The laughter still floated in the air like echoes of a rebellious fire. Tezca, Kyran, Aelius, Kael… laughs that defied gravity, that clawed at Amazonia's very shadows. But amid that laughter, a flash cut through the world.
A hum. A gray lightning bolt.
Kurt Kaiserfeld.
Like a swift shadow, he ran among them, his tall and slender figure moving like a living arrow, each of his steps cutting the wind like invisible blades. His silver eyes burned. His smile was an edge.
Ian barely had time to blink.
"Ian!" Makia shouted, too late.
Kurt's hand rose, and from his palm emerged a black blade, a sword made of vibrant energy, the energy shining in incandescent lines, its edge long, cruel, eternal.
"Primary Sword: Beheading," he whispered, his voice like a funeral chant.
The sword descended.
The edge grazed Ian's skin.
The exposed neck. Death… was a breath away.
But then…
An impact.
A crash.
CLANG!
Claws emerged from nowhere, crossing before Ian's throat like two protective jaws. A brutal cross of steel and claw stopped the sword in the last breath.
Ian was seeing before him, Elena Malatesta's claws.
Kurt gritted his teeth. The sword vibrated between his fingers. Elena's claws screeched against the blade, sparks dancing between them both.
"What? Why?" Ian whispered, incredulous.
Elena smiled.
A crooked, dangerous smile, overflowing with radiant ferocity. Her dark hair billowed like wild flames, her green eyes shone with a new, indomitable fire.
"I won't allow this," Elena said, her tone low, laden with a calm that burned.
Kurt frowned.
"What do you think you're doing, Elena?" he spat, his arm trembling as he tried to force the sword.
Elena let out a brief, biting laugh.
"Who? Me?" she tilted her head. "The truth is I don't give a damn about your stupid coup d'état."
The jungle stopped. Everyone looked.
Silence weighed like burning iron.
"What are you talking about? Explain yourself, Elena. What does this mean?" Uriel murmured.
Elena barely turned her face, without releasing the crossed claws.
"Did you really think I would support a cowardly and ridiculous coup d'état?" she laughed, a mocking edge dancing in her smile. "You're so cowardly you came to attack inexperienced young aspirants, and didn't do it head-on in the Great Empire's heart. You didn't dare, because you know somehow the high command will arrive here, but due to the difficulty and limitations in crossing the jump points, not many can come and only a limited number will come. You want to beat them by dividing the empire's forces. It's ingenious and strategic, I don't deny it, but it's cowardly and I have my master's will and principles and would never do something so cowardly. I am Elena Malatesta! I carry in me the will of my master, the supreme commander of the imperial army. AURELIUS NOXAURUM BLACKGOLD!"
Kurt's sword trembled, retreating barely before the firmness of her claws.
"You fell into your own trap," Elena continued, her voice rising like a perverse hymn. "If I'm here, it's because I'm an infiltration. A direct mission from the Supreme Imperial Minister and the Imperial War Minister. A covert operation ordered directly by the Imperial Ministry."
Everyone's eyes widened.
Elena tightened her claws with more force, her dark aura expanding like a roaring beast.
"My complete squadron…" her smile widened. "Is here under my orders, with a single command: protect the aspirants."
Kurt remained motionless.
"The infiltration was a complete success," Elena murmured, barely lowering her hands, her claws still marking the sword's edge. "Damn fools."
"Why did you attack me then? Besides, what's this about Grandpa being your master?" Ian whispered, unable to process.
Elena looked at him again.
Her gaze softened. Her smile became dangerous… but sweet.
"I had to maintain the infiltration and I won't deny I wanted to entertain myself a bit," her words slid like a poisonous caress, "but I couldn't resist seeing them try to hurt you. After all, I fell in love with you."
Her laugh lowered its tone. A purr, a song between teeth.
"I just ruined my mission. I should have seen how far these bastards would go and what the true objective of this scum is," she said a bit embarrassed and laughing.
Everyone held their breath.
Elena turned her head toward Kurt, her smile widening like an eclipse:
"But it doesn't matter anymore, I'm not interested in waiting any longer. If anyone tries to touch my boyfriend… they'll have to go through me first."
The ground vibrated. Her aura exploded.
"So retreat, Kurt… or face me!" Elena declared, her shout expanding like a fierce wave, a savage queen defying the world.
Kurt took a step back, his sword wavered.
Ian breathed deeply, feeling his heart gallop in his chest.
Elena's betrayal became hope.
From behind, a grave, deep laugh rumbled among the shadows upon hearing Elena's truth. It was Kraven. His laughter was like a funeral drum, striking the jungle's walls.
"You should measure your actions a bit, Elena," he said, his voice laden with threat. "For your acts of treason, I condemn you to die."
And then he appeared.
Zetz.
His walk was firm. His shadow was long. His gaze, implacable.
"I don't know much about your infiltration, Elena," his voice was calm, cutting, almost sad. "I imagine it must be the Imperial Ministry's idea to keep infiltrations secret among us for the missions' sake, but I'm also here covertly. Under the Orders of the Supreme Imperial Minister and also, the Imperial Intelligence Minister."
Everyone's eyes turned toward him.
"I'm here to stop their plans in case something like this happens." His smile was slight, tired. "So as you'll have realized, the aspirants are no longer alone."
The air changed. A new vibration, a wave of hope for the aspirants, of contained fury, arose in the atmosphere.
Two Monarch Generals were on their side.
The jungle's heart began to beat stronger. As if responding to them. As if knowing something was changing.
And then…
Elena's aura began to grow. First it was a red breeze. Then, a fire. Then, a hurricane of savage energy. Her hair billowed like a dark flame. Her skin glowed with a crimson radiance.
She crossed her hands before her chest.
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!" she shouted, a roar mixed of woman and beast.
Her arms extended. Her body arched. And she fell on all fours.
The earth broke beneath her claws. The ground sank with her weight. Her muscles tensed, her figure changed.
Her skin was shining ebony. Her silhouette, half human, half panther. Her red aura pulsed like a colossal heart, making the jungle itself vibrate. Her green eyes were now two feline embers.
"Beast Mode: Panther," her voice was a grave purr, a contained roar.
The ground cracked beneath her paws. Her tail whipped the air, making the wind whistle. Her fangs gleamed.
It was savagery made flesh.
And while her power unleashed… in front of her, but behind Kurt and Uriel, Kraven kept laughing. Louder. Darker. More unsettling.
Elena's red aura roared like an unstoppable fire. Her figure half human, half panther, vibrated under the weight of her own power. Her breath was burning vapor. Each muscle was a rope tensed to the limit.
Ian watched her.
His eyes reflected a mixture of astonishment, respect, and an incandescent spark seeing how strong and impressive she was.
He was shocked.
He was amazed.
He didn't just see power. He saw freedom. He saw a savage force without chains. He saw something beautiful in that unleashed fury.
At his side, Makia, annoyed, crossed her arms forcefully, puffed out her cheeks, and turned her face to the other side, with a red glow extending over her cheeks.
"Tch… stupid Ian, I would have preferred that woman stay our enemy, she just wants to take Ian from me, wait, what did I say? Aaah!" she murmured, pressing her lips, her heart beating too hard, annoyed and at the same time blushing realizing what she had just said.
The air vibrated.
Ian, without taking his gaze from Elena, took a step forward. Then another. Until standing just behind her, his shadow lengthening alongside the beast's.
And then, with a firmness that set the earth ablaze… he planted himself.
His feet pressed against the ground. His back straightened. His arms bent at angles, fists closed like hammers. His chest inflated. His breathing became deep.
It was a war stance.
A mute declaration.
"I want to fight too!" Ian roared, with a passion that broke the air. "Let's goooo, Eleeeeenaaa!"
And at the shout, his body exploded.
A wave of raw, vibrant energy rumbled from his core, expanding in incandescent rings around him. The ground cracked. Leaves rose. Wind swirled around him.
A savage "Aaaaaaaaah!!" came from his throat, laden with pure force, pure soul.
The entire field fell silent.
All eyes, from enemies and allies, turned toward him.
Because for an instant… for that fleeting and eternal instant… Ian's true power manifested.
It wasn't just strength. It was a flame that embraced everything. An intensity that asked no permission.
From a side, Tezca whistled low. Her face illuminated by a mixture of admiration and mischief.
"Iansito never stops surprising me with how strong he is," she murmured, half smiling.
At her side, Aelius remained serious, his gaze analytical, deep, a cryptic flash hidden in his green eyes.
"And that's not all his power," he whispered.
"Wow! I can't believe it," Elena responded.
The air tensed again.
Gazes crossed.
The jungle itself held its breath.
Because if Elena was a beast…
Ian… was a monster.
Elena's red aura kept burning like an indomitable fire. Her panther-human body breathed strength and desire for combat. Her smile widened, and then, with a sideways glance backward, she said with a soft voice, laden with fierce warmth:
"That's right, darling… we're a team."
Ian laughed, a short, savage laugh, laden with adrenaline.
"Stop saying stupid things," he responded, his eyes sparkling, his muscles tense, his spirit ignited.
Elena laughed. "He's just an aspirant, how is it possible he has that power," she thought.
Before them, Kurt Kaiserfeld raised his head, the macabre smile stretching his face, silver eyes shining like blades.
"Come!" he exclaimed, his voice a roar of steel and madness.
And at that instant… they disappeared.
Ian and Elena disappeared at the same time.
Kurt blinked. His smile didn't fade, but a flash of bewilderment crossed his face.
"Where?"
He looked to one side. Looked to the other. Wind whistled in his ears.
"Where are they…?"
One second.
Another.
And suddenly… they appeared.
At his side.
Like shadows emerged from lightning. Like predators hunting from the mist.
Ian and Elena struck at the same time.
"Ah!" Kurt exclaimed, barely managing to turn his head.
A hollow and brutal sound exploded in the middle of the jungle.
The blow was so powerful that birds took flight in chaotic flocks. Leaves stirred. Earth vibrated under the impact.
Kurt flew out like a rag doll, crashing against a gigantic tree that creaked and almost split in half.
Silence.
Dust rose.
And there, amid the chaos, Ian and Elena stood, shoulder to shoulder, breathing in unison, the light of their auras mixing like red and white fire.
Elena slowly turned her face toward Ian, a smile of fangs decorating her lips.
"You have good instinct, darling. You're very skilled for a simple aspirant," she whispered, between gasps.
Ian smiled back, an electric spark running through his gaze.
"It might surprise you, but you're even stronger than I thought."
Both turned their sight forward. The dust began to dissipate. From among the ruins, Kurt emerged, shaking off armor splinters, his smile even wider, eyes more deranged.
"Not bad…" he murmured. "But you'll need more to kill me."
Ian took a step forward, his energy bubbling under his skin. Every fiber of his body seemed to burn with pure contained force. Elena crouched slightly, her claws tinkling as they clashed against each other, her half-panther half-woman body radiating dangerous sensuality, an indomitable hunger.
"Come, Kurt…" Elena purred, her voice a hypnotic chant. "Let's play a little more…"
Kurt raised both hands. His energy exploded, materializing two curved swords at his sides, made of liquid metal that vibrated as if alive.
"Primary Sword."
He disappeared.
A blink. A whisper. A cut of wind.
Ian barely raised his arm when the first slash descended on his shoulder. CLANG! Sparks exploded clashing against his defense.
"Tch… so fast!" Ian growled, jumping back.
But Kurt was there. Already before Elena. His sword descended diagonally. Elena raised a claw and stopped the edge with her open palm, her skin hardened by her panther mode.
"Did you really think that would suffice?" she mocked, and her other hand clawed his abdomen, tearing part of his armor.
Kurt growled. Retreated. His sword spun in his hand like a whirlwind.
Ian advanced like lightning. His body seemed like a bolt.
"Impact!" he shouted, jumping and launching a punch charged with pure kinetic energy.
Kurt crossed his swords to block. The blow exploded.
An expansive wave ravaged the ground around him, tearing roots, lifting stones, shaking trees.
But Kurt still resisted. The sword trembled. His feet sank into the earth.
"You're not the only one with tricks, brat!" Kurt roared. His sword began to absorb energy from his own body suddenly, channeling it.
"Ian, get away!" Elena shouted, launching herself toward him.
But before Kurt could release the technique, a gigantic spear fell from the sky, piercing the ground between Ian and Kurt.
The impact was so brutal the ground trembled. An electric halo crackled around it.
"What…?!" Kurt exclaimed, retreating alarmed.
From the sky descended Zetz, one of the so-called Eternal Lances. His aura was imposing, his spear still vibrating with trapped thunder.
His gaze was severe, but not for Ian. Nor for Elena. Nor for Makia.
Kurt opened his eyes with fury:
"Zetz…?"
Zetz smiled with a demolishing calm, his spear shining as it spun on his palm.
"I'm sorry Kurt, I received direct orders from the Imperial Ministry. I will stop your plan. My mission is to protect these kids."
Kraven, from behind, let out a roaring laugh.
"Hahaha… it's the empire itself sending these kids to die here, and now they say they want to protect them. How ridiculous."
And so… the true dance of titans began.