Barton's Departure

"Barton!"

"Joey Barton!"

An overwhelming sense of danger surged into Shade's heart. Then everyone saw it: a gaunt black giant in a cloak rising behind Joey Barton.

The enormous shadow covered everyone on the ice. At that moment, it was as though the entire world had fallen silent. No one could see what was inside the cloak, but they could all see the black scythe.

"Is this the true power of a Chosen One of Death?"

The enormous black scythe slowly swept across the ice. It was clearly moving so slowly, yet time itself seemed to stagnate with the scythe's swing. Having witnessed True Death, Shade understood that this was a strike containing the very essence of death and termination. Any living thing struck by it would immediately step into death.

"God of Death Scythe."

Joey Barton sighed softly as the black trail of light swept across everyone on the ice. The ice shattered into powder the instant the scythe touched it. Huge waves rose, and death would bring an end to everything.

"Balance!"

Amid the black light and shadows, dark gold radiance shot into the sky. With the Golden Scales floating behind her, the enraged Iluna hurled that golden lightning spear beneath the night sky.

The blazing golden light tore through the lake's surface, and the erupting thunder seemed ready to end everything.

The Sunlight Gun struck Joey Barton directly. He took a step back, retreating into the opened White Fog of the Interstice, which dissolved the thunder.

"Space Stabilization Aura!"

A hand appeared behind Barton. Shade grabbed his thick right arm:

That deformed young face turned toward Shade, its left eye instantly becoming completely black as it met his gaze.

An instant-death attack. No, even if you failed the check, you would not die. He held back.

The