The solemn silence before the gates of the Sparda ruins shattered under the weight of the words, and despite the chill, the atmosphere felt hotter than ever. They moved somewhere within the ruins, for everyone understood there was no choice but to fight.
The Queen of Hell stood resolute, her red eyes blazing with a fury tempered by an unyielding determination. Beside her, the King of Light cast a stern look, his chest heavy with the dignity of royalty. Saruto strode forward, his face unyielding, his voice booming through the hall: "What madness are you engaging in? Why are you leading the princesses into a deadly fight?"
The Queen of Hell raised her voice clearly, saying, "I will tell you something you must know about our family… Every hundred years, an individual is born carrying within them two opposing energies: the 'Holy Power' and the 'Demonic Power.' This is the result of a union between two kings from the kingdoms of Light and Hell. But this time, two daughters were born, not one son, and the energies were divided. The Holy Power went with Eliza, and the Demonic Power went with Camellia. According to the traditions of both families, if the power is divided between two children, they must fight to absorb the other's energy."
The air gathered around the words. The King of Light's voice rose, adding another dimension to the meaning: "Whoever wins takes the other's energy and takes their place as the sole bearer of that power. This is how we preserve the family traditions."
Lucian could not contain himself; his voice rose in a mixture of anger and astonishment: "How dare you sacrifice your daughters like this? By what right do you decide their fates?!"
Saroto exploded. His black aura flared around him like a dark cloud summoned by suppressed rage, and the smile vanished from his face. He gripped his weapon's hilt, and a pressure filled the air as if the very air itself had acquired a weight: "You will sacrifice one of your daughters to preserve the family tradition without mercy. I will stop you. I will not allow these barbaric rituals as long as I live."
Only moments passed before Lucian shaped his spear in a reaction born of loyalty and a friend who would not tolerate injustice. The clang of metal filled the air. The queen raised her eyebrows for a moment, then said sharply, "If you wish to proceed, then your decision is to forbid the rituals."
The King of Light said in a stern voice, "We will prevent them from entering. We do not want the rituals to be corrupted by two boys."
In a flash, the two raised their weapons, and the glint of their swords illuminated the faces of those present. The darkness around Saruto dissipated slightly, but the anger etched in his eyes remained. The distance between the four of them seemed to shrink; the hall appeared to be awaiting a fateful decision: would Saruto and Lucian succeed in preventing the ritual, or would the two kings stop them?
Saruto raised his voice, his tone unequivocal: "I will stop it, even if it means killing you both here, no matter what."
The queen looked at the king. A fleeting surprise crossed her face, followed by a steadfastness. Silence fell over the room, as if the air itself were holding its breath. The flash of the swords gradually faded, but the defiance remained. Everyone knew that the spark had been ignited, and that the moment of truth was upon them, a moment of no return.