Nathan stepped into the arena, his posture deceptively casual as he regarded Lucio across the polished obsidian grounds. But behind those narrowed eyes burned a fierce determination—a fire born of frustration.
Lucio walked calmly to meet him, movements graceful despite the bandages still wrapped tightly around his body. He felt the ache of old wounds beneath, but pain no longer mattered—he'd grown accustomed to it. His gaze met Nathan's, unwavering.
A silent understanding passed between them.
Neither could afford to lose now.
Kuromi's voice cut sharply through the tension. "Begin!"
Instantly, Nathan blurred forward, activating his passive skill—Temporal Drift. His form flickered and warped slightly, shifting in and out of sync with the present. To Lucio, it looked like Nathan was everywhere at once—strikes landing a split second before they should.
Lucio's eyes sharpened, activating One-Man Army. The world around him slowed, each flicker of Nathan's movements clear as crystal. He intercepted the first punch easily, feeling the weight behind it.
But Nathan wasn't stopping. His movements grew faster, each strike delivered with more aggression. Lucio pivoted fluidly, narrowly evading Nathan's blows while delivering precise, controlled counters.
From the sidelines, Rhea watched with tense anticipation. "They're not holding anything back."
As Nathan and Lucio lunged at each other, memories surged through both their minds—painful reminders of every battle they'd been carried through, every burden they'd unintentionally placed on Jalen's shoulders.
Nathan felt a familiar bitterness rise, recalling vividly the burning docks, the terrifying Water Elemental that nearly ended them all. He'd stood helpless as Jalen fought, overwhelmed by the realization that he hadn't been strong enough then—and that, perhaps, he still wasn't.
'I'm done letting him fight alone. I can't keep being saved,' Nathan thought fiercely, determination crystallizing into resolve as his strikes quickened, each blow sharpened by his frustration.
Lucio's heart pounded in time with memories of the Verdant Expanse—the suffocating roots, Kaelin's agonized face, and Jalen's devastating roar when Stix fell. Lucio had felt utterly useless, trapped, unable to protect his friends when they needed him most. The guilt still gnawed at him, an insistent reminder that strength alone wasn't enough—not if he couldn't control it.
'I won't be helpless again. Jalen can't carry this burden alone,' Lucio silently vowed, his movements becoming more precise, driven by sheer desperation to erase the bitter taste of helplessness.
Nathan's internal frustration boiled as Lucio dodged yet another strike.
'I'm still too slow.'
He gritted his teeth, deciding quickly. His voice cut sharply through the air:
"Ultimate Skill: Time's Requiem."
The entire arena froze—colors drained, sound ceased, and Lucio stood motionless, caught mid-action. Nathan moved through the timeless stillness, eyes fixed firmly on his immobilized opponent.
Nathan's heart hammered, adrenaline surging. 'I won't let myself fall behind—not this time.' He lunged forward, a blade in his grip, aiming decisively for Lucio's side.
Yet suddenly, something changed.
Lucio's frozen form flickered. Nathan's eyes widened in disbelief as shadows began to gather around Lucio, swirling violently, enveloping him entirely.
"Impossible."
Lucio's mind raced within the time-stopped void. Panic threatened to consume him, but then calm set in—clarity born from desperation.
'I refuse to be frozen here—helpless, again.'
His voice broke the eternal silence:
"Ultimate Skill: Silent Night."
Darkness exploded outward, swallowing Lucio's form completely. Nathan recoiled instinctively, eyes wide with shock as Lucio vanished—not just visually—but from time itself.
Suddenly, time resumed, and Nathan staggered as Lucio appeared behind him. Silent, lethal, Lucio struck without hesitation. Nathan barely evaded, his blade meeting Lucio's shadow-infused dagger in a deafening clash of power.
On the sidelines, Kuromi's eyes widened slightly. "He phased through Nathan's temporal hold…"
Their battle intensified, each strike altering reality, splintering the air with pulses of distorted time and rippling shadow. Nathan struggled to reclaim control, freezing isolated pockets of time—only for Lucio to vanish, slipping effortlessly through temporal gaps, striking unpredictably.
Lucio felt exhilaration mingled with strain, his mind fighting against the lethal instincts of his own ultimate. "Control… I must stay in control."
Nathan clenched his fists, desperation sharpening his resolve. His temporal distortions became erratic, powerful but unstable, forcing Lucio into split-second evasions. Their strengths and weaknesses lay bare—Nathan's overwhelming power tempered by instability, Lucio's impeccable precision marred by the dangerous bloodlust of Silent Night.
They collided violently, the impact shattering the ground beneath their feet. Nathan's breathing came in ragged gasps; Lucio's muscles screamed from prolonged exertion. Yet neither yielded.
With a roar of frustration, Nathan unleashed a pulse of fractured time, freezing the air around him in jagged, chaotic intervals. Lucio countered instantly, his shadows slicing cleanly through the distortion, driving Nathan back step by step.
Lucio's internal voice thundered. 'I won't be left behind again.'
Nathan's eyes narrowed fiercely. 'I refuse to lose—not to him, not to anyone!'
Their final clash erupted—blades and fists colliding, shadows and temporal anomalies exploding outward, overwhelming the arena's magical wards. Both warriors gave everything, their respective abilities surging beyond previous limits.
Then—silence.
The dust slowly settled, revealing both Nathan and Lucio on their knees, breathing heavily, drained utterly. The arena lay cracked, smoldering, a testament to the ferocity of their clash.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then slowly, both fighters raised their heads, eyes locking in silent acknowledgment.
As Nathan and Lucio knelt, exhausted, the echoes of their clash still reverberating through the shattered arena, both warriors felt an unspoken relief. Their eyes met in mutual recognition—a silent agreement that they'd finally stepped out from beneath Jalen's shadow.
From the sidelines, Rhea watched breathlessly, emotions stirring as she realized how desperately her companions had fought—not just against each other, but against their own fears, their regrets, their past weakness.
Even Jalen, usually stoic, felt a sharp pang as he witnessed the raw intensity of their struggle. He understood exactly what their fight represented. They were no longer just following him—they had become true equals, determined never again to be mere burdens.
Kuromi stepped forward, genuine admiration breaking her usually rigid expression. "Impressive. Both of you have finally broken past your limits."
Nathan managed to stand shakily, wincing at his wounds but saying nothing. Lucio rose slowly, his breaths steady despite visible exhaustion. The two shared a quiet, respectful glance—no words necessary.
Kuromi's voice rang sharply, snapping everyone from the lingering awe. Her eyes settled decisively on Rhea.
"Rhea. You're up."
Rhea tensed immediately, stepping into the training grounds to face Kuromi. She took a breath, steadying herself against nerves and doubt.
It was her turn now.