The battlefield trembled.
Kaelen and Hades moved again—
CLANG—!!!
Their blades collided.
Axiomfall—now awakened—met the black blade of the Grim Reaper.
The impact alone bent the air.
Jess's eyes narrowed.
"…Not good."
She snapped her fingers.
SNAP.
A barrier formed instantly around them.
Transparent.
Layered.
Reinforced with precision.
The shockwave slammed into it—
CRACK.
Fractures spread like spiderwebs.
Jess raised her hand again.
"Reinforce."
The barrier thickened.
Then—
BOOM—!!
Another clash.
Another wave.
CRACK. CRACK.
Jess clenched her jaw.
"…Again."
She layered the barrier repeatedly.
Faster.
Sharper.
Even then—
The pressure was leaking through.
Kimotsu watched.
Not just the fight.
June.
His gaze shifted slowly.
Cold.
Focused.
"…What are you planning, June?"
Silence.
Jess turned.
Gene lifted his head slightly.
Faith tilted her gaze.
Gina's expression remained unreadable.
June smiled faintly.
"I'm not planning anything."
A pause.
"We're just here for a simple spar… so Kaelen can join us."
Kaelven scoffed.
"…Don't give me your bullshit, old man."
He stepped forward slightly.
Eyes sharp.
"I smell something unpleasant about you."
June's smile tightened.
"Watch your mouth."
"You don't know what you're talking about."
Before anything else could be said—
BOOOOOOM—!!!
A massive explosion erupted inside the barrier.
It cracked violently.
Hades slid back slightly, black wings flaring.
"…It's pointless, Kaelen."
He lifted his blade.
"Just join us."
"It won't hurt your pride as a hero."
Kaelen's expression darkened.
"…I'm getting tired of hearing you speak."
He stepped forward.
Left palm—
Open.
Right hand—
Holding Axiomfall downward like a dagger.
He inhaled.
The world slowed.
"…Extreme Time Slash."
He moved.
Not fast.
Not flashy.
Just—
Precise.
One swing.
Two.
Three.
Hades frowned slightly.
"…Did you even do anythi—"
SHHK. SHHK. SHHK. SHHK. SHHK.
Cuts appeared.
Everywhere.
Across his chest.
His arms.
His face.
Delayed.
Perfectly timed.
Hades dropped to one knee.
His blade stabbed into the ground—
Holding him up.
Silence.
Kaelen looked down at him.
"…Try and imitate that."
Hades laughed.
Low.
Unhinged.
"…Heh… heh…"
He slowly stood.
"…Circuit Sequence… Zero."
OPEN.
Darkness leaked from him.
A black aura poured out like liquid shadow.
His wounds began healing instantly.
Two black horns curved upward from his head.
The air grew heavier.
June's eyes widened.
"HADES—WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Hades didn't look at him.
"…It's pointless beating around the bush."
He raised his blade.
"Let's just kill him."
June's face twisted.
"What if this gets out?! My reputation—"
BOOOOM—!!
A massive sword strike cratered the ground beside June.
Hades' voice turned cold.
"…I can kill you."
"…and find someone else."
"I know the process."
Silence.
June's jaw clenched.
You insolent brat…
Just wait…
He turned to leave.
"Oii."
Kaelven stepped forward.
Sword drawn.
"You're not going anywhere."
His aura surged.
"…Until Kaelen is finished."
Kimotsu stepped beside him.
Blade drawn.
"…And we need answers."
June exhaled slowly.
"…Fine."
He turned back.
Hands visible.
Calm.
But inside his pocket—
A device.
Ready.
Hades rose fully.
Black wings spread wide.
Horns gleaming.
Aura thick and suffocating.
He looked at Kaelen.
Then spoke.
"…I can create artificial circuits."
Silence.
"Using my Modeling Circuit."
His eyes gleamed.
"I observe."
"I simulate."
"I understand."
A step forward.
"…Then I create."
He looked up.
"My first experiment…"
A grin.
"…was myself."
The air dropped.
"I created a demonic circuit."
"…I named it…"
"Morningstar."
Shock.
Jess's eyes widened.
Gene sat up fully.
Faith's smile faded.
Kimotsu's grip tightened.
Denma's expression darkened.
Kaelven's eyes narrowed.
Jess spoke softly.
"…It all makes sense now."
"They recruited us…"
"…so Hades could study us."
"Copy our techniques."
"Understand circuits."
Her gaze sharpened.
"…And create artificial ones."
Gene sighed.
"…That's annoying."
Faith turned to Gina.
"…You knew?"
Gina closed her eyes briefly.
Then sighed.
"…I did."
"I was the one preventing June from experimenting on you all."
A pause.
"I suggested using outsiders instead."
Kaelven's gaze shifted.
"…So that's where Kaelen comes in."
Silence.
Kaelen looked at Hades.
Disgust clear in his eyes.
"…So all this time…"
"You pretended to be a hero…"
"…while running experiments?"
His grip on Axiomfall tightened.
"…You disgust me."
Hades laughed.
"It doesn't matter."
"You'll die soon."
"…And be free from that disgust and hatred."
Kaelen stepped forward.
Power surged.
His body shifted.
White wings burst from his back.
A white tail with a red streak swayed behind him.
Two curved horns formed.
Eyes turned slit.
Dragon Bearer.
The ground trembled beneath him.
Fractured.
Behind them—
Denma clenched his fists.
"…They played me."
His voice trembled with anger.
"…Like a fool."
He turned.
"I'm leaving."
"I thought you were a father figure…"
A pause.
"…I didn't know you were this twisted."
Silence.
Gina stepped forward.
"…The only way you leave…"
Her eyes ignited.
"…is in death."
Denma stopped.
"…So it's come to this."
Jess stepped forward.
"…I'm leaving too."
Her voice was calm.
"…And I'm willing to go to war if needed."
Faith nodded.
"…Same."
Kimotsu drew his blade.
"…I don't follow frauds."
Gene stretched lazily.
"…This is really annoying."
"I just wanted to sleep…"
"…I'm leaving too."
Gina laughed.
"…Circuit Embodiment."
Her body ignited.
Hair turned blazing red.
Eyes burned like infernos.
Flames wrapped around her entirely.
"Fire Empress — Ifrita."
Kimotsu raised his blade.
"…Circuit Embodiment—"
A divine aura surged.
"Sword God — Futsunushi."
Gene yawned.
"…Circuit Embodiment—"
Dreamlike energy spread.
"Gift of Dreams — Morpheus."
Jess stepped forward.
"…Circuit Embodiment—"
Balance shifted.
Judgment filled the air.
"Nemesis — God of Retribution, Balance, and Vengeance."
Denma clenched his fists.
"…Circuit Embodiment—"
Raw strength exploded outward.
"Kratos — God of Strength."
The battlefield split.
Two sides formed.
War… had begun.