The wind swept across the castle roof.
Dust floated through the air as Michael stared at the broken pieces of Regicide in Jedel's hand.
His breathing became heavier.
His eyes refused to believe what he was seeing.
"This is impossible..."
Michael's voice trembled.
"My Regicide can't break."
Jedel calmly looked at the shattered blade.
"Nothing is impossible."
Suddenly—
The broken pieces of Regicide began leaking enormous amounts of energy.
Purple light burst from the cracks.
The metal trembled violently.
Michael stepped backward.
"What...?"
The energy grew stronger.
The pieces began collapsing into fragments.
Michael watched helplessly.
"No..."
His hands tightened.
"NO!"
BOOM!
A massive explosion erupted across the entire rooftop.
A wave of energy swallowed the battlefield.
Dust and broken stone filled the air.
When everything finally became silent—
Michael was on his knees.
His head hung low.
Slowly, he looked down.
The remains of Regicide lay scattered across the stone.
Michael reached toward them.
"Regicide..."
His voice almost disappeared.
"How could it happen?"
His eyes became watery.
One tear rolled down his face.
He closed his eyes.
And suddenly—
The world around him disappeared.
INSIDE THE ENERGY ROOM
Michael opened his eyes.
He was standing inside a strange space filled with glowing energy.
Around him were memories.
His powers.
His battles.
His past.
And standing before him was the familiar presence of Regicide.
The Soul of Regicide looked at him.
"Michael..."
A calm voice echoed through the room.
"Don't be sad, kid."
Michael looked at him.
"How?"
His voice cracked.
"I couldn't save you."
He lowered his head.
"I'm a bad husband... brother... friend."
His fists trembled.
"I lost everything dear to me."
He looked toward the ground.
"My life is worthless."
The Soul of Regicide shook his head.
"It's not."
Michael looked up.
The Soul continued.
"Regicide was just a sword created by your ancestors to control the outrage of Valric powers."
Michael listened carefully.
"But for more than a hundred years, no Valric has ever gone outraged."
The room became silent.
"That means the sword eventually became unnecessary."
Michael's eyes widened.
"So... it wasn't really my power?"
"No."
A faint smile appeared.
"Regicide didn't disappear forever either."
Michael looked up.
"It still exists in the ruins of the Valric clan."
Michael clenched his fist.
"Then I'll fix it."
The Soul of Regicide immediately answered:
"No."
Michael looked confused.
"Fix yourself first."
A long silence followed.
Michael finally asked:
"What is outrage?"
The Soul looked directly at him.
"The moment a Valric turns into an actual demon."
Michael's eyes widened.
The Soul stepped closer.
"Michael..."
The energy around them began fading.
"You have a war to fight."
A final voice echoed through the room.
"Win."
Michael smiled.
"I will."
BACK ON THE ROOFTOP
Michael opened his eyes.
The dust was still floating around him.
He slowly reached down and gathered every piece of Regicide.
One by one.
He carefully placed them together and secured them.
Jedel watched silently.
Then he smiled.
"Michael Valric."
Michael stood.
"Your powers are done, kid."
Michael looked directly at him.
His eyes slowly began changing.
"My powers were never in a blade like this."
His eyes turned completely green.
"They were always inside me."
Jedel's smile faded.
Then his expression changed into excitement.
"Wow..."
He raised his hands.
"Time to face a Valric."
IKIRO VS SMITH
On the other side of the battlefield—
Ikiro crashed onto the ground.
His body was exhausted.
Smith stood above him, sword in hand.
Ikiro slowly looked up.
"Finally awake?"
Smith smiled.
"Ikiro Sanim..."
He looked down at him.
"The hero of Ureland is under my feet."
Smith paused.
Then laughed.
"Wow. Simply amazing."
He raised his sword.
"These words shall be engraved in a book."
Ikiro coughed and wiped his mouth.
Slowly—
He stood.
His body trembled from exhaustion.
Smith watched.
"Your flames can be cut because they are cuttable."
He raised his blade.
"There is nothing in this world that I can't cut."
Ikiro stared at him.
His blue flames slowly began appearing again.
"There is one thing..."
Smith tilted his head.
"What?"
Ikiro's eyes sharpened.
"There is one thing you can't cut."
Smith smiled.
"And what is that?"
Ikiro clenched his fist.
"My determination."
Smith burst into laughter.
"Great joke!"
Ikiro didn't smile.
"Laugh as much as you want..."
His flames grew brighter.
"...because you won't be alive to laugh anymore."
Smith's expression changed.
For the first time—
There was fear in his eyes.
Ikiro stepped forward.
"Let's finish this."
Smith charged.
His sword came down—
But Ikiro moved first.
BOOM!
A powerful kick sent Smith flying backward.
He crashed into the wall.
Ikiro walked toward him.
He grabbed Smith by the head and pulled him forward.
BAM!
One punch.
Smith staggered.
BAM!
A second.
Smith suddenly countered with a kick.
Ikiro was sent flying into a tree.
He crashed through the branches and landed hard.
For a moment, he didn't move.
Then—
Ikiro stood again.
Blue flames surrounded him.
They expanded outward, forming a barrier around his body.
Smith watched carefully.
The flames rose higher.
Ikiro looked at him.
"Let's start..."
His eyes burned blue.
"...your end, buddy."
TON VS DOMINSIDE THE GLASS CAGE
Ton slammed his claws against the transparent barrier.
BANG!
Nothing.
He tried again.
BANG!
Still nothing.
Dom stood outside the cage.
"It won't break."
He smiled.
"It's unbreakable."
Ton stopped.
He looked at the cage.
Then at Dom.
"Fine."
He sat down.
"Your powers are too good for me."
Dom raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Ton leaned against the glass.
"In a one-on-one fight, I don't think I could have won."
Dom smiled proudly.
"Exactly."
Ton continued.
"But you're not going to defeat me either."
Dom's smile faded.
"What do you mean?"
Ton shrugged.
"I'm just not that smart, honestly."
Dom smirked.
"That's why I tricked you into this."
Ton nodded.
"I know I'm not smart."
Dom looked confused.
"Then how are you going to break the cage?"
Ton stretched his arms.
"I won't."
Dom stared at him.
"What?"
Ton leaned back.
"I'll rest until you free me."
Dom laughed.
"Why would I free you?"
Ton looked toward him.
"Because you have to be there in about seven to nine minutes."
Dom's expression slowly changed.
Ton continued.
"The activation."
He pointed toward the distant sky.
"Once you leave this cage, your range breaks."
Dom's eyes narrowed.
Ton smiled.
"Then the cage disappears."
He leaned forward.
"I'll chase you."
A pause.
"And I'll kill you."
Dom became silent.
Ton crossed his arms.
"So you'll free me because you need to defeat me before that happens."
Dom stared at him.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he thought:
Damn...
He's actually smart.
Ton closed his eyes.
"So..."
He smiled.
"When are you freeing me?"
Dom sighed.
"Alright."
He approached the cage.
"I'll free you."
Ton smiled.
The plan had worked.
Three battles.
Three different paths.
And above them all—
the countdown continued.