"Now that my true body has finally matured," the boy said softly, clenching his fists, "I can finally fight with this body as well."
His cold black eyes lifted toward the endless dark.
"You just wait… I'll come and destroy you completely—for underestimating Subash Nova, the Void Dragon."
He raised his hand. A brilliant light burst open before him, twisting itself into a portal.
---
Chloe lifted her hand toward Draven, energy gathering at her fingertips.
She fired.
Draven watched it come at him, eyes widening—then softening with a sorrowful smile.
"Well… looks like this is my end. If I'm lucky… I wish to be Subash-sama's subordinate again in my next life."
He closed his eyes.
The attack struck—
BOOOOOOM.
—but a figure appeared, dissolving the attack like it was nothing.
Everyone froze.
A young man stood before them—a being with long silver-black hair cascading to his back, pale skin, dressed in a black robe and boots. His sharp black eyes seemed to pierce reality itself.
Chloe stared at him, shocked. "Who are you? With that power… you must be level 90—or higher."
The young man didn't answer. In a blur, he appeared behind her—his punch sending her crashing down toward the ground.
He snapped his fingers. The space-lock binding Draven shattered instantly. Draven dropped to the ground, free once more.
I don't know who this person is… but standing near him feels just like standing before Subash-sama, Draven thought, relief washing over him.
Chloe healed her wounds, wiping the blood from her lips.
Who is he? Even with my Eyes of Time… I couldn't see his movement.
"Who are you!?" she demanded.
The young man only stared at her.
"So you won't answer?" she snapped.
In a flash, he appeared before her—grabbed her face—and threw her aside like a ragdoll.
"I am Subash Nova—the Void Dragon," he said coldly. "The one you killed minutes ago was nothing more than my avatar."
---
Draven's jaw dropped. "Wait—so the Subash-sama who died… was just an avatar!?"
Lilithra's eyes softened, relief flooding her expression.
Velmora and Ravenna both stared, shocked—then their fighting spirit reignited instantly.
The Kigen sisters lifted their faces; Vanyth retrieved her sword while Velyra smiled with trembling joy.
"Subash-sama… truly never breaks his promises," Velyra whispered.
Ravon fell to his knees—this time in joy. "My lord… my god… has returned…"
---
Chloe floated up again, staring at Subash in disbelief.
"I… I killed you. How…!?"
"I told you already," Subash said calmly. "You killed an avatar. The real fight begins now."
A cold smile spread across Chloe's face.
"Now this is interesting."
She lunged forward at infinite speed—but Subash stopped her blade with two fingers.
Her eyes widened in shock.
Before she could react—Subash kicked her back into the earth again.
"A level 90 and a level 95 are worlds apart," Subash said. "Even if you're a True Dragon, you can't defeat me."
Enraged, Chloe rushed again at impossible speed—but Subash toyed with her like a child.
"Too slow," he whispered, each time sending her crashing down with overwhelming force.
Each kick shattered her bones—each time she regenerated, more furious than before.
"I'll kill you again!" she screamed.
"Show me," Subash replied, his gaze cold.
Suddenly—
BOOM.
An invisible force crushed Chloe into the ground, pinning her on her knees.
"You… will regret this…" she hissed, trying to lift her head—only for the pressure to increase, forcing her face toward the earth.
She burst into hysterical laughter.
"Heh… hahaha… YOU'LL REGRET IT, YOU BASTARD!"
Time warped.
Color vanished.
The world froze.
Chloe floated up, her body glowing with temporal energy. Time had completely stopped—Subash's body frozen midair.
But Subash's eyes were still moving.
So she used that again… he thought. This isn't ordinary time-stop. She froze atoms, cells, even magicules themselves.
Even thoughts should not be able to move.
But Subash's did.
He watched Chloe walk toward him—though he noticed something strange.
She's not moving her body… she's teleporting her cells. Trillions of them, all at once. That's how she moves in stopped time.
Subash closed his eyes.
If I can control every cell in my body… if I can teleport them simultaneously… then maybe… maybe I can move as well.
Chloe stopped before him, smiling.
"Oh? You can still think? Impressive. But thinking alone won't save you. If you try to move even one cell incorrectly… your entire body will collapse in a second."
Her sword raised toward his throat.
The world remained frozen.
And Subash focused.
Every cell.
Every piece of him.
One mistake meant death.
He prepared to break the laws of time itself.