The moment Leo's sword clashed with Thron's, silence fell over the battlefield.
The world itself seemed to hold its breath—the air trembled, the ground split beneath their feet, and the echo of their clash sent a shockwave that pushed away both light and shadow.
Then, darkness burst from Thron's side.
A deep, swirling aura spread around her like a living storm, and the earth beneath them cracked open as chains of shadow rose from the ground, wrapping toward Leo like serpents from the abyss.
He moved just in time—his figure blurring in a flash of gold.
The shadows snapped where he had stood, shattering the rock instead.
Leo landed behind her, his eyes glowing fiercely. He countered with a quick slash—a golden arc that cut through the smoke—but Thron spun away, her dark energy exploding outward as she avoided it.
She raised her hand, and in a single motion, her weapon turned into a whip of pure darkness.
It lashed across the air and struck Leo's chest with violent force.
The sound was sharp—like thunder tearing through the sky.
Leo was thrown back, hitting the ground hard as a deep, burning wound marked his chest.
He gasped, the pain running through his body like fire.
But before Thron could strike again, a brilliant flash of silver light appeared between them.
—"Enough!"
It was Dreyfus.
He rushed in, his sword shining with light, blocking Thron's next attack. But her strength was overwhelming. With one powerful swing, her shadow energy erupted and threw Dreyfus across the battlefield, crashing into the ground beside Leo.
Thron laughed—a deep, echoing laugh that carried both arrogance and malice.
—"This is your leader? How disappointing. I expected more from the so-called 'protector of the realms.'"
Her voice spread across the battlefield, shaking even the hearts of those who fought.
Sherry watched from afar, frozen for a moment.
Is Leo really that weak? she thought, disbelief clouding her mind.
But then something inside her snapped.
She turned away from Gothers' army, her eyes burning with both anger and pain.
The memory returned like a knife—her father falling before one of the Sin Council's generals, his final words lost in smoke and blood.
Her vision blurred for a heartbeat, and when she looked again, she was back on the field.
Thron stood there, her laughter still echoing.
Sherry clenched her fists.
—"I'll avenge my father… but first, I'll kill you here and now."
She launched herself forward, her aura flaring crimson.
Dreyfus, regaining his balance, saw her move and called out:
—"So, you've chosen your side?"
She glanced at him mid-air, surprised he was already standing again.
—"Yes. I have."
Thron's eyes narrowed.
—"So you betrayed us, little child? Then today, you'll die like your fragile father."
The ground cracked as her dark power swelled again.
Sherry and Dreyfus attacked together—light and flame intertwining as they charged. Their combined energy struck against Thron's shadow like a storm colliding with the night.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, Darin and Klaus fought the soldiers of Gothers.
Darin's sword blazed with gold as he struck down one enemy after another.
He growled, glancing toward the center of the chaos.
—"What's that idiot Leo doing? Did he really fall from a single hit? Is his chest split open already?"
Klaus deflected a spear, his tone calm but tense.
—"Thron's aura… it's massive. Her power feels beyond anything here. Even the ground fears her."
The scene shifted back to the center of the battlefield.
Dreyfus and Sherry fought desperately, but Thron's smile never faded.
Her movements were precise, cruel—every swing meant to destroy, not to wound.
Her voice rang through the storm:
—"You two will fall first… and then I'll erase Leo from existence."
She raised her weapon, the air around her twisting as the whip of shadow took form again.
At that moment, Leo lay motionless nearby, his body covered in ash and blood.
But inside his mind, a faint echo reached him—a memory, or maybe a voice.
"Remember, Leo…"
It was Loki's voice, gentle but strong.
"Your strength doesn't lie in your mark. It lies in your heart."
Then came another, softer voice—Lita's, whispering through the haze:
"Don't die, Leo. Not yet."
The battlefield faded.
The voices merged into one pulse—the rhythm of his own heart.
Back in the real world, Thron's attack broke through Dreyfus's defense.
She struck Sherry down, sending her flying. But before the killing blow could land, Dreyfus stepped in, taking the hit. The shadow burned through his armor, and he fell to one knee, his sword trembling in the dirt.
He raised his head, eyes glowing with the light of determination.
A radiant aura burst from him—pure and white—pushing back the darkness for a moment.
Thron's expression shifted slightly, her smile widening.
—"You're strong… but don't fool yourself. You've only seen half of my power."
Dreyfus's eyes widened.
—"Half? You mean this isn't your full strength?"
Their blades collided again, each strike shaking the ground.
The sound was deafening—light and dark weaving together like two storms at war.
But Thron's power grew with every heartbeat, until she sent Dreyfus flying, his body landing beside the unconscious Leo.
Thron began walking toward them, her steps echoing on the shattered earth.
Her shadow spread like liquid across the ground, reaching for the two fallen warriors.
Sherry, barely standing, pushed herself up, blood dripping from her lips.
She tried to move, but her energy was fading fast. Still, she screamed and charged again, reckless but desperate.
Thron turned slightly, her eyes cold.
With a flick of her wrist, a wave of darkness hit Sherry, throwing her back once more.
She collapsed, unable to rise.
Thron stopped in front of Leo and Dreyfus.
She raised her weapon high, her voice calm and final.
—"Now, it ends."
But before her strike could fall—light exploded.
Leo's body glowed, his eyes opening with a fierce golden light.
He rose into the air, his energy surging like a storm.
Thron froze, her expression twisting in disbelief.
—"What…? How?!"
In the next instant, Leo vanished.
Then he reappeared behind her, holding both Dreyfus and Sherry gently. He placed them down far from the battlefield and whispered:
—"Stay here. I'll be right back."
Thron turned, panic flickering in her eyes.
But before she could react, Leo appeared before her again—faster than lightning.
He swung his sword, and a golden impact roared across the plains.
The strike hurled Thron through the air, crashing her into a mountain behind the field.
The entire peak shattered under the force, exploding into dust and stone.
The battlefield fell silent.
Sherry, barely conscious, stared at Leo in awe.
—"That power… what is it?"
Then her eyes widened as she noticed—
The wound on Leo's chest was gone.
Completely healed.
She whispered in disbelief:
—"How…?"
And thus, at the gates of Arithilia, the true storm began.