As the battle between Reign and the mysterious swordsman reached its peak, the atmosphere crackled with tension. The entire battlefield seemed to hold its breath, aware that this sh would determine not just the oue of the trial, but perhaps the fate of everyone present. The swordsman''s cold eyes remained locked on Reign, unyielding and unreadable.


    He was no longer holding back, his aura now a blinding silver light that cut through the remnants of the surrounding darkness like a beacon.


    Reign, for his part, was beginning to feel the weight of the fight. His transformation into his Nephilim form was immensely powerful, but it was also taxing. Every second that passed in this state drained more of his energy. Yet, he couldn''t afford to relent. His opponent was too skilled, too experienced—an unwavering force that had seen through every tactic Reign had employed thus far.


    The battlefield itself had be a shattered wastnd, littered with craters and cracks that extended like spiderwebs. Waves of raw energy pulsed outward from where the twobatants stood, shing in bursts of light and darkness. The pressure from their battle made it difficult for anyone else to even approach.


    The swordsman''s de shimmered with an ethereal glow, sharp enough to slice through even the strongest defenses. His strikes were deliberate, calcted, and impossibly fast. Each swing left afterimages that lingered in the air, making it nearly impossible for Reign to anticipate where the next attack woulde from. Despite the fatigue setting in, Reign''s eyes burned with determination.


    He wasn''t about to let everything he and his team had fought for slip away now.


    "Is that all you have?" the swordsman''s voice cut through the chaos like a de itself, carrying an edge of both respect and mockery. "You''re strong, but strength alone isn''t enough. Youck the experience, the refinement. I''ve seen countless warriors like you—full of potential, butcking true mastery."


    Reign gritted his teeth. The swordsman''s words hit home, but they also fueled a fire within him. He refused to be dismissed so easily. The light and darkness swirling around him intensified as he pushed his powers to their limits. His wings red, casting long shadows as arcs of lightning crackled along his swords. If this was going to be the final sh, then he would unleash everything he had.


    The air grew heavy with anticipation as both fighters prepared to strike. Reign''s dual energies coalesced around him, forming a swirling vortex of ck and white energy. The swordsman''s aura condensed into a single point, his de glowing with a brilliance that was almost blinding.


    For a moment, time seemed to freeze.


    Then, with a deafening roar, they both charged forward.


    Reign''s des shed through the air in a whirlwind of elemental fury. Lightning crackled with every strike, apanied by bursts of light and darkness that threatened to tear reality apart. The swordsman met each attack with wless precision, his de cutting through the onught with surgical uracy.


    The sh of their weapons created shockwaves that shook the entire arena, causing the already fractured ground to splinter even further.


    Despite the intensity of Reign''s assault, the swordsman remained calm andposed. His movements were fluid and effortless as if he was inplete control of the battlefield. He deflected Reign''s strikes with the barest of motions, conserving energy while maintaining a perfect defense.


    Every time Reign thought he had found an opening, the swordsman would counter with a strike so swift and precise that it forced Reign back on the defensive.


    The realization began to dawn on Reign: he was simply outssed, outssed in a way he had not been for a long time. The swordsman''s experience and mastery were simply on another level. It wasn''t just a matter of power—this man had honed his skills to the point of perfection, and it showed in every movement, every strike.


    But giving up wasn''t in Reign''s nature.


    As the battle raged on, Reign knew he had to take a risk. He couldn''t keep fighting on the swordsman''s terms; he had to force a change in the flow of battle. With a surge of energy, Reign unleashed a wave of darkness, expanding it outward in a thick fog that shrouded the battlefield. The fog was dense, obscuring vision and creating an environment where Reign''s abilities could thrive.


    "Trying to hide?" the swordsman''s voice echoed through the darkness. "It won''t work."


    Reign didn''t respond. Instead, he melded with the shadows, using his mastery over darkness to disappear from sight. The fog was his domain now, and he intended to use it to tip the scales. From within the shadows, he struck—quick, precise attacks aimed at the swordsman''s blind spots. His des shed in and out of the darkness, leaving trails of lightning in their wake.


    The swordsman''s eyes narrowed as he sensed the shift in strategy. His aura red, casting a brilliant light that cut through the fog like a beacon. He pivoted with incredible speed, blocking Reign''s strikes even as they came from unexpected angles. But for the first time, there was a hint of strain in his movements.


    Reign pressed the advantage, striking from multiple directions in rapid session. The fog distorted his presence, making it difficult for the swordsman to pinpoint his exact location. Every strike was infused with both light and darkness, creating explosions of conflicting energy that disrupted the swordsman''s bnce.


    It was working—he was pushing the swordsman back. Your next read awaits at empire


    But the man wasn''t done yet. With a shout, the swordsman''s aura erupted, sting away the fog and revealing Reign''s position. His eyes locked onto Reign''s with a cold intensity, and for a brief moment, the air grew still.


    Then, in a blur of motion, the swordsman unleashed a barrage of strikes that left Reign reeling. Each swing of the de was faster and more precise than thest, and Reign found himself struggling to keep up. His attempts to counter were met with ruthless efficiency, as the swordsman adjusted his attacks mid-strike, making it nearly impossible to predict his next move.


    Despite the relentless assault, Reign refused to back down. He channeled every ounce of his remaining energy into his next attack, his aura zing with a mixture of desperation and determination. His swords red with a brilliant light as he swung them downward in a final, all-or-nothing strike.


    The swordsman met the attack head-on, his de glowing with an intense silver light. The sh of their weapons sent a shockwave rippling through the battlefield, shattering the ground beneath them. For a moment, it seemed like they were evenly matched, their auras shing in a maelstrom of energy.


    But slowly, the bnce began to tip.


    The swordsman''s experience and control started to overpower Reign''s raw power. Reign''s arms trembled as he struggled to hold his ground, the weight of the sh pressing down on him. His vision blurred as exhaustion set in, and he could feel his strength waning.


    In that moment, the swordsman''s eyes shed with a cold determination. He pushed forward with a final surge of power, breaking through Reign''s defense andnding a decisive blow. Reign''s swords were knocked from his hands as the de struck him across the chest, sending him crashing to the ground.


    The battlefield fell silent.


    Reigny there, gasping for breath as painnced through his body. Blood dripped from the wound on his chest, staining the shattered ground beneath him. His vision was hazy, but he could still make out the figure of the swordsman standing over him, his de pointed at Reign''s throat.


    "You fought well," the swordsman said, his voice carrying a tone of respect. "But this is where it ends."


    Reign''s mind raced as he struggled to find a way out of this situation. He could feel his energy reserves running dangerously low, and the pain was making it difficult to focus. But even in the face of defeat, he refused to give up.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    With a final burst of determination, Reign summoned what little energy he had left. His aura flickered weakly as he prepared to make onest stand, even if it was a hopeless one.


    But before he could act, a sudden surge of power erupted from the distance. The swordsman''s eyes narrowed as he sensed the energy, and he quickly nced in the direction it wasing from.


    It was Jin.


    Despite the intense battle he had just finished, Jin was still standing, his aura zing with a dark, fiery light. The tonfa-wieldery defeated at his feet, his body unmoving. Jin''s eyes were locked onto the swordsman, and there was a fierce, unyielding resolve in his gaze.


    "You''re not finishing him off," Jin said, his voice low and dangerous. "Not while I''m still standing."


    "Oh, you actually managed to defeat him?" The swordsman asked as he nced at the figure lying below Jin''s feet with a surprised smile on his face.


    "Interesting, I didn''t think someone of your caliber would be present here today, I am truly happy to be able to experience so many talented individuals such as yourselves."


    "Now, since you are all so talented, powerful, confident, and unyielding, shall I reward you?" The man asked as he smiled at them all.


    "I will allow you to be one of the rare people to have seen my full power, and you will be the only ones who will not truly die after seeing it."