The battlefield crackled with silence—a silence not of peace, but of breath held, of fate waiting to be decided.
Ingress stood amidst the ruins, the crimson sky casting long shadows over his armored form. His crimson hair shimmered faintly with the newfound power coursing through him.
"Tch. The sister of the devil… right in front of me," he muttered, eyes narrowed as he stared down Jessie. "I used to respect you, y'know. But now? You deserve to die just like him."
Jessie, battle-worn and bloodied, steadied her stance. Her sword hummed faintly in the air. She sighed, shaking her head.
"You gain nothing from this," she said, voice calm despite the pain. "The city is in ruins. Civilians… dead. All because of your lies. All because you wanted to paint Kazimir as the villain."
Ingress yawned mockingly. "And?" His smile widened with twisted pride. "Kazimir's a disciple of Nebula. So what? The world will see me as the hero—doing what needed to be done. While you? You and the others… will go down as traitors to humanity."
"…Traitors, huh?"
"Funny. You're the one destroying everything. You summoned that corrupted beast… You're no hero, Ingress. You're just another villain pretending he's the main character."
"SHUT UP!!"
With a roar, Ingress slammed his sword into the ground. Darkness erupted around him.
Lines—dark, jagged, glowing—cracked through his skin, mimicking the marks of Kazimir's forbidden form. His hair flared red. Power surged, warping the very air. He had forced his body into a new state—120% of his potential.
Elsewhere, Riah faltered in her fight against Barrack. She staggered. "What is that… energy? It's not Kazimir… Ingress…?!"
"LOOK OUT!!" Tyrone screamed.
WHAM!
Barrack's palm crashed into Riah, launching her like a missile through a wall—right into the chamber where Felicia, Gendai, and an unconscious Kazimir lay.
Gendai was first to react, lowering Kazimir gently before rushing forward. Her eyes widened. "Riah—!"
Bloodied. Unconscious. Her crimson streaks faded. Gendai pulled her inside.
"Riah's down… Raijin too…" Felicia whispered, panic rising in her voice. "What's happening out there?"
Neve appeared, carrying Raijin's battered body.
Felicia gasped. "He needs healing—now! Neve… You're bleeding too—"
"I'm fine," Neve said quietly. "Focus on them. I was going to help Jessie, but… now that Riah's out, who's going to fight the dragon she's been holding back?"
Gendai slumped beside the wall. "I don't know. This is… bad. Really bad…"
A limp figure approached from outside, laughing weakly.
"Y'ALL THOUGHT I WAS DEAD, HUH?! IT'S ME!!"
"…Kamaki…" Felicia stared flatly. "How are you still joking right now?"
Meanwhile—
Sparks danced across the battlefield as Jessie and Ingress clashed. His strikes were monstrous, each blow leaving craters in the earth. Jessie parried, but fatigue showed. Ingress slipped in close, driving a foot into her ribs. Blood sprayed from her lips.
She countered—slicing his shoulder.
But Ingress smirked. "Too slow."
A swarm of shadow threads erupted, slicing deep into her side.
"Ngh—!"
She dropped to her knees. Ingress towered over her, grin cruel.
"I won't kill you yet. Not until he wakes up… I want him to see you fall."
Her consciousness faded.
Ingress scooped her up and walked.
Neve, Felicia, Kamaki, and Gendai felt it—the shift in pressure.
He was coming.
Neve stepped into his path, fury in her eyes.
"What did you do to Jessie?!"
Ingress tossed Jessie's body at her feet.
"Don't worry. She's still breathing. I want Kazimir to watch me end her."
Neve dashed forward, disappearing into frost.
"I found you."
She struck—but he was faster. His hand clamped around her neck.
CRACK!
He slammed her into the ground. Blood splattered. She didn't rise.
Now—
Only Felicia, Kamaki, and Gendai remained.
Felicia trembled. Gendai stood, gritting her teeth.
Her spear detached—splitting into twin emerald blades.
Silver light engulfed her body. The Silver Emerald State.
Ingress chuckled. "You, Gendai? You're stronger, sure. Maybe even Vandor-level. But this? You can't win. Submit to me—I'll treat you better than Kazimir ever did."
"…Yeah, I doubt that'd end well," she spat.
"You idiot," Ingress snarled. "Look around. Everyone's down. You and Felicia alone? Submit—"
A rift split the sky.
Everyone froze.
Ingress looked up. His words died in his throat.
A massive tear had opened in the heavens—a void bleeding pure abyss.
From it descended a woman.
Long dark-blue hair streaked with light. Abyssal robes flowing around her. Purple eyes glowing with unfathomable power.
A spear rested in her hand.
Ingress recoiled. "What… are you…?"
Felicia's breath hitched. "Vanessa…"
Gendai blinked. "You… know her?"
"She's a Vrasnai. A disciple of Nebula," Felicia whispered. "But… I have no idea what she really is."
Vanessa raised her hand.
Gravity slammed down.
BOOM!
Ingress hit the ground hard, gasping.
"W-What the hell—she can do this too?!"
Vanessa hovered above, her voice ringing through the battlefield.
"To those who know of me... and those who don't…"
Her eyes narrowed on Ingress.
"But for you call me… the Black Halo of Nullity."