Imposing wings spread from Ren’s back, and a sword of pure violet energy, crackling with electricity, forms in his grip.

Then... WOOOSH!

He dives toward Axel at high speed, unleashing a devastating slash.

The vampire counters with perfect timing, his blood axe meeting the blow, and the clash of their blades sends out a violent shockwave that forces them both back.

Neither of them wastes a second — they charge at each other again.

The battle explodes atop the highest hill in the Tama area, locked in a tense stalemate, though the balance tilts slightly in Axel’s favor. Not because his strength or speed seem superior to Ren’s at first glance, but because of the advantage offered by the battlefield itself — a stage deliberately crafted by Axel to tip the scales further in his favor.

Ren isn’t just fighting to kill Axel — he’s also fighting to protect Iris.

If his sister weren’t lying there, just a short distance away and on the brink of death, he could fight with a clearer mind, without worrying about her getting caught in the clash.

But Iris is there — bound, wounded, unable to move — in such critical condition that even the slightest impact could make things worse.

Ren is forced to keep her in mind at all times, unable to take his eyes off her even for a second. At the same time, he can’t afford to lose sight of his dangerous opponent — he knows full well that even the smallest distraction could be fatal.

"Not bad at all, Ren Toya. Seems the rumors are true — your strength really is what you’d expect from someone trained by the legendary Raelor Valraen himself. No wonder the boss has his eyes on you."

"Shut the fuck up, bastard — I don’t give a shit about your compliments!"

Ren channels all his rage and desperation into a savage slash that breaks through Axel’s defenses.

The blood axe cracks under the strain, and the energy blade drives toward his chest.

Axel dodges at the last second with a quick leap backward, but with a powerful beat of his wings, Ren closes the gap in a flash.

Once again, Axel manages to block Ren’s sword, but he’s not as quick to react to a sudden, brutal stomp that slams into his stomach.

The vampire is sent flying at high speed, crashing into a rocky outcrop in his path and shattering it.

The impact breaks the bones in his back, but they regenerate fast enough for him to roll aside and dodge Ren’s diving slash.

Axel had the advantage of facing an opponent forced to split his focus between the fight and the one he had to protect.

But with skill, Ren managed to push the battle far enough away from Iris to stop worrying about her — at least for now — and fight at his full potential.

And now, Axel is the one in trouble.

He was there the night Ren fought Leon, so he knows exactly how deadly Paralysis Magic can be. A single cut from that lightning-charged blade would completely shut down his mana, sealing his fate. He can’t afford to be hit even once, and that forces him to focus entirely on Ren’s blade.

Because of that, even though he can parry Ren’s sword strikes effectively, he can’t defend nearly as well against his close-range attacks.

Axel takes a brutal punch to the face that stuns him for a moment, but he recovers just in time to block Ren’s blade a hair’s breadth from his neck.

"I underestimated you, Ren Toya — I’ll admit it. I didn’t think you’d hold your own this well. Seems your strength isn’t just in your Paralysis Magic. But even so... I’m still a step above you!"

Axel snaps a kick toward Ren’s side, but with a wingbeat as sudden as it is violent, the incubus propels himself backward and avoids the blow.

But dodging the kick isn’t the only effect of that evasive move. He beats his wings with such force that it unleashes a violent gust of wind, slamming into the vampire and sending him flying into the distance.

The vampire is sent flying toward the surrounding forest. He crashes through four tree trunks in quick succession before slowing just enough to regain his footing.

But before he can fully recover his balance, Ren is already diving toward him.

"You’ve got skill, damn incubus... but let’s see how you handle this!"

Axel hurls his axe at him — the weapon spins through the air like a circular saw. But Ren, already mid-charge, reads its trajectory at a glance and climbs slightly — just enough to slip out of its range without losing momentum.

A satisfied grin spreads across Axel’s face.

"You may be strong... but you’re still too inexperienced to defeat someone like me."

As soon as the axe aligns beneath Ren — about a meter away — it suddenly expands, growing to five meters in diameter.

Caught off guard, Ren can’t climb fast enough to avoid the spinning blade. He barely manages to raise his energy sword, but the impact launches him upward.

An opening Axel seizes instantly. With a leap, he launches himself at Ren, intercepting him midair before he can recover his balance.

He slips past a slash — clumsy from the lack of stability — and drives a brutal punch straight into Ren’s chest. The blow forces his grip open, the energy sword slipping from his fingers and dissolving into violet particles.

Locked in searing pain, Ren drops toward the ground — and in that same instant, the axe snaps back into Axel’s hand like a boomerang.

The incubus crashes onto his back, and the vampire is already dropping on him, axe raised high.

"It’s over, Ren Toya!"

Just as the axe is about to split Ren’s skull—Clang!

A blood-forged rapier intercepts the strike before it can land.

"L-Leon..." Ren murmurs, a faint smile of relief on his lips.

Axel retreats in a blur of quick steps.

"You’ve got guts, standing against me, Orange. Being a failure wasn’t enough — now you’re a traitor too," Axel hisses.

Leon ignores him. He offers Ren a hand and pulls him up.

"Told you Red was strong — damn it, you never listen."

"I just let my guard down for a second, that’s all."

"That’s all, huh? If I hadn’t stepped in, your head would be cracked open like a watermelon. Anyway, stay sharp — Red hasn’t shown his full strength yet, and judging by how pissed he is, he will soon."

"You’re right, Orange — that’s exactly what I’m about to do!"

A violent scarlet vortex spirals around Axel. His skin flushes red, and his muscles swell, growing thicker, tighter.

"Ren Toya, Orange — in a minute, nothing of you will remain but a memory! The real fight starts now!"