Among all the battles taking place at that moment, this one was the most unusual. It was completely different from the others, not because of size or power, but because of the clash of two opposite styles. On one side was a chaotic fighter, wild and unpredictable. On the other side stood a disciplined warrior, calm and steady like a blade forged through years of dedication.
It was Rynara versus Movern.
And their fight had already begun.
Rynara stood lazily with her shoulders loose, her face full of annoyance, as if this whole battle were nothing more than a boring chore.
Rynara said, "Uhm, old man, can you just kill yourself? I don't have any time to waste on someone like you."
Movern did not respond with words. He simply tightened his grip on the handle of his katana. His expression did not change. His breathing stayed calm. He looked at Rynara with silent focus, as if her insults were nothing but background noise.
Rynara clicked her tongue. "Tchhh… Don't you get it? You'll die either way. I'm showing mercy by giving you a chance to kill yourself. Because if I kill you, trust me, I won't show any mercy."
Movern finally spoke. He released a slow breath and said, "You talk a lot."
Those simple words hit Rynara's nerves instantly.
"Huh!? I just don't like fighting a weak old man who doesn't have any young energy left. Bring those three back to fight me instead! They're way more fun than even talking to you."
Movern slowly nodded. "Fine. I will leave… but only on one condition."
Rynara frowned with irritation. "Huh? Stop making me angry and leave before I kill you. You're in no position to demand anything."
But Movern continued as if he didn't hear her anger. "Just hear me out. If you can land ten hits on me, I will not only bring them back to fight you… I will also chop off one of my hands."
Rynara blinked, surprised at first, then grinned. "Hmm. You seem like you have a loose bolt in your head. Well, whatever. I accept your challenge."
Before Movern could even answer, she disappeared from her place and rushed at him with a whoosh of crimson energy.
Her first strike came fast, much faster than the way she spoke. Movern reacted quickly, withdrawing his katana just in time to parry the blow. The moment her claws touched the blade, sparks flew.
But by the time Movern steadied himself, Rynara had already jumped back and was charging in again.
Another attack. Another barely successful parry. Another instant where she retreated to strike again.
After only a few exchanges, Rynara was already overwhelming him with speed.
She laughed confidently and shouted, "See that, old man? You're old and feeble! I'm still giving you a chance to leave. If you go now, you won't even have to chop off your hand."
Movern let out a short chuckle. "Very funny. You like to joke, I guess." He shifted his feet slightly and spoke with a firmer tone, "Because I don't recall you hitting me even once."
That sentence completely snapped Rynara.
"Why you!!! So be it. I'll kill you. You brought this on yourself!"
Her attacks became even more aggressive, faster, sharper, stronger. Every slash now carried enough force to push Movern backward even when he successfully parried it. Dust flew around them each time her claws struck. Her movements grew wilder, her smile sharper.
"Soon you'll die!" she shouted again and again.
But Movern kept answering calmly, "You say that, but still no hit."
Rynara growled in frustration. Crimson energy burst around her as the blood coating her hands hardened into sharp claws. The blood thickened and darkened until the claws looked almost metallic.
"Is that so?" she said through clenched teeth.
She vanished and reappeared right in front of Movern. Her claw rose high, glowing with crimson light. Movern started to move his katana upward to block, but the moment her claw touched the blade, she stopped the strike mid-way, suddenly switching to her other hand.
She slashed upward from below.
Even though Movern noticed the move instantly, it was already too late.
Her claw sliced across the side of his abdomen. He managed to jump back, preventing it from becoming a deep or fatal wound, but it still left a long gash. Blood began dripping down his side.
Rynara smirked. "Hmp. Number one."
She jumped again, attacking without giving him a second to breathe. The same trick. The same pattern. Her first claw would meet the katana, then she struck from the opposite side.
Hit number two.
Hit number three.
Hit number four.
Within minutes, she reached five, six, seven, and eight.
Rynara laughed like a maniac. "Look at that, old man! Say goodbye to your hand...or maybe I'll just kill you right now!"
Movern was panting, his clothes stained with blood. But when he looked up, his expression was strangely calm.
"Still not ten hits," he said.
Rynara hissed, "Tchhh… still acting like that? Fine. Let it be. I will give you a gruesome death—far worse than anything you can imagine!"
She charged forward again. The same side attack. The same pattern. Her claws glowed. Her steps cracked the ground.
The strike came fast.
A blur of red.
A flash of silver.
Swish.
Blood splattered across the ground.
A hand fell with a thud.
But it wasn't Movern's.
It was Rynara's.
She stumbled back, screaming in shock and rage. "You old man! How did you!!? How dare you!?? I'll kill you!!! I'll kill you!!!"
Movern had lured her perfectly. He had pretended to be overwhelmed, pretended to struggle, pretended to be caught. When shewent for the same predictable pattern, he struck at the last possible moment, cutting off her hand in one clean motion.
He had tanked eight hits. He had endured them on purpose.
Rynara's rage exploded. "Old man… you shall pay painfully for that underhanded tactic!"
Her eyes turned blood-red. Crimson energy swirled around her like a storm. She bent down, picked up her fallen hand using blood manipulation, and pressed it back onto her arm. Her blood surged around it, reattaching it unnaturally.
Soon, blood began coating her entire arm, then her whole body, shaping into a twisted, sharp, bloody armor.
Their clash resumed.
Rynara attacked wildly, but Movern now parried her blows with ease. The difference was clear, he was no longer holding back. Each parry was perfect. Each step, each angle, each motion showed his true technique.
Rynara grew more frustrated with every second.
"Bloodflare Leap!" she shouted.
She leaped high, her body cracking with energy. On her descent, she drove both claws downward, causing a scarlet explosion that shook the ground and sent shockwaves across the battlefield.
Movern answered calmly.
"Gale Arc Cleave."
He rotated his torso with perfect precision and swung his katana horizontally. A sharp wind arc sliced through the air, so strong that it blew back the dust and energy from her explosion.
Rynara's eyes widened. Shock overtook her face.
"No way… no way! You can't do that! It should have broken your bones! Why aren't you dying!? Ughhh, I don't care... I'll kill you!"
Movern smiled faintly. "Still only eight hits."
Something snapped in Rynara's mind. Her thoughts were replaced by pure bloodlust. Her body shook. The ground trembled beneath her feet.
Blood strings shot out from her body... hundreds, then thousands. They floated around her, twisting until they formed a sphere of blood, sealing her inside.
Then the sphere burst.
A transformed Rynara stepped out.
Her body was larger. Her claws were longer and sharper. Bloody wings grew from her back. Her entire figure was made of solidified blood, overflowing with crimson power.
She panted from the transformation and whispered, "Not yet… not yet… I will not leave you alive…"
Then darkness seeped into the blood. Her red armor darkened. Her crimson aura twisted into corrupted energy. Her eyes lost all reason.
Movern simply lowered his stance, gripping his katana firmly.
"Two more to go," he said.
Their battle continued.