Stellar slowly lowered her hand.
The frozen dust of Number 8 drifted through the air like snowflakes.
The burning streets around her gradually cooled.
Then—
she turned toward the nearby building.
The child she saw earlier was still inside.
Stellar exhaled softly.
Frost escaped from her lips naturally.
She walked toward the building quietly and stepped over the broken debris.
Inside—
several children and an old woman were huddled together terrified.
The moment they saw Stellar, they flinched.
After all—
she was surrounded by cold powerful enough to freeze flames in an instant.
But Stellar simply looked at them calmly.
"You're safe now."
The old woman trembled slightly.
"T-thank you…"
Stellar nodded once.
Then turned and walked back outside.
The moment she stepped onto the street again—
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
A massive tornado erupted somewhere deeper within the city.
At the same time—
a gigantic wave of water rose upward.
The two forces collided violently.
The impact shook nearby buildings.
And through the chaos—
the sound of blades clashing echoed repeatedly.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
Near The Coastline Forest —
The tornado gradually disappeared.
The giant waves settled back into the ocean.
And in the clearing—
Kaelus floated in the air holding Tempest Blade.
Rotating winds moved around him naturally.
Across from him stood a man with dark blue hair holding a curved sword.
The man smiled calmly.
"I am Number 6 of the Round Table."
"From my position upward, we get names."
"And mine…"
He raised his blade slowly.
"…is Nightfall."
BOOM!!
Nightfall rushed forward instantly.
He drove his sword downward toward Kaelus.
CLANG!!
Kaelus blocked the strike with Tempest.
Then smoothly redirected the blade to the right using Nightfall's own rhythm against him.
In the same motion—
Kaelus spun left and slammed his elbow directly into Nightfall's face.
BAM!!
Nightfall stumbled backward.
Kaelus immediately raised Tempest.
"Wind Slice."
SHIIIIIING!!
He slashed vertically.
A compressed blade of wind shot toward Nightfall at terrifying speed.
Nightfall crossed his sword to block.
BOOOOM!!
Even after blocking—
he was blasted downward through several trees.
Wood exploded everywhere.
Kaelus immediately pushed himself through the air after him.
His body shot downward like a missile.
He aimed Tempest forward intending to impale Nightfall.
But just before impact—
Nightfall flipped backward off the ground.
While Kaelus's blade pierced into the earth—
Nightfall swung his left knee toward Kaelus's head.
Kaelus let go of Tempest instantly and blocked the knee with his left arm.
BAM!!
Then Kaelus used his left foot to kick Nightfall's right leg off balance.
Nightfall was knocked sideways in the air.
But he immediately planted one hand on the ground and spun.
His legs lashed toward Kaelus repeatedly.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Kaelus blocked the kicks with both arms but still slid several steps backward.
Nightfall inhaled sharply.
Then dashed forward again.
He threw a lightning-fast jab toward Kaelus.
Kaelus dodged slightly.
But Nightfall suddenly smiled.
"Got you."
A tiny orb of water shot from Nightfall's other hand at point-blank range.
BOOOOOM!!
A water explosion engulfed Kaelus instantly.
The forest trembled from the impact.
Nightfall landed nearby and narrowed his eyes.
But when the water dispersed—
Kaelus stood there completely unharmed.
Rotating wind shielded his body naturally.
Nightfall clicked his tongue.
"Tch…"
"Guess I have to give it my all."
Kaelus smirked.
Then held out his right hand.
FWOOOSH!!
Tempest Blade shot out from the ground instantly and flew directly back into his hand.
Kaelus rested the blade across his shoulder.
"You fight dirty."
"But I expected that."
Nightfall slowly lowered his sword.
Then raised one hand toward the ocean.
"In the name of my Lord Prince Luther…"
"I release the Curse of the Oceans…"
"…Poseidon."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
The ocean several meters away became violent.
Massive waves rose endlessly.
The sea began moving unnaturally.
Then—
water traveled out from the ocean itself.
Across the sand.
Through the forest.
Toward Nightfall's feet.
His body began transforming.
His lower half became flowing water.
His skin turned deep blue.
A trident formed in his hand.
The pressure around him intensified rapidly.
Kaelus stared at him for a second.
Then laughed.
"What's this?"
"Lightning thief?"
Nightfall narrowed his eyes.
But Kaelus simply raised Tempest Blade toward the sky.
"Circuit Embodiment—"
"Wind God Azure Tempest."
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
The wind exploded outward violently.
Hurricanes formed around the battlefield instantly.
Trees were uprooted.
The clouds above twisted apart.
Kaelus's eyes glowed white.
His black hair turned completely white.
Rotating winds spiraled around his body endlessly.
Even Tempest Blade became coated in violent rotating wind along its edges.
The air screamed around him.
Kaelus pointed Tempest toward Nightfall.
Then smiled.
"Come and see that your efforts will be for nothing."