The flames had yet to settle.
Smoke and embers drifted across the battlefield, the ground still trembling from the previous clash.
At the center—
Ut 2 stood silently.
Her breathing was uneven.
Her arms… slightly trembling.
But her eyes—
Had changed.
Maloch noticed it immediately.
His grin slowly faded.
“…What’s this?”
The air around Ut 2 began to distort.
Not violently.
But deeply.
Like something ancient… awakening.
Veera’s pupils shrank slightly.
“That aura…”
For the first time—
Her voice carried a trace of seriousness.
Ut 2 lowered her head.
Her grip tightened around the frying pan.
Memories flashed through her mind.
Her younger sibling—
Captured.
Crying.
Powerless.
Her chest tightened.
Her heartbeat accelerated.
“I… won’t let it happen again.”
A low whisper.
Barely audible.
But the moment those words fell—
BOOM!!!
A wave of crimson energy erupted from her body.
The ground shattered instantly.
Flames burst outward in all directions—
But unlike before—
These flames were different.
They were darker.
Denser.
Heavier.
Like blood… burning.
Maloch’s expression changed.
“This…”
His instincts screamed.
Danger.
Ut 7’s eyes widened from afar.
“…She’s finally using it…”
The air grew thick.
Oppressive.
Even breathing became difficult.
Ut 2 slowly raised her head.
Her eyes—
Now glowing faintly crimson.
A system-like voice echoed faintly in her mind—
Cold.
Emotionless.
[Crimson Core: Activated][Blood Flame Ratio: 42% → 60% → 75%][New Ability Unlocked]
Ut 2 exhaled slowly.
Then—
She stepped forward.
The moment her foot touched the ground—
It cracked.
She disappeared.
“Fast—!”
Maloch’s eyes widened.
But before he could react—
BANG!!!
A heavy impact slammed into his chest.
Ut 2.
She had closed the distance instantly.
Her frying pan—
Now engulfed in crimson fire—
Struck directly into Maloch’s armor.
The impact sent him flying backward.
BOOM!!!
He crashed into the ground, carving a deep trench across the battlefield.
Silence.
Ut 2 stood where he had been.
Her arm still extended.
Slowly—
She lowered it.
Veera’s smile disappeared.
“…Interesting.”
Without hesitation—
She raised her hand.
“Bind.”
Invisible forces surged forward.
Threads of control wrapped around Ut 2 from every direction—
Attempting to lock her in place.
But—
CRACK.
The threads shattered.
Veera’s eyes widened.
“…Impossible.”
Ut 2 didn’t even look at her.
Her gaze remained fixed—
On Maloch.
In the distance—
The ground exploded.
Maloch rose slowly.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
But—
He was smiling.
A wide—
Excited—
Unhinged smile.
“Hahaha…!”
“This is it!”
Flames erupted around him once more.
Even stronger than before.
“Come again!”
He charged.
Ut 2 didn’t move.
She simply lifted her weapon.
The frying pan.
But this time—
Crimson energy condensed around it.
Layer upon layer.
Her voice was calm.
Cold.
“Crimson Technique…”
The flames around her compressed violently.
“—Blood Break.”
She swung.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The collision shook the sky.
Maloch’s blade met her strike—
But this time—
It cracked.
A visible fracture spread across his weapon.
His eyes widened.
“No way—!”
The force exploded.
Maloch was sent flying again—
This time even faster—
Even farther—
CRASH!!!
He slammed into the ground, the impact creating a massive crater.
Silence fell once more.
Ut 2 stood alone.
Her aura blazing.
Behind her—
The thousands she protected stared in shock.
Hope began to rise.
Ut 7 clenched her fists.
“…She’s winning…”
Veera stepped back slightly.
For the first time—
A hint of caution appeared in her eyes.
“This changes things…”
Ut 2 slowly turned her head.
Her crimson gaze locked onto Veera.
“You…”
Her voice was low.
But filled with pressure.
“Stay out of this.”
The air froze.
Veera smiled again.
But this time—
It wasn’t playful.
It was dangerous.
“Oh?”
Dark energy gathered once more around her.
The remnants of bats began to reform.
“Let’s see… how long you can keep that up.”
The battlefield trembled again.
Maloch slowly rose from the crater.
His armor cracked.
His weapon damaged.
But his eyes—
Burned brighter than ever.
“This… is just getting started.”
Flames erupted.
Crimson flames answered.
Dark energy spread.
Three forces.
Three monsters.
Colliding once more.
The moment the three forces collided—
The battlefield exploded once more.
Flames surged violently.
Dark energy twisted through the air.
Crimson fire burned like a living entity.
Maloch moved first.
With a roar, he raised his sword high above his head.
Flames condensed rapidly, gathering into a massive burning blade that stretched far beyond its original size.
“Let’s see how long you can endure this!”
He swung.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The strike tore through the battlefield, dragging a sea of fire behind it.
Ut 2 stepped forward.
Not back.
Forward.
Her frying pan rose.
CLANG!!!
The impact shook the ground.
Her body slid backward several meters—
But this time—
She stopped herself.
Her feet dug deep into the ground.
Cracks spread beneath her.
She blocked it.
Again.
Maloch grinned wildly.
Without hesitation—
He swung again.
Faster.
Heavier.
More ruthless.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!!!
Each strike landed like a meteor.
Each blow carried destructive force.
Ut 2 raised her weapon again and again—
Blocking.
Deflecting.
Absorbing.
Her arms trembled.
Her breath grew heavier.
But she didn’t break.
Behind her—
Ut 7 clenched her fists.
Her nails dug into her palms.
She wanted to move.
Wanted to step forward.
Wanted to help.
But she couldn’t.
Because behind her—
Were thousands.
Her voice trembled slightly.
“…Ut 2…”
She could only watch.
At that moment—
A cold whisper echoed from the side.
“Still standing?”
Veera.
Her figure flickered through the shadows.
Her lips curved into a cruel smile.
“Then let’s make this more interesting.”
She raised her hand.
Dark energy surged violently.
The sky—
Collapsed.
A deafening screech filled the air.
Countless bats erupted into existence.
Not hundreds.
Not thousands.
But a swarm so vast—
It covered the sky.
They descended instantly.
Ut 2’s vision vanished.
Her movements were restricted.
Her senses overwhelmed.
She swung her weapon—
BOOM!!!
Dozens of bats were destroyed.
But more came.
Endless.
Relentless.
They clawed at her.
Bit at her.
Wrapped around her limbs.
For the first time—
Ut 2 staggered.
Her breathing became uneven.
Her eyes flickered.
What did we ever do…?
Her thoughts shook.
Why… do they keep coming…?
Her grip tightened.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Her clan.
Her family.
Her people.
Always targeted.
Always hunted.
A flicker of anger burned deep within her chest.
But she forced it down.
She couldn’t lose control.
Not now.
Not here.
Behind her— Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
Ut 7 remained still.
Her body trembled.
But she didn’t move.
She stepped slightly backward—
Spreading her arms.
Shielding.
Protecting every single person behind her.
“No one… moves.”
Her voice was low.
Firm.
Even if it meant watching—
Even if it meant doing nothing—
She would not let anyone pass her.
Back on the battlefield—
Maloch saw his opening.
“Now!”
Flames exploded around him.
He dashed forward.
His sword cut through the swarm—
Straight toward Ut 2.
Ut 2 sensed it.
Too late to dodge.
She raised her weapon—
BOOOOOOM!!!
The impact sent her flying backward.
She crashed into the ground—
Sliding across the battlefield.
Dust rose.
Silence fell—
For a brief moment.
Maloch landed heavily.
“Hah…”
He exhaled.
“Finally felt that one, didn’t you?”
Veera stepped beside him.
Her smile returned.
“Let’s end this.”
The swarm tightened.
Compressing.
Crushing.
Ut 2 slowly pushed herself up.
Her breathing was rough now.
Her body strained.
But her eyes—
Were burning.
“…Enough.”
Her voice was quiet.
But the moment it fell—
Something changed.
The air—
Stopped.
The flames around her—
Collapsed inward.
Compressed.
Condensed.
Her heartbeat echoed.
Louder.
Louder.
THUMP.THUMP.THUMP.
A crimson glow spread across her body.
Her weapon—
Begins to burn.
Not with normal fire.
But with something deeper.
Heavier.
Like blood.
Maloch frowned.
“…What is this now?”
Veera’s expression stiffened.
“No… wait—”
Too late.
BOOOOOOOM!!!
A wave of crimson energy exploded outward.
The swarm—
Was annihilated instantly.
Every bat—
Burned to nothing.
Ut 2 stood at the center.
Her eyes—
Glowing crimson.
Her aura—
Overwhelming.
She took a step forward.
The ground shattered beneath her.
Then—
She disappeared.
Maloch’s eyes widened.
“Fast—!”
A shadow appeared in front of him.
Too close.
Too sudden.
Ut 2.
Her weapon—
Already mid-swing.
BANG!!!
The impact slammed into Maloch’s chest.
His body flew backward instantly.
CRASH!!!
He hit the ground hard.
Before he could react—
Ut 2 appeared again.
Another strike—
BANG!!!
Then another—
BANG!!!
Each hit heavier than the last.
Each blow shaking the battlefield.
Maloch coughed blood—
But he laughed.
“Hahaha…!”
“This is it!”
Even as he was overwhelmed—
He was enjoying it.
Veera’s smile disappeared completely.
She raised her hand again—
Dark energy gathering.
But this time—
Ut 2 turned.
Her gaze locked onto Veera.
Cold.
Sharp.
“You…”
Her voice echoed.
“Stay out of this.”
For a moment—
The entire battlefield froze.
Even Veera—
Paused.
Then—
She smiled again.
But this time—
There was killing intent behind it.
“Oh?”
Dark energy surged violently.
“Make me.”
Behind them—
Ut 7 tightened her stance.
Her eyes fixed on the battlefield.
The war—
Had truly begun.
The tide of battle has begun to shift… but the war is far from over.
~End~