The man in the wolf mask strode toward Jayden, each step radiating confidence and danger.
His movements were calm, yet every motion carried the weight of a predator closing in on its prey.
Jayden slowly moved his hand away from the seal and rose to his feet.
He's fast. I'll have to watch his movements before I decide whether to remove the seal or not.
As Jayden strategized, a voice—quiet but sharp as a blade—cut through the tension.
"Don't even consider beating me with that seal," the masked man said, his tone low and controlled. "You'll end up dead."
Jayden smirked slightly. "Don't underestimate me. You'd be shocked how strong I am."
The moonlight spilled through the shattered roof, silver and cold, illuminating the two figures as they faced off.
Jayden charged his mana, gripping Xelvicar tightly. He lunged forward with a swift slash—but the masked man was gone.
Before Jayden could react, his opponent appeared behind him. A white crescent of mana swept through the air, fast and clean.
Jayden turned too late. The attack was about to connect when Xelvicar's blade moved on its own, intercepting the strike with a blinding spark.
The clash rang like thunder.
His eyes widened. The move… he recognized it.
He remembered his father's warning from years ago:
"If you're ever attacked by someone wielding a black katana with white mana-type attacks—if it's daytime, fight with all your might. But if it's night and the moon is full… run. Run as fast as your legs can."
Jayden glanced at the window. The moon outside was full. He exhaled deeply.
The man noticed. "You know of us, don't you? Then why aren't you running? I don't pity children."
Jayden grinned. "Because if I run from you, I'll never be strong enough to face the ones that come after you."
In a blur, Jayden flash-stepped to a crate, grabbed a handful of pills, and swallowed them whole.
The man's eyes flickered with concern through the slits of his mask.
"Don't worry," Jayden muttered, voice tight with pain. "I don't kill adults."
Then he screamed as the pills took effect. Mana erupted violently from within him. He yanked the seal out of his hand—and the world exploded.
A shockwave of raw mana shattered the house to dust.
Cracks of lightning crawled across Jayden's skin as the glowing lines on his body spread, writhing like golden serpents.
When the dust settled, both fighters stood amidst the wreckage—on what was once the house's floor, now a cratered battlefield.
"Let's go," Jayden said coldly. "Don't make me waste all this mana."
Mana sparked around him like a storm before stabilizing.
The two vanished at once.
Blue, white, and golden sparks streaked through the night as they clashed in midair.
Jayden hurled Xelvicar like a spear, then fired rapid mana slashes of multiple elements.
"Form Two: Moonlight Dance!"
The masked man moved like wind on water, his body flowing through the attacks with inhuman grace.
Jayden anticipated his landing, appearing before him and throwing a punch—but once again, the man slipped past it effortlessly.
"Form One: Crescent Blade!"
The man's sword sang as six white arcs of light carved through the air toward Jayden.
"Xelvicar!" Jayden called. The sword reappeared in his hand.
Mimicking the same motion, he unleashed six azure crescents, each clashing midair with its white counterpart. Sparks showered the battlefield.
Before Jayden could blink, the man was beside him, blade swinging for his neck.
Instinct took over—Jayden raised his arm, catching the blade. Blood trickled down, but the cut was shallow.
With a growl, he wrenched the sword free from the man's grasp and flung it aside.
"Smart," the man said, flexing his hand. "But now I'll have to use my main weapon."
His hand glowed with white mana, leaving luminous trails that faded after each motion. "Let's go, boy."
The man moved. One second he was still—the next, his fist slammed into Jayden's gut, sending him flying.
Before Jayden could recover, the man grabbed him midair, hammering palm after palm mercilessly into his face before twisting around and finishing with a brutal back kick.
Jayden hit the ground hard, blood splattering.
The man turned away, retrieving both swords and inspecting them.
"Interesting weapon you've got," he said casually. "Maybe when I kill you, I'll take it for myself."
Jayden's vision blurred. His strength was slipping. After everything… I'm still not strong enough.
The man chuckled. "Boy, you look like Luke Reginald. His son, maybe? Oh, that reminds me—I have unfinished business with him. The moon's full tonight. Perfect, time to hunt."
He turned toward Jayden. "Come quickly and die, boy. I'll be visiting your father next. Maybe you guys will both see each other in hell."
The words sliced through Jayden's fading consciousness like a blade.
He was the one who killed Mom and Dad… in Fantasy's timeline.
His body trembled.
I have to kill him now.
Jayden's mana flared violently. "Now… now… NOW!"
He appeared in front of the masked man and exhaled a massive burst of fire.
The man narrowly dodged, but a slab of earth rose from behind, smashing him forward.
Fifteen spears of mana materialized, flying toward him in unison.
"Form Three: Eclipse Fang!"
White mana zigzagged through the chaos as the man blitzed forward, slashing Jayden across the chest.
Pain flared, but Jayden didn't stop. He grabbed the man's arm, dragging him close—and exploded in a pillar of flame.
The man burst out of the inferno, coat aflame.
Midair, Jayden was already there, wreathed in fire. Raising his hand, he summoned lightning from the heavens. Bolts struck the earth around them like divine punishment.
"Moonlight Dance!"
"Eyes of the Gods!"
A demonic voice echoed through the air.
"You have angered the strongest one. Atone with your life!"
A crushing pressure descended, ten times heavier than before. The man staggered, wide-eyed. "What is this… what is this power?"
Jayden hovered above, his eyes glowing gold, his body twitching unnaturally.
That's when the man realized—Jayden had lost control. He was no longer human in that moment.
"Mastered Form One: Crescent Blade Execution!"
Twelve white blades shot toward Jayden.
He plowed straight through them, unfazed, and punched the man squarely in the face—the first solid hit of the night.
Golden tendrils burst from his arm, wrapping around the man and electrocuting him mercilessly.
With a roar, Jayden hurled the man skyward and threw Xelvicar. The man braced to parry—but the sword vanished midair.
Jayden appeared in its place, flames cloaking his body, and slammed his fist into the man's chest, sending him crashing to the ground.
The man crossed his arms to block, but before he hit the earth, Jayden was already there. Sand erupted, trapping the man in a massive cage.
Dozens of icicles and lightning bolts formed overhead, ready to pierce him—but white mana exploded outward, shattering the trap.
The shockwaves from their battle ripped through the town. People woke in panic as guards rushed to evacuate civilians under urgent orders.
On a nearby rooftop, five figures watched—the true mission squad.
Their captain, the same man who had once fought Jayden, stood with folded arms.
"Captain, shouldn't we stop them?" one asked nervously.
The captain smiled faintly. "Do you think you can?"
When the masked man turned his head toward them, the silent glare through his mask's slits was enough.
A chill ran down their spines. They dared not interfere.
"We'll wait for the aftermath," the captain said. "We've captured the smugglers , that's our mission. Just sit back and watch—this might be one of the greatest fights you'll ever witness."
Back on the battlefield, Jayden stood—bloodied, trembling, yet still burning with golden light. His wounds oozed but were already closing, inch by inch.
"Let's end this," the masked man said, laughter echoing. "The moon's almost gone, and I have someone else to kill."
"You… die… here!" Jayden's voice cracked with fury. He lunged, throwing punches and kicks in a blur—left swing, right hook, spinning axe kick—all blocked.
The man stepped back, smirking. "It's over now. I've had my fun."
"Form Five: Equinox!"
An X-shaped mark appeared across Jayden's chest. Blood gushed forth like a fountain.
"No… no… NO! He's going to kill them! Even if I die here, he must follow me—down to the deepest parts of hell!" Jayden's mind screamed as he forced all remaining mana into his hand.
A small orb formed, condensed, then expanded rapidly.
"Die, you bastard!!!"
With the last of his strength, he hurled it toward the man.
The blast roared through the battlefield, devouring everything in its path.
"What the hell—!" the man shouted, raising his sword in alarm.
And as the explosion consumed the night, Jayden collapsed—his world fading into darkness.