Shibisu's voice rang out across the cavern.
"Hey—princesses! Where are you?"
Silence answered him. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed.
"Seriously… did they actually get eaten by the Bull?"
He scanned the rocky walls, heart thudding—until he sensed a presence behind him.
He spun around. A woman stood in the gloom, her silhouette framed by dripping stalactites.
"Who—who are you?" Shibisu stammered, stepping back.
The stranger tilted her head, silver hair catching the faint light.
"Did you say 'princesses'?"
Shibisu swallowed hard.
"Y-Yes. We're here for the final test. But… the two Princesses chased the Bull and vanished."
---
Elsewhere in the cavern…
Endorsi's fingers curled around the hilt of the Green April as she strode toward Anaak.
Anaak's eyes were wide, her body shaking—yet she did not flee.
Endorsi's voice was low and steady.
"Let's finish this."
From the shadows, Ren's cold laugh echoed.
"Kill her," he commanded.
Endorsi raised the Green April, its whip crackling with potential.
"All right… let's get it over with."
She advanced on Anaak, who closed her eyes, bracing for the strike.
Instead, Endorsi dropped to one knee before her and spoke her final words. "…and then we'll have lunch together."
With a swift motion, Endorsi flung the Green April skyward. Anaak jumped and caught it.
"Ignition!"
The whip blurred into motion, spinning overhead until it became a spiraling tornado of luminescent tendrils.
Ren lurched back as the gale-force winds battered him. Then, like living serpents, countless glowing whips burst from that vortex and lashed out, shattering the stone floor where he stood.
Ren staggered from the blasts, wiping dust from his eyes.
Anaak's whips struck in unison—hundreds of blades snapping toward him.
Ren flipped backward, avoiding the onslaught by inches.
"Over here!" Endorsi called, rushing in with a series of punishing blows—first a punch, then a kick that sent him skidding across the rock.
Before he could recover, Endorsi moved behind him and tackled him to the ground. Simultaneously, Anaak's whips coalesced into a single, gigantic lash that slammed into Ren's back with earth-shaking force.
"Aaah!" Ren's cry echoed as he was driven against the cavern wall.
Pinned and gasping, Ren slid down the wall.
"I… don't believe it…" he muttered, staring at the two Princesses.
Endorsi strolled forward, hands on her hips.
"It's over, rice boy."
Ren sighed, a mock expression of regret on his face.
"Ah, jeez… Just remember, Princess—I'm only doing this in self-defense."
Without warning, he lifted his head. His mouth opened wide, light crackling within—then a blast of Shinsu erupted, glowing blue and arcing like lightning as it tore through the air.
Endorsi reacted quickly, leaping backward as the blast sent a shockwave rippling through the cavern.
"Horned woman!" Anaak shouted, glancing back just as—
BAM!
Ren appeared in front of her like a phantom. His fist drove deep into Anaak's stomach. Her eyes widened with shock as the breath was knocked from her lungs.
Before she could recover, Ren spun—his heel slamming into her side.
CRACK!
Anaak flew through the air, crashing hard against the cavern floor. Dust scattered on impact.
Ren chuckled darkly as he strolled toward her, hands in his pockets.
"Heh… Now that the warm-up's over, let's get serious."
He came to a stop before the crumpled Anaak, who lay gasping on the stone. Her body twitched, her limbs refusing to cooperate.
Ren looked down at her, his eyes gleaming with cruelty.
"You've left me no choice."
He raised one foot and placed it squarely on Anaak's chest—then pressed down.
"Gah!" Anaak cried out, her voice raw with pain.
Endorsi, still struggling to rise, clenched her fists.
"Stop that…!"
Ren turned to glance at her with mock surprise.
"Don't worry. I'll be sure to inform King Jahad of everything. A rogue Princess betrayed the rules… and I, in loyal duty, had no choice but to respond accordingly."
Endorsi's hands trembled as she tried to lift herself up, blood trailing from the corner of her mouth.
"You planned this… from the start."
Ren's grin widened, teeth gleaming in the dim light. He turned back to Anaak.
"Insects like you deserve to be crushed underfoot."
With that, he increased the pressure.
"Aaaaaagh!" Anaak screamed, her body arching in agony, eyes filled with helpless fury.
"Stop!" Endorsi shouted, voice hoarse.
But Ren only laughed—
"Hahahaha!"
---
A heavy "thunk" echoed through the cavern.
Then a hail of stones rained down from above, each impact drawing a fresh "ow—!" from his lips.
"Hey! Stop that! Who's there?!" Ren snarled, swiping at the air.
From the shadows stepped a tall woman, hair black tipped in peacock-red, eyes the warm brown of autumn. She wore a crisp white blouse and a scarlet skirt that fluttered in the lingering breeze.
"Who am I?" she asked quietly. "Just so you know, those two on the ground are my junior sisters."
Endorsi, still recovering beside Anaak, sat up and stared in surprise.
Shibisu rose and bowed, voice respectful: "Thank you, Princess."
Ren staggered, aghast. "What… a Princess? Here?"
The newcomer—Princess Yuri Jahad—surveyed the scene. She glanced down at the Green April and raised an eyebrow.
"Is that the Green April? Where's the Black March?"
Ren forced a polite bow. "By King Jahad's orders, I was to retrieve the 13-Month Series swords."
Yuri's lips quirked. "Oh, really?"
Ren straightened. "Yes. I will… return to my duties." He extended his tongue to reclaim the weapon.
But Yuri stepped forward, voice steel. "No. That's my responsibility."
Ren froze, mid-motion, tongue trembling.
Yuri asked, "Do you still need something?"
Ren's shoulders slumped. "King Jahad will be most… displeased."
Yuri cocked her head. "Huh?"
Ren exhaled, eyes distant. "To hear a Princess defend an impostor… I can hardly bear it."
Yuri's patience snapped.
"This is your final warning. Leave now—or I'll kill you."
She gathered Shinsu in the air, and the very ground beneath her trembled, cracking into a shallow crater.
Ren recoiled. "How can you look at me like that? The fear… it…!" He stammered, body shaking with excitement. "No—if you keep that expression, I won't be able to control myself!"
With a roar, he opened his mouth—and hordes of Shinheuh burst forth, charging like a tidal wave toward Yuri.
They slammed into her in a torrent of twisting tentacles and snapping maws, shattering stone in countless impacts.
A steady voice cut through the chaos.
"Hey, hairball."
Ren paused, confusion on his face, as the Shinheuh dissolved into nothing but blood pools at Yuri's feet.
She emerged from the mist of dust and debris, unscathed.
"I'm only defending myself," she said, voice calm.
With a single flick of her finger, a concussive wave rolled outward—sweeping through the cavern, clearing the dust in a heartbeat.
When the air cleared, Ren lay some distance away, gasping for breath.
Yuri stepped toward him, eyes cool and challenging.
"Why are you running? Scared?"
Anaak, standing beside Endorsi and Shibisu, whispered in awe:
"She's… incredible. A true Princess of Jahad."
Yuri turned back to Ren, hands on her hips.
"Come on, then. Let's finish this fight."