Is this really a Game?!

The spear of lightning surged through the air, crackling with intense energy as it closed in on the enemy leader. He tried to muster a defense, but the splitting headache from Reign's soul-based attack left him disoriented and vulnerable. The spear struck true, hitting the leader squarely in the chest. Lightning exploded outward, sending tendrils of electricity coursing through his body.

He let out a cry of pain as the force of the impact lifted him off his feet and sent him crashing to the edge of the platform.

For a moment, it seemed as if the leader might fall into the abyss below, but he managed to slam his sword into the platform, anchoring himself just in time. He hung there, breathing heavily, his once confident expression replaced with one of shock and disbelief.

"You underestimated me, and you didn't balance out your stats well," Reign said, his voice steady as he approached the wounded leader. "That was your mistake."

The leader struggled to pull himself up, but his strength was waning. Blood dripped from his wounds, and the damage from the lightning attack had taken its toll. Reign stopped a few feet away, his dual swords at the ready, waiting to see if the leader would surrender or attempt a final desperate move.

"You're strong," the leader admitted through gritted teeth, his voice strained. "But this isn't over yet."

With a grunt of effort, the leader pulled himself back onto the platform, using his sword as a crutch. His body trembled from the exertion, and it was clear that he was on the brink of collapse, but his eyes burned with determination. He raised his sword one last time, the blade trembling in his hand.

"Very well," Reign said, his expression hardening. "Let's finish this."

In a flash of motion, Reign closed the distance between them. The leader swung his sword with all the strength he had left, but Reign was too fast. He sidestepped the attack with ease, his movements fluid and precise. Before the leader could recover, Reign's swords blurred through the air, delivering a series of rapid strikes.

The leader's sword was knocked from his grasp, spinning off the platform and into the abyss. Reign's final strike was aimed at the leader's chest, and with a burst of energy, he drove his sword through the man's heart. The leader's eyes widened in shock, and he staggered backward, blood seeping from the fatal wound.

"You fought well," Reign said quietly as the leader stared at him with his eyes filled with determination.

"You have as well, but … you also made a mistake." The leader said as he suddenly grabbed both of Reign's hands and smiled dangerously.

Before Reign could attempt to pull his hands back, a mark present on the right side of the leader's neck glowed, and his aura changed.

"You have a mark?!"

"Most team leaders in the elite trials have them boy, and this is the final trial, it's nothing special for multiple members of a team to have marks!" The leader said as his body changed, turned purple and horns grew out of his head.

His arms bulged and elongated while his hands changed shape, sharp claws appearing and stabbing into Reign's hands, causing him to wince in pain before quickly pulling his arms back and jumping back to dodge a powerful blow from the leader who tried to headbutt him.

His hands were injured, skin and flesh ripped apart as bones could be seen in a couple of places, but Reign barely batted an eye at that as a purple aura covered his hands immediately and they started healing.

The leader stared at his hands before looking to the side, staring at Laura and gritting his teeth.

"Stay out of this." The leader said before opening his mouth, his mana being channeled toward it as a purple ball of energy formed on top of his tongue.

He then closed his mouth and seemingly swallowed the ball, but Reign felt danger from that action and quickly moved, appearing right between the leader and Laura.

The leader cocked his head back before suddenly moving it forward and opening his mouth, launching a devastatingly fast and powerful beam of purple energy toward Laura.

"Tch!" Reign clicked his tongue in annoyance as he felt the power of the beam and quickly lifted his right arm up before slowly slashing down.

[ Severing, Sword One ]

The sword trembled before a nearly invisible sword light moved forward, slashing the beam of purple energy in half, causing it to hit behind Reign, slicing through the platform.

The platform shuddered as the two halves of the purple beam sliced through it, sending chunks of stone and debris tumbling into the abyss below. Reign, standing firm amidst the chaos, stared down the transformed enemy leader, who now exuded an even more dangerous aura.

"That transformation, it seems to be demonic, but not a full demon, perhaps a being that has demonic blood in it?" Reign asked the leader with a calm expression.

'Seems quite similar to Tank and his mark.'

"You've pushed me to my limit," the leader growled, his voice deep and resonant with power. "But this fight isn't over, boy. I'll drag you down to the depths with me if I have to!"

Reign's eyes narrowed, his swords shimmering with energy as he prepared for the leader's next move. He knew that this would be a fight to the finish—one where neither could afford to hold anything back and yet, he had to hold back in order to use his mark later, once they got close to the throne.

The leader charged forward, his speed and strength amplified by his transformation. His claws slashed through the air with lethal intent, each swipe aimed to tear Reign apart. Reign, relying on his agility and reflexes, dodged and parried the blows, his swords clashing against the leader's claws in a flurry of sparks.

Unlike before, he was no longer only using his lightning, but his light and darkness as well.

The platforms beneath them shifted dangerously, teetering on the edge of collapse. The sheer force of their battle was tearing apart the very ground they stood on, making the arena even more perilous.

Reign knew he couldn't let this drag on. The longer the fight lasted, the more unstable their footing would become, and the greater the risk of falling into the abyss. He needed to find a way to end this, and fast.

With a burst of lightning-infused speed, Reign seemingly turned into a bolt of black and white lightning and closed the distance between them, his swords flashing as he unleashed a rapid sequence of strikes. The leader roared in defiance, meeting each attack with a counter of his own. Their movements became a blur, the sound of steel and claws clashing filling the air.

"It's futile boy!" The leader said as he suddenly swung his claws forward, unleashing a powerful shockwave that pushed Reign back, a trickle of blood escaping his mouth.

"Don't think you will be able to do anything to me without using a mark as well."

"I know you have one, there is no way somebody like you doesn't have it, so come, use it, let me see just how powerful it is! The leader roared, his current form making him seem incredibly evil and demonic.

But … the leader suddenly stopped and stared at Reign, his eyes widening in anger as he heard Reign chuckle.

"Sorry, but you are not qualified to see that."

"Why would I use my own mark to fight against an enemy I can win against without using a mark?" Reign asked with a calm smile as the leader clenched his teeth, almost breaking them as he stared at Reign with anger and fury.

"Very well, I shall then show you just what your arrogance will bring you."

The leader suddenly moved, a shockwave taking place where he previously stood on as he appeared in front of Reign almost immediately.

"That anger and hot-headedness, that is the reason you have lost today." Reign suddenly said as the leader's eyes widened before he stumbled and fell down to his knees.

Reign had anticipated that the leader would get angry at his words, and had already prepared for him to attack him.

Without the leader noticing it, he had used his soul power and prepared a powerful attack right in front of him, only waiting for the leader to get close so that he could attack him without the latter noticing it.

Reign had believed that in this current state, the leader might be able to notice the soul attack beforehand and perhaps even dodge it, thus he carefully prepared to attack him in a way he wouldn't be able to do a thing.

It worked much better than expected.

"That form gives you quite a lot, it even healed that heart that I stabbed, but it seems to make you prone to anger issues, do try to control yourself better next time." Reign said before disappearing from sight and appearing behind the leader.

His swords stabbed the leader from behind, piercing his heart while his head was already in the air, severed.