The cliffside burned.
Not slowly.
Not gently.
But violently.
The moment Daxen raised his hand—
The sky answered.
Dozens of fireballs formed above him, each one dense, controlled, and humming with destructive intent. They weren't wild flames.
They were precise.
Calculated.
Deadly.
Daxen exhaled.
"…Let's clear the field first."
And then—
He dropped his hand.
The fire fell.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
The entire valley erupted.
Flames swallowed everything below as the Spheres were engulfed instantly. Their massive bodies twisted under the force, their regeneration trying to keep up—
—but Daxen didn't give it time.
"Now."
Riven grinned.
"Say less."
He slammed both hands onto the ground.
CRACK.
Lightning exploded outward.
Not just above—
But through the earth itself.
It ran like veins beneath the battlefield, traveling faster than the flames could fade, reaching every Sphere caught in the blast.
Then—
The sky answered him too.
BOOM.
Lightning bolts descended.
Relentless.
Precise.
Each strike perfectly timed with the firestorm below.
Fire.
Lightning.
Impact after impact after impact.
The Spheres didn't stand a chance.
Their bodies ruptured.
Their cores shattered.
Their regeneration overwhelmed completely.
One by one—
They fell.
Silence.
Smoke filled the air.
The ground was scorched.
The battlefield…
Cleared.
Almost.
A low sound echoed.
Riven's grin widened slowly.
"…Tch."
From within the burning wreckage—
Something moved.
Larger.
Heavier.
Still alive.
The leader.
It rose slowly, its massive body charred but intact. Its spherical head turned toward them, six glowing eyes still burning with awareness.
Its tendrils twitched—
Unharmed.
Its skin—
Thicker.
Denser.
Far more durable than the others.
Daxen clicked his tongue.
"…Of course there's a boss."
The creature let out a sharp, piercing shriek.
The sound cut through the air like a blade.
Riven laughed.
"Yo."
He rolled his shoulders.
"Daxen."
Daxen didn't look at him.
"…Yeah."
Riven's grin turned wild.
"Let's jump it."
Daxen smiled.
"…Bet."
Riven stepped forward—
Then stopped.
His body stilled.
"…God Mode."
CRACK.
Lightning erupted from him.
Violently.
His short white hair spiked upward as electricity wrapped around his entire body. The ground beneath his feet fractured under the pressure of his energy.
The air buzzed.
Heavy.
Unstable.
Daxen exhaled slowly.
"…Flame Burst."
The air itself ignited.
Tiny particles around him lit up, glowing like embers suspended in space. Heat surged outward, distorting everything around him.
His presence changed.
Not louder—
But sharper.
The Sphere leader shrieked again.
This time—
It attacked.
Its tendrils shot forward.
Fast.
Violent.
Dozens at once.
But—
They were too slow.
Riven vanished.
A streak of lightning cut across the battlefield—
—and he appeared above the creature.
"Too slow."
He drove his fist down—
Lightning exploded on impact.
BOOM.
The creature's body shook—
—but didn't break.
"…Oh?"
Riven's eyes lit up.
"You're tough."
The tendrils snapped upward—
Trying to grab him.
Too late.
Riven was already gone.
Daxen moved next.
He stepped forward—
—and vanished into flames.
Appearing right in front of the creature's head.
"Let's see how long you last."
He raised his hand—
—and released it.
A concentrated blast of fire erupted point-blank.
BOOM.
The Sphere leader screeched, its massive body pushed back slightly—
—but still holding.
"…Regeneration's fast."
Daxen muttered.
Riven reappeared beside him.
"…And its skin's thick."
They both looked at it.
Then—
At each other.
Riven grinned.
"Alright."
Daxen smirked.
"Let's break it together."
The creature attacked again—
Tendrils sweeping across the battlefield, tearing through the ground.
Riven dashed forward—
Lightning trailing behind him like a storm unleashed.
Daxen followed—
Flames bursting beneath his feet with every step.
They split.
Opposite directions.
Perfect timing.
The creature tried to track both—
But couldn't.
Riven appeared on its left—
"Got you."
—and slammed a lightning-coated kick into its side.
Daxen appeared on its right—
"Burn."
—and drove a flame-infused punch straight into its core.
BOOM.
The impact shook the entire valley.
The creature screamed—
Its body cracking slightly now.
"…There it is," Riven said.
"…Now we can kill it," Daxen finished.
The Sphere leader roared, its tendrils lashing out wildly—
—but now—
It was losing control.
Riven lifted his hand—
Lightning gathering.
Daxen raised both of his—
Flames condensing into a single point.
They didn't even need to speak.
They moved—
At the same time.
Straight toward it.
Elsewhere—
Far from the chaos—
Serenity walked alone.
The forest had changed.
It was quieter here.
Darker.
The stars above felt closer.
Watching.
She stopped.
"…You've been following me."
Silence.
Then—
A voice.
"…Sharp senses."
Serenity turned slowly.
And saw him.
A figure standing a few steps behind her.
An old man.
Thin.
Worn.
His eyes—
Closed.
Blind.
But his presence…
Was anything but weak.
Serenity's gaze sharpened slightly.
"…You're not a monster."
The man smiled faintly.
"…No."
A pause.
"…I'm what's left of one."
The air shifted.
"…A remnant spirit."
Serenity didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
"…Interesting."
The blind man tilted his head slightly.
"…You carry something… unusual."
Serenity's eyes narrowed just a bit.
"…So do you."
A quiet moment passed between them.
Then—
The blind man stepped forward.
Slowly.
Calmly.
"…Let's see what you are, child."
Serenity's expression didn't change.
"…You can try."
And the forest—
Went still.