The arena was filled with mountains formed from various laws, with rivers of time flowing around them.

Terrifying chasms formed whenever they clashed.

This arena wasn't just a deserted battlefield, but a horrifying one shaped entirely by laws.

Void's crimson eyes glowed as he stepped forward, the ground beneath him cracking under his weight. Ariya's golden aura flared, her longsword held tight, the ancient markings along its blade pulsing like a heartbeat. The air between them thickened, time itself trembling under their presence.

Without warning, Void lunged. Space warped around him as his speed eclipsed thought, each step leaving a smear of reality behind. Ariya's instincts flared; she swung her sword in a golden arc, slicing through the air. The two blades met midair with a thunderous clash, sending shockwaves that shattered the distant horizon. Mountains trembled, rivers shifted, and the fifth layer of space groaned under the impact.

Void smirked. "Is that all?" he taunted, his voice a deep echo that resonated in the bones. His dark scales shimmered as he twisted, dodging another strike, and in an instant, the tip of his greatsword struck like lightning. Ariya barely blocked it; sparks cascaded around her, scorching the arena. The force of the blow pushed her back, her boots gouging trenches into the stone beneath her.

She leapt, spinning through the air, her golden aura blazing brighter, the markings on her armor multiplying as if the very bloodline of her ancestors fueled her. She struck again, a continuous barrage of sweeping longsword arcs, overlapping strikes, each cut slicing through the air, each blow carrying her wrath. Void's shadow followed fluidly, his movements almost teasing, as though dancing with death itself.

With a roar, Void slammed his greatsword into the ground. The impact shattered the arena's surface, sending shards of stone and spikes of energy flying, each sharp enough to pierce the fifth layer of space. Ariya's golden aura flared into a shield, deflecting some of the debris, but a few shards grazed her armor, leaving glowing scars. Her eyes burned with resolve; she would not yield.

Void's tail whipped around, striking with the force of a collapsing star. Ariya rolled aside, the tail smashing into the arena and leaving a crater large enough to swallow a small fortress. The demon's wings unfurled, their tips cutting the air so sharply that miniature cracks formed in reality itself. He grinned, bloodlust radiating in waves.

Ariya's voice rang out, layered and ancient, as she called upon her awakened bloodline. Golden swords materialized around her like a storm, spinning at impossible speeds, each strike capable of tearing the fabric of space. Void laughed, enjoying the dance of blades, and with a single step, the ground beneath Ariya exploded, scattering her swords like stars into the void.

They collided again, shoulder to shoulder, strength against strength. The sheer pressure of their confrontation distorted space, creating shockwaves that radiated across kilometers. Both warriors' auras flared to their absolute limits, and for a moment, the fifth layer of space

seemed to pause, holding its breath.

Void's eyes glinted. "Impressive… but still beneath me."

Ariya's grip tightened. "Then try me."

And with that, they launched themselves at each other again, faster than thought, stronger than worlds ,their clash a symphony of destruction.

Void moved swiftly, each step crossing terrifying distances, shattering realities and bending all laws to his will as he struck hard, fast, and efficient.

Seeing this, Ariya quickly raised her sword in defense.

Boom!

The arena shook as cracks spread outward.

"Argh—!"

Ariya groaned as she brought her second hand up to steady her sword. Her body trembled from the energy transmitted through the blade. The force was terrifying but Void wasn't done.

His tail was like an extra sword, sharp and terrifyingly fast.

All Ariya felt was imminent death as she barely twisted her body aside.

Swishhhh—!

Blood sprayed as her shoulder blade was torn apart. Her right arm was struck and hung uselessly at her side.

Void pressed on, applying relentless force as she crumpled to the ground.

But her bloodline was not for show.

She regenerated instantly,bones rearranging, flesh knitting itself back together.

"Still not done?" Void asked coldly.

Bang!

His response was a knee driven into his chest, sending him flying.

Boom—skiddddd!

His legs sank into the ground as he landed, carving a small ravine before stopping, the force finally dissipating.

"Not quite," Ariya replied as she rose.

Void grinned, his crimson eyes dimming as his attacks shifted from injury to execution.

Every strike, every swing was meant to kill, targeting her weak points, breaking her down piece by piece.

Across the battlefield, Chu Su watched with a frown.

At first, the two had seemed equal, their attacks, their force evenly matched. But slowly, Chu Su saw it clearly.

Void was adapting. Evolving.

He countered every one of Ariya's attacks, exploiting her weaknesses with terrifying precision.

Her injuries healed but they multiplied faster and faster.

She couldn't even touch Void anymore.

"At this rate… she'll lose. No… she already has," Chu Su felt cold.

How terrifying was Void? Even at the same realm, using only physical prowess, he was this strong. What if he unleashed his full power?

What kind of creature was Void… and why was he so terrifying?

Slowly, Ariya seemed to realize it too.

She had already lost.

And then, one move sealed everything.

Ssshhhhhkkkk—!

Splurt—!

Ariya vomited blood as it splashed across Nameless.

Her body jerked as her vitality was violently siphoned away.

Void's sword had pierced straight through her abdomen and into her chest, nearly splitting her apart.

She had lost.

Chu Su gasped and moved to attack.

There was no time,she had to save Ariya.

"WAIT!!!" Chu su shouted as she nearly entered the arena.

Just then

Shaaaaaa—!

Her body was flung out faster than she had flown in.

A transparent dome surrounded the arena.

"Ariya—!" Chu Su rushed forward, but this time she stopped just inches from the dome.

Her head bled from the impact as she crashed into it. She was injured after all, the barrier wasn't formed from any energy she could comprehend, but from origin itself.

Her wounds refused to heal as blood streamed down into her eyes, yet she remained unfazed.

Her entire focus was on Ariya, who could barely remain standing.

It seemed Ariya was no longer able to heal either. Void had done something, her open chest wound continued bleeding.

Shana

Void pulled his sword free, leaving a massive hole through Ariya's body.

Her life-origin source began slipping away as her eyes struggled to stay open.

"ARIYA!!!" Chu Su screamed, tears streaming down her face.

No no no. Was she going to die?

"Stop," Void said with a single word, and Ariya's wound instantly ceased bleeding.

The hole was still there, but the bleeding had stopped.

Chu Su's scream died in her throat as her eyes widened.

A word.

Just one word had stopped Ariya from dying.

Who exactly was Void? No, that wasn't the right question. The real question was… would Void save Ariya? And if he intended to, then why create the dome?

"No,… you can't die now," Void said calmly. "The show is just about to begin. You see, Chu Su… have you ever heard a person scream without a throat?"

He turned toward her, grinning.

Chu Su felt her body go cold, bone-chillingly cold as her mind froze.