Every path led to death

A vicious and twisted smile spread across the woman's face in the sky as she watched the Shooting Star Dragon Halberd fly out of Cain's hand. She made certain the churning waves of her conjured ocean domain blocked the weapon from returning to him.

Her eyes glowed with a wicked light, already envisioning his body being crushed beneath her living water weapons. The idea of seeing Cain suffering, of seeing him fail after all his effort and the willpower he showed, filled her heart with sick pleasure. Yet, as she focused on the now-weaponless young man, all she saw was a monstrous determination powering him forward. Despite losing the halberd, it was clear Cain still intended to fight with every fiber of his being.

He no longer had the halberd, but he still had his fists!