"There are only two phases left. After this, the final ten will explore a dungeon," Astara said as they watched the first duel begin.
The main threat is this phase, huh?
The first duelists went all out, leaving the ground cracked by the end of their fight. Even the winner was in no condition for the next phase. Seeing that, Daylan found himself nervously swallowing again and again.
Daylan watched intently as the tournament progressed. Before long, it was Medora's turn. Strangely, this was the first time Daylan had seen her opponent, despite the tournament having gone on for days.
He wielded a sword similar to Medora's, but his was laced in green and black. As soon as the duel began, a powerful gust of wind swept across the field. Confused murmurs rippled through the crowd, but before anyone could make sense of it, Medora was sent crashing into the ground.
Medora gripped her sword tightly as sparks of flame erupted from its blade. Clutching her ribs, she pushed herself to her feet and dashed forward, her flames rising and mixing with the whirlwind spinning across the field.
I never knew her sword could use fire.
The two clashed in a series of tense, precise strikes, each attack narrowly dodged by a hair's breadth. Medora's sleeves began to burn from her own flames, yet her body remained untouched as if the fire recognized her. Despite the intensity of her flames, they barely reached her opponent—his wind effortlessly brushed them aside before they could graze his skin.
Medora realized she needed a better strategy if she was going to win. Without wasting a moment, she began firing bursts of flame from her sword, circling her opponent with swift, calculated movements as the fireballs rained down from different angles.
Come on… you can do this Dora.
Before long, they both began unleashing waves of blades from their swords. With each clash, Medora's flames started to overpower her opponent's wind, giving her the opening she needed to close in on him.
Once she was within reach, it was clear that Medora had landed the strike on her opponent—yet somehow, she was the one sent crashing into the ground.
Daylan grew worried at the sight of the mysterious force his opponent wielded, but the fierce determination in Medora's eyes eased his worries—she clearly had a few tricks of her own.
With brute strength, she forced her way through her opponent's attacks, dodging and blocking what she could. Once in close, she landed a blow—but the impact sent her crashing backward. Still, she repeated the tactic again and again. Before long, gasps rippled through the crowd as one of Medora's strikes nearly severed her opponent's arm.
Daylan fist pumped with a smile. And here I thought I was reckless.
Medora could barely walk after her victory, but she wore a wide, contented smile as she limped off the field. Her opponent's origin remained a mystery to Daylan, but with Medora's win, he found it easier to let the question go.
Before long, only three matches remained before the final phase. Daylan's mind was consumed by the possibility that he might be paired with Astara. His fists clenched as he stared at the screen, waiting for the announcer to reveal the next duelers.
"Princess Astara Quincy and Kaida Hayashi!"
Daylan smiled, turned to Astara, and wished her luck. She responded with a faint smile before making her way to the dueling field.
The tip of her sword sank into the ground as she rested her hands on the hilt.
Kaida's body was clad in tough dragon scales, a confident smirk playing on her lips as she stood her ground. Astara said nothing—she simply observed, calm and unreadable.
The moment the fight began, Kaida sprinted across the field. Daylan remembered her speed in earlier duels—but this time, she was untouchable. Even on the screen, she was barely visible; only the swirling dust in her wake gave any sign of her movement. Yet Astara remained calm, standing still, simply listening.
Astara lifted her sword, raised her guard, and waited. It felt as if she were anticipating a precise moment to strike. Her intent was clear—she wanted to land a blow on Kaida.
Daylan's eyes narrowed, focused, eager to see what would happen if her blade met Kaida's scaled skin.
Astara took a single step forward—and in the blink of an eye, Kaida's hand was severed. Daylan's jaw dropped in stunned disbelief.
This is why I didn't want to be paired with her.
She had barely swung her sword, and from the looks of it, only the tip had grazed Kaida's hand—yet it was enough to sever it completely. Astara wore a concerned expression as Kaida was carried off the field—she hadn't wanted to strike her with the sword, but she'd had no other choice.
Before she could make her way to her seat, the announcer called out.
"Enyo Jireh and Daylan Rhys!"
Daylan's heart sank. With a heavyweight in his chest, he rose and made his way downstairs, gripping his dagger tightly as his body trembled with anxiety. At the entrance to the dueling field, Astara stood waiting for him.
"Good luck." She said with a smile.
Daylan smiled and nodded.
Enyo wore a confident smile the moment Daylan stepped onto the field, ruffling his red hair. Instantly, two distinct presences pressed down on him. His head snapped around, searching for the source. There—standing with Enzo—were two powerful figures, a man and a woman. Just the sight of them made Daylan swallow hard.
Enyo spoke up. "Rag! Your opponent is here, not there."
Daylan turned to him.
This matchup is rigged. Enzo does not want his money, I think he wants something else.
Enyo smiled. "Your journey ends here, Daylan. I already told you, there's no way you can pay the loan."
Daylan raised his guard. "We will see about that."
"Fight!"
Daylan closed in and struck at Enyo, but he dodged effortlessly, a smirk tugging at his lips. Without pause, Daylan launched another attack—then another—but Enyo evaded them all with ease, toying with him like a child.
Just as Enyo was savoring his dominance, Daylan suddenly switched the dagger to his other hand—and in the blink of an eye, his blade sliced through Enyo's flesh.
Daylan immediately flipped backward, creating distance between them. Enyo crouched, touched the blood—and brought it to his lips for a taste.
"I love how you always dream big," he said with a smirk. "But not everyone gets to dream—and today, I'm here to shatter yours." As he spoke, a long chain materialized in his hand, its end tipped with a gleaming blade.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
New Task Available.
Objective: [Kill Enyo.]
Duration: 45 Minutes.
Reward: [?]
Penalty: [YOUR HEART WILL STOP.]
What? I would die?
Enyo began spinning his chain in the air, and in an instant, he lashed it toward Daylan. Daylan narrowly dodged—but somehow, the chain shifted direction midair and struck him, slamming him to the ground.
His mind was hazy. He needed to win—but now, it could cost him his life. He couldn't afford to lose.
Before he could rise, Enyo lashed out. Daylan rolled away just in time and sprang to his feet.
He had to close the distance—at range, he wouldn't last. Without hesitation, he charged forward. Enyo's chain whipped toward his head, but Daylan dropped low, sliding on one knee beneath the strike.
Soul Spiral
As soon as he was within reach, Daylan held his breath and splashed ricin into Enyo's face.
Seizing the moment, he sprang to his feet and aimed for Enyo's throat—but Enyo tilted his head just in time, and the dagger sliced across his face instead. Daylan instantly retreated, putting distance between them once more.
Enyo held his face, screaming in agony.
Daylan held his stance, his guard raised as he watched Enyo agonize in pain.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[30 minutes]: Task Deadline Approaching.
Ricin would kill him, but not within within thirty minutes …What the f**k did he move? You are going to die anyway, Tsk.
Enyo went to his knees, his hands covered in blood. "My beautiful face." He yelled "I will kill you… I will kill you."
He pulled a blood potion from his pocket and drank it. The crowd erupted in panic—it was clear they knew what was coming. Daylan glanced toward Enzo, who stood perfectly still, eyes fixed intently on his son.
The moment Enyo drank the blood, his clothes tore and hung loose around his shifting form. His body twisted, teeth sharpening, and his chain fused into his arm like a weapon. He looked like a ghoul—but something far more sinister.
Daylan's head snapped around, searching for anyone who might step in—but there was no time. Even the announcer, despite rambling about how terrifying it was, seemed to be enjoying the spectacle.
His heart raced, but he held his ground. Enyo charged, swinging wildly—Daylan dodged with ease. But in a sudden flick, Enyo's chained hand snapped out, lashing toward him. With barely any time to react, Daylan blocked it. The strike landed, but it was weaker than any ghoul he'd faced before—lighter, even, than Enyo's earlier blows.
He's not down transforming. It's now or never.
Daylan dashed forward. Enyo's vision was hazy—he sensed something coming but couldn't make it out. He swung blindly, but Daylan dodged with ease. In a flash, Daylan landed four quick strikes, sending Enyo crashing to the ground. But he wasn't finished.
Soul Spiral
In the blink of an eye, a small blade appeared in Daylan's hand. Before Enyo could rise, Daylan dashed forward, gripping the weapon tightly—and drove it straight into Enyo's heart. Enyo collapsed instantly, hitting the ground with a heavy thud.
Hopefully, they say he died from poison.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Mission Success. You Have Been Rewarded With [Dark Spiral.]
The darkness—and who dwells within it—recognizes you as one of their own.
Effect: Emotion is sacrificed for power rooted in shadow and corruption (+5% per use.
Active for 10 seconds. Max 3 per day.)
What spirals up can also spiral down. Order becomes chaos. Growth becomes collapse.
Signature: Energy Manifest—wield the dark within, and command the shadows around you.