more cautious. Nonetheless, they nodded in agreement. This mission was too important to turn back now.
As they continued their descent into the depths of the base, the air grew heavier. The corridors were darker, the silence more suffocating. Every step they took felt like stepping into a new layer of danger.
Then, they saw them.
A group of soldiers stood at the end of the hallway, guarding a large iron door. Their postures were stiff, their eyes alert. These weren't ordinary guards—they were elite warriors, assigned to protect something important.
Without hesitation, the council members sprang into action. The battle was swift yet brutal. Swords clashed, daggers pierced, and the hall filled with the scent of blood. Within minutes, the guards lay motionless on the ground—except for one.
A lone soldier remained alive, his face bruised and his breath ragged. He tried to crawl away, but Council Member Three grabbed him by the collar, yanking him upright. "Where is the key to this room?" he demanded. "If you don't hand it over, your life ends here."
The guard spat blood onto the floor and glared at him defiantly. "I won't give you the key. No matter what you do. Even if you kill me."
Council Member Three's expression darkened. "Words won't convince him. Pain will."
Without another word, he delivered a brutal punch to the guard's stomach. The man doubled over, coughing violently, but he remained silent. The other council members stepped in, striking him repeatedly—punches, kicks, even a stab wound to his arm. His blood pooled on the ground, yet he refused to yield.
Council Member Two clicked his tongue in frustration. "He's not talking. Let's just kill him and find the key ourselves."
Hearing this, the guard's demeanor suddenly changed. His eyes widened in terror, his breath quickening. "No! Please don't kill me! I have a family!" he gasped, his voice trembling. "I'll tell you where the key is—just spare my life! Please, I beg you!"
Council Member Two leaned in, his expression unreadable. "Then where is the key?"
Shaking, the guard reached into his bloodstained uniform and pulled out a small, metallic key. His fingers trembled as he extended it. "I think… this is the key," he said, his voice weak. "The officers gave it to us and told us to protect it. But they never told us what it was for… I'm not sure if it even opens this door."
Council Member Two took the key, turning it over in his hand. Was this another trap? Or had the guard truly given them what they needed? There was only one way to find out.
The council members exchanged silent glances before turning toward the massive iron door. The real test was about to begin.
Hellesa took a deep breath and steadied herself. The battle was intensifying, and their previous attempts had failed. Calling upon the mysterious light was their last hope, the only thing that could turn the tide in their favor. She closed her eyes, focusing all her energy, reaching out to the force that had remained elusive.
Nothing happened.
Frustration and desperation clawed at her. No matter how much she tried, the light refused to answer her call. Her hands trembled as she clenched them into fists. Was this it? Were they truly out of options?
Then, a voice echoed inside her mind.
"If you want me to summon the light, I have a favor to ask."
Hellesa's eyes snapped open. She recognized that voice—it was the mysterious soul that resided within her, a presence she had always known was there but rarely interacted with.
"What is it?" she asked, her voice hesitant.
"Let me take over your body for this entire fight."
Her heart pounded at the demand. "Why?" she asked suspiciously. "Why do you need control?"
The soul didn't answer immediately. Then, after a pause, it spoke again.
"Just trust me. I'll explain everything after the battle."
Hellesa hesitated. She didn't trust this entity fully, yet she knew that without the light, they stood no chance. There was no time to argue, no room for doubt. Gritting her teeth, she nodded.
"Fine. Do it."
The moment she agreed, an overwhelming force surged through her body. A chilling sensation spread from her core, and her vision blurred for a second. Her consciousness faded into the background as the mysterious soul took over.
Her body straightened, her aura shifting into something unnatural—something powerful. Her eyes, once filled with concern and determination, now glowed with an ethereal light.
And then, the battlefield itself seemed to react.
A brilliant, blinding light erupted from Hellesa's form, piercing through the sky. The very air trembled as an ancient energy awakened, illuminating the darkened battlefield with a divine radiance.
The Mysterious Light had finally been summoned.
The Clash of Titans
Meanwhile, chaos erupted on the battlefield.
Council Member Zero and Isan continued their brutal duel, neither willing to give an inch. Every strike they exchanged sent shockwaves through the ground, their blades colliding with enough force to shatter stone. The battlefield beneath them had become a wasteland of destruction, cracks forming in the earth where their weapons met.
But then, the fight was interrupted.
A massive force approached, its presence unmistakable.
Isaac had arrived.
He stormed onto the battlefield, his army following in his wake like a wave of devastation. His soldiers cut down every enemy in sight, leaving trails of blood and destruction behind them. His arrival disrupted everything, shifting the balance of the war.
Isaac wasted no time throwing himself into battle. He charged directly into the duel between Isan and Council Member Zero, swinging his blade without hesitation. The three warriors clashed in a ferocious struggle, each of them fighting with relentless aggression.
The battlefield trembled beneath them. Sparks flew as swords met, each combatant pushing themselves to the limit. Isaac fought with unmatched ferocity, his attacks swift and unrelenting. But despite his sheer determination, he quickly realized something—he wasn't as strong as them.
Isan and Council Member Zero were on a different level. Their years of experience, their refined techniques, their unwavering endurance—it all outmatched him. No matter how hard he pushed, no matter how much effort he poured into his strikes, he couldn't reach them.
But he refused to back down.
With a roar, he forced himself to fight harder, faster. His blade moved like a blur, desperation fueling his every motion. He had to prove himself. He had to show that he belonged in this battle.
Yet, just as the fight was reaching its peak, something changed.
The Arrival of the Light
Near the battlefield, an otherworldly glow lit up the sky. The Mysterious Light descended, its presence shifting the atmosphere. Warriors from both sides paused, their eyes drawn to the divine spectacle unfolding before them.
And at the center of it all was Hellesa.
Or rather, the entity that now controlled her body.
The energy radiating from her was overwhelming, unlike anything the battlefield had ever witnessed. The very ground trembled beneath her feet as waves of light pulsed outward. Her once-normal form now looked almost celestial—her aura radiant, her presence commanding.
Every soldier, every warrior, every combatant felt it. Even Isaac, Isan, and Council Member Zero momentarily stopped their battle, their gazes snapping toward the sky.
"What… is that?" Isaac murmured, his voice laced with disbelief.
Council Member Zero narrowed his eyes. "The Mysterious Light has awakened," he muttered under his breath.
Isan clenched his fists. "So they finally did it…"
The battlefield was no longer the same. The arrival of the light had changed everything.
Hellesa—now fully consumed by the soul within her—descended from the sky, her glowing form exuding power. She looked down upon the battlefield, her expression unreadable. Whatever happened next, one thing was certain:
The war had entered its final stage.