Rylan advanced with determination, his black saber tracing an oblique slash toward Victoria's abdomen. The warrior reacted instantly: she leaned her torso back while slightly twisting on the tip of her right foot, letting the blade barely graze her golden armor.
In the same motion, Victoria thrust her spear upward in an ascending counterattack, aiming toward Rylan's face with enough force to destabilize him. Rylan reacted quickly: he raised his second saber and blocked the strike, using the blade to intercept the spear and push it aside. The impact forced him to retreat two steps, bending his knees to avoid losing balance.
Liora, seeing the opening, raised a hand and launched the red bubble toward Victoria. The sphere floated in the air, spinning slowly and reflecting the sunlight. Victoria tilted her spear horizontally and struck the bubble with precision, deflecting it to the side. But Liora, ever opportunistic, snapped her fingers: the bubble exploded with a burst of kinetic energy, pushing Victoria a few centimeters forward.
Instead of losing momentum, Victoria took advantage of the explosion's push. The extra momentum allowed her to close the distance to Rylan with a long, controlled step, spinning her spear in a swift, decisive motion, and thrust it toward his chest.
Rylan reacted just in time. With a swift movement, he crossed his two sabers to block Victoria's thrust, the blade tips grazing his side as they absorbed the impact. The force pushed him back a few steps, his knees bending to maintain balance.
Victoria, spotting the opening created by Rylan's retreat, pushed off with her legs and executed a large lateral leap, slightly rotating in the air to adjust her spear into attack position. Upon landing, she now had both opponents in front of her: Rylan to one side, still recovering, and Liora on the other, ready to intervene.
The sky split open with a thunderous crack.
Emma descended like a meteor, her massive form tearing through the air. She hit the ground with overwhelming force—the impact shaking the earth and sending a shockwave across the battlefield. Dust and debris exploded outward, a storm of dirt and light swallowing the horizon.
When it settled, the bear stood at the center of a crater. Her dark fur shimmered faintly under the sunlight, golden eyes burning with focus.
In front of her waited two figures: Duke and Cassian. Both motionless. Both ready.
Emma didn't hesitate. She moved first.
The ground shattered under her paws as she charged, every step heavy enough to shake the dirt loose from the cliffs. Duke braced himself, but the bear's first strike landed before he could react. Her paw smashed against his guard and launched him backward, sliding through the dirt until he crashed against a rock wall.
Cassian moved instantly. His body erupted in a sudden burst of vapor, a dense cloud of white and faint brown light twisting around him. The smoke scattered in a rush, revealing his new form.
The man was gone. In his place stood a slender giant, three and a half meters tall. Brown rags hung from his body—pants torn at the knees, a strip of cloth over his chest and arm, and another covering his head, leaving only two pale eyes visible. His frame was lean, almost wiry, but every movement carried speed and precision. From each forearm extended a blade, curved and uneven, gleaming with muted light.
He moved soundlessly.
Emma lunged at him, swinging her arm in a wide arc. Cassian crossed his blades in front of him, sparks flying as claws met steel. He pushed back, his long legs bracing against the ground, then countered with a spinning slash aimed at her neck. The air whistled with the force of it.
Emma ducked low, the blade grazing her fur, then struck with her other paw. The hit connected squarely with Cassian's torso, throwing him aside. He landed hard, rolling once before stopping.
Before Emma could press the attack, the air around her shifted again.
Another burst of vapor. This one heavier, louder, spreading heat across the ground.
When it cleared, Duke stood transformed.
He now towered almost as tall as Cassian, three and a half meters of solid muscle. His skin had turned a deep brown, marked by a dense, rugged texture. Bandages wrapped his hands, forearms, and feet, while dark shorts clung to his frame. A strip of white cloth crossed his forehead, keeping his short silver hair in place.
Duke moved, driving his massive frame forward with surprising speed. His leg rose in a high arc, aimed straight at Emma's side. The impact cracked through the air like a gunshot; pressure rippled outward. Emma was thrown back, rolled once, and landed on her feet, claws digging into the dirt. The blow hurt—her ribs burned—but not enough to stop her.
Duke didn't hesitate. He stepped in, raising his left arm for another strike. Before he could swing, a gunshot split the air. It was quick, sharp, followed by a brief flash. His left hand vanished. Smoke curled from the wound as Duke stared silently at the space where his hand had been. He didn't scream. He just frowned, breathing slow and steady, eyes scanning the field with quiet confusion, trying to find the source of the shot.
That distraction cost him. The ground trembled under a deep, animal growl. Emma was already in front of him, bursting from the haze like a charging beast. She slammed into Duke with her full weight, a living avalanche of muscle and momentum. The impact sent him flying, his body twisting through the air before crashing into the ground hard enough to crack it.
Emma didn't stop. The moment Duke hit the dirt, she was already sprinting toward him, claws tearing the ground. Her breath came in ragged bursts, her gaze locked on his fallen body. Cassian moved to intercept, his thin frame cutting through the dust, the blade-like limbs on his arms flashing in the light. He was fast, almost a blur, closing in on her.
But he never reached her. A shadow appeared behind him—silent, formless, sudden. Cassian never sensed it. In an instant, Adrian's claw tore through his spine with a sharp, decisive crack. Cassian's body froze, then folded forward, his bladed arms still extended mid-motion. He hit the ground with a dull thud.
Adrian straightened behind him, motionless, his eyes locked on Emma and Duke as the dust swirled around them.