The Dream 3

As the inverted world trembled around them, Leo and Virtue stood side by side, facing the fuming Senshou. His composed demeanor was gone, replaced by barely contained fury.

"You shouldn't even be here!" Senshou roared, his voice echoing through the distorted landscape. He waved his hand, and the buildings around him twisted and converged, forming an impenetrable wall of steel and concrete.

Leo tightened his grip on his sword, determination blazing in his eyes. Virtue, however, stepped forward with an aura of calm confidence.

"Nice trick," Virtue said, his radiant crimson eyes locking onto Senshou. "But it's not enough."

Before Senshou could react, Virtue vanished. A blinding flash of light followed, and in an instant, the massive barrier Senshou had summoned was cleaved in two. The walls groaned and collapsed, revealing Virtue standing at the epicenter, his small blade glowing with otherworldly brilliance.

Senshou's eyes widened. "That's impossible…"

Leo seized the opening. "First Art: Wind Blade!"

A roaring crescent of wind shot toward Senshou. Still stunned, he barely managed to sidestep the attack, the force grazing his arm and tearing his sleeve. His katana flashed as he countered, but Virtue was already on him, dashing at a speed that seemed to surpass light itself. A quick slash from Virtue forced Senshou to leap back, creating distance.

"You're fast," Senshou admitted, his voice icy. He raised his hand, summoning massive serpentine dragons of ice from the ground. They coiled and hissed, their crystalline forms exuding an aura of freezing death.

"I've had enough of your interference," Senshou growled. "Let's see how you handle this."

The dragons surged forward, their icy maws snapping at Virtue and Leo. Leo rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding a crushing strike. Virtue leapt into the air, his blade glowing with radiant energy.

"First Art: Light Blade!" Virtue shouted, slashing downward. A beam of pure light erupted from his sword, cutting cleanly through one of the dragons. It shattered into shards of ice that rained down harmlessly.

Leo didn't hesitate. "First Art: Wind Blade!"

His attack tore through another dragon, scattering its fragments into the distorted sky. The remaining two dragons twisted and lashed out, but Leo and Virtue moved in perfect harmony, evading and countering with relentless precision. Their combined attacks overwhelmed the frozen constructs, leaving Senshou exposed.

Senshou's frustration boiled over. He charged forward, engaging both of them in close combat. His katana clashed with Leo's blade, and the two exchanged a flurry of strikes, their movements almost too fast to follow. Virtue joined in, his attacks timed perfectly to complement Leo's.

The battle became a blur of motion. Senshou ducked, parried, and retaliated with calculated precision, but even his skill couldn't keep up with the relentless onslaught. Leo's wind-enhanced strikes pushed him back, while Virtue's radiant blade forced him to stay on the defensive.

"You're done!" Leo shouted, delivering a powerful kick that sent Senshou skidding across the ground.

Virtue didn't let up. He raised his hand, summoning a series of glowing orbs that hovered in the air above them.

"Second Art: Radiant Meteors!"

The orbs shot downward, slamming into Senshou's position with explosive force. The ground trembled as bursts of light and energy erupted, consuming the area in a dazzling display. When the dust settled, Senshou's figure emerged, battered and weary, his breathing ragged.

Leo saw his chance. With a roar, he dashed forward, channeling every ounce of his strength into his blade. "This ends now!"

His sword cut through Senshou, cleaving him in two. For a moment, time seemed to freeze. Then, Senshou's form dissolved, fading into nothingness. The distorted world around them began to stabilize, the inverted buildings straightening and the sky returning to its rightful place.

Leo lowered his sword, panting heavily. "Is… is it over?"

Virtue stepped beside him, his expression calm but serious. "Not quite. That was only his projection. You still have to finish the fight in the real world."

Leo turned to Virtue, confusion flickering across his face. "What do you mean? Wasn't that him?"

Virtue shook his head. "This was his domain, his illusion. He's still out there, but you've weakened him significantly. Now, it's up to you to end it."

Leo hesitated, but Virtue placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You have limitless potential, Leo. As long as you stay true to your morals and keep your composure, you can overcome any challenge."

The world around them began to blur, signaling the end of their time in the inner world. Virtue's radiant form started to fade.

"Wait," Leo called out. "Will I see you again?"

Virtue smiled, his red eyes glowing faintly. "I'm always with you. Remember that."

Back in the real world, Leo's eyes snapped open. He was back in the arena, the familiar sights and sounds flooding his senses. Senshou was hurled backward, his body slamming into the ground with a resounding thud. The once-dominant warrior now looked disheveled and exhausted, his breath coming in shallow gasps.

The rest of the squad stared in shock, their weapons still drawn but lowered as they tried to process what had just happened.

"What just… happened?" Kouneli asked, his voice filled with confusion.

Velvet's eyes darted between Leo and Senshou. "Did you… win?"

Leo didn't answer immediately. He stepped forward, his gaze locked on Senshou. The once-mighty opponent now looked small and vulnerable, his arrogance stripped away. Leo raised his sword, prepared to end it once and for all.

Senshou looked up at him, a bitter smile on his lips. "So… you've grown. But this isn't the end, Leo."