Azureveil was still scanning the ruined plaza when he suddenly stopped.

  His eyes — bright, sharp, electric — shifted toward Dael.

  “You. Mage. You mentioned something about Flercher’s skill.”

  Dael nearly dropped his tablet.

  Kira, Slyeph, and Merrin snapped into tension instantly.

  Rina stepped forward before Dael even opened his mouth.

  “It’s nothing,” she said quickly. “Just a sword trick. A… useless one.”

  Azureveil’s expression sharpened — not angry, not amused.

  Interested.

  Then he smiled.

  A terrifying smile.

  Without warning—

  KRAA-THOOM!

  Lightning exploded from his palm, striking the row of abandoned houses beside them.

  The buildings were blown apart like sand sculptures — wood and stone vaporizing into dust and sparks.

  A scream echoed from the dungeon merchants hiding nearby.

  Azureveil lowered his arm, smoke curling from his fingers.

  “Nothing connected to Flercher is useless.”

  His gaze locked onto Rina.

  “Hand over the tome. Now.”

  Rina tightened her grip on her sword.

  “I refuse.”

  Azureveil nodded once.

  “Then die protecting it, woman.”

  He lifted his arm.

  Lightning surged upward — not a spell, not mana, but raw elemental will flooding muscle and bone.

  It wrapped around his entire limb like a burning storm.

  Dael yelped, “H-Holy crap—he’s Overcharging his whole ARM?! That’s suicide!”

  Rina exhaled slowly.

  Azureveil narrowed his eyes.

  “…What are you smiling at?”

  Rina tilted her head just slightly.

  “Flercher only stopped Overcharging when he died.

  You're nowhere close to that yet.”

  Azureveil’s face twitched — the smallest crack of pride hit directly.

  Lightning flared.

  “Very well.”

  Azureveil vanished.

  The stone under his feet shattered from the force.

  Rina barely saw him appear in front of her — a streak of lightning in humanoid shape.

  His rapier thrust—

  She blocked.

  Barely.

  The clash sent a shockwave tearing cracks across the plaza floor.

  Rina’s teeth rattled.

  Her body screamed.

  But—

  Her blade responded faster than expected.

  Her lightning wasn’t wild, wasn’t chaotic.

  It was sharp.

  Focused.

  The training with Azhareth — the agony, the finger burns, the discipline — reflected in every movement now.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Azureveil pulled back, eyes narrowing.

  “…Your lightning is refined.”

  Rina didn’t answer — she lunged.

  “Lightning Slash!”

  A clean arc of electricity cut through the air.

  Azureveil parried with one hand —

  but the impact forced him a single step back.

  Just one step.

  But it was enough to shock him.

  “What—?”

  Rina didn't give him time.

  She spun, blade humming with the same rhythm Azhareth taught her.

  Azureveil blocked again — his rapier sparking violently.

  “You channel lightning… like a Sovereign.”

  “No,” Rina said between breaths.

  “Like a student.”

  Her momentum lasted only seconds.

  Azureveil’s speed multiplied suddenly as he shifted to serious combat.

  His Overcharged arm struck her guard once—

  twice—

  the third time breaking her stance completely.

  The fourth hit sent her flying across the plaza.

  She crashed into a collapsed stall, coughing blood, ribs screaming in pain.

  Kira moved—

  Slyeph grabbed her arm, shaking her head violently.

  This wasn’t a fight mortals could interrupt.

  Azureveil stepped forward, rapier glowing with white-blue arcs.

  “You refine lightning well,” he said softly.

  “But you lack years. And you lack purity.”

  He flickered again — appearing above her.

  Rina rolled away just as the rapier struck the ground where she lay—

  a crater erupting under the impact.

  She gasped for breath.

  Lightning coiled around her arm—

  He was already behind her.

  “Too slow.”

  Azureveil’s kick sent her spinning across the plaza.

  Her shoulder dislocated.

  Her vision blurred.

  “RINA!!” Dael shouted.

  He threw the small metal tin —

  she caught it mid-motion.

  Elixir of Regrowth (Pill Form)

  — the last gift from Azhareth’s brutal training.

  She swallowed two.

  Her bones instantly realigned.

  Skin closed.

  Blood vessels sealed.

  Her nerves reconnected in seconds.

  Azureveil stared, stunned.

  “…What alchemy—?”

  Rina grinned despite her bleeding lip.

  “Medicine.”

  Then she lunged.

  She met his rapier in a burst of sparks.

  He slashed.

  She parried.

  His Overcharged limb buzzed with killing intent —

  while her lightning returned sharper each time she swung.

  Azureveil struck her thigh — she swallowed another pill.

  He pierced her shoulder — she swallowed another pill.

  He sent her flying again — two more pills.

  Kira muttered, “She’s going to overdose—”

  Dael whispered, “No such thing with THAT potion.”

  Slyeph: “A miracle item… but for how long?”

  Rina fought harder.

  Her lightning arced cleaner.

  Her slashes grew more precise.

  Her footwork steadier.

  Azureveil’s eyes narrowed.

  “You’re adjusting mid-combat?”

  Rina didn’t answer.

  She stabbed forward —

  Azureveil blocked —

  Their lightning collided in a blinding storm.

  The plaza shook.

  Stone melted around them.

  Azureveil’s Overcharge flickered slightly.

  He paused.

  Rina staggered.

  Both panting.

  Both trembled.

  Both knowing neither could continue.

  Azureveil lowered his rapier slightly.

  “...A stalemate.”

  Rina spat blood, but lifted her blade again.

  “Call it whatever… you want.”

  Azureveil studied her — not with contempt, but with intense interest.

  “Your teacher,” he murmured.

  “I must meet him.”

  Rina scowled.

  “No.”

  Azureveil smirked faintly, though blood dripped from his lip.

  “This world has become interesting again.”

  He turned away, lightning still crackling around him — the promise of future confrontation hanging in the air like a storm waiting to break.

  Rina fell to one knee.

  Her fingers trembled.

  Her lightning still buzzed faintly in her veins.

  The battle was over.

  But the war that followed…

  had only just begun.