NEW CHP The crimson clouds above Noctharis twisted violently.
Lightning tore across the sky, illuminating the ruined castle and the black ocean below.
Mil stood on the shattered rock, one eye covered by his blood-soaked bandage.
Morgan stood opposite him.
For the first time, the confidence had disappeared from Morgan's face.
Mil slowly raised his head toward the sky.
Then he shouted a word Morgan couldn't understand.
"HIRYO!!"
The word echoed across the beach.
For a moment—
nothing happened.
Then the clouds began to move.
A deep roar rolled through the sky.
Morgan looked upward.
His eyes widened.
Something was descending.
A massive shadow emerged from the crimson clouds.
The air itself seemed to bend around its presence.
RAGNORAK.
The dragon descended toward the battlefield.
Its enormous body passed through the clouds as purple energy began gathering around it.
The surrounding energy of Noctharis was being pulled toward its body.
The ocean trembled.
The flames around the castle bent toward the dragon.
Even the lightning seemed to disappear into its aura.
Mil smiled.
"That's the final breath."
Ragnorak opened its mouth.
Purple energy condensed inside it.
Morgan immediately raised his blade.
His expression changed.
No more calmness.
No more arrogance.
He knew something was coming.
Ragnorak released the attack.
BOOOOOOM!
A massive purple beam tore across the beach.
Morgan launched his own attack at the exact same moment.
The two forces collided.
For one second—
everything stopped.
Then the entire beach disappeared beneath the impact.
The ground was ripped apart.
Stone shattered.
Trees were blown away.
The ocean erupted upward.
A gigantic tsunami rose from the sea and began racing toward Mil.
Mil looked up.
His expression changed.
The wall of water was already above him.
Then—
Ragnorak appeared behind him.
The dragon spread its massive wings and shielded Mil completely.
The tsunami crashed against its body.
Water engulfed the battlefield.
Ragnorak opened its mouth.
FWOOSH.
With one enormous breath, the water was forced backward.
The waves retreated into the ocean.
Mil looked up at the dragon.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Across the ruined beach, Morgan slowly stood.
He picked up his sword.
Dust drifted through the air around him.
He stared at Ragnorak.
For once, Morgan didn't know what to say.
Finally—
"I have no words for this."
His eyes remained fixed on the dragon.
"A dragon... out of nowhere."
Mil grabbed Yoru no Kiba from the ground.
He looked at Morgan.
"Hey, dude. Got a problem?"
Morgan didn't answer.
His breathing was heavier now.
His hands tightened around his sword.
He wasn't cold anymore.
He was nervous.
Mil raised Yoru no Kiba and pointed it directly at him.
"I will do it."
The storm grew louder.
Purple energy surrounded Ragnorak.
Blue flames flickered across the distant castle.
Lightning illuminated the two warriors standing across from each other.
Neither moved.
Both understood what this meant.
There would be no retreat.
No surrender.
This fight was going to end with one of them standing.
Then—
it began.
Mil launched forward.
Morgan met him head-on.
Their blades collided.
Morgan blocked the attack.
Mil immediately dropped his body beneath Morgan's guard.
Morgan's eyes followed him—
but Mil was already gone.
"BAHH!!"
Ragnorak fired another blast.
Purple energy struck Morgan from behind.
BOOM!
The attack swallowed him.
Fire spread across the battlefield.
The ground beneath Morgan cracked.
Smoke and ashes filled the air.
For several seconds—
nothing moved.
Then a figure slowly emerged from the flames.
Morgan.
His clothes were torn.
Blood ran across his body.
Dust covered his face.
But he was still standing.
He lifted his head.
"A dragon will not be enough."
Silence.
Morgan looked around.
Mil was gone.
His eyes scanned the battlefield.
Nothing.
Then—
a sudden movement behind him.
Mil appeared.
His movement and energy-leaking abilities had concealed his approach completely.
Morgan's eyes widened.
SHNK.
Yoru no Kiba pierced through his back.
A single drop of blood fell onto the stone.
Mil pulled his sword free.
Morgan remained completely still.
Slowly—
he turned his head.
And what he saw was no longer the guard with one eye.
No longer James.
No longer the wounded swordsman he had been dominating moments ago.
Standing behind him was Mil.
One eye.
Yoru no Kiba in his hand.
Purple energy surrounding him.
And behind him—
Ragnorak.
Morgan stared.
For the first time, he wasn't looking at an opponent.
He was looking at a monster with a dragon.
TO BE CONTINUED...