The grand arena was alive with tension. The crowd, thousands strong, fell into a heavy silence as the name "TRIAINA" echoed through the cavernous space like a distant storm rumbling on the horizon.
Whispers spread rapidly among the spectators, confusion and curiosity mingling with a dawning unease. None had ever heard this name before, yet something about it carried weight—an unknown power that made every head turn.
Eyes flicked nervously between the center of the battlefield and the girl standing there, a young figure gripping a golden spear that shimmered with an almost divine glow.
Shinju, standing near the edge of the arena, was frozen, his usual calm shattered. His wide eyes were locked on the golden spear in Carol's hands—an artifact he recognized immediately.
Beside him, Shigeru's expression mirrored his shock. His throat tightened as he struggled to form words.
"Is… Is that really the Triaina?"
His voice barely escaped a whisper, laden with disbelief. He glanced at Carol with a mixture of awe and apprehension.
"B-but how?
How could someone so young wield such a weapon?
The Triaina isn't just any weapon—it's a living force, radiating intense energy that few could ever hope to withstand. And yet, here she stands, unbroken, as if the spear and her were one."
The crowd, meanwhile, remained puzzled, unable to comprehend the gravity of the moment. To them, the golden spear was just a magnificent weapon, beautiful and powerful, but the legends behind it were lost to time.
Rajin, however, sensed the shift immediately. His cold eyes flickered toward Carol, the spear's radiant energy washing over him like a silent challenge. He stepped forward with an easy confidence, a sly smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Well, well… what do we have here? A little toy, is it? Quite the dangerous plaything for Her Highness to be holding,"
Rajin said, his voice dripping with mockery.
"But I must say, it looks terrifying indeed. Perhaps a bit too much for someone so… delicate."
Carol's gaze never wavered. She stood tall in the center of the battlefield, her grip on the golden spear firm and unwavering. Her voice rang out, clear and fierce.
"Rajin," she called,
"You may have carved your path through sheer grit and determination, struggling alone to reach this point. Day and night, you trained and fought without rest or guidance. You climbed from the bottom to the top with nothing but your will."
Her eyes blazed with fiery resolve.
"But in your climb, you forgot the one thing that made your journey possible—the heart."
Rajin's smile deepened, amused rather than threatened.
"You talk of hearts and journeys? I talk of strength and survival. And today, I'll show you what it means to truly fight."
Carol's voice grew louder, carrying over the roar of the crowd that was slowly starting to stir with anticipation.
"Your hate, your confidence, your arrogance—they have clouded your heart, Rajin. And today, I will shatter that cloud myself."
With that, Carol launched herself forward, the Triaina gleaming as she thrust it toward Rajin's midsection. Her speed was breathtaking—each movement fluid and precise, the spear a golden streak cutting through the air.
Rajin clenched his fists, a small grin curling on his lips.
"Now this is a real fight,"
He said, his voice low and steady,
"A head-to-head battle."
He swung his fist forward with brutal speed.
Carol met the attack head-on, raising the spear just in time. The impact sent a thunderous shockwave rippling through the arena.
The collision was so violent that it created an enormous explosion of light and energy, a blinding flash so intense that spectators shielded their eyes.
The entire arena trembled, dust and debris raining down as the shockwave tore through the ground beneath them.
"W-what's that blinding light? What's happening on the battlefield?!"
The crowd murmured, voices thick with excitement and fear.
"Is Carol alright? Is Rajin okay?"
Others whispered anxiously.
Slowly, the searing glow faded, revealing the battlefield once again—but nothing was as it had been.
The ground was shattered, cracked and splintered like fractured glass. The First and Fourth Divisions lay scattered and injured, some pinned against the jagged walls, others groaning softly, struggling to rise.
And in the very center, standing amidst the ruin, were Rajin and Carol.
Rajin's hands, bare and unarmored, gripped the golden Triaina—not with the cautious reverence one might expect, but with firm strength and confidence. The legendary spear, a weapon said to cut through mountains and shatter armies, was held as if it weighed nothing.
Carol stood a few feet away, chest heaving, eyes wide with disbelief.
(H-how can he hold the Triaina with his bare hands? The legends say even a mere touch from that spear can tear flesh and bone apart. How is he not only holding it but blocking my attack?)
Shinju and Shigeru exchanged glances, equally stunned.
(A teenager, standing strong against the mythical spear?)
Rajin's grin widened, a new light of victory sparking in his eyes. Slowly, he released the spear, letting it fall gently between them.
"I was wondering why this spear felt so strange in my hands,"
He said, his voice steady but carrying a hint of surprise.
"Now that I look at it closely… isn't this the mythical weapon of the Swedish Royal family? The Triaina?"
Carol's heart skipped a beat. Her eyes narrowed, fixated on Rajin.
(H-how does he know?)
The crowd leaned forward, breathless, sensing that this was no ordinary battle. The air was thick with anticipation, each heartbeat echoing like a drum in the silence.
Rajin's gaze locked onto Carol's. The battle was far from over, and the stakes were higher than anyone could have imagined....