The stillness between them evaporated in a heartbeat.
Astrid and Kuro blurred into motion — two shadows dancing at godspeed, blades colliding like thunder claps.
The audience erupted into cheers, stomping feet, gasps, and shouts. No one could look away.
"NOW THIS IS WHAT I CAME FOR!" someone in the crowd screamed.
Kuro lunged in, Astrid twisted mid-air, flipping over him, spinning with her twin daggers as they slashed toward his back — he ducked beneath the steel, dragging his blade upward toward her shoulder.
CLANG!
She blocked it behind her back.
Astrid landed, rolled, then flung a razor-thin throwing knife toward Kuro's neck — he caught it with two fingers.
"Try harder," he said.
Astrid smirked.
"I plan to."
Dust swirled around their feet. Mana-infused sparks flared from every clash of steel. The flag loomed in the center — glowing softly, untouched.
The two warriors became a blur of motion again.
Kuro dashed sideways, slashing twice, feinting a third — Astrid backstepped, caught the rhythm, and vaulted upward, landing with catlike grace on a tall pillar of stone that had emerged from the transforming arena.
"You're fast," she said, catching her breath.
"You're clever," he replied, eyes tracking her.
"Good," she whispered. "Then let's make this interesting."
Astrid launched herself off the pillar.
Kuro met her midair.
For a split second — time seemed to freeze.
Their weapons collided in the sky, shattering a gust of force so strong it pushed the arena floor back into dust waves.
Then they spun past each other and landed opposite sides again — now scratched, bruised, breathing harder.
Astrid's Inner Thoughts
I'm faster than I've ever been.Sharper. Clearer. This is the first time someone actually fought me like this…
No more hiding behind my name. No more lonely towers.
She charged again.
Kuro suddenly vanished.
Shunk!
A deep slash appeared across Astrid's shoulder — blood flicked into the air.
"My technique," Kuro said, standing behind her again, "is called Phantom Echo."
He wiped his blade clean.
"Every step you see me take… is already in the past."
Astrid hissed, tightening her grip on her swords.
"Good," she said through grit teeth. "Because my next move… will write your future."
She spun her daggers.
"Heavenbreaker Stance: Falling Moon Bloom."
They clashed again — shockwaves cracked the floor. Dust exploded into mushroom clouds. The announcer was screaming in joy and panic.
"WHAT. IS. HAPPENING?!"
Neither Kuro nor Astrid held back anymore.
She was everywhere at once — spinning, flipping, dashing, slashing.
He was precise — dodging by inches, countering, fading into steps that didn't exist.
Then—
She kicked off the wall of a crumbling stone spire.
She aimed not at Kuro…
But at the flag.
In a burst of silver wind, Astrid landed with one hand on the pole, the other already slicing upward.
The cloth shimmered in the wind.
Her hand gripped it.
The flag was hers.
Timer Begins
BEEEEEP."FLAG HAS BEEN CLAIMED. TIMER START: 60 SECONDS."
Kuro skidded to a halt.
Astrid stood tall atop the pedestal, flag waving behind her, silver hair catching the sunlight.
The crowd went insane.
"NO WAY!! ASTRID CLAIMS THE FIRST FLAG OF THE MATCH!!"
Kuro looked up at her, eyes gleaming.
Astrid smirked.
"Come and get it, Phantom Boy."
He grinned back.
"Don't blink."
The timer ticked.
59...
58...
The dust began to rise again as Kuro took a step forward.
Astrid braced herself.
And the next storm...
was about to begin.
"TIME REMAINING: 38 SECONDS."
Kuro's boots slammed into the arena floor as he bolted toward Astrid, who stood gripping the white flag like it was her soul. The crowd held their breath.
Astrid's eyes sharpened.
"He's faster than before…"
Kuro didn't even raise his blade — he just moved. A blur of dark steps, a blink, and he was right in front of her.
She barely had time to react—
CLANG!
Their weapons collided in a flash of silver and steel.
Astrid grunted, reeling back from the sheer force. Her grip loosened.
"No—!"
The flag flew from her hand.
Kuro snatched it midair.
The timer reset.
BEEP— 60 SECONDS STARTED.
"AND KURO HAS TAKEN THE FLAG! UNBELIEVABLE!" the announcer howled. "Only 21 seconds from Astrid—CAN SHE TAKE IT BACK?!"
Kuro now danced around her, slipping through her attacks, his body flowing like smoke and shadow.
"You impressed me," he said calmly, "but I warned you. You can't catch what doesn't exist."
Astrid's breathing grew sharp. Sweat trickled down her cheek.
50 seconds…
I need… to wait. He's too focused. Too locked in…
Her eyes narrowed. Unless... that's what I want.
She backed away. On purpose.
Kuro raised an eyebrow. Running now?
"You look tired.""I'm not the one sweating," she snapped back.
They traded words while circling like predators.
35 seconds…
Astrid dropped her daggers.
The crowd gasped.
Even Kuro froze.
"You yield?" he asked.
"No," she whispered. "I trap."
Suddenly — a ripple of mana glyphs burst beneath her boots.
"What—?!"
Kuro's foot lit up with an invisible sigil — a delayed enchantment. She'd etched it mid-fight when dragging her blade earlier, embedding her mana into the ground itself.
"I never needed to catch you," she said, stepping forward."I needed you to stop running."
20 seconds.
Kuro tried to dash—Nothing.
His legs gave out, his speed magic disrupted by the runes. He stumbled.
"HOLD ON! DID SHE—DID SHE PLAN THIS?!"
Astrid's eyes gleamed.
"Moonveil Secret Technique...""Whispered Bloom."
She appeared behind Kuro in a gust of petals.
"Give it back."
With a clean strike of her palm to his wrist, the flag launched upward again.
Astrid somersaulted, spun midair, and caught it.
The timer reset.
BEEP — FLAG CLAIMED — 60 SECONDS REMAINING.
Kuro lay on the ground, blinking up in disbelief as Astrid hovered above him on a rising stone pillar.
"You think I'd come this far without a trick or two?" she said, panting hard."You inspired me, Kuro. But this flag… this flag is mine."
Kuro slowly stood, chuckling.
"...Good."
He grinned, his teeth bloodied.
"Then don't lose it."
The final seconds ticked down.
...10…
Kuro rushed up the side of the pillar.
...7…
Astrid leapt off, flipping backward.
...5…
He reached out, their fingers nearly touching.
...3…
"I'll remember this fight," Astrid said.
...2…
She planted her feet.
...1…
BEEP.
Victory
"ASTRID HAS DONE IT!!" the announcer roared."WHAT A MATCH! WHAT A COMEBACK! WHAT A FIGHT!!"
The crowd erupted in thunderous cheers.
Kuro sat down, breathing hard.
Astrid held the flag to her chest and smiled, chest heaving, bruised, bloody, and victorious.
As she walked past Kuro, he looked up and nodded.
"You're strong."
"You're terrifying."
They both chuckled.
"I guess we're even."