The ground trembles.
"HEY!" A voice roars, filled with unrestrained fury. I barely have time to register what's happening before a chill runs down my spine. It's as if the atmosphere itself recoils from the weight of the voice.
The temperature drops sharply, and a suffocating silence falls over the battlefield. The intensity of the moment grips even the onlookers, who freeze in their tracks, unable to tear their eyes away. yuri's red eyes lock onto Ren, their burning intensity like twin beacons in the cold, dim air. Her fists clench at her sides, knuckles white from the pressure, and the shinsu around her seems to pulse, thick and oppressive.
"Who hurt them?" she growls, her voice low and dangerous. The question, though addressed to no one in particular, carries the weight of a promise—one of swift and violent retribution. Her entire body radiates with barely restrained power, making the very air feel heavy.
Ren,—doesn't seem fazed. In fact, a twisted grin spreads across his face, as if he revels in the tension. He wipes a trickle of blood from his lip with the back of his hand and chuckles. "Oh ho, Princess yuri. I didn't expect to see you here so soon. But don't worry—no one you care about is dead… yet."
Yuri's gaze hardened as she stepped forward. "What are you doing here, Ren?"
Ren smirked, his expression full of smug satisfaction. "Ah, Princess Yuri. Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Lo Po Bia Ren, one of Jahad's Red assassins. I've come on a mission from King Jahad himself."
"And what mission would that be?" Yuri asked, her eyes narrowing.
"To retrieve the 13 Month Series weapons... and to eliminate the fake Jahad Princess, Anaak," Ren replied, his tone casual, as if discussing an errand.
Yuri crossed her arms, her voice sharp. "You're aware that interrupting a Regular's test is against the Tower's rules, aren't you? I'll be taking the two 13 Month Series weapons myself."
Ren chuckled lightly, as though amused by her words. "Rules? Princess, the King will be disappointed that you're choosing to protect the fake princess over completing your own duty."
Yuri's eyes darkened, her aura becoming more threatening. "Using King Jahad's name to further your own agenda? Do you really think that's going to work with me?Leave, or I'll kill you right here."
Ren's grin widened as he relished the tension in the air. "A threat from a Ranker Princess? How exciting! It's been a while since I faced such a challenge." He.raised his hand, summoning a horde of pets to surround her.Yuri didn't flinch. With a single, effortless motion, she destroyed the attack, obliterating the creatures like they were nothing. She stepped forward, standing directly in front of Ren, and without a word, flicked him away with one finger, sending him flying across the arena.
yuri's eyes darken, and without a moment's hesitation, she launches herself at him with blistering speed. The sheer force of her movement sends a ripple through the ground, a shockwave that radiates from her impact zone, cracking the stone beneath her feet. Her approach is faster than I can track. It's like watching a storm surge—a force of nature that can't be stopped, only braced against.
I barely register her first attack. yuri's fist cuts through the air with a sharp, thunderous crack, aimed directly at Ren's smug face. But at the last second, he sidesteps, his movements unnervingly smooth, like he's always a breath ahead of the danger. Her fist slams into the ground with a force that sends debris and dust exploding into the air. The shockwave ripples outward, carving deep fissures into the stone floor.
But yuri isn't done. She's relentless—each punch more powerful and faster than the last. Her movements blur, each strike carving deeper into the earth as if she's intent on turning the entire arena into rubble. The ground beneath her disintegrates, cracks spiderwebbing outward with each of her attacks. It's like she's become a living storm of raw power, untethered and unrelenting.
Ren dodges with uncanny precision, his body twisting and contorting as if made of liquid. His grin never fades, even as the edge of yuri's attacks skim dangerously close. But he can't avoid them all. One punch—a heavy, earth-shattering blow—catches him square in the ribs. The sickening crack of bone echoes through the arena. Ren stumbles back, clutching his side, but still, he smiles, a wicked glint in his eyes.
"You're strong, Princess," he sneers, his voice laced with mock admiration. Blood drips from the corner of his mouth, but he wipes it away like it's nothing. "But I've faced worse."
yuri doesn't respond. Words are beneath her now. She's a storm incarnate, fists glowing with shinsu as she continues her assault. Every move she makes sends shockwaves through the air and ground. Her power is overwhelming, each strike faster and more forceful than the last, as if she's trying to break the very world around her just to get to him.
But Ren is slippery, more than a match in terms of agility. Despite his earlier injury, he moves with a fluid grace that defies logic, like he's gliding between reality and something else entirely. He weaves through yuri's barrage of attacks, his body twisting in ways that seem impossible, evading blows by the narrowest of margins. It's frustrating to watch—like seeing a god wrestle with a shadow that refuses to be pinned down.
Watching them from the sidelines, it hits me just how we're on two different playing fields . The sheer level of power they're throwing around—it's like I'm watching titans clash. Each blow they exchange sends shockwaves through the arena, threatening to rip it apart with the raw force of their battle. My knees shake, and I struggle just to keep my footing as the ground beneath me trembles with every impact.
I thought I was strong. I thought I had improved. But compared to them, I'm nothing. Watching yuri and Ren clash, their battle like a dance of gods, the gap between us is stark, painful. I can barely comprehend the speed and power they're wielding, let alone think of stepping in. What could I even do in a fight like this? I'd only get in the way.
Yet, even as these thoughts swirl in my mind, there's a fire that burns in my chest. Frustration, rage—no, determination. I can't let it end like this. I can't just watch from the sidelines forever.
As yuri continues to push Ren back, her power growing with each moment, I make a silent vow to myself. No, not a vow—a promise. I'll get stronger. I'll surpass them. I'll become powerful enough that no one will ever look down on me again. Never again will I feel this helpless.
The ground splits beneath them as their fight intensifies. Ren, though nimble, is clearly being pushed to his limit. Sweat beads on his forehead as yuri drives him closer and closer to the edge of the arena. His grin falters for the first time as her fist grazes his cheek, a thin line of blood blooming on his skin.
"You're going to pay for what you've done," yuri growls, her voice a low, dangerous rumble that reverberates through the battlefield. Her eyes blaze with fury, her entire body thrumming with power.
"Big words," Ren hisses back, though there's a note of strain in his voice now. His movements are becoming more erratic, less calculated. He's running out of room to dodge.
And then, with a swift, brutal motion, yuri lands a direct hit. Her fist slams into Ren's chest with a sickening crunch, the force of the blow sending him flying backward, crashing into the stone wall of the arena with a thunderous crack. The impact leaves a crater where he lands, dust and debris swirling around his collapsed form.
For a moment, there's silence. The air is thick, charged with the remnants of their battle. yuri stands, her chest heaving, fists still clenched and glowing with residual shinsu. Ren lies motionless in the rubble, his body limp.
I hold my breath, waiting. Is it over?
But then, Ren stirs. Slowly, painfully, he rises to his feet, coughing up blood. His grin is gone, replaced by a grimace of pain and fury. "You… think this is over?" he gasps, clutching his chest where yuri's blow landed.
Yuri stood across from Ren, her whole body coiled, ready to unleash another devastating attack. I was glued to the fight, my mind racing to keep up with their raw power. Every punch, every movement—they were on a level I could barely comprehend. Then, out of nowhere, I heard someone talking. It was faint, distant, and completely unintelligible, like an echo bouncing off the walls. I strained for a second to catch it but gave up almost immediately. Whatever it was, it didn't matter. My focus stayed on the two of them.
Then, something strange happened. Yuri picked up the Black March and… walked away. Just like that. No sudden attack, no final blow. She just turned and left, like she was abandoning the fight altogether. I couldn't believe it. She'd been ready to crush Ren a second ago—what changed?
Ren's smug voice cut through the air, filled with self-satisfaction. "Good decision, Princess. I see you've chosen the right side—Jahad's Empire."
I blinked, trying to process what was happening. Why was Yuri walking away? What had I missed? My attention flickered between her retreating figure and Ren's gloating. Something felt off, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
My mind raced, trying to piece it all together. And then, without warning, a deafening crash shattered my thoughts. My eyes snapped to the source just in time to see a massive mace slam down onto Ren with brutal force, smashing him into the ground.
For a second, I couldn't even process what I was seeing. What the hell was that? Where did the attack come from? I shook my head, trying to wrap my mind around it.