The sky began to thicken with dense clouds, and the calm winds turned into fierce whirlwinds, roaring around the battlefield as if foreshadowing the imminent danger. All eyes were on Valen, who seemed to be transforming into a force beyond his control, a power the dark ether could no longer contain.
Valen's mana pressure intensified, forming a dark red aura around him, and gray flames started swirling around his body, embodying his rage and wounded pride. Behind him, a mysterious figure began to appear; blazing eyes and a shadowy, majestic body, as if standing at the boundary between existence and nonexistence. Beneath his feet, a complex magic circle formed, radiating a mysterious energy that instilled dread in everyone's hearts.
Yami shouted, addressing everyone with a mix of strength and warning: "Everyone, get ready! Valen is about to lose control, and if that happens... nothing will remain of the Black Bulls' headquarters."
Everyone could see the severity of the situation, though they couldn't hide their anxiety; they were aware of Valen's true power, and all hesitated before lining up beside each other to face this destructive force.
In the midst of this chaos, Valen began chanting cryptic words, his voice distorted by anger and pain, while the glow of the "World of Chaos Flames" intensified around him, and massive magic circles appeared in the sky, extending towards the ground as if casting shadows of destruction over them. The gray flames that emanated weren't just ordinary flames but held an aura that spread terror, gathering around him like waves of a raging storm.
Valen's gaze turned towards Luck, who stood steadfast yet cautious, as usual, awaiting the fight. But something in Valen's ominous eyes awakened a terrifying feeling in Luck he had never felt before, as if those eyes foretold certain death.
Luck's heartbeat quickened, and his confidence wavered as he watched the gray flames surge towards him with unstoppable speed. He shouted with a shaky voice filled with terror: "This is no ordinary fight… this is madness!"
His body froze, overtaken by a sense of impending doom; that moment turned into a nightmare, and he found no way to retreat. The gray flames descended upon him like a hurricane from which there was no escape, and here he felt a weakness he had never known before.
Asta yelled, trying to reach Valen before things got worse: "Valen! Stop! We're here for you!"
But Valen didn't hear him; Asta's plea found no way through, as if the man had drowned in a sea of power and chaos from which there was no escape.
The magic circles flared to their fullest, and Valen let out a harsh scream as the flames of chaos roared toward Luck with brutal ferocity, unleashing an explosion that terrified everyone. The ground shook beneath their feet, and the battlefield turned into a pool of devastating gray flames, resembling an endless hell.
At that moment, Yami decided to intervene, speaking with calm resolve.
"It will be hard for you to stop him while he's unconscious, so here and now, you'll see my strength and how I surpass my own limits."
He gripped his sword and advanced steadily through the fierce flames. Raising his black sword, he took a deep breath and shouted with concentration: "Dark Magic: Dimension Slash!"
Yami unleashed a massive slash of darkness, sending a deep wave of energy that pierced through the sea of gray flames, creating a rift in the fire and opening a path toward Valen. Yami dashed forward with incredible speed, ignoring the intense heat, and soon found himself before Valen, determined to end this destructive rampage.
With cautious precision, Yami raised his hand and struck Valen's neck accurately, bringing him down without causing serious harm but with enough force to stop the madness. The gray flames began to subside, and the magic circles around Valen receded, restoring the battlefield to its ominous calm.
As Valen fell to the ground, Yami quickly caught him, lifted him onto his shoulder, and said in a low voice: "Valen... you were this close to losing yourself. Don't let that happen again."
Relief washed over everyone's faces, though mixed with exhaustion and awe. While Luck stood, breathing heavily, his look of confidence shifted to one filled with sorrow.
Everyone turned their gaze towards Luck, their expressions a mixture of sympathy and reproach for what had happened. Luck felt the weight of all eyes on him, which intensified his emotions.
He bowed slightly, his eyes filled with regret, and spoke in a voice choked with words: "This... all of this... is my fault. It was just a normal spar, but I couldn't accept defeat. I pushed him beyond his limits, and I didn't realize… I didn't realize I was pressuring him like this. Valen was only responding to what I was asking of him, but when he won and decided to stop fighting, I couldn't bear it… I was a foolish, arrogant idiot."
His voice wavered with a mix of remorse and shame, trying to justify his actions, though he knew deep down that he was responsible. Everyone looked at Luck's face, seeing in his eyes a deep pain and indescribable regret, struggling to regain his composure, yet his once-proud warrior spirit seemed burdened with an unfamiliar sense of disgrace.
In a brief moment of silence, everyone felt that this day would remain etched in their memories—a day when they saw Valen's true strength and how it could shake even their deepest fears.
The members of the Black Bulls also knew about Luck's inner demon, which wasn't a literal demon but an obsession with winning. Since childhood, his mother had always asked him to win constantly to make her happy. As a result, an inner demon grew in his heart.
In truth, even Valen harbored an obsession: to win and eliminate his enemies. So when he blacked out, his subconscious mind acted irrationally with a single goal—to destroy Luck, because he had caused him harm. Since his reincarnation into this world, Valen had never been injured, thanks to the innate fire attribute he gained when his grimoire absorbed the devil fruit "Mera Mera no Mi" (Flame-Flame Fruit).
Moreover, these attributes made him vulnerable to injuries, which is why he had never been hurt before.
But this battle would make Valen realize his weakness, despite his strong body, as he had relied too much on the Flame Body Spell, causing him to forget the feeling of pain.