The flames surged around me, melting the frozen prison that Elaine had conjured.

  The crowd was **stunned.**

  **"He broke out?!"**

  **"Impossible! No one has ever escaped the Ice Prison before!"**

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  Elaine tilted her head slightly, her violet eyes gleaming with newfound curiosity.

  **"Impressive. You really are different from before, Lucian."**

  I smirked, gripping my **Berserker Sword.**

  **"Glad you noticed."**

  Elaine **vanished.**

  Before I could react, she was already behind me.

  **"Too slow."**

  **SLASH!**

  Her rapier **pierced my shoulder.**

  Pain flared, but I gritted my teeth and swung my sword in a **wide arc.**

  Elaine backstepped, narrowly avoiding the burning edge of my blade.

  I exhaled.

  She was still **faster.**

  But now…

  I **knew how she moved.**

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