Arthur coughed hard, blood dripping from his mouth as he staggered up. His body trembled, but his hand reached out—gripping his blade tightly. One hand clutched his wounded side, his vision blurred by blood, but his spirit still burned.
Kaelith smiled, amused. "I like that determination," he said calmly.
Arthur chuckled weakly. "You really are strong… and that worm thing stings like hell."
Kaelith smirked. "Shall we continue?"
Arthur nodded, raising his blade. "One more time."
He dashed forward without hesitation. Kaelith responded instantly, hurling sand and sharp stones toward him. Arthur slashed through them, but the massive worm launched out of the ground again.
"Water magic… Flowing Wheel!" Arthur shouted, jumping into the air.
His body spun as water surrounded him in a spiraling cloak. With a fierce roar, he slashed—cutting clean through the worm's right horn.
The beast screeched, whipping its tail. Arthur was too slow—he was sent crashing back down.
Groaning, he forced himself up again. The worm's tail slammed down, but he rolled just in time.
"Ice magic… Frost Touch!"
He touched the tail, and instantly ice spread like a virus—encasing the worm completely in a frozen prison.
"Shatter."
He raised his blade.
But just as he swung, the frozen worm vanished into thin air.
Arthur froze. "What…?"
Kaelith appeared beside him in a blink. "Can't have you destroying it now. I dispelled it."
Arthur reacted fast—blasting ice from beneath his feet, launching himself back using his ice skid. He breathed heavily, chest rising and falling. Kaelith tilted his head.
"How long do you plan to keep running?"
They locked eyes.
Then both moved—charging at each other with blades drawn.
Kaelith swung high. Arthur ducked and slid around him, circling like a phantom, creating an icy path midair. He never stopped—his skids tracing a circular path with Kaelith in the center.
Kaelith smirked. "Earth Magic… Rock Pillar!"
The ground beneath Kaelith shot upward, chasing Arthur's movements. Ice and stone clashed midair, forming a massive floating platform high above the arena.
Gasps echoed from the audience below, watching in awe as the two stood on the platform of frozen rock, clashing in midair.
Arthur slashed—Kaelith blocked.
Arthur spun—kicking Kaelith across the platform.
Kaelith grinned. "Not bad."
He grabbed Arthur's leg and hurled him, slamming him into the icy floor. A massive rock boot formed on Kaelith's leg. He brought it down—
But Arthur rolled away just in time. The impact cracked the platform. Both fighters dropped.
Snowflakes fell gently from above as shards of broken ice rained around the arena. Arthur touched the surface and formed another ice skid, gliding down smoothly. Kaelith landed hard, his boots crushing the ground—and then vanished.
Arthur ran forward, determination burning in his eyes—but his foot suddenly sank.
Trap!
Two giant hammers made of sand slammed in from both sides. Arthur raised his hand to cast a spell—
But nothing came out.
"I'm out of mana…"
The hammers crushed him.
Blood splattered. He hit the ground hard, struggling to move.
Kaelith raised his hand. "Combination Magic… Falling Earth."
From the sky, tiny rocks and sands gathered, forming deadly spheres. They rained down in a brutal storm.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Dust exploded across the arena.
Silence followed.
As the dust slowly settled, the crowd held its breath.
Then… a small shift.
A piece of rock slid off—Arthur's bloodied head became visible.
His blade shimmered faintly… and transformed back into a dragon.
Kaelith walked forward slowly, stepping over debris. He grabbed Arthur by the neck and lifted him up like a ragdoll.
Arthur kicked, struggling—but Kaelith's grip tightened.
"You weren't the one I was looking for after all," Kaelith said coldly. "What a waste. I was actually happy when you broke my armor…"
He slammed Arthur down—BOOM—the ground cracked.
Arthur coughed violently, more blood spilling from his lips.
Kaelith raised his palm—sand formed into sharp rods in the air.
He sent them flying down—CRACK!
They stabbed into Arthur's limbs, pinning him to the ground.
"AAAHHHH!" Arthur screamed in agony.
Hyorinmaru roared, lashing toward Kaelith—
But Kaelith slapped him aside and grabbed him by the neck. "You better respect yourself. You're nothing without your wielder. Stay down."
Hyorinmaru bit his hand—
WHAM!
Kaelith slammed him into the ground hard.
From the stands, Magnus folded his arms. "It's over. He's out of mana. His blade has returned. It's finished."
Drake nodded. "He lasted longer than expected."
Vaelric sighed. "He should surrender before it's too late."
Draven looked grim. "A shame… facing a monster like that."
Magnus scoffed. "Now look—because of his weakness, even his Zeraphim is paying the price. He should've never believed he could win. What did that blade even see in a failure like him?"
Draven turned. "That's enough, Magnus."
Magnus growled. "Saying nothing won't change the truth."
In the crowd, Aldric sat still—his expression unreadable.
Damon muttered, "He should give up before both he and his Zeraphim die."
Kaelius nodded. "He's done enough. That's enough now."
Riven clenched his fists. "Arthur… can you still fight?"
Leo's eyes narrowed. "I don't think he'll give up that easily."
Seraphina bit her lip. "Arthur… why do you want to win so badly?"
Tenmei growled. "I hate that guy… but treating a Zeraphim like that? That's unforgivable."
Kaelith stepped toward Hyorinmaru, who lay motionless.
He kicked him.
Thud.
Hyorinmaru flew and crashed into the ground—still, unmoving.
Arthur's eyes widened in horror.
"…No… that can't be…"
He whispered, "Wake up, Hyorinmaru… please… wake up."
No response.
Kaelith hovered over him. "Is he dead? Oh well. There's no rule against killing a Zeraphim."
Arthur stared, frozen.
"Hyorinmaru… is dead?"
His vision blurred.
His body trembled.
His thoughts went blank.
Then—
Boom.
A murderous aura exploded from his body—dark, suffocating, deadly. The entire arena froze.
Kaelith turned around, startled. "What…?"
The debris around Arthur blasted away violently. Dust clouded everything.
When it cleared—
Arthur stood tall.
Blood dripping from his face.
His head hung low. His aura raged wildly around him, the air trembling.
Only one word left his lips:
"…I'll kill you."
From the stands, Julius watched with a wicked smile. "The pain of losing someone you hold dear… that's what triggered it. This magnificent power… he's awakened. Now then, Kaelith—what will you do?"