The light gradually faded, and the thick smoke began to clear from the center of the arena. As visibility returned, everyone saw that Kaven was struggling to his feet. Half his body had been vaporized by Saruto's attack, and blood gushed from it like an endless fountain. The wound still glowed from the dark energy that had tore through his flesh.
Before this scene, Void stood, using Saruto's body, his eyes shining. His voice, a blend of his own and Saruto's, said,
"I hope you enjoyed the fight…"
Kaven raised his head with difficulty, a forced smile playing on his lips despite the blood that filled his mouth. He laughed, his voice broken, and said,
"Thank you… You gave me the pleasure I've been deprived of for so long. I'll never forget this day."
Then he coughed deeply, and dark blood splattered onto the ground.
A few steps away, Hidan still stood, staggering, but his eyes shone with astonishment. Before he could move, something cold grazed his neck—Ryan's sword on one side and Kyle's hammer on the other.
"Surrender," they said sternly, "or you die."
Hidan raised his hands in surrender. Seconds later, his and Kaven's bodies began to dissolve into particles of light, gradually disappearing as they returned as spirits to the depths of the prison. At that moment, Razor and the warden entered the ring. Everyone thought they had come to congratulate them, but the truth was quite different. The two went straight to Kyle and Ryan, unleashing a torrent of reprimands.
"You disobeyed orders!" "Entering the ring and summoning Hidan was reckless!"
Kyle and Ryan were speechless. Exhaustion, pressure, and pain had completely overwhelmed them.
Foyed, unconcerned, chuckled at the sight of the two being berated. Then he stepped back, leaving the reins to Saruto, who was breathing heavily once more. Lucien staggered toward him, barely able to stand. He smiled weakly and said, "We… won."
Saruto smiled back. "Yes… we did."
Their fists clashed lightly… and then, at the same moment, they both collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
It was only moments before the four princesses noticed them: Camellia, Eliza, Star, and Selena. Camellia let out a faint cry: "Saruto!"
The princesses rushed toward them, their faces etched with fear. Selena crouched beside Lucien, anxiously touching his face, while Eliza, Star, and Camellia went to Saruto, trying in vain to rouse him. At that moment, while Kyle and Ryan were still being scolded… they too collapsed to the floor, completely exhausted.
Days later… or so it seemed to him… Saruto slowly opened his eyes. The white lights of the room obscured his vision for a few seconds. His head ached and his limbs felt heavy, but he managed to sit up with difficulty.
He looked around. He saw Kyle and Lucien still asleep, and Ryan awake, staring blankly at the ceiling. "Are you... okay?" Saruto asked in a hoarse voice.
Ryan turned and smiled. "Yes... at least I'm still alive."
The nurse came in, and as soon as she saw they were awake, she hurried out to call Rizer and the Director. Moments later, they stood by their beds with reassuring smiles. "Well done... you passed the test," the Director said.
Then Saruto asked, "How long have we been unconscious?"
"Ten days," the Director replied calmly.
Saruto and Ryan's eyes widened in shock.
"The princesses...?" Saruto asked with sudden concern. "Have they finished the test?"
"Yes," the Director replied with a curt smile. "Don't worry."
Saruto sighed with relief, then the warden said, "Rest... your bodies haven't fully recovered yet."
As he spoke, signs of consciousness began to appear on Kyle, then Lucien. They awoke one after the other, and as soon as they sat down, they began chatting excitedly about the fight, teasing each other, their laughter echoing through the hall.
"Since we've summoned prisoners 11 and 14... who are the top ten?" Kyle asked suddenly.
"That means there are some stronger ones out there... I'd love to face them," Ryan replied immediately.
But Saruto interrupted him calmly. "Unfortunately... you can't."
Everyone turned to him in surprise. "Why?" Kyle asked.
"In the Abyss," Saruto replied, "when you enter the arena and summon an opponent, you can't summon another for three years. Even if you went now and managed to summon an opponent, they would only appear from those you've already fought because you haven't raised your energy level."
Ryan's face changed, as if a small dream had been extinguished within him. At that moment, the four of them heard a tumultuous noise at the door, the shout of an angry woman: "Open the door now! I said open it!"
The door burst open, and Camellia burst in, her eyes brimming with tears. She went straight to Saruto and threw herself into a tight hug, sobbing, "You idiot... what have you done to yourself! I was so worried sick!"
Eliza and Star followed her in, both crying and scolding him, then embracing him with a mixture of concern and relief. Selena rushed to Lucien and placed her hand on his face, saying with obvious anxiety,
"I thought you... weren't going to wake up."
Saruto and Lucien reassured them, and a warmth filled the room, a warmth they hadn't felt in days. They all sat down, and the princesses talked about their trials and how they had overcome their adversaries, their laughter and tension mingling with moments of gratitude and relief.
After two days, everyone had fully recovered. They left the healing room and headed towards the exit gate leading to the outside world. On their way to the magical gate that would return them to the academy, they stopped before Razor, who was waiting for them. He spoke to them in a steady voice, but this time with a clear tone of respect: "Well done… You have proven yourselves worthy heirs to your family names."
One by one, they bid him farewell and then made their way towards the shimmering gate. Before they passed through, Saruto glanced back at the dark prison one last time, looking back at his orphans. Then he took a single step forward… and they all vanished inside the gate.