"Ryuu… is me. And I am Ryu."
Her smile slowly bloomed—then shattered into manic laughter that echoed endlessly.
"Hahahahahahahaha!!"
The sound reverberated through the frozen air. Each note of her laughter felt like glass cracking inside the soul.
Everyone stood paralyzed.
Ryu remained stiff, his body trembling, pupils widened as he stared at the figure before him.
"What… do you mean…?" His voice broke, shaking between heavy breaths and fear.
Velista only looked at him—cold, sharp, as if piercing straight into his spirit.
"Welcome to the other side of your mirror, Ryu."
Mist slowly rose from the ground, curling like thick clouds.
The wind stopped.
The world seemed to hold its breath.
---
Amid the fog — the center of Indosvara City.
Two legendary mages stood facing a mysterious man. Their auras collided, creating invisible pressure that made the surrounding ruins tremble.
"You… are the master of those monsters?" one of them demanded, eyes piercing.
The mysterious man gave a thin smile.
"Not a master. Just… a recipient of a gift," he replied flatly, letting out a quiet chuckle.
"But you've made me curious," he continued casually, his tone boiling their blood. "How about we… play a little?"
A dense purple aura exploded from his body. The light formed a gigantic silhouette behind him—an eerie shadow identical to the creature Jake once faced on the battlefield.
"So you're… that monster," one mage hissed.
The man grinned widely.
"Perhaps…"
In an instant—
Whoosh!
He vanished from sight, reappearing directly in front of them.
An explosion of energy burst through the air.
The ground shook. The wind blasted outward like a magical bomb.
---
The two mages barely had time to react. They moved swiftly—but the mysterious man was faster—
as if slipping through the space between seconds.
"He's incredibly fast!" one of them shouted.
BOOM!
An energy-infused kick slammed into both their backs with tremendous force. Their bodies were sent flying, flipping midair before landing in controlled rolls.
They rose again, suppressing the pain, breathing heavily.
"Is this all the strength you have?" the man mocked before launching a barrage of punches and kicks layered with purple energy.
His movements blurred. Each strike created shockwaves that split the air.
The mages blocked with defensive spells—magic circles glowing in their palms—but his relentless energy forced them back.
"Damn it!" they cursed in unison.
Grab!
In one synchronized motion, they caught his arm and leg.
"Hyaaah!"
Red blazing energy surged into his body—
Flame-coated kicks struck his stomach and waist.
BOOOOM!
The impact thundered loudly. The ground cracked, air burst outward, and the man was hurled away, rolling across dust and shattered earth.
"Hahaha… not a bad opening."
He slowly stood, smoke rising from his body—yet a crooked smile remained.
Half his face transformed—monstrous veins pulsing purple beneath his skin.
"Now… let's begin the real fight."
His voice deepened, echoing as though two voices spoke from one throat.
"So he's the giant monster that fought Jake," one mage muttered.
"If we capture him… we'll receive a grand reward," the other replied confidently.
Before they could catch their breath—
His arm transformed—elongated, black, sharp like a blade. He slashed toward their chests.
Swiish!
By reflex, both caught the strike—their arms trembling under immense force that nearly pierced through them.
"That was close…" one gasped.
Suddenly—
He vanished again—
CRAAASSHH!
His claws ripped brutally across their backs. Blood splattered into the air, crimson mixing with purple mist.
"Bastard!!" one mage roared, spinning and punching the half-monster's face.
BAM!
His head snapped sideways. His skin cracked, burned—
but he only smiled—
as if pain were nothing more than entertainment.
"Don't lose focus!!" the other mage shouted, lunging with a kick aimed at his head.
But the man caught the leg midair and hurled him—
THUD!
The mage crashed into a ruined wall and rolled away.
The remaining mage struggled to defend. The blade-like arm struck his magical shield, blue sparks scattering—yet blood dripped from his hand.
In a flash—
CRASSSHH!
Another brutal slash tore across his back.
The mage kicked backward, nearly hitting his face, but the monster twisted swiftly—the sharp wind slicing through the mist.
The mage who had been thrown rose again, activating a magic seal on the ground.
"Move!" he shouted.
His ally leapt aside.
FWOOOSH!!
Flames erupted from his hands, forming a blazing red wave that scorched the air.
The other added a wind spell—
"FIRE TORNADO!"
Flames spiraled into a massive vortex. Red light illuminated the night fog.
From afar, Ken and Isabela atop the gate saw the fiery column pierce the sky.
"Is something happening over there?" Isabela asked.
The two mages panted, staring at the inferno engulfing the mysterious man.
But—
When the wind scattered the smoke—
He was still standing.
Unharmed.
Only a wide smile stretched across his charred face.
"Is this all the power you possess?" His voice echoed deeply—like a demon rising from the abyss.
"Give me everything… I'm not satisfied yet."
The two mages exchanged tense glances.
"Very well," one declared firmly.
"Combo… Red Garuda Duo of Brama Hill!"
Crimson aura erupted from their bodies. The ground trembled, air hissed. They clapped hands—an explosion of red energy forming flaming wings behind them.
"Hahaha! That's more like it!" the man laughed loudly. "Why didn't you use that from the start?!"
Instantly—
They shot forward, their bodies nothing but red streaks in the air.
BAM! CRACK!
The first punch shattered his chest bone.
A kick crushed his knee, sending him airborne.
One mage spun midair—elbow smashing his jaw.
The other followed with a spinning kick from above.
JEBLARRR!
A flaming kick slammed into his stomach, shattering the ground and sending a pillar of fire skyward.
They caught his body before it fell—grabbing his hair, locking him tightly from behind.
"Embrace of the Blaze!" one shouted, igniting their bodies together.
"Damn it! Don't hug me like this—disgusting!!" he roared, struggling.
Flames crawled across him—his skin melting, flesh burning.
"AAARRRGHHH!!"
The other mage leapt into the air.
"My turn!"
He spun rapidly—
"Eagle Flame Kick!!"
JEBLARRRRR!
The flaming kick struck his chest. A massive explosion erupted—dust, fire, and mist engulfing the battlefield.
The two mages collapsed, coughing, smoke rising from their bodies.
"Did we defeat him?" one asked, breath ragged.
But as the burning mist lifted—
The man still stood.
His body charred—yet his eyes blazed bright purple.
"Damn… he's still alive…"
He slowly lifted his face.
"You're impressive," he said coldly, voice grinding like metal.
The fog cleared completely.
His form had fully transformed—into a spiked steel monster, black metallic skin laced with glowing purple veins, eyes shining with terror.
"Are we… fighting a demon?" they whispered in horror.
---
Meanwhile, deep within the forest—
Jake, along with Groups Two and Three, had arrived and reunited with Group One.
For a moment, Jake caught sight of the woman beyond an energy barrier.
"Is that… Velista?" he murmured, running forward with the troops.
But when they looked again—
She was gone.
"Where did that bitch go?!" Yusuke growled.
"Damn it, she disappeared," Akira added.
Jake approached the shimmering energy wall and reached out to touch it.
BLAR!
Blue energy exploded—Jake nearly thrown back, but he steadied himself.
"Commander!" several soldiers shouted in panic.
"I'm fine…" Jake brushed dust from his robe.
His eyes studied the vibrating barrier deeply.
"This woman… possesses power equal to Rei," he muttered slowly.
"Who exactly… is she?"
The mist thickened.
From afar, a faint roar echoed once more.
To be continued…