The air grew thick.
---
Not from the impact.
---
From her presence.
---
She stood opposite me.
Calm.
But her power… was overwhelming.
---
'Shall we begin?' she said quietly.
---
I didn't answer.
---
I simply vanished.
---
---
⚡ THE FIRST STRIKE
---
A WHISTLE.
---
Her Kuroi sliced through the air.
---
But—
---
nothing.
---
— Slowly.
---
I felt her behind me.
---
BLOW.
---
I was thrown back.
---
The ground cracked.
---
— KH…
---
I stood up.
---
— Powerful…
---
---
She didn't move.
---
— You use the power.
---
— But you are not it.
---
---
SCAR smiled quietly:
---
— She's right.
---
---
— Shut up.
---
---
I lunged again.
---
---
🌀 A SERIES OF STRIKES
---
Lightning flashed.
---
The spirits guided the movement.
---
I struck.
---
She parried.
Easily.
---
Another strike.
---
She dodged.
---
Every move—
---
perfect.
---
---
— Damn…
---
---
She stepped forward.
---
And simply touched me.
---
---
BOOM.
---
I was knocked to the ground.
---
---
'You're unstable,' she said.
---
'And weak.'
---
---
My heart clenched.
---
But not from pain.
---
From anger.
---
---
— Then…
---
I stood up.
---
— Come on, harder.
---
---
💀 TURNING POINT
---
I let go of control.
---
Partially.
---
My eyes flashed.
---
The dragon form activated.
---
---
THE POWER EXPLODED.
---
---
She took a step back for the first time.
---
---
— There…
---
— That's closer.
---
---
I vanished.
---
---
THE BLOW.
---
This time—
---
I hit her.
---
---
She was sent flying.
---
For the first time.
---
---
I didn't stop.
---
A blow.
Another.
---
Lightning.
Spirits.
SCAR.
---
All at once.
---
---
She blocked it.
But—
---
not perfectly.
---
---
— All right… — she whispered.
---
---
⚔ DECISIVE MOMENT
---
I raised the Kuroyami.
---
And gathered everything.
---
Into a single point.
---
---
— SYNCHRONOUS CUT.
---
---
The world before me…
vanished.
---
---
She didn't flinch.
---
She accepted it.
---
---
Silence.
---
---
Her body froze.
---
For a moment.
---
---
And then—
---
a crack.
---
---
She dropped to one knee.
---
---
I stood.
---
Breathing heavily.
---
---
— Have I… won?
---
---
She raised her head.
---
And… smiled.
---
---
— Yes.
---
A pause.
---
— You are worthy.
---
---
And in the next moment—
---
her body began to fade away.
---
---
'Wait—'
---
---
But it was too late.
---
---
The power around her—
---
collapsed.
---
---
And at that moment—
---
SCAR laughed.
---
---
— FINALLY.
---
---
I froze.
---
— What are you doing…?
---
---
— Taking it.
---
---
The darkness surged forward.
---
---
And swallowed her power.
---
---
— NO—!
---
---
Too late.
---
---
The energy vanished.
---
Inside me.
---
---
My heart clenched.
---
My body trembled.
---
---
— WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!
---
---
SCAR laughed.
---
Loudly.
---
---
— I've made you stronger.
---
---
I fell to my knees.
---
---
The power inside…
went berserk.
---
---
— Damn…
---
---
SCAR whispered:
---
— You'll say thank you, Ha Jin.
---
---
Silence.
---
---
I tried to stand up.
---
But my body wouldn't obey.
---
---
Too much.
---
Too fast.
---
---
The last thing I felt—
---
was a new power.
---
---
And fear.
---
---
Because it…
---
wasn't mine.