Kiara advanced, her expression calm, yet her eyes gleamed with an unsettling intensity.

"You still have a choice," she said coldly.

Arin gritted his teeth and swung his sword again, putting every ounce of strength into the attack.

This time—

Kiara caught the blade in her right hand.

Then—

CRACK!

Arin's eyes widened in shock.

"Huh...?"

He quickly leaped back, yanking the sword from Kiara's grip.

'Shit,' Arin thought as he stared at the Shadow Sword that now had slight cracks on it, 'Her grip alone did this?'

He didn't have time to dwell on it. He had to take care of Kiara first.

Meanwhile, Kiara already looked prepared to attack again.

Her eyes glinted as she stared at Arin. Though, Arin could tell—it wasn't a glint of malice.

Arin focused. He decided to unleash one last thing he hadn't used.

"I have no other choice," he muttered.

And with that...

'Extra's Stand...'

Instantly, Arin's physical capabilities tripled. A surge of power exploded through his entire being.

His appearance didn't change, but he could certainly feel the strength flowing through him.

Kiara squinted at him. 'Something is different... I can feel it.'

She blinked.

WHOOSH!

A gust of wind slammed into her face as Arin appeared in front of her.

She barely saw his sword rushing toward her.

Instinctively, she raised her claws.

CLANG!

Sparks flew as she blocked the strike, but the force made her stumble backward.

Arin didn't let the chance slip.

He charged forward with immense speed, thrusting his sword toward her.

Kiara quickly regained balance and tilted her head left—barely dodging the strike.

This time, she countered.

She grabbed his sword before he could pull it back, and with a slight leap, spun and delivered a kick to Arin's shoulder.

But surprisingly...

'He didn't even budge...?' Kiara thought.

A smile crept onto Arin's face. Before she realized what was happening, Arin grabbed her raised leg near his shoulder.

Kiara's brows furrowed. 'Shit...'

Arin raised her by the leg and then—

BAM!

He slammed her into the ground, a loud impact echoing as a dust cloud exploded around them.

As the dust settled, the crater from her collision with the ground became visible.

Arin still held her right leg as he stared at her.

'Time to end this,' he thought, raising his sword.

WHOOSH!

His sword descended with immense speed toward the floored Kiara.

But before it could land—

BOOM!

Kiara caught it again.

This time, she didn't delay.

She swept her left leg at Arin's, knocking him off balance and making him stumble.

Using the opening, she sprang to her feet.

Still holding Arin's sword, she yanked him forward.

Arin instantly triggered one of the sword's effects—three dark tentacles surged toward Kiara. She dodged them with ease.

And then—

BAM!

A kick to Arin's chest sent him flying backward. The sword finally escaped his grip.

His body crashed through several trees before skidding to a stop.

"Ugh..." Arin winced, trying to rise—but Kiara was already in front of him.

He noticed the Bluish Purple Energy wrapped around her legs.

'No wonder her kick got even more stronger,' he thought.

But more importantly...

His eyes darted to her right hand.

'My sword...'

The Shadow Sword was in Kiara's hand. She studied it for a second.

Then she flicked it upward and caught it again—by the blade.

She looked back at Arin and muttered, "I'm sorry..."

Arin's eyes widened.

"Shit!"

Mustering all the strength he had left, he rushed toward her.

But it was too late.

The energy around her hand flared, and she clenched the blade tightly.

The cracks widened.

And finally—

CRACK!

The sword shattered in her grip.

Arin reached her and instantly gathered Blood Energy in his fist. He threw a punch.

Kiara tilted her head, evading it.

Before he could react, she grabbed his outstretched arm.

Then—

BAM!

A kick to his stomach made him wince.

"Alright, enough of these games," Kiara said, moving behind him. "I don't want to keep Mother waiting for too long."

Arin could barely stand before he felt a sudden force on his neck.

"The Extra's Stand Skill couldn't ev-even d-do any-anything, huh...?" he muttered, losing consciousness.

Kiara stared at Arin's unconscious body with a small smile.

"Don't hate me for this, brother," she muttered. "But Mother really needs you now."

She slowly picked him up and placed him over her shoulder.

"Mother, I did it. I'm bringing the Prince back," she hummed.

With a smile still on her face, she closed her eyes and stretched out her right hand.

Her mouth began moving rapidly, as if chanting a spell, though, it wasn't audible.

A few seconds later, a portal appeared before her. It shimmered in blue and purple, and its mere presence stirred the air into a frenzy.

"Welcome back, brother. Let's go home."

********

Roxanne and Riya were sprinting through the forest.

"That sound came from there," Roxanne said, pointing ahead.

Riya frowned. "How do we get there quickly?"

Roxanne came to an abrupt stop. Riya followed suit.

Suddenly, a red circle with glowing patterns appeared beneath Roxanne.

She looked at Riya. Riya nodded.

"Perfect," Riya said, stepping into the circle.

Instantly, both disappeared.

When they reappeared, the first thing they saw was a portal—and a girl stepping into it.

"That's Arin," Roxanne said instantly, as she noticed the person the girl was carrying.

Without hesitation, another circle appeared beneath them. They instantly appeared again—right in front of the portal.

Kiara had already entered with Arin. The portal was nearly closed.

But in that instant, Roxanne and Riya leapt into it without hesitation.

And then, it closed.

********

"I must say, you're a stubborn one," Draka said as he stared at Landon, who lay on the ground.

Landon's body was bruised and bloodied, his head bleeding. Yet, a smirk remained on his face.

"It's all because of that skill you used," Landon said. "Tell me, what's the name?"

Draka turned, staring at a certain part of the forest. He raised his hand, and seconds later, a portal appeared.

"You don't need to know," he said.

As he stepped toward it, Landon called out.

"Wait... That portal... Did you guys take Arin there?"

Draka looked back. "Yes."

He continued, "I won't kill you. So just leave and forget all this."

"I see..." Landon's smirk grew. "I'm sorry, but... I have to speak with Arin."

His body dissolved into a cloud of black smoke, streaking forward at incredible speed.

Draka's eyes widened. He raised his claws—but too late.

The smoke reformed in front of the portal.

Landon stood tall once more.

"See you there," he said before jumping in.

Draka gritted his teeth and leapt in after him.

The portal vanished behind them.

And it led to one destination...

The Dragon Realm.