Rowan blocked the attack effortlessly. "Hey, now you two aren’t needed," he said, his tone cold. "The only reason I haven’t killed you already is because she was watching. If I end this too easily, she’ll lose the will to fight."
But no... you’re not needed. Die."
As he spoke, his body glowed with blue energy. His sword shimred with the sa blue aura, crackling with power. The Paladin Knights raised their swords, rushing him, but Rowan moved faster than their eyes could track.
He slashed, and their swords split cleanly in two. Without hesitation, Rowan thrust his sword into the chest of one knight, piercing heart and armor alike, and pulled it out.
"You bastard!" the second knight shouted as he leapt into the air to strike Rowan. But Rowan t him mid-air, holding his sword steady and pushing the knight back.
Landing gracefully on the ground, Rowan imdiately targeted the second knight. He leapt again, spinning through the air as the knight swung wildly. Rowan landed perfectly, delivering a crushing kick to the knight’s knee.
The knight collapsed to the ground, helpless, and Rowan’s sword followed through, cleanly beheading him.
Rowan glanced briefly at the fallen Paladin Knights before turning his gaze toward Elian and Moonbeam.
Moonbeam’s expression twisted, disbelief flashing across his distorted face.
"What the hell is going on?" he shouted. "Just now, my n were slaughtered. All of them. And now you turn against ? After everything? Are you not traumatized anymore?!"
"Shut up," Elian said coldly.
Moonbeam froze.
"Maybe I was," she continued, her voice steady now. "I was traumatized. But not anymore. Today, I kill you."
Moonbeam’s lips curled into a cruel smile. "You want to fight ?"
"No," Elian replied. "I don’t plan to fight you."
She raised her hand slowly.
"I plan to kill you with a single shot if possible."
As her arm lifted, the air trembled.
Instantly, ice spheres began to form, one after another, until hundreds of massive ice spheres floated in the air above her, radiating terrifying cold. Nearly three hundred of them, each humming with condensed mana.
Moonbeam instinctively stepped back. One step. Then another.
But it was already too late.
Water surged forward along the ground beneath him, silent and fast. Moonbeam’s eyes widened as he looked down, and his leg was instantly frozen solid, encased in thick, unbreakable ice.
He stopped moving.
Elian raised her hand and pointed it straight at Moonbeam.
In an instant, all three hundred ice spears trembled, then shot forward at terrifying speed, tearing through the air like falling stars.
The chamber roared.
The spears slamd into Moonbeam’s body one after another, crashing, crashing, crashing.
But instead of piercing him, they shattered. Ice exploded into fragnts as each spear struck his flesh, breaking apart as if they had hit an unmovable wall.
Elian’s eyes widened.
"Impossible..." she whispered.
She watched in disbelief as her strongest attack, an attack that could annihilate battalions, failed to pierce him.
Moonbeam laughed.
A deep, twisted laugh echoed through the chamber as ice continued to slam against him, breaking uselessly against his skin. One spear ca straight for his face, and he caught it with one hand.
The ice cracked.
He crushed it effortlessly, letting the shards fall from his fingers.
When the final spear shattered, Moonbeam stood untouched.
"Do you really think that was enough to hurt ?" he said, spreading his arms slightly. "I’m half-demon. My skin is thick. No, it has already reached what you humans call indestructible."
Elian clenched her teeth.
"The only reason I wanted you alive," Moonbeam continued calmly, "was because of your mana. I planned to sacrifice you, use your power to finally beco a full demon."
His smile widened, cruel and satisfied.
"But now? You dared to attack ."
He took a step forward, his presence crushing the air.
"I was going to kill you quickly so you wouldn’t feel much pain. But don’t worry, because of what you just did..."
His eyes glowed darkly.
"I’ll kill you slowly."
The room fell silent.
"And if you don’t die tonight," Moonbeam added coldly, "I’ll make sure you beg for it."
He raised his leg, which was frozen, and the ice broke, and did the sa for the second leg.
"Gahhh!"
Moonbeam scread as dark mana exploded from his body. The surge was violent, oppressive, filling the narrow mountain chamber with crushing pressure. The wind howled, mana colliding against the stone walls.
Elian raised her arm, shielding her face as her hair and clothes were whipped back by the storm of energy.
From behind, Rowan watched in silence.
It’s clear, he thought. He’s stronger than her.
And yet, she still has to fight.
Rowan’s gaze hardened.
I could step in right now. I could end this instantly.
But if I do, she’ll never escape it.
He understood now.
One of the reasons Elian had fallen into despair all those years ago wasn’t just because her friends had died, it was because she hadn’t been able to do anything.
On that battlefield, everything had happened too fast. Her friends were slaughtered in an instant. Whether it was shock or fear, she had frozen. She hadn’t fought back. She hadn’t moved.
And that helplessness had haunted her ever since.
If I interfere now, Rowan thought, she’ll carry that regret forever.
Even if she didn’t win today.
Even if she lost.
As long as she fought back with everything she had.
As long as she proved to herself that she could stand and resist.
That alone would change everything.
Rowan remained where he was, watching closely.
This fight is hers.
Elian clenched her fists, forcing herself to stand.
Tighten it, hold it together.
"What the hell...?" she whispered. Her body was shaking again, trembling just like it had back then.
No. Don’t look away.
Don’t run.
Fear crawled up her spine.
Moonbeam’s voice echoed through the chamber, thick with mockery.
"You’re scared," he said. "I can feel it. And you should be. Once I beco a full demon, once I sacrifice you, I’ll be far stronger than I am now. Strong enough that even that child who ca with you wouldn’t stand a chance."
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