From afar, Enric saw it.
The core within Valerina's body… was collapsing.
And Riana—her presence—was completely gone.
For a fleeting moment, his mind trembled. But hesitation now meant death.
There was only one thing left to do.
Enter the duel. Save her.
Without a second thought, Enric leapt from the back of the falcon.
In his hand—Zulfikar.
A monstrous blade, radiating violent violet energy, crackling with lightning as if the heavens themselves had been chained to its edge.
The moment he descended—
It felt as if the entire kingdom stood on the brink of annihilation.
BOOM—
The ground shattered beneath him. Cracks spread like a dying world splitting apart.
Thunder roared.
Lightning screamed.
And from the storm of destruction…
Enric emerged.
A force field of raw energy surrounded him, electricity dancing wildly across its surface. His presence alone distorted the air.
In his hand—death.
In his eyes—judgment.
---
At that same moment—
Valerina's blade clashed against Julius.
But her body… was failing.
Her strength faded.
Her soul… began to slip out.
She could see it—her own body collapsing, lifeless… while she drifted away from it.
Then—
A roar from the sky.
She looked up.
And saw him.
Descending like a god of war.
"So… you finally came…"
A weak, broken smile formed on her lips.
"Looks like… my time is over…"
Her voice trembled.
"I don't know how to tell you this… but Riana… that idiot… she left me…"
Her vision blurred.
Darkness crept in.
Her soul slowly drifted… toward Enric.
Enric spoke softly.
As if he had already known.
"Yeah… I was waiting for this."
"The moment I saw your soul… I knew it. You'd choose to sacrifice yourself… without hesitation."
He extended his hand.
"Come."
"Let's live… together."
He opened his core.
Mana surged violently from within him—
And connected to Valerina's fading soul.
In an instant—
Her strength returned.
Her eyes opened.
She saw him.
Alive.
Real.
And she broke.
Tears poured endlessly.
"It's all my fault… everything…!"
Enric shook his head gently.
"No, Valerina… none of this is your fault."
"If anything… this happened because of me."
His voice grew colder.
"And Riana… she didn't disappear for nothing."
A pause.
"She did what needed to be done."
Valerina cried harder.
A friend… someone she misunderstood… had sacrificed everything.
And she couldn't even say goodbye.
Her expression changed.
Cold.
Sharp.
"It's time… to kill that bastard."
Enric turned.
His gaze locked onto Julius.
His voice dropped—
"Tell me… who is this trash… that dared touch you?"
Valerina shared everything.
Every memory.
Every moment.
Enric smiled faintly.
"Good."
"Let's see… who stands at the top today."
Julius frowned.
Confusion turned into irritation.
"Who the hell are you?"
"You're not the one I was dueling."
"So why are you interfering?"
Enric's smile widened.
"Who am I?"
A pause.
"I was the one you were fighting."
"Stop joking." Julius snarled.
"I don't spare anyone who gets in my way."
"Who said I was joking?"
Enric's voice turned colder.
"That was only… half my soul."
Silence.
Then—
Rage.
"So what?!"
"Are you afraid now?"
"Afraid you'll lose?"
Enric chuckled.
Low.
Dangerous.
"Let's begin."
In the distance—
Charlee Anthony Octavius arrived.
He said nothing.
Only watched.
Because even he could feel it—
This was no ordinary duel.
This was a battle between equals.
Julius roared—
"Bring him back!"
"The one I was fighting!"
"I told you."
"That was me."
A pause.
Then Enric spoke again—
"Before you die… I'll grant you one last question."
Julius smirked.
"Fine."
"Who are you?"
Enric stepped forward.
Power erupted around him.
"I am the son of the House of Valerian."
"The next Emperor."
"And the one who will stand above all."
Julius's eyes burned with fury.
"Then listen well!"
"I am Julius Jones Octavius!"
"Prince of the House of Octavius!"
"Future Emperor of the Pala Empire!"
"And I'll show you… what hell looks like!"
They moved.
At the same time.
"Sword Slayer—!"
A monstrous slash tore through space itself.
Julius reacted instantly—
A shield formed—
But—
Behind him—
The entire stadium began to collapse.
Shattered.
Erased.
Enric smirked.
"What's wrong?"
"Afraid?"
"SHUT UP!"
Julius roared.
"Sword Art: Lightning—!"
Lightning erupted from his blade, tearing toward Enric like divine punishment.
Enric narrowed his eyes.
He could block it.
But it would cost him.
"Swordblade Art: Lightning—!"
Their attacks collided.
BOOOOOM—!!!
The world trembled.
Shockwaves devoured everything.
Structures collapsed.
The sky itself seemed to crack.
Both stood—
Barely.
Enric—wounded.
Julius—drenched in blood.
But neither stopped.
Enric felt it—
His mana… was running out.
His core… weakening again.
If this dragged on—
He would lose.
"Then… I end this now."
His voice turned ancient.
Commanding.
"I, the owner of the Twin Wolves… command you—open your eyes."
Darkness twisted.
Two monstrous wolves emerged behind him.
"Zulfikar… hell-blade… lend me your power."
Lightning exploded.
Energy surged.
Reality trembled.
Julius felt it.
Death.
Approaching.
He roared in response—
"Twin Lions—OPEN YOUR EYES!"
Two divine beasts awakened behind him.
Golden.
Terrifying.
"Hell Sword Art—grant me your power!"
Both charged.
At once.
Wolves.
Lions.
Lightning.
Hellfire.
If these attacks collided—
There would be no survivors.
And in that final moment—
Only one question remained.
Who… will die?