As Haruki lunged at Jay, he felt a bone-chilling wave of energy surge through the air. Jay's sword gleamed unnaturally, its edges turning jagged with frost. The temperature in the room plummeted.
"What the hell is this power?" Haruki growled, narrowly dodging a swift slash from Jay's icy blade.
Jay smirked, his cold eyes narrowing. "This? This is Vinterblade, a weapon born from the heart of the ice country, Isvaldr. It's not just a sword—it's a Zetsu weapon, infused with power that can freeze anything in its path. It's mine now, and with it, I'll make you crumble."
Haruki's eyes flicked to the ground as Jay dragged the blade across it, leaving behind a trail of jagged ice spikes. The room was quickly transforming into a death trap.
"You're full of yourself," Haruki said, steadying his grip on his dagger. "Let's see how well that arrogance holds up when I cut you down."
Jay laughed coldly. "Talk all you want. It won't save you."
Without another word, Jay charged, swinging Vinterblade with a burst of icy energy. Haruki sidestepped, but the blade's aura sent a wave of frost biting into his skin. The air felt thick, each breath like inhaling shards of ice.
"Angels Assault: Angels Barricade!" Haruki shouted, leaping into the air and summoning a fierce windfield around him. He descended swiftly, his dagger aimed at Jay's shoulder.
Jay raised his blade to parry, but Haruki twisted midair, slipping past the block and slashing Jay's shoulder. Blood spattered across the frozen floor.
Jay hissed in pain, but his expression didn't falter. "Not bad," he admitted, stepping back. "But you're not the only one who can adapt."
Before Haruki could react, Jay slammed Vinterblade into the ground. "Frost Avalanche!" he roared.
A surge of icy shards erupted from the floor, encasing the area in an unforgiving storm. Haruki barely managed to avoid the full brunt of the attack, but a shard grazed his leg, leaving behind frostbite that burned like fire.
"Damn it," Haruki muttered, stumbling slightly. His vision blurred for a moment, but he steadied himself. "This isn't over."
Jay charged again, his movements eerily swift despite the heavy weapon. Haruki met him head-on, their blades clashing with a deafening ring. Sparks of fire from Haruki's dagger fought against the cold emanating from Vinterblade.
"You're slowing down," Jay taunted, slashing toward Haruki's arm.
Haruki managed to duck, but Jay's blade grazed his shoulder, leaving a deep, frost-laden cut. Haruki gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain. "And you're getting sloppy," he countered, slashing upward and catching Jay's side.
Jay stumbled, blood staining his side, but his grin only widened. "You think a little cut like that will stop me?"
Haruki didn't respond, his focus narrowing. He activated his skill, Critical Hits, and dashed forward with blinding speed. His dagger flashed, cutting deep into Jay's stomach.
Jay doubled over, coughing up blood. "You're… better than I thought," he admitted, his voice ragged.
"And you're worse than you think," Haruki retorted, preparing for the final blow.
Before Haruki could strike, a chilling presence filled the room. The air grew heavier, colder, and an oppressive silence settled over them.
"Who—?" Haruki began, turning his head toward the source.
A man stepped forward from the shadows, dressed in a cloak of deep blue and black. His black hair swayed slightly, and his eyes were dark, unreadable. The aura around him was suffocating, and even Jay straightened up, a flicker of unease crossing his face.
"Who are you?" Haruki demanded, tightening his grip on his weapon.
The man didn't answer. Instead, he unsheathed a blade as black as the void, its edge glowing faintly with an ominous light.
"That blade…" Haruki muttered, his eyes narrowing. "That's no ordinary weapon."
The man finally spoke, his voice calm but laced with menace. "You're out of your depth, boy."
Before Haruki could react, the man moved—no, blurred—forward. Haruki barely dodged the strike, the blade grazing his skin and leaving a deep scar above his eyebrow.
Haruki staggered back, his heart pounding. "What the hell is this guy…?"
The man's expression didn't change as he adjusted his stance. Without warning, he lunged again, aiming for Haruki's neck.
Haruki raised his dagger just in time to block, but the force of the attack sent him skidding backward. His arms trembled under the strain.
"This is bad," Haruki thought, gritting his teeth.
The man pressed forward, his attacks relentless. Haruki struggled to keep up, his movements growing more sluggish with each strike.
Just as the man's blade was about to pierce Haruki's chest, a blast of ice and fire collided with him, forcing him to leap back.
"Haruki!" Yuki's voice rang out as she appeared, her wand glowing with energy.
Dante followed close behind, his sword drawn. "Looks like you could use a hand," he said, smirking despite his injuries.
The mysterious man regarded them for a moment before stepping back. "Interesting," he said, his tone unreadable. "Let's see how long you can last together."
The chapter ends.