After Hitory accepted the duel, they moved to an open field nearby, where the confrontation would take place. The air was heavy, as if something dark awaited what was about to unfold.

  The elf stopped, stared at the two of them, and with a slight smile on his face, said:

  — "I guess I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Anon Blek, an Eternal Guardian, second only to the Elven nation's monarch."

  His tone was calm, almost provocative. He slid one hand inside his cloak and drew a small wooden flute, decorated with glowing runes that faintly pulsed as if they were breathing.

  — "Let's go then. I'll teach you a song."

  Tekime's eyes widened, her face instantly turning pale. She stepped back, her voice faltering as it escaped her lips:

  — "E-Eternal Guardian... He’s second only to an Elven Monarch..."

  Her breathing quickened, and the trembling in her hands was visible.

  Hitory observed Tekime for a brief moment, noticing the fear etched on her face. He turned his gaze back to Anon and stepped forward, his expression hardening. His hand gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, fingers digging into the cold metal.

  — "Let's go!"

  Without hesitation, Hitory shot forward toward Anon. His feet pounded against the ground, each step echoing in the heavy air. His sword reflected the pale sky's light, a cold gleam cutting through the low-hanging mist around them. The wind seemed to hold its breath, as if afraid of what was to come.

  Anon, with a cold and calculating gaze, raised the flute to his mouth. The melody that echoed was unsettling — low and dragging, like a lament from an endless abyss.

  — "Oh winds and shadows... sing with me... the harmony that confuses... and subjugates..."

  The words flowed like a wicked whisper, laced with something that didn't belong to this world. The melody grew louder, spreading like a dense mist that seeped into the ears and mind, piercing like invisible needles. The air around them distorted, as if reality itself was twisting before that profane tune.

  Nearby trees groaned loudly, their branches twisting downward, as if bowing in reverence to the dark power Anon was unleashing.

  Hitory kept advancing, his eyes fixed, his expression cold and determined. He felt that magic trying to creep inside him — suffocating, heavy — but nothing happened. His body remained free, as if that wicked melody was powerless against him.

  Anon paused the melody for a moment, his eyes narrowing in disbelief.

  — "How...?"

  Before he could react, a scream tore through the air:

  — "Hitory! That magic... it's driving me crazy!"

  Tekime collapsed to her knees on the ground. Her hands clutched her ears desperately, as if trying to rip the sound from inside her head. Her pale face, drenched in sweat, betrayed her agony. Tears streamed from the corners of her eyes — every second under that melody was unbearable torture.

  Anon watched the scene, his lips curling into a twisted smile. His eyes gleamed with a nearly sick curiosity.

  — "He's immune...? But how is that possible...?" — he muttered to himself, his voice low and raspy.

  Hitory's gaze shifted to Tekime, fallen on the ground. His blood turned cold in his veins. He halted his advance and rushed to her side, his heart hammering in his chest.

  — "Tekime! What happened?" — His voice carried a mix of concern and rising anger.

  Tekime lifted her face with difficulty. Her eyes were unfocused, and every word seemed to escape with great effort.

  — "That... is magic... It doesn't seem like it, but it is..." — She breathed heavily, her chest rising and falling rapidly. — "He's using an ancient magic... Song-Spells."

  She closed her eyes for a moment, struggling to gather her thoughts, then continued:

  — "You weren't affected... because of your Mana Block."

  Hitory frowned, confused.

  — "Mana Block?"

  — "Yes..." — Tekime propped herself on one knee, still trembling. Her voice faltered, but she forced herself to continue. — "When mana comes into contact with your body... it dissipates. It's like you're... a void to any magic that relies on mana."

  Anon let out a low laugh, a hoarse sound that seemed to vibrate in the air, heavy and dark.

  — "How fascinating..." — His eyes narrowed, and his smile widened. — "So you're not just some random fool. But I wonder..."

  He brought the harmonica back to his lips, his eyes gleaming with perverse excitement.

  — "Can you protect her... until the end?"

  The melody returned, this time more intense and frantic. The shadows around them began to writhe and crawl like hungry serpents. Something larger took shape in the darkness — a distorted silhouette that threatened to devour everything in its path. The ground trembled, as if warning that the worst was yet to come.

  — "I get it... So this works to my advantage." — Hitory took a deep breath, his voice firm yet still heavy with concern. He turned to Tekime, who was watching him with a worried expression.

  — "Tekime, just stay back and help me with basic support. Don't get any closer, okay?"

  Tekime hesitated for a moment. Her gaze flickered between Anon and Hitory, uncertainty clear in her eyes.

  — "Alright... just be careful." — Her voice came out almost as a whisper, and she stepped back a few paces, keeping her distance.

  Hitory turned back to Anon, his fingers tightening firmly around the sword's hilt. The cold metal felt heavier, as if absorbing the tension of the moment.

  — "Looks like your trick didn’t work on the right person." — He raised the blade to face level, his eyes locked on the elf. — "Now... it’s my turn." — Hitory grinned.

  Without hesitation, Hitory shot forward. His steps were firm and swift, each movement precise. The sword gleamed under the sunlight as it cut through the air, its trajectory direct and lethal.

  Anon, however, didn't move. He simply curled one side of his mouth into a cryptic smile — as if he'd been expecting this.

  The moment the blade drew close, a translucent, shimmering barrier appeared before him. The impact was brutal. The collision exploded like thunder, scattering dust and stones in all directions. The sound echoed across the field, and the ground seemed to shake beneath Tekime's feet.

  — "A barrier..." — Hitory murmured, stepping back a few paces while trying to grasp what had happened.

  Suddenly, a shadow broke through the dust cloud. Anon emerged with terrifying speed, his fist wrapped in a pulsating black aura, as if darkness itself had clung to his hand.

  — "TAKE THIS!" — Anon roared, his voice dripping with malice.

  By instinct, Hitory raised his arm to defend himself. The impact felt like a battering ram slamming into him. His body was hurled through the air, spinning like a ragdoll before crashing heavily onto the ground, leaving a trail in the dirt.

  Pain exploded in his chest, burning like live embers. He coughed violently, spitting blood onto the ground. For a moment, the world spun around him.

  But Hitory didn’t stay down. With an expression filled with fury and determination, he staggered to his feet, panting, and wiped his mouth with his dirt- and blood-stained sleeve.

  — "So... that's how you fight?" — He let his sword fall to the ground and clenched his fists. His gaze was firm, almost defiant. — "You old bastard... let’s settle this the old-fashioned way."

  He advanced again, this time without a shred of hesitation. Each step echoed like a war drum.

  Anon, with a casual gesture, dispelled the barrier. His eyes gleamed with twisted interest.

  The clash was violent. Hitory delivered a direct punch, which Anon blocked with ease. But Hitory didn’t stop. He followed with a quick jab, then a hook that struck the elf’s chin with force.

  For an instant, Anon’s smile faltered.

  — "Hm... interesting." — Anon murmured before striking back.

  Anon’s right cross was devastating, nearly lifting Hitory off the ground. He felt the air rush from his lungs in a single burst, yet he refused to retreat.

  Staggering, Hitory pushed forward once again, each punch driven by sheer will to remain standing.

  — "You’re annoying." — Anon growled. He slid to the side and delivered a brutal kick to Hitory’s stomach.

  The pain exploded like a blade piercing his guts. The world spun, and Hitory fell to his knees, clutching his abdomen with one hand. The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth, yet he refused to look away.

  — "You're persistent, kid." — Anon's voice was darker now, almost like a warning. — "But it's not enough."

  — "Maybe not..." — Hitory murmured, gritting his teeth as he forced himself to stand. His body protested, every muscle screaming for rest, but he wouldn't stop there. — "...but I'm not done yet, and stop talking so formally, old man."

  Anon narrowed his eyes, now genuinely interested.

  The fight continued, brutal and relentless. Each blow was exchanged like an explosion of strength and technique. The ground was marked by footprints and the traces of impacts.

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  Little by little, Hitory started noticing a pattern. Every time Anon moved, there was a slight hesitation — an almost imperceptible moment before he attacked. Hitory took advantage of that, dodging better each time, his reflexes adapting to the elf's strikes.

  The tension grew with each second. Both stepped back for a moment, breathing heavily. Sweat and blood trickled down Hitory's face, but he didn't seem intimidated.

  — "You're not that bad, you little punk." — Anon said, his smile now slightly tired.

  — "And you're... way tougher than you look, old man." — Hitory replied with a crooked, defiant smile, despite the throbbing pain in his body.

  The wind blew fiercely between them. Dust danced across the field, as if the very air awaited the next move. The atmosphere was dense, heavy with the tension that signaled the decisive strike.

  Hitory lifted his head with difficulty, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His eyes, though clouded with pain, held a stubborn flame of determination. He stared at Anon, who was already moving in for a third strike.

  With a sudden impulse, Hitory dodged, rolling across the ground to avoid the blow. His body protested, every muscle throbbing as if about to shatter.

  Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind — soft, yet anxious.

  — "Hitory? Are you okay? How can I help?"

  Hitory's eyes widened. He instinctively turned his head, looking for Tekime, but quickly realized that voice hadn’t come through normal means. It was inside his mind.

  — "Tekime? Can you hear me?" — he responded mentally, still confused. — "Conjure a simple stone dagger. Quick!"

  — "O-Okay!" — Tekime hesitated, her mind faltering at the strange connection, but she soon began conjuring the weapon.

  Meanwhile, Anon advanced with an arrogant smile.

  — "Still have the strength to stand? Impressive... but pointless." — The elf's voice dripped with contempt.

  — "Pointless is you... who still hasn't noticed." — Hitory lunged forward, throwing a direct punch.

  The magical barrier rose instantly, blocking the blow with a dry, metallic sound. The vibration shot up Hitory's arm, almost numbing his bones. Even so, he didn’t stop. Punches, kicks, fast and furious strikes — everything hit that invisible wall like pounding against a mountain.

  — "It's almost ready, Hitory! Hold on!" — Tekime’s voice rang directly in his mind.

  Hitory smiled — a tired smile, but one filled with confidence.

  — "You haven't figured it out yet, huh?" — he muttered to Anon.

  Anon stood firm, the arrogant grin still on his face. He casually raised his hand and fired a wave of force that hurled Hitory back. The young man crashed to the ground and rolled like a ragdoll, leaving a trail of dust and blood.

  — "What a waste..." — Anon said, shaking his head. — "You guys are pathetic. I thought you'd have more to offer."

  A rough sound emerged from the ground. A faint, distorted chuckle.

  — "You... talk too much, old man..." — Hitory’s voice trembled, yet still carried a defiant tone.

  Anon chuckled, shaking his head.

  — "Empty words from a beaten fool..." — He took a step forward. — "You two, just a couple of failed adventurers... What did you think you were going to achieve?"

  Hitory didn’t answer. His focus was on Tekime. Her voice echoed once more.

  — "The dagger's ready! What are you going to do now?"

  The smile that formed on Hitory’s face was dark — almost empty. He rose slowly, as if each muscle were bound by invisible chains. His body trembled, his lungs burned, and his blurred vision turned Anon into a distorted silhouette. But even so, he remained standing.

  — "Take my soul... Blessing of the Demon Flame..." — The words escaped his lips like a dark whisper.

  The air grew heavy.

  The ground beneath Anon's feet began to writhe, cracks snaking across the earth like black veins. The light around them dimmed, as if drained by an invisible presence. Shadows stretched out, distorted and pulsating, crawling across the floor like hungry tentacles.

  — "What...?" — Anon took a step back, startled.

  Darkness consumed the surroundings. The presence emerging from Hitory felt alive, evil, and suffocating. The flickering light trembled like a candle on the verge of being extinguished, and the air vibrated as if a storm was about to erupt.

  Anon tried to retreat again, but the darkness reached him in the blink of an eye, enveloping him like a living prison. He widened his eyes, desperate to understand what was happening — but there was nothing left to see, only darkness... and Hitory's eyes glowing within it, like burning embers.

  The predator had awakened.

  It's fast. Much faster than he can comprehend. Reality bends, and in the same instant, something cold and sharp touches his neck. The blade of the dagger, cold as death, presses against his skin, almost as if embracing the flesh with an invisible force. He tries to turn, but it's too late.

  The pain doesn't come immediately, but the crushing sense of inevitability is so overwhelming that Anon can almost hear his own soul scream. His blood seems to freeze in his veins as his vision blurs, darkness consuming him entirely. He tries to move, but the weight of his own helplessness paralyzes him. He can't understand how, suddenly, he ended up in that state, with Hitory's blade lodged against his throat.

  Hitory stands behind him, motionless like a shadow, his eyes fixed on the void. He holds the blade with supernatural calm, his fingers steady, as if he isn't just holding a weapon but controlling Anon's very fate. He presses the blade deeper, the sharp edge sliding into the elf's skin with an almost unbearable smoothness. The sound of metal against flesh is muffled, like a dying whisper.

  The elf, who once displayed arrogance and confidence, now feels the crushing weight of defeat. The air around him seems swallowed by a profound, incomprehensible silence, and for the first time, he feels the visceral terror of being powerless. Death is before him, as close as the breath he's still trying to control. His eyes, once full of superiority, now reflect only the inevitability of what is to come.

  Tekime, watching everything without being able to move, sees only a figure standing behind Anon. She doesn't understand what happened. She doesn't understand how Hitory, who was on his knees seconds before, is now in a position of total control, with the blade embedded in the elf's throat. Whatever had occurred there seemed to have torn reality apart and left behind only a sense of absolute terror.

  Hitory keeps the dagger pressed against Anon's neck, his gaze cold and distant, yet relentless. The elf can no longer move, nor even breathe freely. He is at Hitory's mercy, and more than that, he knows there's no longer any escape. What had been a battle had now turned into a ritual of destruction. Hitory, silent, says nothing. He doesn't need to.

  The darkness, at last, seems to consume everything.

  — "Accept it... you've lost." — Hitory says with an unsettling calm, his voice deep and resolute.

  Anon tries to move, but the touch of the blade against his skin makes him freeze. He looks at Hitory, who now seems something beyond human. Hitory's gaze, so fierce and uncontrollable, conveys a sense of immeasurable power. He no longer seemed like an ordinary young man but a terrifying force, an aura ready to engulf everything he touched.

  With wide eyes and a total sense of helplessness, Anon, unable to resist, simply faints, collapsing to the side.

  The battle was decided.

  The silence that followed was almost deafening.

  After about 15 minutes, Anon began to regain consciousness, feeling a weight on his body and a slight pain in his neck. Still somewhat dazed, he saw Hitory standing beside him, arms crossed and a firm expression on his face.

  — "Let's go, my subordinate." — Hitory said in a serious, direct tone. — "The journey is still long."

  Anon, still adjusting himself, sat on the ground, ran his hand across his face, and let out a light, relaxed laugh.

  — "Sure, my master! Let's go, let's go! Let me help you."

  Tekime, watching everything closely, still seemed surprised by how things had unfolded. Anon, however, now showed a completely different posture from his previous arrogance. He jumped to his feet, extended his hand to Hitory, and smiled.

  — "You can count on me, boss. Whatever you need, I'm at your service."

  Hitory responded with a brief nod and a slight smile.

  — "Alright, then grab your things. We're leaving."

  Anon quickly recovered his belongings, and the three returned to the succubus "inn." They paid for the bread and other expenses, while the succubi still cast curious glances and smiles at the group.

  As they walked down the road, Tekime occasionally glanced at Anon, who seemed incredibly excited, almost skipping with joy at every step. Unable to hold back her curiosity any longer, she finally asked:

  — "Are you really going to follow Hitory as if he were your master?"

  Anon paused for a moment and looked at Tekime with a serious but friendly gaze.

  — "Yes, little lady. A deal is a deal. Besides, he defeated me... in a way I never imagined possible. It's rare to find someone like that."

  Hitory, overhearing the conversation, turned and replied in a casual tone:

  — "No need to exaggerate. I just hope you'll be useful on the journey."

  Anon grinned and replied playfully:

  — "Useful? I'm way more than that, boss! Now that I'm with you guys, no one will stop us."

  Tekime rolled her eyes but couldn't hold back a small smile.

  — "We'll see about that."

  As the trio continued down the road, the sun was already high, and a new dynamic began to form between them. Now, Hitory and Tekime were no longer alone. With Anon Blak, the "Primordial Dwarf Elf," by their side, the possibilities of their journey seemed broader — and more unpredictable.

  End of EP 18: "Echoes of a Duel."