Mixarnt and Kaelzar continued their relentless battle, losing track of time as they clashed again and again. Their movements were a blur of light and darkness, their strikes shaking the fortress with each collision.

When Kaelzar parried a strike from Enigma, Mixarnt used the force to propel himself upward, spinning in the air. He slammed Enigma into the ground with all his might, shouting, "Radiant Wave!" The impact created a powerful shockwave of radiant energy that surged toward Kaelzar.

Kaelzar gritted his teeth as the wave hit him, the force pushing him back hard. But in a split second, he countered, his dark energy flaring as he unleashed a devastating attack. "Dark Gale!" he roared, sending a blast of dark energy hurtling toward Mixarnt.

The radiant wave slammed Kaelzar into the wall, cracking the stone behind him. But Mixarnt, caught off guard by the counterattack, was engulfed by the Dark Gale. The force of the blast sent him flying, crashing into the opposite wall with a deafening impact.

Dust and debris filled the air as both fighters struggled to recover. Kaelzar pushed himself off the wall, his dark energy swirling around him like a storm. "You’re tough, kid, but not tough enough!" he shouted, his voice filled with manic energy.

Mixarnt coughed, pulling himself out of the rubble. His body ached, but his determination burned brighter than ever. "You’re not getting rid of me that easily," he said, gripping Enigma tightly.

Before Mixarnt could charge again, his legs wobbled, and he stumbled backward, barely catching himself.

"Haha... Damn..." Mixarnt muttered, his voice strained. His body screamed in pain—not just from the damage he’d taken from Kaelzar’s attacks, but also from the toll of using Enigma Enhancement at 100%. It felt like his muscles were being torn apart, stretched far beyond their limits. Blood trickled down his forehead and dripped from the corner of his mouth, but his deep blue eyes remained locked on Kaelzar, sharp and unwavering.

Kaelzar, too, was breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling as he grinned through the pain. He had taken significant damage as well, and exhaustion was starting to creep in. But the fact that Mixarnt was just an 11-year-old boy—someone who would tire more quickly—gave Kaelzar the edge.

"Kekekeke," Kaelzar laughed, his voice low and mocking. "You’re running out of steam. How much longer can you keep this up?"

Just then, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the room. Carlos burst in, his sword drawn and his eyes blazing with determination. "Kael!" he shouted, charging straight at Kaelzar.

Kaelzar smirked, his grin widening as he turned to face his old friend. "Took you long enough, friend," he said mockingly, emphasizing the last word with a sneer.

Mixarnt let out a sigh of relief, but he didn’t let his guard down. He remained vigilant, his grip tightening on Enigma as he watched Carlos and Kaelzar face off. The battle was far from over, and Mixarnt knew he couldn’t afford to relax—not when Kaelzar was still standing, and not when the fate of Naeva hung in the balance.

Carlos and Kaelzar clashed, their weapons meeting in a shower of sparks. The room trembled under the force of their blows; the tension thick as the two former friends fought with everything they had.

Mixarnt took a deep breath, forcing himself to stand despite the pain. He couldn’t let Carlos fight alone. Summoning the last of his strength, he raised Enigma, the radiant sword glowing faintly as he prepared to rejoin the battle.

"This isn’t over yet," Mixarnt muttered, his voice steady despite his exhaustion. He stepped forward, his eyes locked on Kaelzar. Together with Carlos, he would end this—no matter what it took.

Carlos was exhausted, his body battered and bruised from his earlier battle with the notorious criminals above ground. Kaelzar knew this, and his smirk widened as he realized his opponent had no advantage.

"Kakaka! Why the change of heart now? Did you come here to join me in my ambition to destroy Naeva???" Kaelzar taunted, his voice dripping with mockery.

"Shut up! I... I am your friend! And I’m living for Mikaela’s wish!!! Her wish was to see her brother live happily!!" Carlos shouted, his voice filled with anger and desperation.

"Happily!? Carlos, destroying the kingdom will bring me joy!!! Kakkaaka!" Kaelzar laughed, his voice wild and unhinged.

Carlos’ anger boiled over at Kaelzar’s mocking tone. The venom in Kaelzar’s words struck deep, shattering whatever remnants of their friendship remained. The bond they once shared crumbled like ash in the face of Kaelzar’s twisted ambition.

"No more!" Carlos snarled, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten as rage fueled his movements. He surged forward, his strikes slower due to his injuries but no less deadly.

Kaelzar parried Carlos’ attacks with ease, his grin never fading. "Is this all you’ve got, old friend? Pathetic!"

But as Kaelzar focused on Carlos, Mixarnt saw his chance. "An opening!" he muttered, forcing himself to move despite the searing pain in his muscles. "Enigma! Please! Give me some strength!" he pleaded, his voice trembling.

The spirit weapon responded, its radiant energy surging through Mixarnt once more. The 100% enhancement activated, and Mixarnt gritted his teeth as pain shot through his body. But he didn’t stop. He couldn’t.

"Radiant Wave!!!!" Mixarnt shouted, slamming Enigma into the ground with all his might. A massive shockwave of radiant energy erupted, racing toward Kaelzar with blinding speed.

Kaelzar’s eyes widened as the wave hit him, the force sending him flying backward. He crashed into the wall, the impact cracking the stone behind him.

Carlos seized the moment, charging at Kaelzar with a roar. "This ends now, Kael!"

Kaelzar, dazed but still grinning, pushed himself off the wall. "You think this is enough to stop me!?" he shouted, his dark energy flaring as he prepared to counter.

But Mixarnt was already moving. Despite the pain, despite the exhaustion, he charged forward, Enigma glowing brighter than ever. "We’re not done yet!" he shouted, his voice filled with determination.

The two fighters closed in on Kaelzar, their attacks synchronized. Carlos’ sword clashed with Kaelzar’s dark blades, while Mixarnt’s radiant energy surged around them. The room shook under the force of their combined assault, the air crackling with power.

Kaelzar laughed, his voice echoing through the chaos. "I’ll destroy you both!"

But Mixarnt and Carlos didn’t falter. They fought with everything they had, their determination unshakable. The battle raged on, light and darkness colliding in a final, desperate struggle.

As the fight reached its climax, Mixarnt knew this was their only chance. Summoning the last of his strength, he raised Enigma high, its radiant light piercing through the darkness.

"This is for Mikaela!" Mixarnt shouted, bringing the sword down with all his might.

The room erupted in a blinding explosion of light, the force of the slash shaking the whole area, even the darkwoods outside to its core.