Kazimir stood beneath the fractured moonlight, his chest rising and falling with ragged breaths. Blood trailed down his side. His black-and-blue hair clung to his face, soaked with sweat and fury. Ingress was pinned and unconscious behind him, impaled by Kazimir's katana, but breathing—barely.
Jessie landed in front of him with a crash of flames, her purple fire roaring across her shoulders like a cloak. Her boots cracked the stone as she stepped forward.
Jessie: "You're done, Kaz. Let him go."
Kazimir didn't speak.
His abyssal-blue eyes locked with hers.
He raised his hand—lightning sparked.
Jessie: "You really gonna fight me?"
A pause. Then—
Kazimir: "Move."
Jessie surged forward.
Flame met lightning.
Their clash lit up the dark plateau like a second sunrise. Kazimir's blade met Jessie's fire-coated punches, each strike sending waves of heat and electricity through the ground. She ducked, twisted, landed a spinning kick that sent him skidding back, but he recovered fast.
Jessie: "You're tired. You're bleeding. Stop this before it kills you."
Kazimir: "Not until I finish it."
He charged again—faster than before.
Jessie gritted her teeth. His blade grazed her cheek, but she caught his wrist mid-strike, purple flames erupting between them. They wrestled, a deadly dance of heat and static, of two forces too stubborn to fall.
Then—
Ice bloomed across the battlefield.
A chilling wind swept through.
Neve dropped between them, her white hair swirling like snow, her eyes narrowed in anguish. Her ice katana was drawn, mist curling around it.
Neve: "Kazimir… don't make me do this."
Kazimir hesitated—just for a moment.
Then he swung at her.
Neve parried.
Steel sang against ice. She ducked low and struck his ribs. Kazimir recoiled, then retaliated with a sphere of lightning, but Neve shattered it with a sweep of her icy blade. Jessie joined in again—flanking him.
Kazimir was fast. But not faster than both.
Jessie's purple flames exploded at his back.
Neve froze his ankles mid-dodge.
He tried to teleport—World Clock sparked—but his energy sputtered. Exhaustion was claiming him.
Jessie (panting): "You can't hold out forever, Kaz!"
Kazimir screamed and broke the ice. He unleashed a burst of Imaginary Essence, distorting the air around him—space cracking—but Neve created an ice barrier while Jessie struck from above with a meteor of fire.
He blocked it.
Barely.
But his knees hit the ground after as the imaginary essence then failed.
Cracks of blue shimmered across his skin. His body trembled.
Neve: "Kaz… we're not your enemies. You're tired. Let us help."
Kazimir (hoarse): "I don't need help."
Jessie: "You don't get to choose anymore."
In a final coordinated strike, Neve's katana pierced the ground—ice surged up his legs—Jessie wrapped him in a burning chain of purple flame. Kazimir howled, trying to break free, but his limbs finally gave out.
He collapsed to one knee. His energy flickered… then dimmed.
Silence.
The wind howled again. The battle was over.
Neve rushed to him, catching him before he fell fully. Jessie stood back, breathing hard, eyes shimmering with grief.
Neve (softly): "You're not alone, Kaz. No matter how far you fall… we'll always come for you."