No one moved.
The tea in Lucien's cup was still warm.
Michael stood there, Regicide gripped tightly in his hand. His eyes never left Lucien for even a second.
Lucien slowly placed his cup down on the table.
Clink.
The soft sound echoed throughout the entire room.
Outside, thousands of people screamed for Lucien's downfall.
Inside, there was nothing but silence.
Lucien smiled faintly and said,
"So... this is how our conversation ends."
Michael tightened his grip on Regicide.
"No," he replied calmly. "This is where it begins."
Lucien stood up from his chair and picked up his sword.
"Very well, Michael. Teach me why your world should exist."
Michael immediately charged toward him, swinging Regicide with tremendous force.
"The real question is why your ideals should exist, Lucien!"
Lucien effortlessly dodged the slash and drew his sword in one smooth motion.
He looked at the blade resting in his hand and smiled.
"Great kingdoms require rivers of blood to be spilled... and my sword shall be the pen that writes the history of my kingdom."
With a single swing, he unleashed a devastating slash.
Michael dodged at the last possible moment, but the attack continued forward, slicing through every wall in its path.
BOOM!!
The slash tore through the entire Crimson Oath headquarters, splitting the main building apart.
Cracks spread across the structure as pieces of stone began collapsing.
Michael looked through the broken windows.
"The building... it's going to fall!"
Without hesitation, he leaped outside.
As he descended through the air, Regicide glowed brilliantly.
"SUPER NIT—REGICIDE SLASH!"
A massive slash erupted from his blade, striking the collapsing side of the building and forcing it away from the crowded streets below.
The building crashed in the opposite direction.
Hundreds of civilians narrowly escaped death.
Michael landed heavily on the street.
As he turned around, he saw Lucien standing calmly in the middle of the road, completely unfazed.
Lucien slowly looked around at the frightened crowd before returning his gaze to Michael.
"So, Michael..."
"These are the people you choose over me?"
Michael answered without hesitation.
"No."
"They're the people I choose over myself."
Lucien dashed forward and swung his sword.
CLANG!
Michael blocked the attack with Regicide before driving a powerful kick into Lucien's chest, forcing him backward.
Michael immediately followed with another slash.
Lucien caught Regicide with his bare hand.
He looked at the blade with admiration.
"Great blade you have."
Before Michael could react, Lucien twisted the sword using an Aikido technique, throwing Michael off balance.
Michael crashed onto the ground.
As he looked up, he saw Lucien staring at the terrified townspeople.
Lucien raised his sword.
"All of you..."
"...do not deserve to exist in this world."
"You will receive no mercy."
Someone from the crowd shouted,
"HEY, MONSTER! DIE!"
Lucien calmly turned toward the voice.
"Every empire begins with one man willing to be called a monster."
Michael stood back up.
"Your empire..."
"...will never exist."
He swung Regicide, unleashing a sharp wave of energy.
The slash grazed Lucien's face, leaving a small cut across his cheek.
A drop of blood rolled down.
Lucien smiled.
"That was a great attack."
In the next instant, he leaped high into the sky.
Dark energy gathered around his sword.
He unleashed a gigantic slash large enough to wipe out an entire section of the town.
"HOW WILL YOU SAVE THEM NOW?!"
Michael tightened his grip around Regicide.
"SUPER NIT!"
The blade erupted with overwhelming energy.
Michael answered with a slash of his own.
The two attacks collided in midair.
BOOOOOOOOM!!!!
A massive shockwave exploded across Crimson Reach.
Buildings shook violently.
Windows shattered.
Dust covered the entire town, reducing visibility to almost nothing.
For several seconds...
Everything was silent.
As Michael slowly opened his eyes, he suddenly felt a sharp pain.
Lucien had grabbed him by the hair.
"You were weaker than I expected."
Michael immediately drove Regicide into Lucien's knee.
SLASH!
Blood spilled onto the street.
Lucien stepped back slightly.
Around them, the crowd erupted with cheers.
"MIKE!"
"YOU CAN DO IT!"
"DEFEAT HIM!"
Lucien wiped the blood from his leg and smiled.
"You caught me off guard there, Michael."
"But when will you realize..."
"...this fight isn't about landing physical blows."
"It's a battle of minds."
As Michael looked ahead, Regicide suddenly began glowing brighter than ever before.
A mysterious aura surrounded the ancient sword.
The ground beneath Michael started trembling.
His eyes widened.
"What... is happening?"
Lucien looked at the glowing weapon with interest.
"So..."
"It has finally recognized you."
Michael stared at Regicide as the blade continued radiating immense power.
Lucien continued,
"Your sword is undergoing a transformation."
"It has accepted you as its true wielder."
"If this continues..."
"...it will give you the upper hand in this battle."
Michael slowly raised the glowing blade.
A determined smile appeared on his face.
"I don't need an upper hand."
"I already have one."
Lucien chuckled.
"You still believe your ideals make you righteous."
"They don't."
"They only make you suffer."
"Stop believing those false ideals, Michael."
Michael pointed Regicide directly at Lucien.
"And I'm going to destroy those twisted ideals of yours, Lucien Draven."