The battlefield separated naturally.
The leaders of the Round Table spread across the City of Dawn like predators choosing their prey.
And the Black Sun Syndicate answered.
One by one—
They vanished into different sections of the city.
Different battles.
Different wars.
Only Tina remained standing in one of the shattered streets.
Across from her—
A tall man adjusted his gloves slowly.
The air around him smelled rotten.
Like burnt paper and old blood.
"You guys really shouldn't have come here…"
The man tilted his head slightly.
"Especially while wearing that symbol of the Black Sun."
Tina rolled her shoulders lazily.
"Whatever."
She cracked her neck.
"Let's not do all that yapping."
She got into stance.
Balanced.
Calm.
Deadly.
The man smiled beneath his mask.
"I like you."
He slowly removed his shirt.
Etched into the center of his chest—
Was the number:
12
Tina narrowed her eyes slightly.
"I can smell curses on you…"
"…you're a witch."
The man grinned.
"Good eyes."
Then—
"Enhance."
BOOOOM—
The ground beneath him exploded apart.
He launched forward with monstrous speed.
His fist shot toward Tina's face.
Tina crossed her arms instantly.
BOOM.
The impact forced her feet into the ground.
Stone shattered beneath her.
But Tina smiled.
In the same motion—
She dropped her guard downward suddenly.
Number 12 lost balance for a split second.
That was enough.
Tina leaned backward.
Her right foot moved first—
A feint.
WHAM.
Her left foot smashed directly into his chin.
But—
Tina frowned slightly.
"Tch."
His body had been reinforced heavily through symbolic enhancement.
She landed lightly on both feet.
Then vanished.
Number 12 closed his eyes immediately.
Curses spread outward from his body like invisible threads.
Searching.
Feeling.
Tracking.
"There."
He sensed her approaching from the right.
Waited.
Timed it perfectly.
"Got you."
He threw a devastating punch.
But his fist passed straight through her.
An afterimage.
His eyes widened.
Then—
A voice came from his left.
"Fuck you."
BOOOOM—
Tina's kick slammed into his ribs hard enough to launch him across the street.
He crashed through the massive wall surrounding the palace.
Stone exploded everywhere.
Dust filled the air.
Silence followed.
Then—
Heavy footsteps echoed from the rubble.
Number 12 walked out calmly.
Cracking his neck.
Dust falling from his shoulders.
"You're dangerous in close quarters combat."
Tina shrugged casually.
"I consider myself average compared to the rest of us."
The man stared at her silently.
"…Is that so?"
Then suddenly—
He knelt before the palace.
Lowered his head respectfully.
"My lord…"
"May I have permission to release my curse?"
The atmosphere changed.
Even Tina felt it.
From deep within the palace—
A voice echoed outward.
Ancient.
Calm.
Wrong.
"Permission granted."
Number 12 smiled.
"Thank you, my lord."
He stood slowly.
Looked toward the darkening sky.
"Intruder…"
"Do you know why we ask permission to unleash our curses?"
Tina remained silent.
Watching carefully.
The man spread his arms.
"Because once it's released…"
"…your only option is to kill us completely."
His curse energy thickened.
"We won't submit."
"No matter what."
Tina smirked.
"It's no problem."
She flexed her fingers lightly.
"My first time fighting a witch."
"So give it all you got."
The man laughed loudly.
Then raised both hands toward the sky.
"Number 12 of the Round Table…"
"In the name of my lord, Prince Luther…"
"I release—"
The atmosphere twisted violently.
"THE SYMBOLIC CURSE OF DISASTER."
Suddenly—
Fire erupted throughout the street.
No source.
No ignition.
It simply existed.
The skies darkened unnaturally.
Massive swarms of giant katydids gathered overhead like a plague descending from nowhere.
Buildings began cracking on their own.
The ground trembled.
Tina inhaled slowly.
Her soul power spread outward.
Green light flickered across her fingertips.
"Soul Power…"
She stepped forward calmly.
"Righteous Touch."