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.

Continuing the Journey

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."