At Allesio's side…
Fury lashed out with his whip blade, its edge slicing through the air.
Allesio blocked each strike with his sword while steadily closing the distance.
He leapt onto the nearest tree branch—then sprang straight toward Fury.
Fury jumped backward to another branch, but before he could land, Allesio hurled a blade into the branch itself.
The wood split.
Fury lost his footing and crashed to the ground.
Allesio landed moments later and charged without hesitation.
As the distance closed, Allesio struck. Fury blocked it effortlessly.
"Did you really think you could hit me at close range?" Fury sneered.
"This blade works just as well up close."
The battle intensified—close-range clashes followed by long-range exchanges, neither giving the other a moment to breathe.
"Whip Blade Technique: Blades."
Fury swung his weapon, and dozens of small blades burst from the whip, flying toward Allesio.
Allesio deflected them one by one.
But a few slipped past, heading straight toward the civilians.
"Shield!" Ysera shouted, summoning a barrier just in time.
Allesio glanced back.
"Where are you looking?" Fury charged in.
Allesio jumped back, but he was a moment too slow—a sharp cut opened on his arm.
"Whip Blade Technique: Fire Whip."
The blade ignited, flames roaring along its length.
Allesio dodged, but the fire spread, igniting nearby trees.
He tried to close the distance again—but Fury's whip kept him at bay.
"Hey!" Allesio called out. "How many strikes can you block for me?"
"In this condition… only two," Ysera replied.
"That's enough," Allesio said.
He rushed forward.
"Cover me!" he shouted.
Fury's strike came down. A shield appeared.
"One," Allesio counted.
He pushed forward again.
Another strike. Another shield.
"Two."
He knew Ysera was at her limit.
Fury attempted to retreat and reposition, but Allesio's speed surged.
"You're finished," Allesio said, closing in.
"Not so fast," Fury replied calmly.
"Whip Blade: Unleash."
Dark aura erupted from the blade.
Its tip twisted and reshaped, forming the head of a dragon.
The weapon moved as if alive, lunging at Allesio.
Allesio blocked it—but the impact hurled him backward across the ground.
"It's been a long time since I let this beast loose," Fury said.
"What… is that?" Ysera whispered.
"This weapon is alive," Fury explained. "When unleashed, it's like a pet dragon."
He smiled wider.
"But that's not all. Go all out."
The whip split into two identical blades.
From each blade, five more whips emerged.
Ten living, dragon-like whips writhed in the air.
"Oh shit… that's really bad," Arcel muttered.
The whips attacked together.
Allesio dodged one, then another struck him.
He staggered, barely keeping his balance.
"Protect the civilians," Arcel said urgently. "I'll help him!"
"No!" Allesio shouted.
"You protect them!" he said, narrowly avoiding another strike. "There are more coming."
Arcel looked back—and saw five Black Troops members approaching.
"I can handle him," Allesio said.
"But you're barely holding on!" Arcel protested.
"Don't worry about me," Allesio said firmly. "Get the civilians out of here."
"Trying to be a hero, are we?" Fury mocked.
Looks like I don't have any other choice… Allesio thought.
"Dark Magic: Dark Flame Ignition."
Darkness swallowed Allesio's blade as black flames ignited along its edge.
"Oh?" Fury raised an eyebrow. "A dark magic user. And you're their savior?"
Ysera froze.
"Y-you're using dark magic…?" she said, unease creeping into her voice.
Allesio felt it.
The fear. The doubt.
He knew. After this, he would never be seen the same way again.
But he tightened his grip on the sword.
"If this is the price… then so be it."
Allesio charged forward, weaving through the chaos as the whip-blade dragons lunged at him from every direction.
They came relentlessly. Above, below, behind.
He had no time to breathe.
Every second was spent dodging, rolling, sprinting, one mistake meant death.
"Dark Magic: Thrust!" Allesio burst forward, his blade aimed straight at Fury's chest.
The speed was terrifying, far beyond what Fury expected.
For the first time, Fury couldn't react.
The blade was inches from his heart.
Too close.
A whip-dragon erupted from the sword itself, striking toward Allesio at the last possible moment.
Allesio noticed it just in time.
He twisted his body aside.
Slash.
The dragon tore through his right arm, leaving a deep, burning wound.
Blood spilled onto the ground.
"You see," Fury said calmly, almost proudly, "this blade is a blessing."
"It saves me. No matter what."
Allesio clenched his teeth.
Reckless attacks won't work…
"If you don't have any more tricks up your sleeve," Fury continued, "then let me finish this."
"Whip Blade: Full Unleash." The dragons grew larger. Far larger.
Now there were ten whip-dragons from each blade.
Twenty living weapons twisted through the air, glowing crimson and black, radiating overwhelming pressure.
"You should feel honored," Fury said with a grin. "You get to witness this blade's true power."