The rain continued to pour.
Alexys and Frederin stood motionless.
The crowd chanted their names.
But...
Neither of them moved.
Alexys smiled.
"Funny."
Frederin remained silent.
"I thought you'd make the first move."
Frederin closed his eyes for a brief moment.
"And I thought that was supposed to be your role."
Alexys chuckled.
"No, no."
He raised both hands.
"Thanks for the offer."
"You go first."
Silence.
A bolt of lightning tore across the sky.
Frederin spoke.
"Alexys..."
"Do you know why I entered this tournament?"
Alexys frowned.
"To qualify?"
Frederin shook his head.
His crimson eyes gleamed.
"No."
"I entered because I was forced to."
A brief pause.
"And because I need to become stronger."
He looked Alexys straight in the eyes.
"I can't let Luis, my sensei, protect me forever."
Alexys smiled.
But the smile quickly faded.
"You're a Host."
"You have to be strong."
Frederin clenched his fist.
His black aura began to condense around him.
Inside Alexys' pocket...
The red ring vibrated.
As if it were eager.
Frederin let out a faint smile.
"Then come."
Alexys clenched both fists.
"You asked for it again."
He vanished.
The ground exploded.
Frederin crossed his arms at the very last second.
The shockwave swept across the entire street.
The audience erupted.
The commentator nearly lost his voice.
"HE DISAPPEARED!!"
Frederin slid back several meters.
He looked ahead.
Alexys was gone.
Then...
A voice came from behind him.
"You're slower than I expected."
Frederin smiled.
Without turning around.
His black aura burst around his arm.
His fist slammed into Alexys.
"And you're—"
Alexys was launched straight into a wall.
Chunks of stone flew everywhere.
The structure cracked apart.
Frederin finished his sentence.
"—faster than I expected."
Alexys fell into the rubble.
But immediately got back to his feet.
He dusted off his clothes.
The remaining participants scattered across the arena had already stopped fighting.
Every single one of them was watching through the giant screens.
Their battle had become the true main event.
...
In the stands.
Ryane, Luna, Kira, Maria, Sebastian, and Julian watched the battle unfold.
Maria's eyes widened.
"Is it just me, or did even the other contestants stop fighting to watch?"
Luna grinned excitedly.
"Of course they did!"
"It's not every day you get to watch two monsters like them fight!"
Kira crossed her arms.
"Everyone's watching."
Her eyes followed Frederin.
"The two deadliest sharks in this aquarium."
Sebastian smirked.
"I have to admit..."
"Frederin has grown a lot."
He looked at Alexys.
"And that kid..."
"I thought he'd be weaker."
Kira replied,
"It doesn't matter who wins."
"What matters is that Frederin comes back with us."
Julian stood up.
Ryane turned toward him.
"Where are you going?"
"The bathroom."
He started walking.
"I'll be back."
But as he answered...
His eyes caught something strange.
A small red sphere slowly emerged from Sebastian's chest.
It floated through the air.
Then disappeared.
Julian froze.
He looked at Ryane.
Then Luna.
Then Kira.
No one reacted.
He placed a hand over his chest.
No one saw that?
He kept walking.
Faster.
...
Inside the restroom.
Julian braced both hands against the sink.
Then vomited.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
He breathed heavily.
His body was drenched in sweat.
He slowly raised his head.
"What..."
"What's happening to me?"
For a brief instant...
Black markings appeared across his face in the mirror.
Julian's eyes widened.
"No..."
He gritted his teeth.
"You again, Ray?"
A voice echoed inside his mind.
Calm.
Distant.
"This time..."
"I won't be staying either."
A red sphere slowly began to emerge from his forehead.
Julian tried to grab it.
He lunged forward.
But his hands passed right through it.
Ray laughed.
"We'll see each other again soon."
The sphere vanished.
Julian collapsed to his knees.
Exhausted.
He stared at the floor.
Then muttered,
"I've got a bad feeling."
He closed his eyes.
"Something is about to happen."
Back in the arena.
Alexys leaped backward.
Explosions of fire erupted around him.
Frederin continued advancing without stopping.
Alexys smiled.
"You're pretty strong, my friend."
His eyes began to change.
Blue irises.
Gray pupils.
And a green streak running through them.
Frederin stared at him.
"You're not the only one who possesses Hagan."
Two new eyes opened beneath his own.
On his cheeks.
Now he had four eyes.
All of them blue.
Gray pupils.
Black streaks crossing through them.
Alexys' eyes widened.
"What?!"
"Hagan is a Dinark ability!"
Frederin answered calmly,
"There's a Dinark inside me."
He spread his arms.
A black aura began pouring out of his body.
"Did you forget?"
"I'm Frederin Nekyun."
"The Host of Leonardo Dinark."
Alexys stood frozen.
For a brief moment...
Black markings appeared across his arms.
Then vanished.
Then...
He saw it.
A red sphere emerged from Frederin's body.
Floating.
In the air...
It slowly formed a smile.
A grotesque.
Macabre smile.
Alexys immediately looked toward the stands.
No one reacted.
Not the commentator.
Not the guards.
Not even the king.
No one saw that?
He looked around.
We're the center of everyone's attention.
Then why is nobody looking at that thing?
A fist slammed into his face.
Alexys was hurled into another wall.
Pieces of stone crashed down behind him.
He quickly stood back up.
He wiped the blood from his mouth.
Then smiled.
"I was distracted."
He spat blood onto the ground.
Then pointed at Frederin.
"Now..."
A green aura began pouring out of his body.
Stronger.
Denser.
His eyes shone brightly.
Frederin stared back at him.
Completely serious.
Meanwhile...
The crowd had gone completely wild.
Meanwhile...
A guard ran through the stands.
Weaving between people.
Ignoring the deafening cheers.
His face was tense.
At last, he stopped in front of the Sentinels' group.
He took a deep breath.
"Dear Sentinels..."
He also looked at Sebastian.
"...and company."
"There are two young women outside asking to speak with you."
Luna raised an eyebrow.
"With us?"
The guard nodded.
"They said it's urgent."
The four girls exchanged glances.
Kira was the first to speak.
"One of us should stay here."
She looked around.
"Julian went to the bathroom and still hasn't come back."
Before anyone could answer, Sebastian raised a hand.
"You can all go."
He gave them a faint smile.
"I'll wait for him here."
He crossed his arms.
"And then I'll catch up with you."
Maria smiled.
"Thanks, Sebastian!"
Kira simply nodded.
The four of them followed the guard.
They descended the stairs.
Walked through brightly lit corridors.
The noise of the arena gradually faded.
Until...
They reached the massive entrance gate.
Rain was still falling outside.
And beneath it stood two silhouettes.
One of them had a vibrant green owl perched atop her head.
They were soaked.
Exhausted.
Kira's eyes widened.
"Ruby?"
Luna covered her mouth.
"Who's the other girl?"
The two slowly raised their heads.
Ruby was pale.
Her eyes were red from crying.
Carmilla appeared to be holding herself together.
But her torn clothes and exhausted expression revealed that something terrible had happened.
Ruby took a step forward.
Her voice came out quietly.
Almost breaking.
"We're back."
Silence.
The Sentinels understood immediately.
Kira felt a chill run down her spine.
"Where are the others?"
Ruby lowered her head.
She didn't answer.
Her hands trembled.
Luna looked at Carmilla.
"What happened?"
"What are you doing here?"
Carmilla closed her eyes for a brief moment.
As if gathering the strength to speak.
Then she answered,
"Everything went wrong."
Kira's heart pounded.
Maria blurted out,
"What?"
"Everyone's okay... right?"
Ruby began crying again.
Her tears mixed with the rain.
"I..."
She tried to speak.
But her voice failed her.
Carmilla placed a hand on her shoulder.
She took a deep breath.
Then said,
"Richard fought someone sent by the Masked Man."
She looked at all of them.
"And he died."
The world seemed to stop.
Luna's eyes widened.
Maria stood frozen.
Kira clenched her fists.
"No."
That was all she could say.
Ruby cried even harder.
"He..."
"He asked me to tell Luis..."
Her voice trembled.
"...that he was proud of him."
Silence.
Nothing but the sound of the rain.
Carmilla continued,
"And that's not all."
She raised her eyes.
"Kevin..."
"Luis..."
"And Augusto..."
She took another deep breath.
"They were sealed away by the Masked Man himself."
"It was all a trap."
The four girls froze.
Maria was the first to deny it.
"No."
"That's a lie!"
Luna took a step back.
"Luis?!"
Kira remained silent.
Her face had gone pale.
Carmilla looked at them with determination.
"We have to act."
"And we have to act fast."
The rain seemed even heavier.
The wind swept through the arena's ruined streets.
Alexys and Frederin remained motionless.
Their eyes were locked onto each other.
Then...
They both vanished.
The clash of their fists made the asphalt cave in.
A shockwave tore through several city blocks.
Every remaining window shattered at the same time.
The audience jumped to their feet.
The commentator nearly dropped his microphone.
"WHAT AN INSANE SPEED!!"
Alexys smiled as he knocked Frederin's arm aside.
He spun his body.
And unleashed a kick.
Frederin blocked it with his forearm.
Even so...
He was sent crashing into a building.
Before the dust could even rise...
Alexys was already in front of him.
Another punch.
Another impact.
Frederin blasted straight through the wall.
Stones flew in every direction.
Alexys rushed in right behind him.
His fist was already cocked back.
But...
Frederin disappeared.
Alexys' eyes widened.
"Above!"
Frederin appeared directly overhead.
His leg was completely enveloped in black aura.
"Too late."
The kick landed squarely on Alexys.
The impact slammed his body into the ground.
Cracks spread across the entire street.
Frederin landed calmly.
He looked around.
Then said,
"Do you have any idea how long it took the builders to construct this place?"
Alexys wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"What does that have to do with our fight?"
A green aura surrounded his feet.
Frederin sighed.
"I figured you'd say that."
He looked at the surrounding buildings.
"No warrior ever cares about the sacrifice of the people who spend days... weeks... even years building cities and kingdoms."
His black aura slowly began flowing out of his body.
"I wish I could've been one of them."
He raised his head.
"Building houses."
"Huge buildings."
"Places where people could live in peace."
He closed his eyes.
"But fate never gave me that privilege."
The air around him began to twist.
Like an enormous invisible tornado.
Alexys took a step back.
What is this?
Some kind of summoning technique?
A dark veil covered the entire battlefield.
It lasted only a few seconds.
Then disappeared.
Frederin opened his eyes.
"We can continue."
Alexys remained on guard.
"What did you do?"
Frederin answered calmly,
"I simply showed respect for the work of my brothers."
He looked toward the houses.
"From this moment on..."
"No building will fall during our battle."
Alexys smiled.
"I like that."
The very next instant...
He vanished again.
His fist barely missed Frederin.
...
In the stands.
Sebastian watched the fight while standing.
"Interesting..."
He crossed his arms.
"They both possess Hagan."
He smiled.
"If only one of them had this Anagarate..."
"The fight would've been over already."
He looked back toward the battlefield.
"But since they can both perceive almost the exact same things..."
"It's as if neither of them has the advantage."
At that moment...
Julian appeared.
Something about him felt off.
Restless.
"Where are the girls?"
Without taking his eyes off the fight, Sebastian replied,
"They went outside to deal with something."
He glanced briefly at Julian.
"Come on."
"Let's go after them."
"Something happened."
The two of them left the stands.
Julian murmured,
"Alexys..."
"It's up to you now."
As soon as those words left his mouth...
The rain stopped.
But thunder and lightning became more frequent than ever.
...
Alexys landed a punch squarely in Frederin's abdomen.
As Frederin doubled over...
Alexys used the momentum.
And hurled him into another building.
Frederin crashed against it with tremendous force.
But...
Not a single wall broke.
Not a single window shattered.
Not even a cloud of dust appeared.
Alexys' eyes widened.
"So it was true..."
He looked around.
"Nothing is being destroyed anymore."
Frederin smiled.
"Congratulations."
He raised his left hand.
"You managed to hit me."
He opened his palm.
The red ring was resting there.
"You lost this."
Alexys reached into his pocket.
Empty.
Frederin slipped the ring onto the ring finger of his left hand.
A faint crimson glow appeared.
Weak.
Then...
Nothing.
Frederin frowned.
Where's Leonardo?
He looked at the ring.
"No reaction this time?"
"This is the eighth ring..."
"I was expecting much stronger resistance."
He slowly lowered his hand.
"Something isn't right..."
Blood began flowing from his mouth.
Alexys walked toward him.
His hair had begun turning white.
Very slowly.
The wounds across his body disappeared before everyone's eyes.
The commentator stood up.
"IS THIS THE END FOR FREDERIN NEKYUN?!"
"WILL THE UNDEFEATED FIGHTER FINALLY BE DEFEATED?!"
The entire stadium fell silent.
Alexys stopped in front of Frederin.
Then extended his hand.
Frederin stared at him for a few seconds.
Then...
He accepted it.
Alexys pulled him back to his feet.
After that...
He removed his own badge.
And handed it to Frederin.
Frederin looked confused.
Alexys said,
"Take it."
"Now you're qualified too."
He looked toward the arena's exit.
His expression completely changed.
"Let's go."
"I've got a really bad feeling."
Frederin continued staring at the badge.
Then smiled.
He removed one of his own.
And handed it to Alexys.
"You deserve to be there too."
The two exchanged badges.
The commentator spoke once again.
His voice echoed throughout the entire arena.
"WE HAVE NO WINNER!"
"WE HAVE NO LOSER!"
"FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THIS TOURNAMENT..."
"TWO FIGHTERS FINISH UNDEFEATED... AND BOTH QUALIFY!"
The stands erupted into thunderous applause.
Frederin could barely walk anymore.
Alexys draped Frederin's arm over his shoulders.
And began carrying him toward the exit.
Alexys' wounds continued healing slowly.
His gaze had turned cold.
Far colder than before.
As his strength faded, Frederin thought,
Between the two of us...
He closed his eyes.
I'm certain...
Alexys would've been the winner.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Alexys Dinark...
I'll never forget that name.
He lost consciousness.
Alexys lifted him onto his back.
And continued walking.
At that very moment...
A green owl descended from the sky.
It landed on Frederin's head.
An overwhelming spiritual pressure engulfed the area.
Alexys' body trembled.
His eyes widened.
Kevin...
Did you send me a message?
His heart began racing.
Something terrible has happened...
Frederin slowly regained consciousness.
He was lying on a simple couch.
He blinked a few times, still trying to figure out where he was.
Gradually, he sat up.
He looked around.
Everyone was there.
Ryane, Alexys, Luna, Kira, Maria, Julian, Sebastian, Carmilla, and Ruby were sitting around the room.
A heavy silence filled the air.
No one spoke.
He scratched the back of his head.
"What happened...?"
Alexys walked over and handed him a glass of water.
"Drink."
Frederin took the glass.
Alexys let out a deep breath.
"What you're about to hear..."
"...is going to change a lot."
Frederin forced a faint smile.
"Go ahead."
"It can't be that bad."
No one answered.
The silence in the room was enough to make his smile disappear.
He looked out the window.
A few birds flew freely across the sky.
Julian closed his eyes for a brief moment.
Then Luna gathered the courage to speak.
"Kevin Dinark... and Augusto... were sealed away."
Frederin remained calm.
"That's not a problem."
He took a small sip of water.
"Luis and I can handle it."
"If necessary, Alexys and Julian can help too..."
Before he could finish, Julian spoke without opening his eyes.
"Luis Clent Dinark..."
His voice was low.
"The strongest man in this kingdom..."
He paused.
"...was sealed away as well."
The glass slipped from Frederin's hands.
The shattered pieces scattered across the floor.
Water slowly spread between them.
His body began to tremble.
His breathing faltered.
"N-No..."
He looked at everyone.
"Tell me that's a lie..."
Ryane answered immediately.
"It's not."
Her gaze was unwavering.
"If it weren't true..."
"Do you really think I'd be here?"
Frederin struggled to breathe.
He looked at Ryane.
"Who... who are you?"
Alexys raised a hand.
"I've got this."
He pointed at each person.
"That's Ryane."
"She's a good person, but be careful."
"Sometimes she has to run to the bathroom twenty times a day."
Ryane pouted.
"I already told you it's not my fault my stomach is weak!"
"And besides, he didn't need to know that!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Alexys continued.
"The girl with the scythe is Ruby."
Ruby answered with a faint smile, still holding back tears.
"The big blond guy is Sebastian."
Sebastian raised two fingers in greeting.
"Nice to meet you."
"The redhead is Kira."
Kira simply nodded.
"And this shorty over here is Maria."
Maria enthusiastically raised her hand.
"Hi!"
"And that over there..."
Alexys smiled.
"...is Carmilla."
Carmilla crossed her arms.
"I've never been a fan of introductions."
Alexys shrugged.
"That's just how she shows affection."
For the first time since they had reunited, smiles appeared around the room.
Frederin took a deep breath.
His expression became serious again.
"So..."
He looked at everyone.
"Without any of them..."
"Do we really stand a chance against this enemy?"
Ruby answered first.
"We don't know."
She lowered her head.
"That's why we're gathering as many allies as possible."
Kira continued.
"We're going to fight."
Her eyes never wavered.
"Even if it costs us our lives."
Before anyone could say another word...
The front door shook violently.
Everyone turned toward it at once.
The wooden door was ripped clean off its hinges.
Standing in the doorway...
Richard Dinark.
Covered in blood.
His clothes were torn.
His hair was completely stained crimson.
In one hand...
He carried a golden crown.
He took a few steps inside.
Looked at everyone.
"This..."
He threw the crown onto the floor.
It spun across the room before stopping right in the center.
"...is not our end."
Sebastian's eyes widened.
"What did you do to the king?"
Richard answered as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.
"I killed him."
Silence.
"Him and the entire royal council were working for the Masked Man."
He took a deep breath.
"Only Arlok managed to escape."
Luna looked Richard up and down.
"You're really strong, aren't you, sir...?"
Richard slowly turned toward her.
"You're going to call me Uncle."
Luna blinked in confusion.
"Huh?"
"You think I don't know what your intentions are with my nephew?"
Luna's face instantly turned bright red.
"W-What are you talking about?!"
Richard grinned.
"I was dead."
"I learned a lot."
He paused.
"Relax."
"I approve of the two of you."
The entire room burst into laughter.
Luna covered her face in embarrassment.
She turned toward the window.
Then quietly muttered,
"If he doesn't make a move..."
"...I will."
Ryane heard every word.
She lightly smacked Luna on the shoulder.
"Don't get any funny ideas with my brother."
Luna puffed out her cheeks.
"Seriously..."
She rubbed her shoulder.
"Stop being so jealous."
Ryane simply rolled her eyes.
Julian brought the conversation back on track.
"Richard..."
"Now that you're alive..."
"Did you come back with a plan?"
Richard scratched his head.
"Me?"
He laughed.
"I'm way too dumb to come up with plans like that."
Then he smiled.
"But I know someone who isn't."
He looked around at everyone.
"Let's go talk to our friend..."
"Adrian Casillas Jr."
Without wasting another second, everyone left the apartment.
---
Elsewhere...
Only the light of a few candles illuminated the room.
The Masked Man stood silently.
Juan stood before him.
The Masked Man tossed him another Moon Crystal.
Juan caught it in midair.
"The next target is Ryane."
His voice was cold.
"Isolate her."
"Then seal her away."
Juan tilted his head.
"And after that?"
"I'll take care of the rest."
Juan examined the crystal.
"Your machine is ready, isn't it?"
The Masked Man smiled beneath his mask.
"It is."
"But I still can't activate it."
He began walking slowly.
"A concentration of aura that immense would attract the attention of... inconvenient enemies."
He stopped.
"So I'll feed the machine little by little."
"By the time they realize what's happening..."
"...it'll already be too late."
Juan smiled.
His body slowly became transparent.
"Understood."
The next instant...
He disappeared.
---
Beneath the Royal Palace...
Inside the sewers.
The three Moon Crystals shone intensely.
Inside them...
Kevin.
Luis.
Augusto.
Motionless.
Surrounding the crystals...
Dozens of creatures of different sizes, shapes, and colors stood in complete silence.
Every one of them guarding the area.
Like sentries.
---
Meanwhile...
The group walked through the city's streets.
Frederin broke the silence.
"Julian..."
"Sebastian..."
"Whose Hosts are you?"
Julian answered first.
"Ray."
"The King of Illusions."
Sebastian smiled.
"Azazel."
"The legendary man who traveled across the skies."
Frederin fell silent for a moment.
Then asked,
"Do you know a short guy..."
"Dark-skinned..."
"Wears black clothes..."
"Has white hair..."
"And also seems to possess Hagan?"
Julian and Sebastian exchanged a glance.
They answered almost at the same time.
"We do."
Julian asked,
"Why?"
Frederin looked ahead.
"When Leonardo took over my body..."
"I saw through his eyes."
He took a deep breath.
"That day..."
"That man defeated Leonardo over and over again."
Everyone fell silent.
"In the end..."
"Leonardo said he couldn't let that man continue living."
"There wouldn't be a next time."
"Only an end."
Sebastian answered calmly.
"The man you're talking about..."
"...is Kevin Dinark."
"Luis's cousin."
"Ruby's cousin."
"Ryane's brother."
"And the very person who's sealed away right now."
Frederin lowered his head.
"I want to meet him."
He looked up at the sky.
"His aura..."
"...doesn't feel human."
Richard smiled faintly.
"Never forget that, kid."
"Kevin Dinark is known as..."
"Dark Stark."
"The Reincarnation of Adaptation."
Frederin smiled.
"Adaptation..."
He paused briefly.
"That title suits him perfectly."
Then his expression changed.
"Since their battle..."
"I absorbed eight of the ten rings that divide Leonardo's soul."
He looked at his own hand.
"But..."
"I can't feel his presence anymore."
Julian fell into thought.
"Now that you mention it..."
"I can't feel Ray anymore either."
Sebastian nodded.
"Nor Azazel."
Maria looked at everyone.
"Maybe they're afraid of what's happening."
Kira shook her head.
"Or maybe..."
"The absence of this kingdom's greatest pillar..."
"...is exactly the opportunity they've been waiting for."
Ryane quickened her pace.
"We need to stay alert."
A few minutes later...
The group stopped in front of a small wooden house.
Richard pointed at it.
"This is where Adrian has been hiding."
Sebastian nodded.
"That's right."
Richard knocked on the door three times.
A few seconds later...
The door opened.
Adrian greeted them with a smile.
"It's good to see all of you back."
Richard smiled.
"You've grown a lot."
"I still remember when you were just a child."
Adrian smiled back.
"Come in, Mr. Richard... everyone."
His smile faded.
"We have a lot to discuss."
"And it's urgent."
One by one, they entered the house.
---
Meanwhile...
At the Celestial Arena...
The tournament had already come to an end.
The stands were slowly emptying.
Only a handful of spectators were still leaving the stadium.
Workers gathered the debris.
Others cleaned up the rainwater that had accumulated.
Little by little...
The enormous battlefield returned to silence.