Moonlight filtered through the cracks of the broken walls, spilling its cold glow over the ivy-covered ruins. Lucy walked in silence, the sound of her footsteps echoing across the ancient stone.
The fog had thinned just enough to reveal what had been hidden before — a sunken courtyard, lined with cracked columns and a double staircase crossing in an "X".
A sudden gust swept through, dragging dead leaves along with a faint metallic hum.
At the top of the stairs, she stood again.
The silver samurai warrior — the reflection Lucy had fought earlier — remained motionless, her back turned. The wolf-shaped helmet caught the moonlight, and the silver plates of her armor shimmered with a pulse, almost as if they were breathing.
Without turning, the warrior slowly raised her black blade and pointed it straight at Lucy.
No words. No gesture besides the challenge.
Lucy arched an eyebrow, a crooked smirk touching her lips.
"Oh, you again… You really don't get tired of getting your ass kicked, do you?"
Silence. Only the distant rustling of wind.
Lucy spun Lycanos once and rested it on her shoulder.
"All right, let's see if you can give me a workout this time."
The warrior leaped down the stairs in a single bound — the impact split the stone beneath her feet.
The black blade came in a horizontal arc so fast the air practically tore open.
Lucy blocked with Lycanos at the last second — the clash shook the ground, sparks bursting everywhere.
"Now that's what I'm talking about!" she said, pushing the samurai back and swinging for a counterattack.
The warrior answered with a flurry of precise strikes, cutting the air at nearly impossible angles. Each slash left behind a glowing purple trail that rang like glass.
Lucy retreated two steps — then activated Chiron's gauntlets.
Black fire burst from her arms, melting the dust beneath her boots.
She threw a flaming punch that detonated the air between them, forcing the warrior to jump back.
The samurai spun mid-air, landing behind Lucy and going for a back attack. Lucy whipped Nosferion around, blocking with a shield of blue energy.
The clash sent a metallic boom through the entire ruin. The force of their blades lit up the stairway — blue versus violet, power against power.
The warrior let out a roar — her first sound —muffled and furious behind the helmet.
She jumped again, twisting in the air as her black sword split into several cutting illusions.
Lucy crossed her arms, gauntlets burning hotter.
"Okay… time to shut the lights."
Black flames exploded outward in a vortex, burning away the illusions.
When the blaze died down, the samurai was right in front of her — and Lucy didn't hesitate.
She swung Lycanos straight into the warrior's chest.
The blade pierced the armor, ripping through metal with a sharp scream.
The samurai staggered back, but Lucy pushed forward — grabbing Nosferion with her other hand and striking an X-shaped slash across the warrior's torso.
Blue energy wrapped around the samurai as she fell to her knees.
From inside the helmet came a sound —
not rage this time, but pain.
Purple energy leaked through the cracks in the armor, trembling, alive, as if something inside wanted to break free.
Lucy took a step back, watching in silence.
The warrior lifted her head — and through the narrow opening of the mask, Lucy saw a pair of human eyes.
Teary.
Glowing lilac.
"…Who are you?" Lucy murmured.
No answer.
The purple energy burst all at once —
and the samurai vanished in a blinding flash, her scream echoing across the ruins.
When the light faded, nothing was left — only scorch marks and the smell of ozone.
Lucy wiped sweat from her forehead.
"Second time she runs. If this turns into a habit, I'm charging rent."
She sheathed her weapons and climbed the fractured stairs.
At the top stood a massive door — dark, ancient, carved with old symbols.
At its center, two blue swords crossed, glowing faintly, almost whispering.
Lucy pressed her hand against the cold metal, feeling the pulse inside it.
"Every door in this place screams 'trouble.'"
She inhaled deeply and narrowed her eyes.
"But I've never been the type to back down."
The wind whipped her coat as she pushed the colossal doors open, the sound of ancient gears and distant whispers rising from the darkness ahead…