52: The last clash & the victory of loss

Cicely screamed as a huge blast erupted, dead silence enveloping the dome. Everyone present had their eyes widened in shock. Astrid charged toward the source of the blast, vengeance rising within her. She was enraged, her eyes filled with tears and anger, despair etched across her face. Her aura shattered the zone of Void as she reached the spot, only to see…

Cicely, covered in soft, fresh snow, with a beautiful hair clip adorned with an ice crystal design beside her. Void stood nearby, smiling as he looked at her. His Frostbane had been thrown away, and his hands were bleeding for some reason.

If you're wondering what happened, let's rewind once more—after all, that's why I'm here!...

In the final moment before he could strike Cicely, Void released his grip on Frostbane and used "Chillerz1 Fresh Snow!" The mana essence regained from Glacial Vortex was converted from the energy of Glacial Wrath into fresh snow. The blast occurred when Frostbane fell on the other side, releasing its energy.

"I'm sorry, my blade… I shouldn't have done this, but you know this better than I do. We just can't hurt the innocent, and that's the only reason you chose me…" Void thought to himself, trying to communicate with his blade. His hands trembled, bleeding as the conversion strained his nerves to the point of bursting.

Now, returning to the real timeline, enjoy!...

Void had lost one of his eyes. He had no strength left, had been stabbed in the chest, and his ribs were broken from the impact of Charles's attack. Void was bleeding from many parts of his body, yet a warm, calm, and bright smile played on his face. With that smile, Void handed Cicely a hair clip with an ice crystal design, which shone with a small amount of Void's mana essence from his Glacial Wrath.

"I'm… sorry… I don't know… how…" Cicely tried to apologize to Void, tears streaming down her baby blue eyes. She was trembling, horrified by the state Void was in. Void gently patted her head.

"Don't worry, you didn't do anything wrong. I know I look horrible, but you're a strong girl, right? Now go back, the duel is still on! Your mother has come to take you, and don't leave her again, okay? Hehe." His voice was cold, yet it gave warmth to Cicely. She gave Void a warm hug and returned to her mother.

Astrid wiped her tears, took Cicely in her arms without saying much, and nodded as a sign of gratitude. Void winked with the only eye he had left. As they both departed, Rubianna's crystal broke, and Samuel was disqualified.

Void then removed the crystals of Charles and Leonard, breaking them and eliminating both from the battle. "Shuri Lux, daughter of Platinum-ranked Knight Emelia Lux from the Lux family, of the new generation! Do you have anything to say in your defense?" Void said as he walked forward. His tone was cold, and the warmth in his eyes had vanished, replaced by a rage as cold as a graveyard shrouded in mist.

"Haha…" Shuri let out a sinister laugh at Void's comment. "Are you going to kill me or something? Is this baby girl angry now? Will he whine with his one eye now?" Shuri mocked, summoning her ten blades again.

"It's amazing to see how a potential Magic Swordsman is now on the verge of losing his life. You've already lost that charming feature, your mana capacity is depleted, and you can no longer use your full strength… puff… haha!" Shuri taunted as she and her blades charged toward Void.

"What a bitch that Vivi is. She was ready to poison you just to get a chance to stay with Leo. She betrayed you—the person who was the biggest reason you chose this fight! Die already, Void Middletown!" Shuri's blade neared Void's neck, but at the last second, Void disappeared and reappeared behind her.

"Glacial Wrath!" Void attempted to land a punch, but it was deflected by Shuri's blades, which acted as shields. One, two, three, four, five… Void continued landing punches. Shuri managed to deflect them, but each impact punished her, and her blades began to crack.

"Celestial Bindin…" Shuri tried to cast a spell to bind Void in chains, but before she could finish, her blades shattered, and Void's punch landed on her chest, sending her crashing into the walls of the dome beside Void's other demon, Frostbane, which was glowing wildly.

"Mana Infusion!" Void chanted, his body glowing as the monster within him awakened. "I know I've lost my mana capacity, but I guess if I just beat her to a pulp, it will be enough for me to rank up and marry all my fiancées. There's no telling what will happen next, but I won't let you live happily, Shuri! And Vivienne, you've crossed your limits. Let me just finish this! I hope you're ready with a better explanation!"

Shuri was horrified. Before she could regain control and cast her magic, her body gave up, recalling all the past incidents that occurred when Void used Mana Infusion.

Void walked towards her, his Frostbane glowing wildly, creating cracks in the ground where Shuri was stuck. "I… me… ju… s…" Shuri stammered, but before she could finish, Void began punching her. The impact of his Glacial Wrath and Shuri's screams sent chills through the Elysian Majesty and the ocean itself.

Void punched her repeatedly, but before he could go too far, he regained his consciousness. Without a word, Void bent down, whispered something in Shuri's ear, healed her completely using Ice Recovery, and broke her magic crystal, ending the duel and securing his victory.

Void turned away without basking in his triumph. The doctors approached to take him away immediately, but they stopped as Void had already healed himself completely. Everyone in the dome was stunned, silence surrounding the space.

Void walked out of the dome, and as he did, Rubianna approached but stopped midway. "Void…?" Rubianna said, but she too halted, sensing the uncontrollable anger emanating from Void.

Void entered his room and shut the door behind him. "Promises… are important… relationships… matter… Void! You're not Ajay to throw all your feelings away and become selfish again… there are bonds… responsibilities… there… are people who matter…! Why…! Vivienne!!" Void muttered as tears streamed down his face. "Vivi…! Why did you…? The one closest to me… betray me… why?"