Diaso's head rolled across the rocky ground, leaving behind a thin trail of dust mixed with blood, as though the cave itself had swallowed the sound of his fall without a whisper. No one still standing was prepared to believe what had just happened, but the truth was far too cruel to deny.
Baran stood a short distance away, his eyes fixed on the rolling head, while Narvik sat on the ground, his body trembling from exhaustion. As for Lorina, she had stepped several paces back, standing alone, breathing heavily, her eyes locked onto the figure standing before them with terrifying composure.
She thought, trying to keep her mind cold amid the chaos, His power depends on lightning. He can direct all of his energy toward defense, offense, or speed. More dangerously, he can divide it however he wishes. Right now, he's using seventy-five percent for speed and only twenty-five percent for defense.
She observed his movements with extreme precision, as though she were reading an open book that no one else wanted to read.
And with his Legendary-rank sword, which possesses a dangerous trait, every drop of blood it touches is forcefully drawn out. That's why he's so terrifying when he relies on this tactic.
Lorina never finished her analysis.
Baran suddenly dashed toward her, as fast as a flash of lightning, the distance between them vanishing in a fraction of a second.
Her hands moved instinctively. The scattered metal fragments around her began gathering together, merging with her skin. A thin protective layer formed in a single instant. Before the sword could fully make contact with her body, she thought she had survived.
The touch was light, barely enough to draw a single drop of blood from her arm.
But suddenly, the sword glowed with a faint blue light, and a far greater amount of blood poured out from that tiny wound.
"Damn it!" Lorina shouted as she leaped backward, her face showing more frustration than pain. "Defense is useless now... I've already lost too much blood."
At that tense moment, she noticed Narvik sitting silently, gathering his energy despite his severe injuries. His eyes were half-closed, but his hands never stopped preparing.
"Metal Cutting Art."
Lorina spoke calmly despite her heavy breathing, and the scattered metal fragments around her shot forward like a swarm of steel insects, heading straight toward Narvik.
"Iron Sparks."
She poured every last bit of concentration into the attack.
The tiny fragments closed in on Narvik, gleaming and razor-sharp, promising a swift end.
Yet he smiled before they reached him.
It was the smile of someone who knew something no one else did.
Black lightning descended as though it were the wrath of the heavens themselves, shattering every metal fragment in midair before they could touch his skin, leaving behind only the faint scent of burning and flashes that quickly faded away.
"Oi, are you alright?" Baran asked as he returned to Narvik's side after rushing toward him the moment he sensed the danger.
"Don't worry. With a little rest, I'll be back on my feet in a few minutes," Narvik replied in a tired yet confident voice.
"Hmm, that's good. We'll help that bastard after we're done here," Baran muttered, the anger he felt toward Suleiman still burning in his chest like an unquenchable ember.
When Baran turned around after speaking, he noticed that Lorina had disappeared.
"What? Where did she go?" Narvik asked with obvious concern, trying to stand despite the pain.
"She's above us," Baran answered calmly, though deep tension hid beneath his voice. "Does she really intend to drink the poison?"
Lorina had planned to drink that poison for a long time.
However, she had decided to wait until she reached the Middle Stage of the Connected Realm.
But because of Baran, Narvik, Suleiman, and the chain of events that had left her with no choice, she now found herself climbing upward before the right time, determined to drink the poison without further delay.
"Hmm... she'll definitely fail," Baran muttered as he sat down, breathing heavily after fighting two experts from the Connected Realm while he himself had yet to surpass the Manuscript Reader Realm. "She's already lost too much blood, and she's seriously wounded to begin with."
Narvik frowned and asked seriously, "What are her chances of succeeding?"
Baran looked at him.
After a long, heavy silence, he answered,
"One percent."
An almost nonexistent chance.
Yet if she succeeded...
Everyone would die.
---
Elsewhere inside the cave, where the darkness was thicker and the air heavier with the scent of dust and blood.
BOOOOM!
A massive explosion echoed after Suleiman destroyed one of the three giants confronting him.
"Rock Giant Art."
Shiro spoke, his face stained with blood from earlier battles, yet his smile never left him.
Suddenly, two gigantic arms emerged from the cave walls. The first arm lunged toward Suleiman with tremendous force.
"Truly pathetic."
Suleiman scoffed as he leaped onto the enormous arm, then began running across it with a grace that completely defied the deadly danger surrounding him.
Before he reached the halfway point, the second arm slammed into the first with tremendous force, sending Suleiman flying into the air.
But before he could hit the ground, he firmly gripped his scythe and hurled it straight toward Shiro.
"Hahaha! Is that your last hope or what?"
Shiro laughed mockingly, as though he didn't even notice the flying scythe that would have killed him within seconds, had one of the giants not stepped in front of him to take the blow instead.
THUD!
The scythe pierced through the giant's body and remained lodged inside.
"Damn it... this is bad."
Suleiman frowned before speaking sharply.
"Light Art."
---
Suddenly, a gigantic serpent burst forth from brilliant blue light.
It possessed six eyes, three on each side of its head, a single horn rising from the center of its forehead, and enormous razor-sharp fangs that gleamed within the darkness.
"Blue Death Serpent."
The serpent rushed mercilessly toward the giant carrying the scythe.
BOOOOM!
The giant exploded into countless rocky fragments.
The scythe fell to the ground with a dry metallic clang, while the serpent continued forward without slowing, charging directly toward Shiro.
For the first time, Shiro stood frozen in terror, feeling that the ground beneath his feet was no longer safe.
Every Manuscript possessed its own unique skills, and every Realm granted one fundamental ability. However, a truly skilled user could create entirely new techniques of their own, giving them a fighting style unlike anyone else's.
Blue Death Serpent was the second technique Suleiman had created by himself.
"Rock Giant Art!"
Shiro shouted as panic overtook him.
Instantly, more gigantic stone arms burst from the surrounding rocks, crossing into an X-shaped barrier before him, while the giant stood ready to intercept Suleiman's incoming attack.
But it wasn't enough.
BOOOOM!
This was no ordinary explosion.
Everything in its path was obliterated.
Shiro could no longer remain standing because of the severity of his injuries.
Before he could even understand what had happened, the scythe descended beside him.
Not as a killing strike—
But by its master's own will.
Suleiman rested one foot upon the scythe, capable of killing Shiro with a single motion.
Yet he stopped.
He let out a quiet sigh before saying,
"I want to ask you a question."