The battlefield had shifted, but the war was far from over.
Smoke from the flaming shockwave still lingered in the air, curling through the shattered remnants of the stage. The crowd sat silent for a moment, stunned into stillness—then the noise came crashing back in, louder than ever.
Aegis stood tall.
Balens trembled in place as he felt the thick invisible grime continue to thicken and spread on his body. It even felt like it was penetrating him.
And Serena… was already changing tactics.
She exhaled slowly, calmly. The irritation in her eyes vanished. That part was over. Balens could no longer be helped.
No point in continuing to put all of her efforts into a sinking ship. She has other cards to play.
'Sorry, Balens,' she thought somewhat guiltily, 'Just put up with it for now. I'll get you a professional polishing service after the match.'
A new energy pulsed from her body.
Her next move came not from desperation, but from legacy.
