Time seemed to drag on, each fraction of a second stretching agonizingly. Louis watched as the energy blade tore through the air toward him—fast, precise, inescapable. His body refused to react, as if trapped in a nightmare where death was inevitable, cold, and merciless.
Then, in an almost imperceptible instant, Fynt's strike passed mere centimeters from his body, leaving a destructive trail in its wake. The bar trembled violently before its structure began to collapse, walls crumbling piece by piece amid dust and debris.
Fynt looked at his own hands, flexing his fingers while furrowing his brow in irritation.
" Tch... I still can't control this properly... " he scoffed, tensing his muscles before turning on his heels. His eyes gleamed with a dark determination. " But it doesn't matter. I'm going after Mak… and you won't stop me."
Without waiting for a response, he dashed out of the place, moving at an alarming speed.
" Louis!"
Lilith grasped his arms, trying to help him up as everything around them crumbled. Her hands trembled, her heart pounding in her chest as she struggled to remain calm. Louis, on the other hand, remained paralyzed, his breathing uneven and his hand clutching his chest, still in shock.
"Louis! " she called again, holding his hands firmly.
Slowly, he began to regain his senses, but the bar was already in ruins, forcing them to run for shelter before everything collapsed completely.
When the dust finally settled, Louis stood up amid the wreckage, pulling Lilith with him. He looked at her, guilt written all over his face, his fists clenched.
" Lilith... I... I'm sorry... " he murmured, averting his gaze.
She smiled softly, squeezing his hand in a reassuring gesture.
" That doesn't matter now, Louis… We need to save Mak and stop Fynt."
" But how?! " Louis exclaimed, desperation evident in his voice. " He's become an Inverse! We don't stand a chance against him, and the Paths aren't here!"
" I know that! " Lilith shouted, her voice shaking. " But… we can't just stand by and watch everyone die…"
Louis observed her determined expression, but it was her slightly trembling hand that truly caught his attention.
" You're right... " he sighed, placing his hand on his head. " I really was an idiot..."
He looked at Lilith, determined.
" Let's save Mak! " he said, raising his hand.
Lilith nodded and quickly followed the direction Fynt had gone. Louis, however, noticed a faint light coming from the now-collapsed bar counter. He slowly cleared the debris and found a dark katana, with a plaque beside it warning to remove it only in case of emergency. However, the rest of the inscription was erased due to the wreckage.
Louis carefully gripped the sword, expecting the worst, but nothing happened. He secured it at his waist and hurried after Lilith.
"I hope this will be enough..." he sighed, placing his hand on his chest as he ran.
***
" Don't you think it's taking too long, Mak?"
Adloph was staring at him, arms crossed, pacing back and forth. Mak stood up, sweat dripping from his forehead.
" I'm doing my best, sir... but it's a bit harder without my tools..."
He was carefully analyzing the gates but found no severe damage. It seemed like they had been naturally removed. Mak then stood up and placed a hand on his chin.
"That's strange... It doesn't look like it was forcibly removed, and also..."
He looked down, noticing black stains on the ground—the same ones that had been on the gates—slowly disappearing.
"Whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing..." he sighed, placing his hands on his waist. "I just hope Louis and Lilith found my tools..."
As he turned, Mak felt something coming toward him at high speed, mere centimeters away from striking him. However, Adloph barely managed to deflect the attack, redirecting it a few meters away from them.
"...Are you okay, Mak...?"
" Yes... but your arm..."
Adloph looked at his left arm, where a deep, severe cut had begun to bleed. If he hadn't redirected the attack, he would have died on the spot. He tore part of his clothing and tied it around his arm.
" I'll be fine..."
" You managed to defend just in time..."
Adloph raised his blade, pointing it forward at Fynt, who was slowly walking toward them. Fynt stopped, looking at Mak with a smirk.
" Fynt...? " Mak's eyes widened, incredulous at his new appearance.
" What have you done...? " Adloph stared at him, his voice serious.
Fynt began advancing, his hand radiating immense energy. Adloph stood up, positioning himself in front of Mak, sweat dripping down his forehead.
" Get out of here, Mak. Go as far as you can... He's not the same anymore..."
Mak hesitated but eventually nodded and started to retreat.
" You won't get past this point, Fynt..."
Fynt smirked, directing his hand toward Adloph. With a swift motion, a slashing wave was launched at him at high speed, cutting through the wind and leaving a massive trail on the ground. Adloph managed to deflect it upward, but he was caught off guard by another strike coming at him just centimeters away.
" Knight Reaction!"
Adloph's eyes glowed, and with a quick movement, he barely dodged the attack. He was panting, the pain in his wounded arm beginning to spread through his body.
" You truly are skilled, Adloph, worthy of an ex-rank A knight... " Fynt said, eyeing him with a grin.
" That's in the past, Fynt. Now, I'm just a watchman..."
Adloph raised his blade, his determination growing. Fynt, on the other hand, chuckled, raising his hand.
" You'll be perfect for testing this Inverse power..."
Adloph took his stance, taking a deep breath. He closed his eyes, lifting his blade forward. Fynt unleashed a powerful energy slash at high speed, cutting through the air. Adloph dodged it thanks to his Knight Reaction and started sprinting toward him.
He leaped, spinning midair, his blade beginning to glow.
" Knight Impact!"
He came down with full force, aiming directly at Fynt. However, his opponent raised his hand, concentrating an even more intense energy, and counterattacked. Their forces collided, generating a devastating explosion that obliterated everything around them.
Panic quickly overtook Systella. Houses crumbled under the impact of the attacks, and the city plunged into chaos.
Louis and Lilith ran through the streets, following the trail of destruction, until they accidentally bumped into Mak.
" Mak!"
Relieved, Louis and Lilith hugged him.
" I'm so glad you're okay… But this is a disaster! We need to evacuate Systella immediately! Fynt is not himself!"
Before they could act, a loud crash echoed near them. Adloph lay among the wreckage of a house, his left arm torn off, a deep gash in his abdomen. Fynt emerged in the sky, watching them with sharp eyes.
" Hello again, Mak…"
He descended smoothly, walking toward the group.
" Why, Fynt...? Why are you doing this?! " Mak shouted, unable to believe it.
Fynt smiled coldly.
" Isn't it obvious? To kill you… The same way you destroyed my life."
Mak's eyes widened in confusion.
" What are you talking about? What did I do wrong?!"
Fynt clenched his fists, his aura growing even more oppressive.
" What did you do wrong?! You completely ruined my life, and you still ask?!"
Without hesitation, he raised his hand and unleashed a devastating slash toward them. The attack tore through the air, fast and deadly. Before it could strike, something intervened. Adloph, despite his severe injuries, blocked the attack, redirecting it against Fynt.
" How are you still alive?! " Fynt growled, irritated.
Adloph raised his blade, determination burning in his eyes.
" A knight does not retreat. Does not give up. He stands firm until death!"
His voice echoed like a roar. Fynt felt a chill run down his spine, a sense of imminent danger.
" Incredible, Sir Adloph! " Louis said, impressed.
Adloph turned his gaze to Mak.
" Go. Now. I can no longer feel my body…"
Mak hesitated but nodded. He grabbed Louis and Lilith's hands and ran. Fynt grew enraged and raised his hand, ready to attack.
" You won't escape!"
However, he was forced to retreat as he felt the overwhelming aura radiating from Adloph's body. Sweat dripped down his forehead.
" I really didn't want to hurt an old friend of an acquaintance, but you left me no choice…"
Adloph's blade glowed intensely, illuminating the entire area. Fynt launched successive slashes, but all were repelled by the crushing force emanating from him. Suddenly, Adloph blurred forward, appearing behind Fynt.
" Ultimate Knight Judgment!"
The blade sliced through his neck, a brilliant light blinding everything around them.
"Looks like my retirement has come…"
A devastating explosion swept through the area.