The spear focused him.

  It was as if it heightened his senses and numbed everything else. His eyes were able to easily follow Seunghyo’s movements and with [scan] he could predict his opponent’s every move. But even then, he knew his chances were slim.

  Each time Jinyoung [charged], he was able to deliver a powerful blow to Seunghyo with the spear. But the constant use of mana was wearing on him. While [dash] was a simple enough skill to use, [charge] required a not-insignificant amount of mana to activate. Enough that using it ten times in a row was exhausting.

  Jinyoung dodged a particularly nasty swipe before counterattacking with a swing of the spear. [Scan] telegraphed the strike early enough that he was able to dodge it easily and see that Seunghyo had left himself wide open.

  He swung the spear with two hands, almost like a baseball bat. His arms swung straight through and his aim was true, but the blow was almost a glancing one. It hit with a resounding “crack” but Seunghyo barely reacted. In fact, Jinyoung wasn’t even sure he felt it.

  A blackened fist shot out but Jinyoung [dashed] back putting some distance between the two of them.

  Attacks without [charge] were useless. He could only defeat this monster with the use of skills and the spear together.

  Seunghyo moved to close the gap again, launching a barrage of attacks meant to kill or maim Jinyoung. As he side-stepped and parried each strike, he knew that there was only one way this ended. This monster, Seunghyo, had to die.

  Again, Jinyoung [charged] and waited for Seunghyo to attack. His opponent obliged with a wide two-handed slash that would’ve beheaded the onion knight. Instead, Jinyoung bent backwards and let the attack sail harmlessly overhead before spinning around and delivering a thrust.

  The monster moved at the last moment and the skewering was instead a nasty cut across Seunghyo’s abdomen.

  Dimly, Jinyoung was aware of Youngho and Hana watching him from a distance. Youngho had a grim look on his face but Hana’s expression was unreadable.

  Jinyoung felt his face flush for a moment, but he pushed the thought from his mind. He let the cold of the spear back in and continued focusing his attention on the monster.

  But it’s not a monster, it’s Seunghyo.

  He blinked and in that instant, Seunghyo swung high with his clawed hands. The cut wasn’t deep, but Jinyoung felt his jacket shred as pain surged through his shoulder.

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  Jinyoung tried to focus on the cold, but his mind raced.

  He had to kill Seunghyo. Not just for his own survival, but for that of everyone here.

  And if he failed to kill Seunghyo, then there was a chance…

  Jinyoung shook his head and tried to dislodge the thought from his mind.

  He sent out short thrusts that connected with Seunghyo, pushing him back. None of the strikes would cut through the blackened skin, but they would create enough distance for Jinyoung to center himself again.

  “I’m sorry, Seunghyo.”

  He felt the cold recede from his mind. Whatever the spear was, it was empowering, but it was also killing him. He could feel his muscles screaming in pain as the cold bit into them. It was the reason he was missing his strikes. He needed to be in full control of himself if he was going to do this.

  Seunghyo closed in. Without the cold determination of the spear, Jinyoung had a harder time dodging his attacks, but he did his best. Finally, he saw the opening he needed. Seunghyo dove forward at him, but Jinyoung [dashed] sideways.

  He was out of breath, but he had the opening he needed.

  Jinyoung stepped forward, preparing to thrust the spear. He felt the mana in his body pool together and electrify, allowing him to activate his skill.

  He [charged].

  It felt like he was swallowed up by the darkness for a second. Jinyoung had the peculiar sensation of his body falling, but nothing happened. He pushed his muscles and stepped forward and thrust the spear, but the spear fell out of his hands. His legs wobbled and he stumbled forward.

  Jinyoung didn’t understand what was happening. Even as Seunghyo struck him in the chest, he didn’t get it.

  It wasn’t until Seunghyo threw him in the floor and he felt another of his ribs go, did he realize what it was.

  I’m out of mana.

  He felt Seunghyo’s hand grab him by the neck and lift him off the ground. His grip was tight and Jinyoung couldn’t breathe. He struggled, but his body felt broken. He wasn’t certain if it was the extent of his physical injuries or mana sickness from over exerting his magical energies. If it was the latter, he’d be able to walk again soon, but his skills would be out of commission for a day or two.

  As black spots filled his vision, he realized it didn’t matter. Seunghyo was squeezing the life out of him and this would be over soon enough. At the edge of his vision, he could see Hana run forward.

  No, run, he thought. Get out of here…

  The pressure increased and blackness filled his vision. This was it.

  But then it was gone. He felt his body crumple and hit the ground.

  What’s going on?

  His sight slowly came back to him. He saw Seunghyo standing over him.

  Why didn’t he kill me? What is he waiting for?

  Slowly the scene came into focus. Seunghyo stood over him, but his abdomen was pierced by the spear. The glowing beam of cold light had run straight through him.

  He blinked and tried to focus his eyes on the figure behind Seunghyo. And when he did, he tried to speak. To say something.

  But it was all he could do to speak her name.

  “Hana.”