Ethan moved.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Every strike that came toward him—he dodged.
Tentacles lashed through the air like whips of darkness, slamming into the ground with explosive force. Each impact shattered stone, sending debris flying in every direction. The Star of Phantom Craft loomed above, its massive body pulsing as its countless appendages reached farther and faster, trying to crush the lone figure dancing beneath it.
Ethan weaved through it all.
No hesitation.
No wasted movement.
Every step was precise, controlled—his body moving on instinct, honed by countless battles.
But something changed.
His hand reached to his side—
Nothing.
No blades.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…I'm out."
That realization came at the worst possible moment.
Zagan saw it.
Of course he did.
A twisted grin formed across his damaged face.
"So… you've run out of tricks."
The air shifted.
All at once—
A barrage of tentacles surged forward.
Faster.
Denser.
Relentless.
Ethan moved—
He dodged the first wave, ducking beneath one strike, spinning past another. He kicked off a broken wall, narrowly avoiding a sweeping attack that shattered everything behind him.
But this time—
He wasn't teleporting.
He couldn't.
He relied purely on his physical skill now—his speed, his reflexes, his timing.
And that made all the difference.
Because the Star of Phantom Craft adapted.
A massive tentacle came crashing down from above.
Ethan tried to move—
But the angle was wrong.
The timing—
Too tight.
It hit.
Hard.
The impact slammed him into the ground, cracking the stone beneath him as a shockwave rippled outward.
He coughed, blood spilling from his lips as his vision blurred.
"…Tch…"
He tried to push himself up—
Another tentacle struck.
Then another.
And another.
Zagan joined in.
His shadowy limbs lashed forward, striking in perfect coordination with the Star's attacks. Ethan became the center of a relentless storm—no space to breathe, no chance to recover.
Each hit drove him deeper into the ground.
His body trembled.
His arms barely responded.
Still—
He moved.
Barely.
He raised his arms, deflecting a strike, rolling to the side to avoid another—but his movements were slowing.
His strength was fading.
From a distance—
Princess Katelyn watched.
Her hands trembled.
Her breathing grew uneven.
"No…"
Her voice cracked.
"No… no, no, no—!"
Tears streamed down her face as she stepped forward instinctively, as if she could reach him.
"He's dying out there…!"
Her voice broke into a desperate cry.
"Help him, please! I'm begging you—someone help him!"
Her words echoed.
Heavy.
Desperate.
Leo stood.
Silent.
Still.
Then—
He closed his eyes.
Everything faded.
The chaos.
The noise.
The doubt.
Gone.
In one motion—
He stepped forward—
And jumped.
Back on the battlefield—
Ethan's body shook as another strike sent him rolling across the ground.
He forced himself up.
Barely.
"…Not… yet…"
A tentacle came down toward him—
He raised his arm—
And parried it.
The impact sent a sharp jolt through his body, nearly breaking his stance.
But he held.
Another strike—
He deflected it.
Then another.
His breathing was ragged.
His vision blurred.
But he refused to fall.
Then—
A flash of light.
Leo appeared.
Right between Ethan and the incoming attack.
Ethereal Rapier clashed against the tentacle, slicing it apart instantly.
"Move."
Leo's voice was calm.
Firm.
Ethan exhaled.
"…Took you long enough."
Leo extended a hand.
Ethan grabbed it.
And in one motion—
He stood again.
Side by side.
Zagan sneered.
"So you're back again…"
His shadow blade formed once more.
"Come to me, fool!"
Leo stepped forward.
Light surged.
"Lumina Energon!"
A massive beam of light erupted from his hand, blasting directly into the Star of Phantom Craft. The impact sent ripples across its grotesque body, causing it to recoil violently.
Zagan rushed in—
But Leo was ready.
Their weapons clashed.
Leo parried instantly, deflecting the strike with precision.
Behind them—
Rein's breathing steadied.
Her energy, though drained, began to return.
"I'm not… done yet…"
She raised her hand.
"Earth… combined with Fire!"
The ground trembled.
Flames surged.
A powerful fusion of elements launched toward the Star of Phantom Craft, striking it directly. The already damaged creature convulsed violently, its movements slowing as it became stunned once more.
"Now!" Alice shouted.
Without hesitation—
Leo moved.
He rushed Zagan, forcing him on the defensive.
At the same time—
He tossed his rapier.
"Ethan!"
The blade spun through the air.
Its glow dimmed slightly—the divine enhancement removed.
Ethan caught it instantly.
"…Got it."
He dropped low—
And slid forward.
Fast.
Controlled.
Zagan attacked—
But Leo intercepted every strike, parrying each blow with flawless timing, leaving openings.
And Ethan took them.
He moved like a blade himself.
Sliding beneath attacks, cutting upward, slicing through every tentacle that tried to regenerate.
One.
Two.
Ten.
Dozens.
Each slash was clean.
Precise.
Relentless.
By the time he stopped—
Zagan's tentacles were gone.
All of them.
Leaving him exposed.
The Star of Phantom Craft began to stir—
Recovering.
Moving.
But Leo had already anticipated it.
He turned—
Leapt—
"Divine Burst Fist!"
His hand ignited like a star.
He drove it into the creature—
And it exploded.
A massive burst of light and force tore through the Star, stunning it completely.
Below—
Ethan and Zagan faced each other.
One on one.
No teleportation.
No tentacles.
Just skill.
Zagan attacked first.
"Shadow Spiky Projectile!"
Sharp spikes shot toward Ethan.
He dodged.
Clean.
"Liquid Shadow Projectile!"
A wave of shifting darkness surged forward.
Ethan moved again—sidestepping, ducking, weaving through it with pure physical precision.
No teleport.
No tricks.
Just skill.
Zagan's frustration grew.
He was weaker now.
Slower.
His regeneration faltering.
Ethan saw it.
And pressed forward.
Their clash intensified.
Strike.
Block.
Counter.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Then—
A voice cut through.
"Luminous Slash Piercer!"
Light tore through the battlefield, slicing apart newly regenerating tentacles.
Zagan turned—
But Leo and Ethan—
Were gone.
Confusion flickered.
"…Why didn't he finish me…?"
Then—
He saw it.
Through the dust.
Through the debris.
A glowing cross.
"Light Cross Seal."
It slammed him into the ground.
Pinned.
Immobile.
The dust cleared.
Leo and Ethan stood before him.
Calm.
Focused.
This time—
It was different.
Leo stepped forward.
"We end this."
They grabbed him.
Leo pulled.
Zagan resisted—
But he was too weak.
Too damaged.
Too slow.
His form began to separate—
From Prince Keane's body.
"NO—!"
Leo turned slightly.
"Ethan… bring Helmond."
Ethan froze.
"…What?"
"This is the only way."
Ethan hesitated.
Confused.
Uncertain.
Leo's voice didn't waver.
"Trust me."
Ethan vanished.
He reappeared where the others were.
The blade he left earlier glowing faintly.
Katelyn looked up.
"Ethan—?"
He didn't explain.
He lifted Helmond's body.
"Rein—cloud. Now."
Rein nodded immediately.
A cloud formed.
They rose—
And rushed back.
Meanwhile—
Zagan struggled weakly.
"You think… this changes anything…?"
His voice was broken.
The Star remained stunned.
For now.
They arrived.
Without hesitation—
They joined Leo.
Together—
They pulled.
Zagan's form tore free.
Completely separated.
Weak.
Shrinking.
Dying.
Leo grabbed him.
Holding him tightly.
Zagan struggled.
Violent.
Desperate.
Then—
He noticed.
Helmond.
Something changed.
Zagan's energy reacted.
Wildly.
Uncontrollably.
His form twisted—
Pulled—
Drawn toward the body.
Leo didn't stop it.
Rein didn't move.
Ethan watched.
Silent.
Tense.
The merging began.
Darkness and stillness collided.
Zagan and Helmond—
Becoming one.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Because no one knew—
What would happen next.
But they trusted Leo.
And that—
Was enough.