The battlefield fell into a strange silence for a few moments. The dust drifting through the air had not yet completely settled when Mascar slowly raised his head. A cruel, icy smile spread across his lips as he began walking toward Snehwal. With every step he took, the air itself trembled. It felt as though the weight of his footsteps was not falling upon the earth, but upon the very sky itself. The crimson-and-black sword in his hand radiated such a horrifying aura that even the surrounding air appeared distorted. It seemed as though he no longer wished merely to win. He wanted to erase Snehwal's very existence.
Snehwal did everything he could to steady his breathing. His body was covered with countless wounds. Blood continued to drip slowly from them. Yet there was not the slightest hint of surrender in his eyes~only an unbreakable determination burned within them. He glanced at the sword in his hand. Then calmly allowed it to disappear.
Instantly, he extended his left hand. Clang...! Green spiritual energy began swirling around his palm. Within an instant, a divine bow materialized from that very energy. Its bowstring seemed to be woven from pure spiritual light itself.
The moment Mascar saw it, his eyes widened. "A bow...?" Without wasting a single moment, he swung his sword through the air. Crimson-and-black spiritual energy gathered before him, spinning rapidly until it formed a gigantic array. Countless blood-red symbols glowed within it.
Meanwhile, Snehwal slowly drew the bowstring. Green spiritual energy condensed upon it, gradually taking the shape of a radiant arrow. Mascar suddenly burst into laughter. "Hahaha...! So now you're planning to defeat me with that tiny little arrow? What a truly pathetic sight."
Snehwal did not answer. He simply closed his eyes. Took a deep breath. And silently said to himself, "I trust my bow..." He opened his eyes. Released the bowstring. Shhhhh...! The green arrow shot forward like a bolt of lightning.
At that very same moment, Mascar gestured with his sword. A small crimson-and-black flower emerged from his array. It appeared ordinary. Yet every one of its petals was sharper than a blade. The two attacks collided in the middle of the sky. BOOM!! This explosion was even more violent than before. The entire battlefield shook violently.
Yet when the explosion subsided, everyone's eyes widened in shock. Mascar had been pushed two steps backward. His gigantic array trembled violently. The smile vanished from his face. "This... How is this possible?" For the very first time, fear could be heard in his voice. "How... have I become weaker?" His gaze immediately locked onto Snehwal's bow.
On the opposite side of the battlefield, Humbha unconsciously took a step forward. The uneasiness in her eyes was impossible to hide. But at that very same instant, Lily stepped forward as well. Their gazes met. For several moments, neither of them spoke. Then Humbha stopped. She understood. If she interfered in the battle, Lily would not hesitate to do the same.
A furious expression spread across Mascar's face. He let out a deafening roar. The entire sky trembled beneath it. His array suddenly began glowing brilliantly. One... Ten... Hundreds... Thousands... Within moments, thousands of crimson flowers revolved around him. Their crimson-and-black aura covered the entire sky. Even King Omas unconsciously frowned. Expending such an enormous amount of spiritual power caused even Mascar's breathing to become heavy.
He pointed his sword toward Snehwal. "Now... You die!!" Thousands of flowers spun like a massive crimson storm as they charged toward Snehwal. Their speed was so terrifying that the air itself split apart before them.
But Snehwal smiled. He drew the bowstring once again. Another green arrow appeared. Mascar laughed mockingly. "The same old trick again? What can one arrow possibly do to me?" He had not even finished speaking when brilliant green light suddenly burst from the arrow. Within an instant, one arrow... Ten... Hundreds... Thousands... Before anyone realized it, the single arrow had divided into countless arrows. The entire sky was flooded with emerald light.
Before anyone could react~BOOOOOOM!! Thousands of arrows collided with thousands of crimson flowers. The explosion was so overwhelming that even King Omas's throne shook violently. Fresh cracks spread across the earth. For several moments, the entire world was consumed by nothing but dust and blinding light. Both armies immediately fell into chaos. Their panic quickly turned into frightened screams.
As the dust slowly began to clear, everyone held their breath. Mascar was kneeling on one knee. He was gasping violently. His sword had slipped from his hand. On the other side, Snehwal still stood upright. Exhausted. Wounded. Yet unyielding.
Mascar slowly raised his trembling head. Only disbelief remained within his eyes. "No... No...! I cannot lose! I am the strongest! No... This... cannot be happening!!"
Without saying a single word, Snehwal raised his bow once again. Slowly, he began drawing the bowstring. But this time, no arrow appeared. Nearly everyone present upon the battlefield looked utterly confused. Everyone, except Humbha. Her eyes widened in horror. "No... This...!" She had already understood. No ordinary arrow was resting upon that bow. An enormous, invisible, spiritual force was slowly taking shape.
"Stop!!" Humbha vanished like a bolt of lightning. At the exact same moment, Lily disappeared as well. The very next instant~Smack!! A loud slap echoed through empty air. Humbha's body instantly became visible once more as she was sent flying into the distant rocks. Blood flowed from the corner of her lips. Filled with rage, she immediately summoned her staff. But it was already too late.
Snehwal had released the bowstring. No arrow could be seen. Yet Shhhhh...! The air itself split into two. The next moment, Mascar's chest burst open from within. His invisible barrier shattered like fragile glass. His eyes widened in utter disbelief. Slowly, he began falling backward. His lips trembled. Yet no words escaped them. Only moments later, his body lay completely motionless.
The entire battlefield fell silent. Not even the sound of breathing could be heard. What had just happened? Every face was frozen in disbelief. Yet among those thousands of faces, only one man was smiling. Master Jins. Satisfaction shone within his eyes. As though he had known from the very beginning that Snehwal's final arrow would not merely turn the battle. It would change history itself.