Golden flames covered the surface of Noah's armour as he confronted Ronan with a sword in each of his six ethereal hands. Ronan lazily gripped the handle of his strange chained harpoon. Chloe knelt beautifully at his feet, wearing only the thin, gossamer dress. Yellow-lifeforce flowed from her into Ronan's body.

"I must admit, I didn't expect for you to become so powerful. Don't get me wrong. It was never you that was weak. It was your conviction. But this?..." Ronan said as he raised his arms above his head, laughing as he turned in a full circle. "I didn't think you had it in you. Killing countless innocent people to get at me. I'm proud of you, Noah. Hahaha!"

"I… I had to do it. Your tyranny needs to end," Noah said without conviction.

The flames flared brighter on Noah in response to his uncertainty, assuring him that it was the right decision. Noah strengthened his resolve, gripping each of the sword hilts tighter. He lowered his body weight slightly as he prepared to fight.

I can't listen to Ronan speak. He's a master of mental warfare. He'll only weaken my resolve.

"Oh? Let's get started then. This fight will end the same way for you as it did the last time," Ronan said as he noticed his movements.

Ronan gripped the chain in one hand and began to twirl the harpoon, ignoring Chloe at his feet as the barbs barely missed her head. Suddenly he released the chain, launching the harpoon toward Noah. Noah's [Battle Instinct] only triggered at the last moment before impact, causing him to throw himself forward to the floor.

Noah teetered on the edge of the pit with his empty hands braced against the ledge. His head overhung the chasm. Looking down, Noah noticed something that caused him to tremble. Staring back at him, filling the entirety of the opening was a radiant yellow eye ringed with black. It was the Kraken. The glass floor at the base of the Fallen Citadel was now missing. Seawater poured out from corridors to rain down on the monstrous creature as the fortress raised into the sky. Noah couldn't help but feel fear this close to the nightmarish beast despite mentally preparing himself for this when formulating his plan.

Noah pushed himself to his feet, trying to ignore the feeling of the Kraken staring at him. Suddenly Noah was struck in the head by the chain of Ronan's whirling harpoon. Knocking Noah to the ground once more. Ronan's unbridled laughter echoed through the throne room as he coiled the chain, making a sound like nails on a chalkboard as he dragged the barbed harpoon across the floor.

"Do you like my weapon? I had it made once I learned you were still alive. I was worried about your ability. It lets you predict every move someone makes against you. Yes, I took notice. That's when I had the brilliant idea of making something unpredictable. Black crystals can make any material strong enough to withstand my ability. It does have the added side-effect of cursing the user, but I already am. Genius, isn't it? Sophie's pet engineer designed it. That four-armed freak reminds me a little too much of you," Ronan gloated, polluted lifeforce was gathering at his hand.

Suddenly, Noah instinctively lunged to the side, dodging a thick stream of yellow lightning. When it made contact with the metal wall of the throne room, the resulting explosion threw Noah across the room to land on the steps at Ronan's feet. Chloe looked in his eyes indifferently as she funnelled her lifeforce into Ronan.

Noah activated his [Grade 1 Inferno Breastplate] ability. The flames avoided Chloe from slamming into Ronan. He was prepared for the attack as his [Spirit Armor] triggered to resist. The blue-colored light began to flicker as Chloe's expressionless face began to change into discomfort. The ends of her hair ignited from the proximity to the [Inferno] heat.

Despite her face contorting in pain, Chloe didn't falter as she continued to mindlessly supply Ronan with her [Catalyst] ability, causing Noah to hesitate. Ronan seemed to instinctively notice Noah's attitude as he gripped Chloe's hair and dragged her closer. She didn't stop giving him her lifeforce even after the unexpected movement. Noah deactivated the [Inferno], causing Ronan to grin in satisfaction.

"What a hero. Saving the damsel in distress. I'm almost moved to tears," Ronan mocked.

Noah retrieved an item from his [Zero-Space Dimension Ring]. It was the [Subconscious Link] herbs. Noah used his burning armour to ignite the herbs, tossing them at Ronan's feet as smoke billowed upward. Noah covered his face and stepped backward. The flickering blue spirit armour prevented the smoke from approaching Ronan's face.

"Haha, what's a lousy plant going to do? It can't even get near me," Ronan said.

Ronan was laughing as he clutched the unresponsive Chloe's hair. Noah remained silent as he watched the herb's ability take effect on Chloe. Ronan noticed Noah's gaze. He looked down at Chloe as his laughing stopped. He gave her head a shake before releasing her hair. She dropped limply to the steps, unconscious as her arms sprawled outward.

"Clever. Oh well, she was always a useless bitch," Ronan said as he began twirling the harpoon.

Noah readied his six swords, charging to clash with Ronan, who launched the harpoon toward Noah's face. Noah was ready for it. He tilted out of the trajectory, using a free arm to overwrap the chain in his fist as he made a mistake. Noah had underestimated Ronan's strength. He thought that he could match Ronan and have the advantage after advancing to grade-three with his extra arms.

But he was wrong. It should have been evident after seeing him matching strength with the colossal Alex. Ronan dragged him off-balance up the steps as Noah tried to disengage his arm. Noah freed his arm within sword distance of Ronan. He unleashed a flurry of sword attacks, shattering Ronan's [Spirit Armor]. A slash appeared across Ronan's face, cutting deep and removing his right eye. Ronan grit his teeth with a hiss of pain, overwrapping both of Noah's real arms. He ignored the ethereal arms holding the swords and slammed a headbutt into Noah's face.

Blood splattered as Noah's nose was crushed into a pulp, knocking him off the steps into a crouched position. Noah shifted backward as he regained his feet, clutching his broken nose. Ronan advanced, holding his chained weapon in one hand while his other pressed against his ruined eye. His face was contorted in blind rage as he stumbled to confront Noah.

"You little fucker. I'm glad that I didn't kill you the first time because I'm going to enjoy killing you again," Ronan cursed.

Noah futilely wiped the blood from his nose, only succeeding in smearing it across his face.

"Too bad you won't be able to see it," Noah mocked with a smirk.

Ronan unleashed a string of curses as he flew into a berserk rage. Noah dodged the flurry of attacks from the chained harpoon as he circled up the steps. Ronan's back was to the pit as Noah stood beside Chloe. Noah deactivated his abilities as he stooped to grip her by the scruff of her dress. He threw her skidding across the floor out of harm's way. Tearing her thin dress in the process, exposing her immaculate porcelain skin all the way down to her waist as her lustrous hair hid her peacefully sleeping face.

"Haha, do you like what you see? Her body is the one thing I could never complain about," Ronan said.

"Then open your eyes and take one last look. It's going to be the last thing you see," Noah replied.

Noah suddenly began charging at Ronan at top speed. Ronan barely managed to react in time, launching the harpoon upward to entangle Noah's torso. He ignored the chains restricting his arms, dropping his shoulder to prepare for impact. Noah's shoulder-barge knocked Ronan from his feet into the pit. Noah was unable to stop his momentum as he was dragged after him by the chain.