A Battle of Life or Death.

— Dear diary, today on a twisted road, I helped an old couple pull their wagon out of themud. Their little granddaughter kept calling me “big brother,” hahaha... In the end, they gaveme a piece of dried meat as thanks. Lucky me, since I’ve only had potatoes for days.
Sitting near the campfire, the boy looked up at the starry sky, smiling to himself.— Really... even on the hardest paths, there’s beauty.
— Tsssss...
A sharp smell filled the air. He turned abruptly.— ...Huh? — his eyes widened. — N-no, no, no... MY MEAT!
He dashed to the fire, pulling the meat out in a hurry.— A-AAAAH! MY MEEEEAT! — he tried flipping it, blowing on it, patting it... nothing. Burnt.Black. Beyond saving.
He stared at it for two seconds. Then slowly turned his head toward the potato sack tossedin the corner... which, with an unlucky gust of wind, tipped over, spilling three shriveledpotatoes that rolled away slowly — as if mocking him.
His shoulders slumped.— I just wanted... some protein... damn it...
After a long night, the first golden rays of morning pierced through the stained glass ofLysielle Rosevelt’s room, casting beams of light across the polished marble floor.
The faint sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor, followed by three gentle knocks onthe door.— Young miss... — called a voice respectfully. — The sun has risen. It’s time to wake up.
Lysielle awoke with a soft sigh and sat up. Without delay, a slight gesture from her handinvited the maids outside to enter.
With graceful efficiency, they helped her dress, pinned her hair delicately, and refreshed herface with a damp cloth. Auri, the small verdant fairy, floated quietly nearby, watching everymotion with curious, watchful eyes.
In just a few minutes, Lysielle was ready. She thanked them with a faint smile, still feeling theweight of the silence that had settled over the mansion since the ceremony.— I have to go to the arena. — she said firmly, as the maids opened the door for her.— As you wish, my lady. — one of them replied, bowing briefly.
Even after everything, she still felt the heaviness of the previous day upon her shoulders —but she refused to let it break her. She walked through the stone halls with calm, steadysteps, determined to clear her mind and stretch her body.
During her walk, her ears caught soft voices — two servants chatting at the far end of acorridor, unaware of her presence.— They say young master Caine summoned a Space-Time Wolf... a legendary creature!— And lady Vellatrice? Her summoning was even crazier... some entity that warps realityitself, called “Cosmic Narrative,” can you believe it?
Lysielle paused for a moment, listening in silence. The tone of admiration didn’t stir jealousy— it only confirmed what she already knew. Her siblings had become the center of attention.She, on the other hand, was the discarded piece on the board.
Even so, she remained calm. She took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, andcontinued her walk toward the training arena. Whatever they said or did — she was stillLysielle Ravencourt.
The Ravencourt family’s training hall was vast and imposing, its dark stained glass tinting theevening light in deep crimson hues. The black onyx floor reflected faint images of thoseapproaching.
Lysielle walked firmly, wearing a simple training uniform. Her white hair, tied in a low ribbon,fell over her back. Her golden eyes — inheritance of an ancient, feared bloodline — werecalm, yet deep.
Auri, her summoned spirit, floated beside her, marveling at the weapons displayed along thewalls — enchanted swords, war spears, relics of past glory.
But peace didn’t last.
— You... still have the courage to show your face here? A disgrace to the Ravencourt name.— said a firm, controlled, almost mechanical voice.
Caine, the family’s second son, stood to her left. His white hair was tied into a ponytail, andhis golden eyes gleamed with arrogance and disdain.— I thought after your pathetic summoning, you’d have exiled yourself out of shame — hemocked, walking toward her.
— Don’t be unfair, Caine — a soft, dissonant voice whispered. — Our dear older sister is myprey... I’m the only one allowed to tear her apart.
Vellatrice leaned against her brother’s shoulder, eyes full of scorn. — “Yeah... looks like trashdoesn’t know when to crawl back into the gutter, huh, sis?” — she spat, each word drippingvenom.
Lysielle didn’t even turn her head. — “Tch...” — she muttered, adjusting her glove as if theyweren’t even there.
But the moment Caine’s hand grabbed her wrist tightly — trying to assert dominance — sheraised an eyebrow, turned her body smoothly, and slammed him onto his back, the impactechoing through the hall.
Without even glancing down, Lysielle released his sleeve and brushed off her arm like dust.— “So... it’s going to be another one of those pathetic attempts to kill me, huh?” — sheasked flatly, her voice tinged with boredom — and a mocking smile at the corner of her lips.
Caine rose slowly, hatred barely concealed. Both he and Vellatrice had come for her — andshe already knew why.
Lysielle took a few steps back. — Auri... return. — with a faint shimmer, the fairy dissolvedinto particles of light, vanishing softly.
As she prepared for what was coming, a thought crossed her mind. “— I can’t involve Auri inthis... he’s not a combat summon. He could get hurt...”
In the blink of an eye, Caine charged head-on. A circle of mana flared behind Lysielle, andthe Space-Time Wolf burst forth from distortion. The beast lunged at her back.
She didn’t turn. Because she was already certain — confident in her skill.
Her palm caught Caine’s frontal strike, while her body pivoted — cool and precise —avoiding the wolf’s fangs.
She ducked seamlessly and delivered a brutal kick. A sharp crack echoed through thearena. The wolf flew aside and vanished momentarily into thin air.
Then, spinning with force, Lysielle landed a clean punch to Caine’s stomach.
The impact was devastating.
His body flew like a rag doll, crashing against the opposite wall, cracking dark tiles andshaking the floor.
Vellatrice clapped slowly.— Perfect. Now it’s my turn.
Her curved blade slid from her cloak. She lunged with cutting speed, almost inhuman, hergrin growing wilder.
Lysielle didn’t step back. She didn’t draw a weapon. She didn’t raise a guard.
— Why don’t you draw your magical weapon, my sweet sister?... Do you actually think youcan beat me without it? — Vellatrice laughed, her sword flashing as she attacked.
— Weapons... are for when you intend to kill for real — she murmured.
Vellatrice unleashed a flurry of thrusts. Lysielle dodged them all with subtle steps, her bodyflowing between attacks like a river around stones.
Caine rose again, gasping, pride burning more than pain. — Vellatrice, finish this!— I’m trying, dear brother — she whispered with a twisted smile.
He summoned once more. The Space-Time Wolf appeared beside her, and together theylaunched a coordinated assault on Lysielle.
But nothing changed.
She didn’t just dodge — she toyed with them. It was as if she foresaw every move, as if shehad already won before the fight began.
Caine growled, clenching his fists, his roar echoing through the arena. — Enough! FullSummon!
The Space-Time Wolf reappeared beside him, warping the air. In an instant, its bodyfragmented into countless shards of golden light, swirling violently before collapsing intoCaine.
Lysielle’s eyes widened for the first time. She instinctively stepped back, raising her guard,distancing herself from Vellatrice. She knew exactly what that meant — an Arcane Fusion.So rare that even high-level summoners only dream of achieving it. A feat reserved forgeniuses among geniuses. And now it was clear — her brother was one of them.
As the golden particles faded, Caine’s body became encased in radiant mana armor. Thatpower could rival even someone at Level 5, like Lysielle... but—
Lysielle frowned. “Dangerous... but slow.”
Before the armor could stabilize, she vanished. In a blink, she was in front of Caine, whowidened his eyes — too late.
A brutal punch to the gut folded him over. Another to the chin launched him upward. Beforehe could fall, Lysielle grabbed his leg, spun, and smashed his face into the ground.
The fusion shattered instantly, golden fragments scattering through the air.
— “You were never a threat.” — she said coldly, looking down at his broken form.
Vellatrice froze — then smiled.
— “Hihihi... HAHAHAHA!” — she burst out laughing, theatrically tossing her sword aside. Itclattered and slid across the floor.
She grinned wide, almost childlike, licking her lips as her eyes gleamed with sadistic delight.— “Hehehe... Time for you to play with her...” — she whispered, raising her hands.
The space behind her ruptured — as if reality itself were being torn apart. Fragments of lightand shadow spiraled, forming a rift leading to the void.
— “Descend... Cosmic Narrative...” — her voice echoed, reverberating like a thousandvoices at once. The skies turned red, and the air itself grew heavy and distorted.
— “Welcome to my story, sister... I wrote it just to kill you!...”
Extending her arms, blood streamed from her hands, shaping itself midair. A crimson scythe— grotesque, pulsing, and alive — took form, dripping like it bled.
She smiled again, that same twisted innocence gleaming in her eyes.— “Hehehe... Let’s play together now...” — she whispered.
Caine staggered up, wiping blood from his mouth, eyes burning with hatred and humiliation.— “Damn you...!” — he growled, raising his hands. — “Summon — Mana Legion!”
At once, translucent beasts formed around him — wolves, birds, serpents, tigers... a wildhorde roaring in unison.
And then — “Return... Space-Time Wolf!!”
The air tore open. A violet portal erupted, and from it emerged once again the massivetemporal wolf, eyes swirling with the distortion of countless futures and pasts.
— “Come!!” — Vellatrice shouted, spinning her scythe, blood scattering like macabre petals.Countless creatures materialized, surrounding Lysielle from every side.
The mana beasts closed in, charging from all directions.
Lysielle inhaled deeply, fists tightening.— These beasts... magical constructs... this many could be dangerous. — she thought, calmbut sharp.
Her body ignited in blue flames. And like a falling thunderbolt, she dove into the horde. Eachstrike shattered dozens of summons, bursting them into clouds of mana.
The world around her became her battlefield — she used the pillars, the walls, every inch toher advantage.
But...
Caine and Vellatrice were waiting — patient, calculating. The moment an opening appeared...they struck like lightning, each from one side.
Lysielle’s eyes widened — she raised both arms, blocking instinctively.
Their combined strike hit full force. Pain flared.
Blood splattered across the ground.