Sura and KC had just fought intense battles and were supposed to be healing up, but before they could catch their breath Kristen appeared.

“Shit…Talk about bad timing.”

KC cursed while scanning the area.

“Don’t worry, I’m alone.”

Kristen stopped over a hundred meters away from them.

(I can’t sense anyone and Sura hasn’t said anything…It seems like he’s telling the truth.)

KC turned all of his focus on Kristen’s every move. Kristen’s eyes fell on Hal who wasn’t too far away from the two.

“I heard two announcements stating that both your branches have gained points. Hal was just defeated by Sura. Yet, it doesn’t seem like you two are hostile towards each other. Meaning that the Secondus and Tertitus Branches formed an alliance. I doubt Hal could’ve injured both of you to such an extent, so it’s safe to say that he attacked with either Kane or Ashur, maybe both. I don’t see any other members of your teams which is puzzling. Well, whatever. You guys probably got separated during the random teleportation.”

He smacked his fists together.

“The situation doesn’t matter, I’m just here to crush you.”

“Can’t you give us a break here? We’ve just fought some maniacs and barely survived.”

“Not my problem. War is like that.”

“I see.”

(I didn’t want to use them unless I had a clear-cut chance of taking down a representative, but Sura and I are too tired.)

KC snapped his fingers. A light shone behind him and 10 soldiers appeared.

(He had his team’s soldiers?)

“Sura, do you have Renatus’s soldiers hidden?”

“I do.”

“Released them. We need to buy time to heal, even if it’s a little.”

Sura nodded and 10 soldiers appeared beside him.

“These guys will play with you, Kristen.”

The soldiers rushed towards Kristen.

“20 vs 1?”

He grinned and went to meet their charge.

“I like those odds!”

He flew into the crowd and kicked away a soldier. He spun around and hit another with a roundhouse kick. He ducked under two punches and uppercut a soldier in the air.

“You know, I’ve been wondering this for a while but are the soldiers really based on the representatives’ strength? I mean, if that’s true then defeating all of them would equate to defeating the representative. However, Ace easily killed all of Miko’s soldiers and Renatus killed all of Ashur’s soldiers. Wouldn’t that mean that Ace can beat Miko and Renatus can defeat Ashur? But Renatus struggled with Ashur earlier.”

Momo asked Alec.

“Well, they are based on the representative’s strength on paper but that doesn’t mean that they can instantly use that strength. Only Kane came close to using the soldiers' full potential, but he still couldn’t bring out their full strength. Also, the soldiers are unable to think on their own so they can’t defend themselves unless ordered to.”

“So you’re saying that they’re defenseless most of the time? Doesn’t that make them hard to use? Also, it seems like they have no durability. Why would you give them to each team?”

“In war, most soldiers are weak foot soldiers who will die if they’re not led properly. I want them to experience that and see what they’ll do. In that department, they’ve all failed miserably.”

Kristen was cutting through the soldiers like they were paper. Just as Alec said, the soldiers who were focused on attacking didn’t try to defend themselves or think about what to do if their attacks failed. This made it easy for Kristen to defeat them.

(The Primus Team has defeated 20 soldiers and has gained 20 points! They have extended their lead to 50 points!)

Kristen loosened his shoulder as the announcement echoed through the arena.

“Now that the warm-up is over, can we get the main event started?”

“Yeah.”

A silver aura covered KC’s bow. This aura spread to cover his entire body.

“Let’s get this started.”

“?!”

Goosebumps covered Kristen’s skin.

(…What’s this feeling?)

“I’m ready too.”

Sura had retaken his draconic form. He was surrounded by an azure aura. This aura made Kristen feel as if his heart was being gripped by the hands of death. Yet, a smile appeared on his face.

“As I thought, you’re just like your brother.”

“My brother? I wish. My brother would be smiling because he's excited.”

He pointed at his face.

“I’m smiling because I’m afraid.”

“Afraid?”

KC’s eyes widened.

“Don’t look so surprised. I’m about to fight two strong warriors by myself. Of course, I’m going to be a little scared.”

“And yet, you seem eager to fight and show no intention of running away?”

“I said it earlier, didn’t I?”

Kristen clenched his fists in front of him.

“I want to test my limits. My brother has many battles ahead of him. To aid him, I need to constantly evolve, I can never be satisfied with my strength….Yes, I’m afraid but I’m more afraid of losing my brother.”

His eyes turned crimson.

“This smile is to remind me that facing you two is nothing compared to that!”

He blasted off the ground and rushed towards them. Sura went to meet his charge. He threw a lightning-fast punch. Kristen followed it with his eyes and twisted his body out of the way. He followed up with a kick to Sura’s side. Sura replied with a hook to the face. Kristen stumbled back. KC appeared at his side. He fired a silver beam. Kristen crossed his arms in front of him. He was blown back with burnt skin. KC appeared above him. He fired another arrow at point-blank. An explosion devoured Kristen. He flew out of the explosion with burnt clothes and skin. Sura flew at him and hit him with a liver blow.

“Ugh?!”

He was propelled to the right.

(I gotta strengthen my body with Vita!)

He activated his Vita and landed on the ground. He leaped immediately after. Silver beams rained down on him and bombed the earth. Kristen ran as fast as he could while scanning the area. He blinked and Sura was in front of him aiming a punch at his head. He braced himself and took the punch. He held his ground with a bust-up face and slammed his fist in Sura’s face. Sura didn’t budge and lifted him off the ground with an uppercut to his chest.

“?!”

His heart stopped beating for a few seconds. By the time it started beating again, KC began his assault. The sky was covered with silver beams. The beams rained down on Kristen without mercy. Explosions erupted as the earth was scorched and filled with craters.

“Ahhhhh!”

Crimson light pierced through the explosions as a beastly roar caused the earth to tremble. KC didn’t let up and continued his assault. Sura readied himself for anything that could happen. Crimson flames devoured the explosion and extinguished them. The flames raced towards KC and Sura. They retreated while repelling the flames with attacks. The flames halt and dyed the area in a crimson light. They saw a silhouette walking through the flames. With his crimson hair dancing along with flames and tribal tattoos all over his body, Kristen emerged with a devilish grin.

“It looks like I have to give it my all to defeat you two.”

An oppressive and sickening pressure fell on Sura and KC. They saw a world open up behind Kristen. One with burning skeletons torturing the living. Demons feasting on human flesh and drinking their blood like wine. They saw a throne made out of skulls with a terrifying crimson-haired demon sitting on it. They didn’t know why but the image of that demon overlapped with Kristen’s.

“You should be honored for I acknowledge your strength.”

“?!”

The Saevus members got to their feet. Joesph frowned.

“The older brother is a Satan and the younger brother is a Demon King’s reincarnation. It makes me wonder what kind of monster the sister will turn out to be.”

He glanced at Markus and saw a huge grin on his face. Joesph sighed.

(Well, Kristen doesn’t seem to be rampaging about even after channeling Beleth, which means that he’s in control and can turn into a being of similar status as Beleth.)

He smirked.

“Rejoice, Markus. Kristen can singlehandedly restore the Saevus Clan to its prime or even beyond that.”

He turned his attention back to the fight.

“You have some terrifying grandchildren.”

“Now then…”

Kristen spread his arms.

“Shall we begin Round 2?”

His body flickered and so did KC and Sura’s. They reappeared directly in front of each other. Kristen fired crimson lightning at Sura from his fingertips. Sura countered with blue flames from his mouth. An explosion erupted between them. KC flew through the flames and fired an arrow at Kristen’s chest. It flew through him and his image faded away.

“?!”

He looked up and Kristen was falling towards him. He bombarded him with crimson flames. Sura flew at him like a rocket and held his face. He slammed his head into the ground and dragged it through the earth. Crimson chains shot out of Kristen’s body wrapped around him. They tightened and burned into his skin. He released Kristen and flew up. Dozens of lightning bolts fell on top of Kristen before he could get up. A burnt KC walked as he fired lightning from his bow. A crimson light flew towards him. The light transformed into Kristen. He gathered crimson aura in his hands. KC broke out in a sprint. They entered each other’s range. Kristen slashed at KC with his claws. KC leaped over it and hit him with a kick to the head. Kristen grabbed his leg and slammed him into the earth. He then threw him and pointed his palm at him. KC flipped in the air and fired his bow while upside down. Kristen fired a crimson beam. Their attacks clashed and erupted into an explosion. KC rushed forward the moment his feet touched the ground. Kristen flew through the flames ready to fight.

“Sura!”

Sura appeared out of nowhere and slugged Kristen. KC fired several swords into his body.

“Shit!”

Before he could recover Sura rushed at him again. Kristen pulled a sword lodged in him and threw it at Sura, who moved his head to avoid it. Sura was punched in the face the next instant.

“Ignition Fist!”

A burst of flame swallowed Sura’s upper body.

“Ahh!”

He roared and slammed his fist in Kristen’s ribs. Cracking sounds reached his ears.

“Ugh!”

The two held their ground. Crimson static danced around Kristen’s fists, and azure static danced around Sura.

“Ohhh!”

“Ahhh!”

They entered a high-speed exchange of punches. Static waltzed around them illuminating the blood gushing from their bodies. In a droplet of blood, KC’s reflection could be seen. He rushed towards the two and jumped into the air. He fired a gigantic metal arrow. The two separated. The arrow exploded. Hundreds of smaller arrows rushed at Kristen.

“Demon Art!”

Kristen slammed his hands on the ground.

“Crimson Eruption!”

The ground swelled up and burst. Waves of lava consumed the arrows and rushed at KC and Sura.

(Is there no limit to his power?)

A grin crept onto KC’s face.

“But I could ask you the same thing.”

Sura stood in front of him.

“Let loose, Sura!”

Sura pulled his armed back and the image of an azure dragon appeared behind him.

“Tidal Fist!”

He thrust his fist forward and azure energy rushed forth like waves in the ocean. It swallowed the lava and towered over Kristen.

“Fuck.”

The azure energy hit Kristen. Pain surged through his body as his bones cried out. His organs felt like they were being beaten by a sledgehammer. His consciousness faded in and out as his oxygen supply was cut. His body lit up and exploded. The azure energy dispersed and he laid on the ground. He struggled to try and get to his feet. Arrows mercilessly lodged into his body causing him to collapse to the ground.

“I’ll keep him pinned down like this until he can’t fight anymore.”

Blood drained from KC's nose as he spoke. This caught Sura’s attention.

“Don’t pay this any mind. It’s a sign that I’ve used the Silver Bow too much. My body is breaking down. That’s why we need to—”

Blood gushed out of KC’s mouth interrupting him. He stumbled but he held his ground.

(Shit!)

He looked in front of him. Kristen was gone.

“As I thought, you guys have long reached your limits.”

He turned around and saw a bloody Kristen standing there.

“To be honest, I’m done too.”

He showed a bloody smile.

“If this was a real fight I would’ve been killed by you two already. Thanks to you, I’ve learned a lot.”

He took a fighting stance.

“To show my appreciation, I’ll give my all in this last attack.”

Sura took a step forward but instantly fell to his knees.

(Well, that’s not surprising considering how hard we’ve fought today.)

KC looked at his bow and smiled.

“I guess I can fire one more shot.”

He looked down at Sura.

“What about you?”

“I..”

Sura struggled to his feet.

“I can go on.”

His body wobbled but he held his ground.

“Looks like we’re still good.”

All emotions fell from Kristen’s face.

“Then let’s concentrate on nothing but defeating the guy in front of us.”

Sura entered a fighting stance while KC lifted his bow in front of him. Their eyes became vacant. Their breathing became quiet as they froze like statues.

“Whew~.”

Karim whistled when he saw this.

“To think that they all would enter a trance-like state simultaneously.”

“Mind Zero.”

Al-Shura smiled.

“Some warriors can enter a trance-like state where their bodies operate solely on the instinct to improve. In this state, they’ll achieve enlightenment on their respective paths and will learn, absorb information, and grow at an unbelievable rate. For them to enter this state just to land one last attack…”

His smile turned into a smirk.

“None of them will be the same after this.”

Silence engulfed the battlefield. Neither of the three made a sound as if they were statues abandoned in a wasteland. This lasted for less than a minute and yet, to those watching it felt like an eternity. But nothing lasts forever. A drop of blood fell from Kristen’s chin. This drop set everything in motion.

“!”

The moment the blood touched the ground the three moved simultaneously. Kristen and Sura rushed at each other with crimson and azure aura dancing around them. Clad in silver aura, KC pulled back his bowstring. Kristen and Sura clenched their fists as they poured everything into them. KC took a deep breath as all of his mana was absorbed by the bow. Kristen and Sura entered each other’s range. They cocked their arms back. KC exhaled and released his final arrow. His body started falling over as the arrow flew towards Kristen. Sura and Kristen stepped in and threw their final punches. The arrow traveled beside Sura’s fist and reached Kristen the same time it did. Meanwhile, Kristen's fist hit Sura’s flesh.

A light illuminated the area. A catastrophic explosion erupted the next instant. The dimension shook and everything in it was hit by powerful shockwaves. Once everything calmed down an enormous crater was revealed. Inside it, only one person remained standing. This person was Kristen.

“……..”

He stood in silence as his blood drained on the ground. The audience watched in silence as he sluggishly dragged himself towards Sura and KC. He stooped down and collected their emblems one by one.

(The Primus Team has obtained two emblems and has earned 20 points! They’ve extended their lead to 70 points!)

It was the announcement that broke the silence. Cheers finally rained down on Kristen. He showed a disfigured smile on his bloody face.

“Miko…I can still get stronger.”

He dug into his pocket and took out his emblem. There was a crack in it.

“…But it looks like this is the end of the line for me.”

His eyes rolled to the back of his head and he collapsed to the floor. The emblem hit the ground and broke into pieces.

(An Emblem belonging to the Primus Team has been broken! Since it was the combined work of two branches that broke it, both Secondus and Tertitus teams will be awarded 50 points each! As such, the Tertitus team is tied with the Primus Team with 70 Points! The Secondus Team is second with 60 points!)

Cheers rained down once more.

“A triple elimination!”

“Tertitus and Primus are tied!”

“This competition isn’t over yet!”

Elsewhere, the remaining contestants heard the announcements.

“Sura and KC lost?”

Renatus gritted his teeth and continued to walk with Cait in his arms.

“We were so far ahead and we’re suddenly tied. The audience must be eating this up.”

Miko wore a smile on his face. He turned his head to his right.

“Your team isn’t that far behind either. But you’re the only member of your team left.”

Rin stood there with a grin on his face.

“Well, it doesn’t seem like you care about winning this competition.”

“That’s right.”

He placed his hands on his two swords.

“My only goal right now is crushing you and settle the score.”

“What a coincidence?”

Miko’s smile grew into a devilish grin.

“Crushing you is also my goal.”