In an instant, Lana appeared in front of Jason, her blade descending straight toward his neck.
But Jason raised his hand.
[Flame Guard]
A dense flame formed into a shield in front of him. The blade struck it.
An explosion followed, and a wave of fire and mana spread through the air. But before the flames even faded, Lana had already moved.
[Lunar Step]
Her body vanished within faint moonlight and reappeared at another angle, her blade rising from below toward Jason’s abdomen.
But
[Earth Pulse]
Mana condensed around Jason’s body. A layer of dense stone formed instantly and blocked the strike.
Lana didn’t pull back.
[Crescent Slash]
Her blade moved in a fast arc, releasing a silver crescent-shaped wave of energy toward Jason.
For the first time, Jason raised an eyebrow.
[Wind Rift]
With a simple motion of his hand, a violent current of wind formed and deflected the attack.
But, Lana was already there.
Her blade aimed straight for his heart.
A clash happened, and their eyes locked at close range.
And at that moment—
[Water Veil]
A rotating layer of water formed around Jason and redirected the strike.
Both of them pulled back.
A few meters of distance formed between them, the wind passing through.
Jason’s smile deepened slightly.
"...Not bad. You really deserve your place as one of the best of the new generation."
Lana said nothing.
But in the next moment, the pressure around her changed.
Mana began gathering around her. A faint light like moonlight formed around her body.
[Moon Land]
The space shifted for a moment. Movements became smoother... but more lethal.
And in the next instant, she attacked again.
This time... her speed was higher, for the first time, Jason had to get serious.
[Flame Lance]
A spear of fire formed in his hand and was thrown toward Lana.
But—
[Moon Reflection]
Lana’s body vanished instantly and reappeared from another angle. The spear passed by her, and at the same moment, her blade drew a line of blood across Jason’s shoulder.
For the first time, blood was spilled.
Jason’s eyes narrowed slightly.
But his smile didn’t disappear.
It looked like he was losing.
But was that really the case?
[Earth Break]
He lowered his hand.
The space beneath Lana collapsed for a moment, and a wave of stone and mana exploded toward her.
But—
"[Silver Guard]"
A layer of silver light formed around Lana and deflected the attack.
She emerged from the explosion and attacked again without stopping.
The battle intensified.
Fire, wind, water, and earth, four elements moved like living weapons in Jason’s hands.
[Wind Sever]
Blades of wind shot toward Lana.
[Flame Surge]
Waves of fire filled the space.
[Water Bind]
Streams of water tried to restrict her movement, but Lana didn’t stop.
[Lunar Pierce]
A direct and precise strike that broke through defenses.
[Crescent Step]
Unpredictable movements.
[Moon Reflection]
And afterimages left behind.
For a few moments, the battle was completely even.
Maybe Lana even had the advantage.
But suddenly, something changed.
Jason’s eyes deepened, and the mana around him became heavier.
And the arrays beneath them, deep underground, within hidden structures, activated.
Mana began flowing toward Jason.
His power... increased.
And suddenly, his attacks became heavier.
[Elemental Convergence]
For the first time, all four elements formed around him at the same time.
Fire, wind, water, and earth and in a single moment, they rushed toward Lana.
For the first time, Lana was thrown back.
Her body was pushed several meters through the air before she regained balance. Her breathing had become heavier.
Her eyes narrowed.
She understood.
"...Array."
Jason smiled.
"So you finally figured it out."
At that moment, a surge of energy rose from below the battlefield. Several Fallen Ones leaped into the sky.
They had finished their task and killed their enemies.
Now they had come to help.
Several of them rushed directly toward Jason.
But at that exact moment, light twisted in the sky, and a hidden array activated.
The space locked.
A massive dome trapped them inside.
One by one, the Fallen Ones were caught within it.
Their bodies froze in midair, their movement completely stopped.
Lana’s eyes widened for a moment.
"...A trap."
Jason calmly lowered his hand. His smile was now clearer.
"You thought you were the only one with a plan?"
Lana frowned.
Her breathing had grown heavier. Her battle suit was torn in several places, and blood dripped from her body.
But she was still standing.
Her slender sword was firmly in her hand, her gaze cold and focused, even in this condition.
Jason smiled, a smile that clearly showed he was in control of the battlefield.
"I thought you’d last longer. But I guess it’s time to end this."
He raised his hand.
Mana around him began to swirl again, this time heavier, more dangerous.
[Elemental Dominion]
The four elements formed a complete field around him. Flames danced, lightning roared among them, the ground rose as floating plates, and the wind moved everything.
The pressure increased sharply.
Lana’s body trembled for a moment, but she immediately steadied herself.
"It’s not over yet." She stepped forward.
[Lunar Ascension]
Moonlight burst out from her body again.
But this time... it was different.
Deeper. Colder.
Her injuries were still there, but her aura stabilized once more.
Jason narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You’re still resisting? Interesting."
And then he disappeared.
In an instant, he appeared in front of Lana and reached his hand toward her.
[Primal Element Crush]
All four elements descended on Lana at the same time.
Lana reacted instantly.
[Moonfall Guard]
Moonlight wrapped around her but this time, the shield shattered.
The attack hit her directly.
She was thrown back violently, spinning several meters through the air before barely stabilizing herself.
Blood spilled from her mouth.
Jason stepped forward calmly.
"That’s it?"
He raised his hand again.
[Sky Rupture]
The sky split open.
Lines of lightning and fire fell from above toward Lana.
Lana gritted her teeth.
[Crescent Phase Shift]
Her body faded, passing through the attack as moonlight
But
[Earth Lock]
The ground suddenly rose beneath her, stopping her movement for just a moment.
And that moment was enough.
[Infernal Spiral]
A pillar of fire engulfed her.
Lana’s body was thrown out of the flames and slammed into the ground. The earth beneath her cracked.
For a few seconds... she didn’t move.
It was as if her bones were broken, her body unable to rise.
She needed time for her body to recover but she forced herself up slowly and her body trembled.
One of her hands could barely hold the sword but she was still standing.
"You’re really stubborn." Jason laughed.
"But it ends here."
He raised his hand toward the sky.
[Absolute Elemental Collapse]
All the surrounding mana began to gather.
The four elements were pulled into a single point a compressed, unstable core.
The pressure reached a level where even the air itself began to collapse.
Lana slowly exhaled.
Her eyes closed for a moment.
Then opened.
This might be the last attack she could make.
[Full Moon Release]
All the moonlight she had gathered so far was completely released.
Her aura reached its peak for a moment.
She leaped forward, raising her sword, and charged straight at Jason.
The clash.
An explosion of light and elements.
For a moment... they were equal.
But only for a moment.
Lana’s energy began to collapse.
"It’s over." Jason laughed with contempt.
He lowered his hand.
The elemental core was released.
Explosion and another explosion.
A wave of energy swallowed Lana and threw her downward. Her body slammed violently into the ground.
This time... she didn’t get up.
Her body no longer had the strength.
Jason slowly descended.
He walked across the ground until he reached her.
Lana was still alive, but barely breathing.
Her eyes were half-open, but still... not extinguished.
"You know what’s interesting?" Jason stood beside her.
"That you thought you could defeat me."
He slowly raised his sword.
"You’ll be joining your mother soon."
He placed the tip of his sword against Lana’s neck.
Lana’s eyes trembled for a moment. Rage filled her existence.
But her body... wouldn’t respond.
"Before you die, I’ll tell you a secret." Jason leaned slightly closer.
"Your mother’s death... was our doing."
His smile deepened.
Lana’s eyes widened completely for a moment.
And at that instant, the sword came down.
The blade passed through her body and blood splashed and for her, time seemed to stop.