The air turned heavy.
Unnaturally heavy.
The moment Kael stepped forward, the ruins of the ancient kingdom seemed to react. The ash on the ground began to stir, rising slowly into the air as if pulled by an invisible force.
Dark energy pulsed around him.
Wild.
Unstable.
Powerful.
Kim Woo Bin stood still, his eyes locked onto Kael.
"…You're different."
Kael smirked.
"And you're stronger."
His gaze shifted briefly to Woo Bin's glowing hand.
"So you got the second fragment."
Woo Bin clenched his fist.
"Yeah."
"And you're not taking it."
Kael chuckled softly.
"We'll see."
Arin stepped forward, flames igniting around her blade.
"This ends here, Kael."
Kael glanced at her.
For a moment—
Something flickered in his eyes.
A memory.
Then it vanished.
"Still trying to play hero?"
His voice grew colder.
"You should've left this place behind, Princess."
Arin's grip tightened.
"I won't abandon my people."
Kael's expression hardened.
"Then you'll fall with them."
Without warning—
Kael moved.
Faster than before.
Faster than either of them expected.
He appeared directly in front of Woo Bin—
And struck.
BOOM.
Woo Bin barely blocked in time.
The impact sent him sliding back across the ash.
"…He's way faster now."
Kael tilted his head.
"You're slower than I expected."
Woo Bin smirked.
"Give me a second."
Woo Bin stepped forward again.
His dragon mark glowed.
Blue and gold energy flared around him.
"Let's see what you've got."
Kael raised his hand.
Dark energy condensed instantly.
"Gladly."
They clashed.
Fist against fist.
Light against darkness.
BOOM.
The shockwave spread outward, shaking the ruins.
Arin shielded her face.
Astrael stepped back slightly.
"…This is no longer a simple fight," he said.
Kael attacked again.
Relentless.
Fast.
Each strike carried heavy dark energy.
Woo Bin blocked—
Dodged—
Countered—
But barely.
"…He's not holding back."
Kael smirked.
"Of course not."
He vanished—
Then reappeared behind Woo Bin.
Too fast.
Too sudden.
Woo Bin turned—
But not fast enough.
Kael struck him directly.
BOOM.
Woo Bin was thrown into a broken pillar.
CRASH.
He hit the ground hard.
"…Okay…"
He coughed slightly.
"…That hurt."
Arin rushed forward.
"Woo Bin!"
"I'm fine," he said, pushing himself up.
He wiped dust from his face.
Then smiled.
"…Now I'm serious."
The energy around him shifted.
More controlled.
More focused.
The golden light from the fragments pulsed stronger.
Woo Bin raised his hand.
Energy gathered—
But this time—
It was different.
Not just stronger.
Sharper.
Faster.
"Focused Strike!"
He fired.
Kael raised his hand—
Trying to block—
But the beam pierced through his defense.
It hit his shoulder.
BOOM.
Kael staggered back.
His eyes widened slightly.
"…Interesting."
Woo Bin smirked.
"Yeah."
"I'm not the same as before."
Kael's expression changed.
The smirk faded.
"Then neither am I."
The dark energy around him exploded outward.
Stronger.
More violent.
The ground cracked beneath him.
"Let's stop holding back."
Woo Bin's eyes sharpened.
"…Now we're talking."
They charged at the same time.
Colliding in the center.
BOOM.
Energy exploded outward.
Light and darkness clashed violently.
Woo Bin attacked with speed—
Precise strikes—
Focused energy.
Kael countered with raw power—
Unpredictable—
Brutal.
Each clash shook the entire battlefield.
Arin watched, tense.
"They're evenly matched…"
Astrael shook his head.
"No."
"They are both still rising."
Kael suddenly changed tactics.
He raised both hands—
And released a massive wave of dark energy.
"Fall!"
The attack surged forward.
Woo Bin's eyes widened.
He raised his arms—
Trying to block—
But the force was overwhelming.
BOOM.
He was pushed back again.
Sliding across the ground.
"…That's stronger than before…"
Kael stepped forward slowly.
"You can't win."
Woo Bin stood still.
Breathing heavily.
Thinking.
Then—
He closed his eyes.
The voices of the fragments echoed faintly.
"Balance… control… unity…"
Woo Bin opened his eyes again.
Calm.
Focused.
"…Got it."
He stepped forward.
Arin blinked.
"…What is he doing?"
Astrael watched closely.
"He's changing."
Woo Bin raised his hand.
This time—
The energy didn't explode.
It flowed.
Smooth.
Perfectly controlled.
Blue and gold merged completely.
A new aura formed around him.
Kael frowned.
"…What is this?"
Woo Bin smiled slightly.
"This?"
He stepped forward.
"Is control."
Kael attacked again.
Fast.
But Woo Bin moved—
Faster.
He dodged effortlessly.
Countered instantly.
His movements were precise.
Efficient.
Every attack landed.
Every strike mattered.
Kael blocked—
But struggled.
"…Impossible."
Woo Bin struck again.
Focused Strike—
Direct hit.
BOOM.
Kael was thrown back.
Woo Bin didn't stop.
He gathered all his energy.
Both fragments.
Perfectly balanced.
"Dragon… Strike!"
He dashed forward—
And struck Kael directly.
BOOM.
The impact shattered the ground.
Kael crashed into the ruins.
Silence followed.
Dust settled slowly.
Kael lay on the ground.
Breathing heavily.
Defeated—
But not broken.
He laughed quietly.
"…You've grown… more than I expected."
Woo Bin stood over him.
"It's over."
Kael looked up.
"No."
He smirked.
"This is just the beginning."
Suddenly—
Dark energy surged around him.
Stronger than before.
Unstable.
Dangerous.
Woo Bin stepped back.
"…What now?"
Kael stood slowly.
"…Next time…"
His voice echoed.
"I won't lose."
Then—
He vanished.
Gone.
Silence returned.
Woo Bin exhaled slowly.
"…That guy keeps getting worse."
Arin nodded.
"And stronger."
Astrael stepped forward.
"But so are you."
Woo Bin looked at his hand.
The mark glowed brightly.
Two fragments.
Two powers.
"…I'm just getting started."
He looked toward the horizon.
"There are still five more."
Far away—
In darkness—
The Dark King watched.
"You were defeated."
Kael stood silently.
"…Yes."
The Dark King's voice echoed.
"Good."
Kael looked up.
"…Good?"
"Yes."
The shadows shifted.
"Because now…"
"you understand your weakness."
A pause.
Then—
"I will grant you more power."
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
"…More?"
The Dark King smiled.
"And next time…"
"you will not fail."