The battlefield still glowed faintly from the shattered barrier, smoke curling through moonlight. Nisa knelt, breathing heavily. The others were rushing in—until—
> "STOP!" Mira yelled, grabbing Lara's hand.
"That barrier—it was only stopping the boys. Not us."
Lara's eyes flared. "Then we fight too."
Nisa, Lara, and Mira vs. Selis
Selis rose slowly from the lake, eyes glowing silver-blue—but not with sorrow this time. With wrath.
"I only have one life left," she whispered. "So I'll spend it making sure Nisa suffers."
Nisa stood. "Then come. But I'm not the same girl from before."
As Selis summoned her moonlight power again, Mira and Lara appeared beside Nisa, swords drawn.
Selis narrowed her eyes. "Three against one? Cowards."
Mira smirked. "We're not afraid of your illusions."
Lara: "Let's end this, quickly."
They clashed—blades echoing, fire burning, wind slicing through petals.
Selis was faster this time, fueled by pain and the shattering of her second life.
But Nisa's power only grew brighter.
Until suddenly—
The barrier cracked.
A voice boomed: "You already passed the trial. You're not meant to be here!"
A final magical push sent Mira and Lara flying out—safe, but forced back.
> "This is your path alone, Nisa," Lara shouted. "We believe in you!"
The Final Duel – Nisa vs. Selis
The air froze.
Selis floated higher, blade pulsing. "I was your past. I was everything you lost."
Nisa stood grounded, aura burning gold and crimson. "And I'm the future you tried to erase."
They clashed again—sword to sword—strike after strike.
Selis screamed: "He was supposed to love ME!"
Nisa countered: "Love isn't something you steal!"
Suddenly—a blade whistled through the air—
Straight toward Bihoo.
Time froze.
Nisa screamed, "NO!!"
The sword struck.
Bihoo collapsed.
Selis whispered, shaking: "This was my fate. My final life…"
Nisa dropped her sword and ran to him, tears falling.
> "Bihoo… I didn't get to say it back…"
Bihoo's hand moved.
He opened one eye.
> "...Did I do it well?"
Nisa blinked. "...You're ALIVE!?"
Bihoo grinned. "Faked it. To stop the fight."
Selis gasped. "You… pretended to die for her!?"
Her aura surged with jealousy—one final moonlight blast.
But Nisa rose, filled with rage and love combined. Her golden aura turned soft—not destructive.
> "This ends now, Selis. Not with hate. With healing."
She unleashed her pure goodness mana—a soft, glowing light that surrounded Selis, burning her away gently.
Selis's final words:
> "He… never looked at me… the way he looked at you…"
She vanished into silver mist.
Aftermath
Everyone ran to Nisa and Bihoo.
Mira: "He pretended to die!? Are you INSANE!?"
Kevin burst into laughter. "Bro! That's next-level romantic and stupid!"
Nisa stood there, jaw clenched. "I HATE YOU!" she shouted—then punched Bihoo's arm.
Bihoo: "Ow—! But it worked, right?"
She turned away. "Next time, I'll kill you for real."
Everyone laughed.
Even Lara cracked a smirk.
As they walked away from the shattered lake, a soft breeze carried Selis's final whisper:
> "In another life… I hope I'm remembered."
To be continued…