In the Sea Kingdom, Selena moved cautiously through its streets, avoiding exposed areas and hiding among the ruins. What she saw made her heart clench: collapsed towers, submerged houses, and traces of energy that seemed to cleave the water itself.
She moved silently, holding her breath whenever a prisoner passed close, until she stopped abruptly. There, in a courtyard near the palace, she saw her brother, Atlas.
He was surrounded by a group of prisoners, his body riddled with wounds, yet he still fought tenaciously. His spear cleaved the water, and his blue aura lashed against the enemy's attacks. Selena didn't hesitate.
She rushed forward, her water spear forming in her hands, and stood right beside her brother. Atlas turned, startled. "Selena?! Where have you been? What brought you here?!"
"It's a long story… I'll tell you later!" she said, deflecting a blow aimed at him.
They fought together, shoulder to shoulder. The waves of water met the thrusts of the spears, and the prisoners fell one by one until silence fell over the arena. Selena took a deep breath, then turned to him, her voice trembling. "Atlas… how is our father? Is he alright?"
Atlas was silent. He lowered his head, his eyes fixed on the ground. "He… has been killed," he said, his voice broken.
Selena froze for a moment. Her eyes widened, her strength failing her, and she collapsed to her knees. She burst into tears, remembering the moments she had spent with her father, and the moment of his joy when she had been engaged to Lucian. Atlas rushed to her, embracing her tightly, trying to comfort her. "I know… I know. But we must endure."
Then, his voice firm despite his pain, he said, "We must protect the kingdom… and not let our father's legacy be lost."
In the Ice Kingdom, in a land covered in frost, even the air itself seemed to crackle under the weight of the battle. Lucian was facing the third-ranked prisoner… Myretha. She deftly dodged his attacks, chuckling softly, "You're so handsome… I couldn't possibly kill you."
Then she tilted her head and said with soft sarcasm, "How about you become my husband?"
Lucian frowned and said coldly, "I'm sorry… but I have a fiancée in the Sea Kingdom."
Myretha smiled slyly. "And if I killed her… would you marry me then?"
Rage erupted in Lucian eyes. In an instant, he grabbed her hand, spun her around, and hurled her to the ground with a force that shattered the ice beneath her. "If you touch a hair on her head… I'll kill you," he said in a murderous voice.
Myretha rose, laughing, her eyes sparkling with madness. "I love this feeling… I can't wait to make you treat me the way you treat her."
Lucian thought to himself with disgust, "Of all the prisoners… I had to find her to fight?"
He raised his power to its maximum. "Awaken the Emperor," he said.
His hair froze to a crystalline white, and his eyes flashed like snow. His clothes transformed, becoming like an Ice Emperor attire. Then he activated another skill. "Breathe Ice."
Time slowed around him as his speed and power doubled.
"I'll finish you off quickly," he said coldly. "Then I'll go help Selena."
Myretha laughed and began to unleash her own power. "After you defeat me, you'll go to her?"
Then she pointed toward the horizon. "What are we waiting for? Let's go now."
And she shot off at breakneck speed toward the Sea Kingdom. Lucien's eyes widened. "Damn it!"
He followed her without hesitation.
In the Forest Kingdom, the battle was still raging. Ryan and Valcreon were still exchanging fierce blows. Valcrion fashioned his weapon: a massive iron ball attached to a long chain, which he spun at terrifying speed, hurling it at Ryan from every direction.
Ryan parried the attacks with his sword; each impact sent a spark of energy into the air. The fight raged. During the exchange of blows, Ryan noticed something. Valcrion technique, his movements, the timing of his chain attacks. Ryan smiled.
Valcrion noticed the smile and snapped, "Why are you smiling?"
"Nothing," Ryan replied calmly and confidently. "I just realized you'd be the perfect training tool for my evolution."
Then, his eyes gleaming, he added, "There's another opponent... his fighting style is similar to yours."
Valcrion laughed savagely. "Ah? Then I'll kill you before you can face him."
He tightened the chain, and an even more brutal phase of the fight began.