Brutality

Danica's head drooped, her body trembling with fury, her anger palpable in the air. "What kind of reason is that...?" she muttered, her voice laced with disbelief.

"Not even Alfred Eldran... No, not even Tyrant Kolgwyn would dare…" Her voice faltered, trembling as her hand tightened around her sword hilt. "I can't let you live," she spat, lifting her head slowly. Her eyes burned with hatred as she pointed her blade directly at Shun's smiling face.

Her face contorted in anger, and she screamed with raw emotion, "How many more lives are you going to destroy?"

Danica charged at Shun, her sword thrusting forward, only to meet empty space as Shun dissolved into the shadows. Coincidence or not, the arena that Albert had constructed, under Leon's meticulous strategy, gave Shun every possible advantage. Dark veins of shadow snaked along the ground, creeping toward Danica in an attempt to ensnarl her.

With a swift motion, Danica swung her sword through the air, scattering the shadowy tendrils effortlessly.

High above, Shun reappeared, perched on top of the rock wall, casually surveying the battlefield. His demeanor was one of disinterest, as though Danica posed no threat at all. His gaze swept lazily across the chaotic scene: Gemini Iricson had already bested Alice Clayton, sparing her life, though her fate still hung precariously in the balance. Dharma Leyndra had ceased his bloody rampage, with only half of the original enemy forces remaining, staring fearfully at the demon before them.

The only ones struggling were Vito, Emilia, and Jaylen, desperately battling against a complete ethereal warrior. No matter their numbers, Vivid Nollen was an outlaw who had slaughtered hundreds—his experience made him a near-insurmountable foe.

Shun sighed and descended back into his battleground, landing lightly before Danica, who seethed with barely contained rage. He shrugged nonchalantly.

"Want to see something cool?" he asked, his voice almost playful.

Danica's only response was a mindless scream as she swung her sword at him once more. But the blade was intercepted by a long lance, deflecting her attack with ease.

She froze, her eyes widening in disbelief.

"That's not the entire show," Shun said with a grin. "The real performance has only just begun." With a flick of his wrist, the lance vanished, replaced by a black spear. He plunged it into the ground, and from the earth, dozens of spears shot up, forcing Danica to retreat. She was visibly rattled, unable to comprehend the sheer power in front of her.

"Who are you?!" she screamed, her voice cracking as her composure broke completely.

Shun ignored her question, leaping into the sky, a longbow materializing in his hands. He nocked three arrows and loosed them in quick succession. Danica managed to deflect the first two, but the third buried itself in her side, sending a wave of pain through her body.

"How pitiful," Shun remarked with cruel indifference. "Let me end your nightmare."

A flaming horn appeared in his hand, its glow casting an ominous light on Danica's pale face.

Her lips moved, forming a final, breathless question. "How…?"

The horn's eerie sound echoed through the air, and with that, Danica fell into unconsciousness, feeling—maybe only for a fleeting moment—a strange sense of peace. Her suffering had finally been put to a conclusion. 

Shun walked toward her limp body, dispassionately pried the sword from her grasp, and ended her life with a swift, final strike. He looked down at her, shaking his head.

"I pity you, Danica Amnir," he said, his voice soft yet devoid of sympathy. "You fought against a world that rejected you, using violence as your reply. But you are not like me. You are merely a failed ascendant ethereal warrior."

"You were always destined to lose."

He glanced at the sword in his hand, the Blade of Diversion, and smirked. "But don't worry, when I finally kill Alfred Eldran, I'll use your sword."

[Blade of Divertion]

Class: Ascended

Weapon type: Sword

Ability type: Defensive

Deflects close-range attacks and returns the force upon the offender.

"When you taste your own medicine, you'll realise how bitter it truly is"

 "How ironic…" With a flick of his wrist, Shun stored the sword in his mental collection, knowing that today's spoils would only grow richer.

Meanwhile, Vivid Nollen was nearing his breaking point. Leon's strategy had been clear: Vito would absorb the brunt of the damage, while Emilia and Jaylen would strike whenever an opening appeared. Now, all three were bloodied and battered, but Vivid himself was on the verge of collapse.

In his desperation, Vivid knew one undeniable truth: survival was his only path to resurgence. With a burst of energy, his spider-like appendages shot him over the wall, propelling him toward escape.

"Yo, where do you think you're going?" Shun's voice called out, a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes as he spotted Vivid's retreat.

Vivid, realizing that Shun was the only visible threat, lunged toward him, all his spider limbs slashing downward. But Shun effortlessly drew the Blade of Diversion, deflecting the onslaught and leaving Vivid staggered, his face twisted in confusion, regret, and terror.

That moment of hesitation was all Vito needed. His sword pierced Vivid's chest, draining the last of his life force before the outlaw could even cry out.

With Vivid's death, the tide of the battle shifted. Alice Clayton and the remnants of the Blackguard forces surrendered, surrounded by the victorious SIGMA Academy graduates. Alice's face was a mask of bitter defeat, though some of her subordinates still harboured a spark of resistance.

Shun stepped forward, signalling for silence. 

"Alright, I'm sure no one here wants to die, correct?" Shun's voice was light as he dusted off his shirt. "If you swear loyalty to us, we might just spare you."

One man stepped forward to speak, but before he could utter a word, a beam of shadow pierced his heart.

"Who told you you could speak?" Shun muttered, his brow furrowing in annoyance.

Several others tried to protest, only to meet the same fate, skewered by Shun's Boundless Gloom. The crowd fell silent, heads bowed in fear. Shun laughed, the sound cold and unsettling as he raised his hand and killed another group without a second thought.

"What was that for?!" a man shouted from the back, his voice trembling with anger. "They didn't do anything wrong!"

Shun shook his head, his expression almost pitying as he killed the man too. "No, they didn't. I just didn't like the look on their faces. Reminded me of people I'd rather forget."

The outlaws of the Capital Outskirts had seen many villains and madmen, but none had ever terrified them as much as the boy standing before them.

Shun spoke again, his tone calm and commanding. "Now, once more. If you swear loyalty to me, you might just survive."

One man, desperate, shouted, "Yes, yes, I will—"

But before he could finish, a shadow pierced him as well.

"Too quiet," Shun sighed. "Show me your true dedication."

The crowd erupted in frantic cries, begging for mercy, willing to pledge their lives to the ruthless boy in front of them. Shun smiled, satisfied. He turned to Alice Clayton, his gaze piercing. 

"Will you lead them?" he asked, his voice laced with casual impatience. "I don't have all day."