Rui swallowed hard, his eyes darting between Kazel and the remnants of the cave. "Don't tell me… you actually integrated with the beast?"
Kazel's smile widened. "Would you believe me if I said yes?"
Saya folded her arms, studying him carefully. "You've been hard to believe so far," she admitted. "But answer me this—was this your goal all along? To hunt a Rare Spirit Beast just so you could integrate with it?"
"Of course. What else would I be after?" Kazel shrugged, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Lina blinked in disbelief. "R-Really?"
Yiren let out a deep sigh, rubbing her temples. "You're unbelievable, you know that? We were here to hunt it down, sell it, and make a decent sum of Spirit Stones. That was the whole point."
"Oh… so that's why you were after it?" Kazel chuckled, tilting his head. "Well, I suppose that makes sense."
"Not like we had much of a choice," Rui muttered. "We were already lucky you tagged along. I still can't believe Jang was a bandit in disguise."
Kazel shrugged, his voice carrying a casual authority. "Next time, be more cautious."
Rui let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah. Not every day you get survival advice from a kid half your age." What he didn't know was that he was receiving wisdom from a war-hardened conqueror.
Saya shifted her weight onto one leg, her brows furrowing slightly. "So, what now? What's your next move?"
Kazel rubbed his chin, thinking aloud. "I'm just preparing for the tournament."
Lina tilted her head in curiosity. "Tournament?"
Yiren's eyes gleamed with interest. "Oh? What tournament?"
Kazel smirked. "Scale Dalgona. Heard of it?"
Silence fell over the group. Rui's eyes widened in shock. "You're from a famous sect?!"
Kazel chuckled at the assumption. "Famous? Well… it had its time."
Saya narrowed her gaze. "What sect?"
Kazel's lips curled into a teasing grin. "You'll find out if you watch the tournament. I'll be in the arena."
Saya's expression hardened, and then she stepped forward. "Kazel, do me a favor."
Kazel raised a brow. "Hmm?"
She met his gaze with fierce determination. "Spar with me."
Without hesitation, Kazel nodded. "Sure." He stood up, brushing dust from his robes before anyone else could voice an opinion. He walked toward the center of the cavern, his presence alone demanding attention.
Both combatants stood five paces apart, the tension between them crackling like a drawn bowstring.
Saya was already in her stance—fluid, focused, every muscle in her body coiled like a spring. Her sharp eyes locked onto Kazel, reading his every breath, his every twitch. Her jaw clenched, determination burning behind her gaze.
Kazel, on the other hand, stood casually, his posture relaxed, almost indifferent.
"This duel won't involve spirit beasts, right?" Kazel asked.
Saya gave a firm nod. "I want to test raw skill against you."
Kazel opened his arms in an easy gesture. "What weapon should I use?"
"Your specialty," Saya answered without hesitation.
All eyes turned to Kazel. He tilted his head, lips curling into a knowing smile.
"I don't have a specialty, Saya." His words were light, but the weight behind them made her grip her sword tighter. "But I don't want to be rude, so I'll use a sword—just like yours."
Saya's brow twitched. "You sound really arrogant right now."
Kazel chuckled, unfazed. "Apologies if it comes across that way. But trust me, you'll understand soon enough."
Rui flipped a Spirit Stone into the air, the shimmering crystal floating weightlessly between them. The first pulse of energy from the stone marked the beginning of the duel.
The instant it ticked, both fighters exploded forward.
Kazel's sword swung in a sudden upward arc, forcing Saya to shift back instinctively. Then, with a smooth transition, he brought the blade crashing down.
Saya's eyes widened. (What kind of technique is this?!) The strike was wide, yet precise—taking up so much space that her usual counters felt cut off before they even began.
Kazel flowed seamlessly into the next movement, slashing in a broad half-circle. His sword carved through the air, dictating the battlefield as if he were a conductor orchestrating a deadly performance. Before Saya could recover, he took a single step forward and completed the arc, the full-circle strike leaving her no choice but to retreat again.
From the outside, it didn't look like a swordfight—it looked like Kazel was dancing, each swing a perfectly executed step in an elaborate choreography. His blade didn't just cut air—it conquered the space around him.
Kazel halted mid-step, his gaze locked onto Saya's heels—a mere hair's breadth from the cave wall. She was cornered. One more move, and this duel was over.
But that was exactly what she had been waiting for.
(Just one perfect parry… and I can turn this around.)
Her grip tightened. The moment Kazel struck, she'd deflect it and launch her counterattack. Her confidence surged—until Kazel moved.
He thrust his sword forward.
Saya was ready. Her blade flicked upward to meet his attack.
But she missed.
By the smallest margin, her sword grazed nothing but the air, the very edge of Kazel's hair brushing past it. Her breath hitched. (What?!) There was no time to recover, no way to reset.
She gritted her teeth, instinctively bracing for impact—only to feel the faintest touch on her robe, right at her chest.
A stunned silence filled the cave.
"Woah…" Lina breathed in awe.
Rui stood frozen, mouth slightly open.
Yiren simply shook her head with a knowing smile.
Saya's lashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze traveled downward—to the undeniable proof of her defeat.
Her sword, still raised.
Kazel's blade, resting lightly against her robe.
Her fingers trembled before she sighed, letting her sword lower to her side. A smile stretched across her lips. "I lost."
She looked up at Kazel, admiration flickering in her eyes. "I never thought you'd change your thrust trajectory like that. That was…" She chuckled. "Unfair."
Kazel, still balanced in a split stance, smirked. "Once you've fought enough opponents, you pick up a few tricks."
With an effortless motion, he straightened, dusting himself off as if nothing had happened. But the weight of his skill lingered in the air, undeniable and overwhelming.
Kazel stretched his arms as he stepped toward the cave's exit, his movements casual, unhurried. He turned slightly, flashing a smirk. "Well, it was nice seeing ya."
Then, without another word, he stepped into the forest and disappeared into the trees.
"W-Wait a minute!" Saya called out, but her voice barely reached beyond the cave. The rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds swallowed her words whole.
Silence settled over the cavern, leaving the remaining four to process his abrupt departure.
Yiren sighed before cracking a smile. "Well, it's not like he left without saying goodbye. And it's not like we didn't gain anything from this trip." She tilted her head, glancing at the entrance. "What an interesting fella, that Kazel kid."
She turned on her heel. "I'm heading back home."
"Yeah… me too." Lina wrapped her arms around herself. "This place is leaving a bad taste in my mouth."
Without looking back, the two girls exited the cavern, their figures vanishing into the light outside.
Rui remained, standing beside Saya. He exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "Shame. I thought he would at least hear me out."
Saya crossed her arms. "I know…"
Rui's lips pressed into a thin line. "The Jade Basin would have welcomed him, you know."
With that, he turned and followed the others, his footsteps echoing through the now-empty cavern.
Saya lingered a moment longer, staring at the entrance where Kazel had disappeared. Her fingers tightened into a fist.
"Not just Jade Basin…" she muttered under her breath before finally walking away.