The greatsword came down.The broad blade, curved at the tip, rough and thick, carried the full weight of Ragnar's body, all his fury, and all the momentum from his six-meter charge, which showed no sign of slowing.Lein did not raise his sword to block it.He tilted his black blade by just a few degrees, enough to create an angle that did not resist the attack but instead guided it away.The two blades met.SKRIIIIIIING!The sound of metal scraping against metal was deafening. Sparks burst in every direction, hundreds of orange points bouncing off the stone pavement and the walls of ruined buildings, illuminating the pools of blood around them with a light that had no place in such a scene.Ragnar's greatsword did not stop.Its blade slid along the back of the black sword, skidding sideways and continuing forward, downward, toward the empty ground beside Lein. The force that had been intended to split him apart now had no target, and Ragnar was carried along with it, his body leaning

Lein raised his black sword.TRAAAANG!The impact sent a shockwave through the entire street. The remaining windowpanes shattered. Dust rose in a ring. And for the first time, Lein's feet shifted.He was forced backward.Two meters. His shoes carved two grooves into the stone pavement before he came to a stop.Ragnar grinned, baring his teeth, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth."FEEL THIS!"He pressed down harder. His red blade pushed downward, slowly forcing the black sword toward Lein's shoulder.But Lein's expression did not change.No panic. Not even a furrow in his brow. Only the same calm, deep gaze.Then white energy flowed from his hand into the black blade.Slowly. Densely. Unlike Ragnar's wild red explosion, the white light flowed in an orderly manner, enveloping his sword with the quiet resolve of someone who had no need to shout to make himself understood.And Ragnar's advance came to a halt.As though he were trying to push a mountain.Lein twisted his wrist.C