Melina didn't speak further. She was here to teach swordsmanship, not fix the psyche of her students.
And that's exactly what she did, until the end of our session.
Two hours later, Snow and I collapsed to the floor, drenched in sweat.
As always, we hadn't laid a finger on her.
My mind was adrift, struggling to find solid ground.
After each session, we'd usually exchange feedback with her while watching Phoenix beat the hell out of Daemon and Danzo.
"Frey Starlight. Your stance is lacking."
Her voice cut through the air, breaking the silence.
"What do you mean?"
"Your footing is solid, but the issue lies in your right hand."
My right hand?
"How so?"
"You unconsciously try to use it during combat. That means wielding a single sword may not be optimal for you."
I was stunned by her observation ...it made it clear that I was standing before a true elite.
"I considered whether a shield might suit that hand… but it doesn't fit your style. That only leaves one option ... a second sword. A dual-blade style."
"Now that you mention it," Snow chimed in, "didn't you fight with your right hand during the Victoriad?"
He was recalling my battles from the tournament.
I nodded.
That confirmed Melina's theory perfectly.
"Try fighting with two swords from now on. It might be your key."
"I'll keep that in mind."
I replied simply as the session officially came to a close.
She wasn't wrong, of course… especially since my right hand was already hiding another flaming sword.
"A dual-sword style, huh…"
The truth is, I had been hiding the Dark Sister ever since it came into my hands.
My father's sword ... something I considered a secret trump card to be used only in case of an emergency.
Again, that's an old mindset. One I picked up long ago.
Keep your aces hidden to survive the stronger foes.
Every step I took always had meaning behind it. But now, even all of that felt… meaningless.
People had started viewing me differently. My abilities were no longer a secret. At this level, no enemy would underestimate me. Instead, they'd stay alert, always ready for whatever I might pull from the shadows.
So I asked myself: is there even a point in hiding this weapon anymore?
The answer was yes. Hiding it was important. Showing it off would be foolish.
But did any of that actually matter?
I wanted to think simpler.
Much simpler.
This sword was my father's. His weapon. His closest companion.
I wanted to fight with it.
"I want to use it in battle."
A simple desire. Selfish. Reckless, even. But I decided to honor it.
Melina was still there when I returned.
"What is it? We're done for today."
"I'd like to request a duel, my lady."
"Wasn't that what we were doing just a moment ago?"
That was true, but this time… this time, what I wanted was something different.
"Not another training bout. I want something deeper… I want a battle to the death."
I didn't want to fight knowing I'd walk away.
And I didn't want her to hold back either.
"Frey Starlight, there's no point in going all out against you right now. You haven't reached the minimum threshold required to justify such a challenge."
How could I challenge someone I hadn't even been able to touch?
That was the meaning behind her words.
But this time, I didn't respond with words.
"Come."
From the void, Dark Sister materialized in my hand. I grasped the black katana by its hilt.
Melina masked her expression well, but I saw it ... the flicker of surprise in her eyes as they fell on that lost blade.
"The Dark Sister…"
"Not just that."
From my other hand, Balerion the Black Dread appeared as well.
Wielding two swords, both capable of mass destruction, I felt stronger than ever.
But what I truly wanted ...was to see how far I could push the woman before me.
She stepped forward slowly, eyes locked on Dark Sister.
"That katana… Abraham Starlight?"
"My father left it for me as a gift."
"I see."
She gave a curt nod, then cast off her cloak and summoned her blade.
"You asked for a real battle, Frey Starlight. And that's exactly what you'll get."
Even she seemed exhilarated at the sight of someone wielding two legendary weapons.
And that was what made her accept such a childish request.
"Come at me."
She opened the floor.
And I accepted.
"Fight me with everything you've got!!"
Father…
I still don't understand the meaning of life you wanted me to find.
I still don't know why you robbed me of my right to die.
I don't know… but at the very least, this time, I'll do what I want.
No planning. No manipulation. No clever tricks.
I'll simply do whatever I want ... and let the wind carry me wherever it may.
Then I'll see how far it takes me.
With a smile, I launched into a thunderous battle against Melina.
...
...
...
The Other Side of the World.
Gavid Lindman, the proud Aether Bearer and Lord of the Ultras, stood still, clad in his usual formal suit, staring silently at the shattered Wall of Mages and the sea of torn bodies scattered across the field.
"A disaster,"
he muttered as he gazed at the canvas of carnage.
"I agree,"
came the voice of the old man, Mergo, who appeared behind him. Together, they stared at the same scene.
Lord Godfrey was being dragged away, his body battered, bloodied, and armor shattered beyond repair.
Above them, floating in the air with a furious glare, stood Astaroth, the 19th-ranked Demon ... clearly shaken, his eyes fixed on a single figure.
That figure lay motionless at the center of a massive crater, rusted armor still clinging to his form.
As for Astaroth, there was no trace of his right arm ... just a faint wisp of flame flickering in the wind where it used to be.
"We underestimated him…"
Gavid Lindman cursed under his breath.
Here, at this very location, had taken place the battle now known as The Battle of the Eternal Prison.
The mission had been straightforward: Lord Godfrey and his forces were to retrieve the strongest Hollow ...Pontiff Sulyvahn ... in preparation for the coming war.
They had truly believed that Godfrey and his army would be enough.
But they were wrong.
Terribly wrong.
Pontiff Sulyvahn had already reached the SS+ Rank.
With a savage, devastating fighting style, he had nearly killed Godfrey ... until Astaroth intervened at the last moment.
And even the demon had not emerged unscathed from a clash with such a mindless monster…
In fact, next to Pontiff Sulyvahn, even a demon seemed sane.
The aftermath of their battle was visible in every direction. This place had become nothing but a crater of destruction and war.
A war now looming on the horizon.
In the end, the Ultras had succeeded.
They had captured Pontiff Sulyvahn.
And the Hollows were now officially in play.