Dark energy swirled wildly around Elysia, twisting as if it were a living entity. The dark force that once symbolized her inner strength had now become a prison. Elysia was losing more with each passing second, but the resistance within her still burned brightly. Hela's laughter echoed from within the shadows, turning into a screeching melody that grated on the ears. Lucy's body was still under Hela's control, moving like a puppet. Her crimson eyes glowed with an unholy gleam. Max clenched his fists and watched silently, ready to intervene.
Hela's eyes narrowed. She looked at Elysia with a gaze full of pleasure. Her laughter mingled with the darkness inside her, slowing the flow of time itself. Every moment, every move, created a void in the universe.
"Stop hiding, Loki."
Then—suddenly, things began to change.
Elysia's body tensed as though invisible chains were pulling at her. Her violet eyes blurred, then rippled as if something was trying to emerge from within... Then, an emerald glow leaked from her pupils. For a brief moment, the two eye colors flickered as if they were at war with one another. A cold wave wrapped around her body, sinking deep into her bones. Something stirred inside her... No. Someone. A low laugh escaped her lips—but it wasn't hers.
"Oh, Hela... Still playing your little games?"
The voice was smooth, filled with arrogance and sinister joy.
And in that moment, she lost control.
The entire world went dark.
Hela's confident expression faltered, even if just for a moment. "Loki... so you're finally showing yourself."
Elysia's lips curled into a smile. A green light flared along her veins, twisting serpent-like patterns into her skin. As the black veins on her body rapidly faded, a sinister green aura began to spread. A laugh rose. But this sound didn't belong to Elysia.
"Did that surprise you? How sweet. Did you really think you were the only one hiding in the shadows?"
A cold shiver ran down Max's spine, his hairs standing on end. What he had read about Loki in the archives echoed in his mind—a trickster, a deceiver, a being who twisted the truth and corrupted the essence of reality. If Loki had returned... then the war had already slipped from their hands. If he truly had come back, everything would spiral out of control. Something stirred within Max; a fear, but also an unresolved ambition.
Max gritted his teeth.
"This… doesn't bode well."
Elysia's movements had completely changed. Her shoulders were more relaxed, her stance more confident, but most importantly... her gaze was no longer the same.
She was no longer Elysia.
Hela recovered quickly, her dangerous smile returning to her face.
"This is a wonderful surprise. Imagine, if the two of us joined forces... We could reshape this world. Twist it however we want. No chains. No limits. Just pure, unrestrained power."
Loki—no, Elysia's body—tilted her head slightly. Elysia's body unconsciously took a step forward. She raised her hand, stretched her fingers, then let out a laugh. Captivating, yet deadly.
"Now, now, Hela. Why should I share my power with you?"
Dark tendrils from the two god-like beings clashed in the air, twisting and wrapping around each other like serpents. One tried to overpower the other. The battlefield trembled with the force of their clash. The students watching from the sidelines recoiled in fear. Even Max, despite his courage, knew that rushing in without a plan would be suicide.
And then, in that moment, a spark...
Somewhere within the chaos, Elysia woke up.
No.
Something cracked inside her. It felt like being trapped in a pitch-black room in her own mind. But she was there. She was alive. She couldn't allow Loki to turn her body into his puppet. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and screamed out from the depths of that darkness.
"This is my body. My soul. My will."
Loki's smile froze.
Hela raised an eyebrow.
The voice inside her was Elysia herself.
A fire ignited within her. Loki's control staggered for a moment.
Hela's eyes narrowed. "What?!"
And in that fleeting moment, Elysia got what she needed.
"This is my body."
"I am Elysia."
"Leave, Loki."
With a quick and sharp motion, Elysia drew Spectral Blade from the shadows. The power inside her flared for an instant, and she plunged the blade into Hela's back.
Elysia's eyes returned to their blue hue.
Elysia felt as though she had vanished into the darkness, but she knew that every disappearance marked a new beginning. This time, she wouldn't give up. With the last of her strength, she was determined to fight.
Hela gasped for breath. Her control over Lucy dissolved. The dark energy surrounding them shattered like broken glass, scattering into the air and vanishing.
Loki's presence retreated back into the depths of Elysia's soul.
Hela's eyes opened wide in disbelief. Her power began to crumble. The shadows enveloping the arena retreated, the darkness around them trembling and fading.
Elysia, breathless, pressed her hand tightly to the hilt of her sword. With the last of her strength, she would seal Hela away.
Hela clenched her teeth and glared at her.
"You tricked me."
Elysia smiled bitterly.
"Yes."
And the battlefield... fell into silence.
But this silence was merely the calm before the storm. It was the herald of a fall, for the darkness could awaken again at the most unexpected moment.
Elysia staggered. She could barely keep herself standing. The battle had drained every ounce of her energy.
Lucy collapsed to the ground, unconscious, free from Hela's claws, but completely exhausted.
The arena's ground trembled.
Hela's body turned into a cloud of black mist and began to dissolve like a corrupted illusion. Elysia was determined to purge even the last remnants of the darkness within her. Though she had won this battle, the price of victory would be steep. As the cursed aura that had fallen over the arena quickly faded, the spectators held their breath.
Max rushed in just in time to catch Elysia before she hit the ground.
"Damn it, Elysia... you really don't know when to stop, do you?"
Before anyone could understand what had just happened, a burst of golden flame erupted, lighting up the battlefield.
Professor Ardent and Madam Mirage appeared, their faces grave.
"Enough," Ardent growled. "Both of them need to be sealed before they cause any more harm."
The two teachers, in perfect synchronization, drew intricate seals with their hands. Brilliant chains wrapped around Elysia and Lucy, suppressing the lingering effects of Loki and Hela.
The magic quivered for a moment...
And then, it settled.
The influence of the two ancient beings was now sealed.
The tension slowly dissipated. The battle was officially over.
As Elysia's consciousness began to fade, a weight pressed down on her body. But beyond this exhaustion, something else lingered. Deep in her mind, a shadow that had nearly faded stirred. And then, that sly, mocking voice whispered once again.
"Nice move, little knight. But this game isn't over... And you, you're still unaware of the rules."
Loki's voice seeped into the darkest corners of Elysia's soul, reminding her: The game wasn't over. The real danger wasn't just an unseen threat, but an unknown enemy.
And then, the darkness swallowed her.