Cracked Light, Raging Shadow

The air around them vibrated.

Two opposing forces—light and shadow—collided in the middle of the battlefield.

Reed stood tall, surrounded by a black mist that crawled like a living creature. His eyes glowed purple, filled with darkness that threatened to swallow everything.

Across from him, Alexander Vael radiated a burning holy light. The sword in his hand was no longer just a blade of steel—it was the fire of an unwavering will.

The knight of light and the lord of shadow.

A true battle was about to begin.

In the blink of an eye—

They moved.

Alexander shot forward, leaving a trail of light behind him. His steps shattered the ground, and in an instant, his sword was in front of Reed's chest.

But Reed only smiled.

FWOOSH!

His figure disappeared.

A shadow enveloped him, and in an instant, he appeared behind Alexander.

"Too slow."

A black hand reached out from the ground, grabbing Alexander's leg and pulling him up.

But the knight was not surprised.

With a single thrust, he shattered the shadow's hand with holy light, then spun around quickly—

And slashed back.

CLANG!

His sword blade clashed with a black dagger that appeared out of nowhere.

Reed blocked the attack with one hand, a faint smile on his face.

Their eyes met.

And in the next split second, the true battle began.

Alexander attacked first.

His sword moved swiftly, creating waves of light that swept across like a storm. Each slash tore through the shadows around him, destroying the mist of darkness.

Reed dodged with nearly impossible movements.

His body blended into the shadows, appearing and disappearing at every corner of the battle.

When Alexander slashed from the left—Reed appeared on the right.

When Alexander slashed from above—Reed appeared below, launching an attack from an unexpected gap.

"It's useless."

Reed's voice was light as if he didn't take this seriously.

"Light may illuminate the darkness, but…"

Suddenly, a shadowy claw protruded from Alexander's chest.

Blood splattered onto the ground.

"…darkness will always be one with this world."

Alexander coughed up blood, but his eyes remained firm.

Then, before Reed could move any further—

Light exploded from within Alexander's body.

"That is if you can win!"

A wave of holy energy exploded, destroying the shadowy hand that had been stuck in his chest.

Reed jumped back, his purple eyes narrowed.

Alexander held his breath, pressing his hand against the wound.

Blood dripped onto his shield, but his steps remained firm.

"You are fast, Reed. But I have fought shadows my entire life. I know how to fight you."

Reed chuckled softly.

"Really? Interesting."

Slowly, the black mist grew thicker around Reed.

The air grew heavier.

The ground shook as if the world were rejecting him.

From beneath his robe, something emerged.

Bigger black hands. Eyes that glint in the dark. And behind him, a shadow in the shape of a giant monster began to form—a manifestation of power he had never released before.

"Then show me. Can your light defeat this?"

The giant shadow roared, its voice resounding through the sky.

Alexander looked at him without flinching.

He gripped his sword tighter.

"Just try it."

Then, he stepped forward.

The sky above Nox Valley shook.

The darkness that Reed had summoned had now become something more than a shadow. It was no mere mist or illusion—it was a living creature.

A giant black figure with dozens of purple eyes stared down at Alexander from above. Its body was shapeless, undulating like an endless ocean of night.

And then…

It moved.

BOOM!

The giant black hand slammed into the ground, creating a massive crack that spread out in all directions.

Alexander jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding a blow that would have destroyed his body instantly.

But before he could catch his breath—

A second hand emerged from the shadows behind him.

With impossible speed, the black claw grabbed him from behind, shattering his silver armor in one blow.

"Gahh!"

Blood spurted from Alexander's mouth as his body was thrown into the air.

Before he could fall, Reed was upon him.

"I said, you can't win."

Reed slashed with his dagger, aiming for Alexander's heart.

But despite his wounds, Alexander still held on.

In the split second before the dagger struck him, he raised his sword to block.

CLANG!

The clash of the two sent a wave of energy shaking the entire valley.

However, this time… it was Alexander who was thrown down.

His body hit the ground hard, creating a large crater.

Dust billowed into the air.

From above, Reed stared at him expressionlessly.

"That's enough. Rise again, if you still can."

Inside the crater, Alexander panted.

His sword was still gripped in his hand, but the holy light on its blade was beginning to weaken.

His wounds were deepening.

His strength was almost gone.

And for the first time… he began to doubt.

Could he win?

He tried to stand, but his legs were shaking. His vision was blurry.

All around him, shadows began to creep in, enveloping his body.

A voice whispered in his mind.

"Give up…"

"You know it's futile…"

"Darkness always wins…"

And for a moment—

Alexander felt like giving up.

But then, amid that darkness, he heard another voice.

Soft. Hopeful.

A voice that reminded him of something important.

"You can't give up, Alex…"

It was Bianca's voice.

The voice that had always been his light.

His eyes slowly fluttered open.

No.

I can't lose.

I can't lose.

His hand gripped his sword tighter, despite his wounds.

Slowly, the blue fire rekindled on the blade.

From above, Reed frowned.

"Huh? You still have the strength?"

Alexander didn't answer.

He just forced himself to stand.

One step.

Two steps.

Every movement felt like a thousand blades piercing his body.

But he stood still.

"You can't break me, Reed."

Alexander's eyes glowed golden.

The light on his body flared up again, brighter than before.

"I am not just a knight of light… I am someone who has sworn to protect this world."

Then, he raised his sword to the sky.

The dark sky began to split.

The black clouds that had been covering Nox Valley were broken by the golden light that descended from the sky.

It was no ordinary light.

It was the light of the ancestors of the knights who had fallen before him.

A light that refused to go out.

Reed narrowed his eyes.

For the first time since the fight began—

He felt disturbed.

"Tch… So you can still stand, huh? Interesting."

But Alexander did not hear his words anymore.

He was already moving.

With speeds that surpassed human limits, he launched himself toward Reed with his sword which had now transformed into a holy radiance.

And in one slash—

Their fight reached its climax.