As the last body collapsed onto the ground, a deep, oppressive silence filled the battlefield. The only sound was the faint crackling of the blood-red flames that now wrapped around Ryu's figure, forming a tattered cape of pure destruction—Heavenly Demon Wrath. His eyes, glowing with eerie amusement, flickered toward Alistair, who had remained still throughout the carnage.
Ryu tilted his head, a wicked grin spreading across his face.
"Well then," he mused, his voice carrying an almost playful edge. "How are we going to split them?" His gaze flickered toward the opposition—thirteen of the strongest elites standing behind the invisible barrier that still separated the two sides.
Alistair, however, did not respond immediately. Instead, he turned on his heel and began walking in the opposite direction, away from the approaching battle. His movements were calm, deliberate, and completely uninterested in the massacre that was about to unfold.
Ryu's grin widened.
"You're just gonna walk away?" he called out, his voice laced with amusement.
Alistair didn't turn back. Instead, he simply gave a short reply, his voice composed yet final. "Enjoy yourself."
That was all Ryu needed to hear.
He turned toward the opposing team, the blood-red flames around him surging as if reacting to his sheer anticipation. His gaze swept across them, stopping on one individual in particular—Lunara Nightshade.
The moment the blood-red flames erupted around Ryu, the battlefield fell into an eerie silence.
---
Main cast side ---
Evelyn Aurelius narrowed her eyes, her gaze locked onto the crimson energy flaring around the unknown fighter. A shiver ran down her spine—an instinctual reaction to the sheer malice radiating from the form before her. The skill he had just activated wasn't just for show. It was something dangerous, Something monstrous.
Evalyn then shifted her sight from unknown guy to Elaine.
Elaine Vaelthorne stood beside her, gripping the hilt of her sword tightly, her lips pressed into a thin line. Noticing Evelyn's gaze, she frowned and asked, "Evelyn, what is it?"
Evelyn look away from her and to battlefield. "Did he use that ability in your match?"
Elaine's eyes flickered with something unreadable before she shook her head. "No. He didn't use any skill or art against me."
Lunara Nightshade, standing a short distance away, also shook her head, responded with the same answer. "He didn't use anything against me either."
A heavy silence settled over them as the implications sank in.
Cassandra Everwyn crossed her arms, her tone serious. "If he was already strong enough to kill Elaine and force Lunara out of the match without using any skills... and now he's boosted his strength even further..." She exhaled sharply, her gaze hardening. "This is going to be difficult."
Their attention shifted as they noticed movement from the opposing side.
Alistair was walking away.
Leon Valerius' expression twisted in irritation. "Is he seriously going to let that guy fight alone?"
The other members of the main team turned to observe Alistair's retreating form. He moved toward the far end of the battlefield, unbothered, as if the impending battle had nothing to do with him.
Leon's fists clenched. "Not only is he looking down on us, but he's also underestimating our strength!"
Kieran Azurios, who had been silent up to this point, spoke up. "It's better this way."
Leon shot him an incredulous look. "How is this better?"
Kieran's icy blue eyes remained locked onto Alistair's retreating figure. "Even fighting against Alistair alone isn't a guaranteed victory. Fighting against him and unknown guy will make chances of victory even lower.
And ifhe's stepping back, that means we can focus on taking down the unknown guy first. Then we deal with Alistair together."
Leon scowled but didn't argue further. Kieran had a point. No matter how much Leon hated to admit it, Alistair Vaelthorne wasn't someone they could take lightly. If they had to fight him, it was best to do so after eliminating the other threat first.
"Then we focus on taking him down first," Evelyn declared, shifting her stance. The others nodded in agreement.
The battlefield, once brimming with noise and tension, now fell into an eerie stillness.
Then, all eyes looked on countdown on invisible barrier.
[5…]
Ryu tilted his head, his blood-red cape of flames crackling behind him like a living entity.
[4…]
Leon and the others steadied their weapons, their mana surging as they prepared for the battle.
[3…]
Lunara's lips curled into a sharp grin.
[2…]
The air grew heavier as an almost tangible bloodlust filled the battlefield.
[1…]
Then, the barrier shattered.
To Be Continued...