The four stood poised, blades drawn, energy flaring—each warrior a storm barely contained.
Then, in a moment—
Chaos erupted.
Hageshi lunged first, swinging his massive Frost Blade, releasing a shockwave of glacial wind that cracked the tiles and sent icy shards spraying across the chamber. Levine responded instantly, his Flame Blade clashing against the cold steel. Steam hissed violently, the air filled with blistering heat and freezing mist.
Xzavier and Yagumi met next, blades flashing. Xzavier's golden Energy Blade hummed with sacred resonance while Yagumi's Twin Reaper Blades screamed with malevolence. Sparks burst like fireworks with each parry and strike, the floor beneath them splintering with every blow.
Levine twisted his body, flame blade slashing across Hageshi's arm while the Shadow Blade jabbed at his ribs. But Hageshi didn't flinch. Laughing, he caught Levine's wrist mid-swing and headbutted him.
Crack!
Levine stumbled back, blood spilling from his forehead.
"Too slow, traitor," Hageshi growled, eyes wild with frostlust.
He struck again—this time cleaving downward in a vicious arc. Levine barely crossed his blades in time. The impact hurled him backward, smashing into a pillar that crumbled from the collision.
Across the room, Xzavier's blade locked with Yagumi's.
"I'm not your enemy anymore!" Xzavier shouted.
"You were never my ally!" Yagumi snarled, kicking Xzavier in the chest and spinning with both blades to slash an X into the air.
Xzavier raised his blade and deflected the strike, but blood sprayed from his shoulder.
Behind them, Gimori watched from his throne, lips curled into a grin. "Yes... yes. Bleed. Struggle. Break."
Levine stood, one arm broken, breathing ragged. Hageshi marched toward him.
"This ends now," Levine whispered.
He flung his Shadow Blade forward like a boomerang. It spun, cloaked in void, aimed for Hageshi's throat.
But Hageshi ducked, ice coating his shoulders as he dashed in and slammed his fist into Levine's gut. The flame blade dropped from Levine's hand.
He collapsed to one knee.
"Levine!!" Xzavier's voice tore through the roar of battle.
He turned—only to see Hageshi raise his blade for a killing strike.
Time slowed.
Xzavier's breath caught. His heart thundered. His mind blurred as emotions surged like a flood. Jiyū pulsed within him—hot, alive, ancient.
And something changed.
A golden explosion burst from Xzavier's body, knocking everyone off their feet.
Golden marks spiraled along his skin. His eyes became twin suns.
His hair drifted upward, glowing. His Energy Blade grew longer, denser, vibrating with divine might.
1st Life Transformation: Shinkai no Jiyū.
Even Gimori stood up, his grin faltering.
Xzavier didn't move.
He didn't need to.
Hageshi stood, confused—and then dropped to his knees.
His breath seized.
His limbs trembled.
Then—
Boom!
He was flung backwards by nothing but Xzavier's aura, smashing through three marble columns before falling unconscious.
Yagumi stood, now alone, staring at Xzavier.
His rage boiled.
"So you think you're special?" Yagumi growled.
His veins pulsed with dark energy.
Black tendrils slithered up his body like chains breaking free.
His sclera turned black, irises burning crimson. Flames licked his arms, his feet cracked the ground, and his blades seemed to weep blood.
1st Life: Hellbound Ascension.
Dark wings erupted from his back—one tattered and bone-like, the other made of flame and hate.
"You think you're chosen, Xzavier? You're just a mistake that I haven't killed yet!"
They clashed.
The hall couldn't contain them.
Legendary Arts activated.
"Heaven's Judgement: Sacred Arc!" Xzavier shouted, his energy blade carving the symbol of Jiyū into the sky above—golden chains rained down, divine and blinding.
"Reaper's Verdict: Crimson Guillotine!" Yagumi roared, slashing the air and sending massive red scythe blades spiraling outward like executioner's cleaves.
The attacks collided.
BOOM.
The ceiling exploded.
The floor cracked.
Pillars shattered and were sucked into the vortex.
Then the ground gave way beneath them.
The two warriors fell into the darkness below, past fire and stone.
They crashed into the arena beneath the throne room—a hellish pit surrounded by chains, fire pits, and statues of demons long forgotten.
Flames danced along the broken glyphs of this ancient place.
Gimori stood at the edge of the ruined chamber above, looking down with eyes glowing.
His Aku no Eye shimmered like a black star.
"So," he whispered, smirking again. "They've descended into the pit. Let's see which of my puppets emerges whole..."