Tainted Snow.

Erenyx clasped her hands, summoning Shiki. The Serpent's scales shimmered with a deep purple hue, glinting ominously in the fractured light of the arena. Its massive form coiled and rose from the ground, releasing Nala from its mouth with a sickening, wet thud. Erenyx climbed atop the serpent with ease, her expression grim, as Shiki lifted Loretta in its jaws and carried them across the battlefield. Once they were safely distanced, the serpent vanished, sinking back into the ground as though it had never existed.

Loretta opened his mouth to speak, but Erenyx raised a hand, silencing him. Her eyes darted toward the center of the arena. The air felt different now, heavy, charged. The melodic hum of Essentia grew louder, soothing yet deeply chilling. A shiver ran down Erenyx's spine as her body instinctively tensed. Then, from above, a figure descended.

Pale fair skin, shoulder length white hair that spiked wildly yet wasn't unformal.

He hummed a soft tune as he fell, a serene smile painted across his face. The sheer weight of his aura rooted everyone in place. It was as if the very air had turned to stone.

At the center of the arena, another figure stood, a masked man with an iron grip around Agheel's neck, his four fingers pressing into the flesh while his pointer hovered just shy of contact. Yet Agheel's ever-present smile remained unbroken. "Ah, Virgo," Agheel said casually, his tone betraying no fear. "How's the boy?"

Virgo tilted his head slightly, his voice cold and clipped. "He's fine. But I don't have time for games. You know it's over for you if you so much as twitch."

Agheel chuckled, the sound almost carefree. "Yeah, I know."

As their exchange unfolded, the descending man, moved with an unsettling grace. His presence flickered like a mirage, appearing and disappearing across the arena with impossible speed. One moment, he was beside Sorin, gazing into his eyes with a laugh, their eyes clashing as his translucent eyes reflected Sorin right back at him. The next, he stood before Loretta and Erenyx.

"Elysian," Virgo muttered, his voice cold. "You know better."

Elysian's smile widened as he chuckled. "You're right," he admitted. "I don't want him on my ass, or Greyoll, for that matter."

He turned his attention to Erenyx, locking eyes with her. Her breath hitched, her heart pounding painfully in her chest. Every instinct screamed at her to run, but her body refused to obey. The melodic hum of his Essentia grew faster, almost hypnotic, as his grin stretched unnaturally wide.

Then, in an instant, he vanished, reappearing crouched in front of Sorin. The weight of his aura suddenly lifted, and the others found themselves able to move once more. Elysian's gaze lingered on Sorin. "Why didn't you take the offer?" he asked, his tone light, almost mocking.

Sorin scoffed. "I'd rather die than work for your shitty organization."

Elysian laughed, a low, dangerous sound. "Harsh words, Sage."

The tension shattered as Nala bolted from her position, determination blazing in her eyes. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, drowning out the hum of Essentia. Each step felt heavier than the last, but she pressed forward, her mind racing with a single thought: If I can distract him long enough, Agheel can save us all.

She leaped into the air, aiming a feint at Virgo, hoping to confuse him. But before her strike could even begin, his hand shot out with terrifying precision, gripping her ankle like a vice.

The moment his fingers closed around her leg, a searing pain ripped through her body. It felt as though fire and ice clashed beneath her skin, shredding her nerves. Nala screamed, her voice raw and primal, as cracks began to spiderweb outward from his grip. Her skin split open like fragile glass, the fractures glowing faintly as if her very essence was being drained.

Virgo tilted his head, his expression cold and detached, watching her writhe in agony. The cracks deepened, widening into jagged fissures. Blood seeped from the edges at first, but then it stopped, her veins turning dry and brittle, disintegrating into nothingness. Her screams grew hoarse as the fractures reached her knee, and then higher, creeping like death's hand along her thigh.

The horror intensified as the first flakes of her body began to fall. Pieces of her flesh, pale and ashen, crumbled away in soft, weightless fragments. Her toes disintegrated first, followed by her foot, then her lower leg. The ash scattered into the air, vanishing before it even touched the ground.

"N-No..." Nala choked, her voice cracking with pain and terror. Her hands clawed desperately at her leg, as if trying to hold herself together, but her fingers crumbled under her own touch. The ash spread upward, consuming her torso. Her ribcage became visible for a fleeting moment, the exposed bone cracking and fracturing before it too turned to dust.

Her eyes met Erenyx's for a split second, wide with fear and desperation. But there was no time to say anything, no chance to plead or fight. The cracks reached her chest, her neck, and finally her face. Her scream cut off mid-breath as her jaw fragmented, the sound reduced to a haunting rasp.

Then, in an instant, she was gone.

All that remained was a faint wisp of ash swirling in the wind, carried away like the remnants of a burnt-out flame.

The arena fell silent.

In a single, fluid motion, Virgo lifted another finger from Agheel's neck, and that was all it took. The air around them shifted, trembling under the sudden surge of raw power. Agheel was gone in an instant, reappearing above Elysian with his fist cocked back, the vibrations around it growing so violent it seemed the very fabric of reality might shatter.

The blow came down like judgment itself, slamming into Elysian's head and driving him into the arena floor with a deafening impact. The ground cracked and caved beneath him, fissures spiderwebbing outward as if the earth was screaming in protest. The air rippled violently, a forceful gust exploding outward and disorienting everyone nearby. The reverberation of the strike hung in the air, sharp and absolute.

Before the dust even settled, Agheel twisted again, his body a blur of motion. But in that same heartbeat, Virgo's voice cut through the chaos:

"Elysian, get your ass up and run! We can't fucking win!"

Virgo barely had time to move before Agheel appeared in front of him, the playful smile gone. What remained was a cold, unyielding stare. Without hesitation, Agheel launched a right hook straight toward Virgo's chest. Virgo tried to raise his guard, but the punch struck first.

The impact was cataclysmic. The punch detonated with a sound like a thunderclap, a deafening crack that split the air itself. The shockwave rippled outward, distorting the space around it. The arena seemed to shrink under the weight of the blow, the atmosphere recoiling as though fearing Agheel's wrath.

Virgo's body shot backward, his breath stolen by the force of the strike. Just as he began to spiral out of control, Elysian appeared behind him, panic etched into his usually confident face. Catching Virgo midair, Elysian didn't waste a second. With a desperate glance toward Agheel, he vanished, taking Virgo with him.

Agheel landed hard, dropping to one knee as his fist slammed into the ground, leaving a crater. His shoulders heaved with frustration, his head bowed, and his voice low with a mix of anger and regret. He punched the floor again, the tremor traveling outward like an aftershock.

Erenyx collapsed to her knees, the shock of everything that had transpired etched into her wide eyes. Her breaths came in shallow gasps as she struggled to process what had just happened. Nearby, Loretta stood silent, his head hanging low, his thoughts unreadable.

Agheel pressed two fingers to his temple and spoke into the comms with a cold, commanding tone:

"Get Ahjma'il down here immediately. We've lost one of the participants."

A pause. He listened to the voice on the other end before responding sharply, "Yes, get Rahdar down here too. Have him patrol the area. I won't let another one of those Circle bastards infiltrate this place again."

He clenched his jaw, the muscles in his face tightening as he gritted his teeth. The anger and disappointment were written clearly across his face. He had never allowed anyone to die under his watch, not even during his years as a war commander.

The Embodiment of Strength, they had called him back then. Allies knew that if they stood within his sight, they had nothing to fear. But enemies? For them, it was simple. Run on sight.

A radiant beam of light struck the ground next to Agheel, its glow dissipating to reveal a tall man kneeling before him. His dark skin glistened faintly in the light, and his buzz-cut hair highlighted the solemnity in his sorrowful expression. The golden mechanical left arm he bore shimmered as he moved.

"Stand, Ahjma'il," Agheel said, his tone steady yet carrying a trace of hesitation. After a brief pause, he asked, "Do you think you can revive someone killed by Virgo?"

Ahjma'il rose to his feet, his gaze lowering as his voice trembled. "D-Demshiel? No, I'm sorry. Once Virgo reduces something to ash, I cannot bring it back." His shoulders sagged under the weight of his words, shame evident in his demeanor.

Agheel's jaw tightened, but he placed a firm hand on Ahjma'il's shoulder. "Head up, boy. You've done no wrong. Go tend to the participants. Thank you."

Ahjma'il nodded deeply before disappearing in a flash of light, reappearing a moment later beside Sorin. Crouching, he spoke softly, "Are you hurt, Sage?"

Sorin shook his head, his tone calm but distant. "No, Ahj, I'm just fine."

Ahjma'il studied him briefly, his golden arm flexing slightly before he nodded. "And where is Ryaihan?"

Sorin's lips curled into a faint smile, pride flickering in his otherwise weary eyes. "Eliminated by Kaku. But he won that fight, and greatly so."

Ahjma'il acknowledged the words with a respectful nod, then vanished again in another brilliant column of light. This time, he reappeared in front of Loretta and Erenyx.

"Are you two hurt at all?" he asked gently, his golden arm extending slightly as if ready to heal.

Erenyx inspected her body, flexing her muscles and rolling her shoulders before shaking her head. "No," she replied curtly.

Ahjma'il then turned to Loretta, who simply muttered, "I'm fine."

Agheel's voice cut through the moment, firm yet laced with urgency. "Quickly, now. Go assist Rahdar."

Without hesitation, Ahjma'il disappeared into another pillar of light, leaving the group in heavy silence. Agheel stepped forward, his usual confidence tempered by visible unease. "I'm sorry," he began, his words faltering as he glanced at each of them. "I didn't think things would get this bad."

The mighty Embodiment of Strength trembled slightly, his fists clenching at his sides. His regret was palpable, but before it could fester, Sorin spoke up, his voice calm yet firm.

"They were part of The Circle," Sorin said, crossing his arms. "There wasn't much we could do, especially with Demshiel holding you by the throat like that."

Agheel's eyebrows shot up, his stern expression briefly giving way to surprise. "You know about The Circle? And Demshiel?"

Sorin sighed, the weight of unspoken knowledge pressing heavily on his chest. "Yeah. I know more about them than I'd like to admit. Elysian too."

Agheel's laughter broke the tension, though it carried a hint of bitterness. His usual demeanor returned, though it felt like a mask. "I'll have one of my Court Angels question you about that—if you're fine with it, of course."

Sorin gave a single nod of assent, and Agheel pressed two fingers to his temple. "Yeah," he said, speaking to someone through a communication device. "Ask around if Yagura is free. I need him to question someone for me."

He paused, listening to the response before turning his attention back to Erenyx and Loretta. "And you two are absolutely sure you're okay?"

They both nodded again, but Agheel wasn't satisfied. "I'll still have Ahjma'il look you over once he returns."

As he spoke, he put his hands behind his head and began walking away, his posture seemingly relaxed. Yet, the weight of failure hung over him like a storm cloud. As one of the Four Pillars of the World, he knew the cost of showing weakness. To falter was to invite doubt, and doubt could fracture the fragile peace they fought to maintain.

Behind his composed facade, Agheel's mind seethed with anger and regret, but he knew better than to let it show. For now, strength was his only armor.

...

Far from the chaos of the arena, Rahdar roamed the outskirts of the Clan of Ceto's lands, his spear slung lazily over his shoulder as he chewed on a piece of gum, each step heavy with boredom. The air crackled faintly with static as his irritation seeped into his Essentia. "Damn Yagura," he muttered, spitting out the gum and grinding it under his boot. "Always dumping his crap on me. Guy's like a ghost, but I'm the one stuck cleaning up his mess."

He stopped, his instincts flaring. Ahead, a figure staggered in the dim light, clutching at the air as if begging for salvation. Rahdar's sharp eyes caught the essence of decay weaving through the man's flesh, reducing him to ashen fragments that scattered on the wind. Feet away, standing still and silent like a reaper at work, was Virgo.

Rahdar gritted his teeth, his grip on the low end of his spear tightening. Thunder rumbled faintly as arcs of lightning danced along the weapon's edge, but he didn't dare move. He knew better. Virgo's presence was suffocating, and Rahdar had no interest in becoming his next victim. Instead, he waited, his body tensed like a coiled spring, until the man was no more than tainted snow and Virgo's ominous signature faded from the area.

"Bastard," Rahdar muttered under his breath as he approached the spot where the man had fallen. Among the ashes, something glinted, a folded letter, untouched by decay. He crouched, touching his temple with two fingers. "Ay, Boss," he said, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "I found something, and Ahjma'il might wanna hurry his ass over here. Feels like I've got a target painted on my back."

The response came swiftly, and before Rahdar could say another word, a pillar of golden light shot down next to him, illuminating the darkened landscape. From it stepped Ahjma'il, his towering frame and gleaming mechanical arm imposing despite the sorrowful look eternally etched into his face.

"Rahdar," Ahjma'il said softly, his voice almost trembling. "What is it?"

Rahdar gestured to the letter, his expression grim. "This little souvenir's from Demshiel. I don't trust it. Might disintegrate the second I open it. Be ready to reverse it if that happens."

Ahjma'il nodded and knelt beside him, his golden arm glowing faintly as he prepared to cast his magic. With careful hands, Rahdar unfolded the letter.

The words were simple but chilling:

This is only the beginning. The Circle has many plans for this great world. The second song of ash is on its way. You've been warned.

As Rahdar finished reading, the paper began to crumble, darkening into ash as if consumed by its own malevolence. Ahjma'il's golden arm pulsed with radiant light, the ash freezing midair and reversing its decay. The letter reformed, its ominous words preserved. Rahdar handed it off with a scowl.

"Boss should've just let us guard the damn tournament," Rahdar muttered, rubbing his temple. "He's so damn stubborn sometimes."

Ahjma'il barely heard him, his eyes fixed on the letter, the weight of its warning clear in his furrowed brow. "I could've saved the girl," he said quietly, his voice breaking. "If I'd been there sooner..."

Rahdar clicked his tongue and set a firm hand on Ahjma'il's shoulder. "Listen, Ahj, you can't save everyone. You're not omnipresent. Hell, imagine if it was me or one of the others getting sliced up, you'd need to be there for us too."

Ahjma'il didn't look up, but Rahdar pressed on. "If you wanna blame someone, blame The Sage."

Ahjma'il tilted his head, confused. "Sorin?"

Rahdar snorted, his grip on the spear tightening. "You know how that bastard's powers work better than anyone. He could've done something, anything, to change the course of that fight. But he didn't. Maybe the girl wasn't supposed to die, but someone was. He wanted it to happen."

Ahjma'il stared at him, the light in his mechanical arm dimming slightly as his face twisted with doubt and distress. "You really think he'd-"

"I don't think," Rahdar interrupted, standing and planting the butt of his spear into the ground. "I know. That's the kind of guy he is."

Ahjma'il didn't respond. Instead, he placed his glowing hand on Rahdar's shoulder, engulfing them both in a pillar of light. As they vanished, Ahjma'il's face remained clouded with unease. The thought of Sorin betraying them gnawed at him, and though he didn't want to believe it, Rahdar's words lingered.

The second song of ash was coming, and trust, once shaken, would not so easily mend.

...

Inside a dimly lit room, a round table dominated the space. Two chairs sat empty, while Agheel presided at the head of the table. His face, usually composed, twisted with unrestrained fury. Ahjma'il and Rahdar sat across from him in silence. Rahdar, visibly nervous, avoided eye contact as sweat traced lines down his face. To see Agheel enraged like this was almost unheard of.

The room stayed eerily silent until the door creaked open. A man entered: light brown skin, serrated shark-like teeth glinting in the dim light, his left eye shut and scarred. Gills flared faintly on each side of his neck as he exhaled. This was Yagura Mikochi.

Yagura scratched his head as he strolled to his seat, dropping into it with a careless thud. He propped his feet on the table and set down a massive, bandage-wrapped curved blade beside him.

"Yagura," Agheel's voice was ice, stern and cutting.

The casual grin on Yagura's face faltered. He quickly fixed his posture, realizing the gravity of the situation.

"The one person I ordered to be present at the Tournament of Dawn. Where the hell were you?"

Agheel's fist slammed into the table, cracks spiderwebbing outward from the impact. The force of his anger silenced any retort Yagura might have had. Instead, Yagura's gaze dropped to his sword, his bravado deflating. Agheel's eyes narrowed, his words laced with disdain.

"That gluttonous sword has done you no good since the war."

Yagura's apology came in a soft murmur, his voice almost drowned by the tension in the room.

Agheel exhaled heavily, steadying himself before continuing. "If something like this happens again, I swear, Amaware and I will personally take care of those Circle bastards. I'll split this damn planet in two if that's what it takes to get rid of them."

The mention of Agheel's weapon, Amaware, the Heaven Splitter, sent a shiver through the room. Forged by the legendary blacksmith of myth, the blade was a thing of awe and terror. In the hands of the right wielder, its power could cleave the heavens themselves. Agheel rarely spoke of it, let alone threatened to use it. The gravity of his words was not lost on anyone present.

"I want each and every one of you to slaughter every fucking Circle member you come across," Agheel growled, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Spare none."

As he finished, the air itself seemed to respond. A pillar of light engulfed Ahjma'il, whisking him away in an instant. Rahdar vanished next, a crackling storm of lightning marking his departure.

Yagura lingered for a moment longer, his usual bravado absent. Then, with a ripple of unnatural movement, he sank into the floor, leaving behind only a small puddle of water in his wake.

Agheel sat alone now, his clenched fists trembling as the cracks on the table spread further. The room, heavy with unspoken fury and the weight of his resolve, plunged back into silence.

Agheel sat in silence for a few moments.

Then, Agheel placed his phone on the table, his fingers lingering over the screen before pressing the call button. He was dialing a number he swore he'd never use again. The line rang twice before a voice answered, rough and condescending, each word dripping with mockery.

"Aggy? To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Agheel's jaw tightened at the familiar tone. He could almost see the smirk tugging at the man's lips.

"Cut the shit, Greyoll," Agheel growled. "Do you understand the dan-"

Greyoll Ra interrupted, his voice sharp enough to slice through steel. "I know you put my son in danger. If this were any other man on the planet, I'd have your damn head."

Agheel's hand clenched into a fist, but he forced himself to remain composed. He opened his mouth to apologize, but Greyoll's voice came through again, cold and unyielding.

"Keep him in your territory. I'll send one of my own Angels to retrieve him."

Agheel exhaled heavily, the weight of the conversation pressing down on him. "Understood," he muttered, his voice low but steady.

The call ended with a sharp click, leaving Agheel alone in the room. He stared at the phone for a moment, then placed it back on the table with deliberate care.