Selena and Lyo lay on the ground, gasping and covered in dust, their breaths still ragged from the battle with the giant spider. The forest around them suddenly felt eerily silent, as if the world itself were holding its breath after the clash.
"I… is it over?" Selena asked, her voice hoarse.
"Yeah… I think so," Lyo replied, slowly rising to her feet. "We need to get out of here."
A faint sound made them both turn their heads. From the edge of the hole they had fallen through, a figure appeared. A man in a white lab coat, his hair as pure as snow, had syringes and tubes stuffed in his pockets. His icy smile cut through the distance between them.
"I must congratulate you," he said, clapping slowly. "Defeating my spider… that's impressive. And yet, you're only Rank B, right? Interesting. But now, the fun's over. Your friends are probably already gone. As for you… I'll take care of you myself."
Selena and Lyo exchanged a worried glance. They realized the trap they had fallen into wasn't by accident. The danger was far greater than they had imagined.
Meanwhile, Rael and Blanek faced THE DEATH in the clearing. Exhausted but determined, Blanek continued his relentless attacks. Each swing of his sword cut through the air, but THE DEATH dodged effortlessly, almost as if toying with him. His violet eyes glimmered with cruel amusement, and a dark aura seemed to drain the light around him.
Fatigue weighed heavily on Blanek's shoulders. His breath came in ragged gasps, his movements slightly less precise. But he had to keep going. He knew Rael needed time to escape and find Selena and Lyo. Every second counted.
"I'll give it everything I've got," Blanek muttered, more to himself than to his opponent.
He plunged his sword into the ground and whispered the words that triggered his magical release. A subtle light enveloped him, enhancing his strength and resilience. He leapt forward with blinding speed, striking down with all his might. The air trembled from the impact.
Yet, despite appearing momentarily surprised, THE DEATH dodged at the last second with his scythe. The black blade shattered Blanek's sword with a sharp, violent snap, scattering shards of metal everywhere.
"Wh… what the…?" Blanek gasped, stepping back, breathless.
Before he could react further, THE DEATH swung a massive vertical strike. Blanek was struck full force and slammed against a tree. The trunk shuddered under the impact, and he collapsed, coughing, his lungs on fire. His arms ached, his chest felt crushed, as if the air had been wrenched from him.
THE DEATH advanced calmly, almost leisurely, his black scythe absorbing the surrounding light. Every step radiated menace.
"You're not bad," he said, a chilling smile on his lips. "But unfortunately… your opponent is me."
Lying there, Blanek's mind blurred. Pain, fatigue, frustration—all swirled together. In a sudden flash of clarity, a memory hit him.
He recalled the grand courtyard, scarred from a past battle. Selena and he had faced a man with black hair, the one who had spoken to Selena about her father and watched them closely.
"You've made remarkable progress," the man had said. "Even if you still have much to learn. Blanek… you knew you couldn't touch me, yet you tried. Courage is admirable, but sometimes… a good plan is better than a good sword."
Blanek and Selena had replied in unison:
"Yes, Master."
The memory faded, returning him to the present, pain and all.
"Maybe I should have fled with Rael," he muttered. "No… now's not the time for regrets."
THE DEATH lifted his scythe for a potentially fatal strike.
"Say your prayers," he hissed.
But just as the blade descended, an unexpected presence emerged behind him. THE DEATH hadn't even noticed the young man approaching silently. The air vibrated as a sword struck, Rael's attack landing.
The blow didn't deal much damage, but it pushed THE DEATH back slightly, surprised by the audacity of the boy.
Blanek, half-conscious but relieved, gasped:
"What… are you doing here?"
Rael's eyes gleamed brightly as he replied,
"I remember what Selena said. We're a team. And in a team… you don't abandon your friends."
Blanek slowly pushed himself up, coughing, but a determined smile formed on his lips.
"Yeah… a team."
In the corner of his mind, THE DEATH noted:
"This kid… his magical reserves are weak, probably why I didn't notice him before. But it doesn't matter… this is only the beginning."
The battle had only just begun. Tension rose with every breath, every movement, every attack. The forest itself seemed to hold its breath, as if it knew this duel would leave an indelible mark on those who survived.
Blanek knew he had to endure, resist the pain, and keep going. Time and space for Rael and the others depended on him. And for the first time, Rael truly felt the weight of his responsibility to the team resting on his shoulders.