A tall, slender man with a refreshing look—he appeared to be about thirty-five.

  Light black combat wear, a bag slung over his shoulder. Other than that, there was nothing that looked like a weapon—none in sight.

  Victoria pushed Pulseveil to full output.

  Killing intent. Interest. And joy.

  Not the joy of a sadistic murderer—rather, a cold exhilaration, like someone savoring the hunt itself.

  “I’ve wanted to try you,” the man murmured in a low voice. “They say you’re the best of Luna Nordics’ young hands.”

  (This man… he has no tension at all. He knows—and he’s enjoying it…)

  A warning shiver ran up Victoria’s spine.

  “Luna Nordics: Victoria Sinclair! Gray Archives: Einar Holst! Begin!”

  Ilse’s voice marked the start, and Ethan struck the gong.

  (Sis, be careful. Einar is really strong.)

  A single bead of sweat slid from Ethan’s temple.

  Victoria flicked coins from both hands, launching them into the air as Sonic Bullets.

  Einar’s gaze tilted slightly upward.

  In that opening, Victoria was supposed to close the distance with Shadow Step—

  Einar’s arm swung.

  A slicing wind.

  The next instant, a violent pain exploded at Victoria’s neck and her breath stopped.

  (What—!? I can’t see anything!)

  An invisible “something” tightened around her throat, stealing her air as if a band of tough leather had been wrapped there.

  (Transparent… the weapon itself is “gone.”)

  Einar pulled his arm back.

  Still not fully understanding what was happening, Victoria grabbed at her own neck.

  (I can’t see it—but something’s wrapped around me. Leathery texture… a whip?)

  As she was yanked forward, the Sonic Bullets she’d launched a moment ago began to drop near Einar’s face.

  “Let there be light!”

  The instant Victoria shouted, the coins burst with light, popping near both of Einar’s ears.

  “Guh—”

  Einar staggered back three steps despite himself.

  She felt the “something” constricting her neck loosen—just for a moment.

  “That wasn’t an explosive. It was an ether detonation. Continue the match,” Ilse’s calm voice rang out.

  “A new way to use Sonic Bullet… I’ll have to learn that,” Emma said, fascinated.

  “But this fight… Vic doesn’t look like she can do it the usual way. Normally she’d have dropped her opponent by now…” Maya murmured, worried.

  Einar flicked his hand again.

  Victoria reflexively guarded her throat.

  —Nothing.

  The change arrived a beat later.

  A searing pain tore into her side.

  Blood sprayed.

  (Got me…! A blade?)

  Victoria groped at her ribs.

  Something—an invisible “edge”—was lodged there.

  The moment she yanked it out, blood gushed harder from the wound.

  Einar swung his hand again.

  Only the sound of cutting wind reached her.

  Victoria threw both hands up to protect her face—

  But what met her was an unseen blade driving straight through her solar plexus.

  “Guhhh!!”

  She vomited something mixed with blood and stomach acid.

  Another wind-slice—

  A shock slammed her face as if she’d been struck by a whip, and Victoria staggered.

  (It’s probably… this.)

  Enduring the pain, Victoria analyzed Einar’s Exceed.

  (He can turn his weapons invisible. The feints are especially nasty… I have to finish this fast.)

  (The problem is distance—and how long I can keep moving… with this bleeding, I don’t have much time.)

  Victoria pulled her thumb back to its limit and fired Sonic Bullet.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  The coin tore through the air toward Einar.

  The moment Einar raised both arms to guard his face—

  The coin’s trajectory dropped like a forkball and slammed into his elbow.

  Even after impact, it stayed, spinning—grinding into his elbow until it finally fell.

  Bright blood spattered the ground.

  (She’s my sister, but… that’s a brutal way to use it.)

  Ethan exhaled—half relief, half fear.

  Victoria tore out the unseen blade embedded in her abdomen, hurled it at Einar, and charged.

  Einar drew something from his waist and took a defensive stance—

  —But there was no sound.

  (Damn it—another feint!)

  By the time she realized, Victoria was already within arm’s reach.

  She shaped ether into a thin, razor-sharp edge and fixed it to her hand like a knife-hand.

  Einar swung to cut with the “something” he held in both hands.

  But—

  With his elbow wounded and in pain, he couldn’t put strength into it.

  His strike was slow—shallow.

  Blood burst from Victoria’s collarbone.

  At the same time, blood geysered from both of Einar’s wrists.

  Victoria’s fixed invisible blade—Silent Verdict—had carved through.

  “That’s enough. Any further and this turns into a kill fight,” Ilse stopped them.

  “Einar—consider that your opponent can exploit your Exceed against you. Face your weakness, and you’ll become stronger.”

  “Victoria—if your angle had been off, that wound would’ve been fatal. Still, your judgment and actions were precise. Continue your weapon training.”

  Ilse’s lesson.

  “Thank you…”

  After thanking Ilse, the two loosened their locked arms.

  Their eyes met.

  “As expected,” Einar said through pain, the corner of his mouth twisting up. “With wrists like this, I can’t hold a weapon. If it had continued, the one who died would’ve been me.”

  “Maybe,” Victoria replied, blood dripping from her lips, smiling fearlessly. “I think I’d have dropped first from blood loss.”

  (Einar has no ulterior motive. He just wanted to enjoy the match… There really are men like this.)

  As Victoria blinked in surprise, Maya and Emma arrived with a stretcher.

  Victoria was more or less forced onto it.

  “Hey—what’s with the sudden—!?”

  “We’ll hear your complaints after we stop the bleeding. What you need right now is treatment!” Emma snapped, dead serious.

  Victoria looked down at her blood-soaked tactical suit and finally accepted it.

  (So this is how far… I fought.)

  “I was really worried,” Maya said, watching Victoria’s complexion.

  “Sorry. I picked a dangerous fight… Still not enough training,” Victoria said.

  “Honestly, just going toe-to-toe with Einar like that… I think you’re amazing, Vic,” Emma said, glancing toward Gray Archives’ side.

  (Next is me…)

  (What kind of opponent will come…? But I have to do it.)

  Maya exhaled.

  Her mind, however, was set.

  Winning or losing didn’t matter.

  She would fight in a way that wouldn’t shame Emma, Clara, or Victoria.

  And then—

  When Maya stepped into the center of the arena,

  the figure walking toward her from the other side was Liine.

  Even in combat gear, her atmosphere was almost the same as during her introduction—

  Gentle, quiet—

  and yet unfathomably deep.

  “Luna Nordics: Maya Graves! Gray Archives: Liine Saari! Begin!”

  Ilse’s voice. The gong rang.

  A sway—

  The instant Liine’s body shimmered like heat haze, a sweep took Maya’s left leg out.

  (An advanced form of Shadow Step…!)

  The movement Beatrice had shown in real combat—Maya remembered as she forced strength into her right leg, trying to keep her footing.

  But Liine’s knife-edge kick smashed into Maya’s right knee—the one bearing her weight—like it meant to break it.

  “Guhhhh!!!!”

  Reeling, Maya used a Shadow Step variation to create distance.

  A touch.

  Something brushed her back.

  It was—

  Liine’s back.

  Cold dread ran through Maya’s spine.

  (This woman… she’s a fighter on a level far above mine…!)

  “Come at me seriously. Show me the strength Beatrice bet on,” Liine said.

  Her voice wasn’t the one she used for the public.

  It was low—carrying cold.

  “UOOOAAAHHH!!!”

  Pressed by fear, Maya spun away to make space.

  (No… my legs can’t move anymore…)

  Despair hit as both legs reached their limit.

  (This isn’t right. I should be able to turn damage into power… but my Exceed won’t trigger!)

  “Your Exceed only activates when you truly carry anger. That’s your weakness.”

  Beatrice’s teaching echoed in her mind.

  But what ruled Maya wasn’t anger—

  it was fear.

  A hollowing pain punched into her solar plexus.

  Liine’s mid kick detonated, and Maya spat blood.

  (…Fate Strike won’t answer…)

  Her consciousness thinned.

  Maya dropped one knee to the ground.

  Was she really this weak?

  Her despair deepened.

  (Did Beatrice overestimate me?)

  From what she saw, Liine could only conclude that.

  In her fading awareness, Maya saw darkness—

  the soil she’d been buried in.

  (Right. My life now… began there…)

  Killed by Ezekiel. Revenge. Meeting Luna Nordics.

  And the ambush on Lumen Day.

  In 0.5 seconds, memories raced through her mind.

  (I’m not healed. I haven’t overcome the wounds carved into me… but—)

  (At the bottom of fear, another emotion is sinking.)

  (Not anger—)

  (Rejection.)

  Rejection took shape.

  Her vacant eyes crackled faintly with electricity.

  “I think I understand. Let’s end this, Maya,” Liine said, raising a knife-hand and bringing it down toward Maya’s neck.

  Just before impact—

  Lightning-like discharge erupted from Maya’s body.

  (What is this!?)

  Liine Shadow Stepped back to gain distance.

  (That’s why—! I will not forgive my past! The past where I lived as I was told—and got killed!)

  (And the future that even now gets “decided” by someone else’s convenience!)

  Crackling with charge, Maya slowly stood.

  Her legs—

  moved.

  The pain hadn’t vanished.

  But it was changing—from “shackles” into “fuel.”

  Maya took a Duality Martial Arts Karate stance.

  (I see. So this is what Beatrice saw.)

  Liine, too, took a Duality Martial Arts Karate stance.

  Liine parried Maya’s electrified straight punch with a circular block—

  then drove a double-hand thrust into Maya’s face and solar plexus.

  The arena fell silent.

  No one doubted Liine’s victory.

  —But.

  Staggering forward, Maya slammed an elbow into Liine’s face—

  and collapsed into her, clinging as she fell.

  “I… won’t… belong to anyone… anymore…”

  The moment she whispered it, Maya passed out.

  “This concludes the match. Luna Nordics—when Maya Graves wakes, tell her this: understand your Exceed, and master it.”

  “Understood. Thank you,” Emma answered in her place, Maya on her back.

  (It’s been a while since I got a good one to the face…)

  Pressing a hand to her still-throbbing cheek, Liine stood.

  Every member of Gray Archives had fallen silent, as if doused in water.

  “This concludes the sparring matches to measure the combat skills of Luna Nordics and Gray Archives. Taking today’s results into account, I’ll reassign escort squads and inform you accordingly. Anyone who isn’t injured or a healer—dismiss!”

  Ilse’s voice echoed, and the crowd dispersed.

  “Hey, did you see that? Liine-sama actually got hit in the face—”

  “Luna Nordics… there’s variation person to person, but they were just like the rumors…”

  The murmurs faded.

  With help from Gray Archives, Clara, Victoria, and Maya were placed on stretchers and carried to the rooms Luna Nordics had been permitted to use.

  Among those who helped were Madis and Bruno.

  “Thank you,” Emma said.

  Clara was already starting to recover, but Victoria and Maya’s wounds were deep. Healing Palm would take time—

  Emma let out a small breath.

  “Use this,” Madis said.

  Emma opened the basket he offered.

  Inside were bread and cheese, drinking water, bandages, and salve.

  “Are you sure? Thanks,” Emma smiled openly.

  “We’re going to be comrades now,” Madis said. “…Also.”

  “Hm?”

  “I’m sorry for talking down to you at first. That’s all I wanted to say.”

  Without looking away, Madis said it, then left with Bruno.

  “Madis…”

  Warmth spread in Emma’s chest—just a little.

  The scene shifted: Guardians of Humanity.

  An empty control room. There sat the AI that supported the Guardians’ operations: Valkyrie.

  Eneri began accessing Valkyrie.

  Code floated in midair; once accepted, Valkyrie began flashing red.

  “Good girl, Valkyrie. Now we can exterminate them efficiently.”

  Her voice was gentle—

  but without warmth.

  Bathed in red light, Eneri’s face looked—

  like a Valkyrie herself, working in Valhalla.