The fight had dragged on far too long. Even the audience, who had cheered with tireless energy at the beginning, now found themselves nearly breathless. Spell after spell, the clash of steel, the echo of bodies hitting the floor—it was relentless. A normal person couldn't endure such prolonged anticipation. The pressure of watching alone could crush lesser hearts.
And yet, amidst all the chaos, one thing went unnoticed. Slowly—subtly—a gap was forming.
Two of the fighters were steadily draining their mana reserves, their bodies showing the wear of accumulated blows. But one of them… remained largely untouched. Not unscathed, but resilient. Tired, yes. But that person's strength? And mana?
Still intact.
That person was—Lilith Starwind.
She had been healing herself throughout the battle. Small, efficient bursts of recovery magic—barely noticeable to the untrained eye, but enough to prevent lasting damage. Enough to keep her going.
The opposite was true for the others.
