Tiny sparks floated across the sky like fireflies, drifting endlessly through the air.
In Medusa's eyes, those burning particles looked like countless miniature suns.
As Medusa tried to stand, Mike Celester slammed his foot into his chest with terrifying force.
BOOM—
The ground beneath Medusa cracked as his body sank deeper into the earth.
Blood spilled from Medusa's mouth.
Drops of it splashed across Mike's face, yet a horrifying smile still remained on his lips.
Medusa groaned in pain.
"I… can't defeat him…"
"But I can still stop him for a little while…"
With trembling hands, Medusa grabbed Mike's leg and hurled him away.
Mike twisted his body midair and stopped himself effortlessly, floating in the sky.
Medusa slowly rose from the crater, his body shaking violently.
"Mike… you truly are a Celester…"
"Then I'll have to go all out too."
The moment he said those words, black flames erupted around him.
Dark fire wrapped around Medusa completely until he resembled a miniature black sun burning on earth.
The instant Mike saw it, a chill ran down his spine.
Without hesitation, he shot toward Medusa at insane speed.
Just as he was about to strike—
The black flames surrounding Medusa exploded upward toward the heavens, tearing through the sky itself.
Far away, Sota suddenly felt an unbearable heat spreading inside his body, as if flames had ignited within his chest.
He looked toward the sky where the black fire was rising.
"Something… feels strange…"
At the same time, a voice echoed from inside the black sun surrounding Medusa.
"This feels different…"
Blood trickled from the corners of Mike's eyes as the terrifying darkness within his gaze slowly began to fade.
Inside the black sun, a shadowy figure emerged.
Long black hair flowed like living darkness wrapped around his body.
His deep black eyes looked endless, like an abyss without an end.
A dark armor stained with blood covered his entire body.
"This is different from before…"
"Where is this feeling coming from…?"
Meanwhile, Sota's body began heating up even more.
His pupils widened violently as pain spread through him.
"W-What… is happening to me…?"
Suddenly his mouth opened wide.
The mana in the surrounding area began rushing into his body uncontrollably.
Sota couldn't endure the pain anymore.
He collapsed unconscious.
Back on the battlefield—
Mike and Medusa stood face-to-face, silently staring at one another.
Their dark eyes reflected each other clearly.
In the very next second—
Both of them vanished.
BOOOOM—
Massive craters exploded across the battlefield.
High in the sky, Mike and Medusa clashed at blinding speed.
Mike suddenly moved backward and reversed his grip on his sword.
A sinister grin appeared on his face.
"Surprise."
The instant he spoke—
Mike disappeared.
He appeared directly behind Medusa so quickly that even Medusa failed to sense him.
Mike slashed downward instantly.
But Medusa barely twisted his body in time and avoided the strike.
As he dodged, Medusa's eyes narrowed.
"His attacks are precise…"
"Perfect…"
"Predicting them is difficult…"
"But still…"
"Something feels wrong…"
While thinking that, Medusa noticed something strange.
Every time Mike attacked, his movements froze for a split second—
As if another consciousness inside him was hesitating.
Medusa stared directly into Mike's terrifying eyes.
"Mike…"
"Are you still there?"
But standing before him was no longer the Mike he knew.
Only a devilish smile remained—
And blood slowly dripped from his mouth.