Chat group, become my wings!

Clang!

Kevin Cross was knocked to the ground, Esdeath's blade of ice hovering at his throat. Letting out a sigh, Kevin admitted what was now clear.

"I lost."

And he had. But more importantly, he had experienced the true difference between fighting Esdeath's replica and the real thing.

Esdeath herself was far stronger not necessarily in raw power, but in intuition. Her clone may have replicated her strength and techniques with mechanical precision, but it lacked the living, evolving spirit of battle. The real Esdeath was far more fluid and creative, adjusting instantly once she sensed Kevin had been trained to counter her usual patterns. Many of her moves came so naturally, so unexpectedly, it felt as if they were strokes of genius crafted in the heat of combat.

Despite his loss, Kevin felt no despair. On the contrary, his fighting spirit was burning brighter than ever.

After all, this progress was achieved from just a short time training in the virtual battle arena. He had gone from a novice to someone capable of facing Esdeath head-on. Given enough time, he believed he could surpass even her just like she had, through instinct and adaptation.

"I admit defeat," Kevin said calmly.

Esdeath looked down at him, her expression filled with unexpected admiration.

"You're good. Much better than I expected."

Had she not already fought Izumi Uchiha and Saeko Busujima, learning their techniques and anticipating their influence on Kevin's fighting style, she might not have been able to win so decisively. In fact, if she had gone in blind, the outcome might have been far less certain and much costlier.

She reminded herself: Kevin used to be an ordinary person without a trace of power. And yet now, not only had he gained formidable strength, but he had also learned to wield it with remarkable finesse in an impossibly short time. If she hadn't known better, Esdeath might have believed he'd been training his entire life.

"Really?" Kevin asked, exhaling slightly in relief. Being acknowledged especially by someone like Esdeath felt unexpectedly rewarding.

"Of course, Kevin. I might be starting to like you," Esdeath said with a grin. Then, without warning, she reached out, pulled him up and kissed him.

Kevin froze. He hadn't expected this at all.

Esdeath had made her stance clear from the beginning: only the man who could defeat her had the right to get close. And yet now, even in defeat, she had taken the initiative.

From the viewing stands, reactions were mixed.

Izumi narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze sharp. Izumi, on the other hand, squeaked and quickly covered her eyes though the gap between her fingers was telling.

The others had their own responses: frowns, smirks, raised brows.

Everyone here knew what this group was. A so-called "harem chat group." Titles aside, no one was oblivious to the underlying implications. Still, that didn't mean it was easy to watch someone else take the spotlight.

Luckily, this was only the virtual battle arena. Combat here was limited to strength and skill other kinds of contests couldn't take place in this simulation. After the kiss, Esdeath backed off, and the moment passed.

That was when Brunhilde stepped forward.

If there was anyone in the group most eager to see every member grow stronger, it was her.

In less than a year, the millennial cycle in her world would reach its peak. When that time came, she would propose the fateful showdown between gods and humankind. For that, she needed powerful allies.

So far, Izumi and Esdeath were among those she hoped to recruit. And now, she could add Kevin to the list.

His raw power still lagged behind theirs, limited by his inexperience and temperament but his rate of growth was astonishing. At this pace, Kevin might well become the strongest among them within the year.

Brunhilde was determined to secure their help in defeating the gods.

In the past, she hadn't had the chance to properly gauge Izumi's or the others' true strength. But now, with access to the virtual battle arena, the time was right.

"Esdeath," Brunhilde called out. "You crave battle, don't you? Then surely, you'd love to fight me."

"Of course," Esdeath replied, eyes lighting up with anticipation. "You're a Valkyrie, a half-goddess from another world. I'd expect nothing less than a powerful opponent. So come fight me. Defeat me, or be defeated."

As she spoke, an icy sword once again formed in Esdeath's hand, its tip pointed directly at Brunhilde.

"Gladly."

Their duel began.

From the first clash, it was clear that this battle was unlike any before.

Kevin and Izumi, though both powerful, were rooted in the shinobi tradition filled with shadows, trickery, and misdirection. Their fights relied on careful tactics and stealth. Even in the world of Naruto, their style leaned toward the cerebral.

But Brunhilde and Esdeath were different.

Both were warriors who thrived in direct combat. Each strike, each parry, each movement radiated overwhelming force and precision. Their martial prowess was a thing of beauty polished, powerful, and deadly.

Brunhilde, in particular, fought like someone who had lived through countless wars.

As a Valkyrie a being elevated from a half-human, half-divine form her battle instincts were second to none. Every movement was honed to perfection. She wasted not a single drop of energy. Each attack was efficient, each defense flawlessly timed.

It was as if battle itself had become part of her nature.

She truly lived up to the name Valkyrie not as a myth, but as a warrior forged through trial and triumph.

Yes, the gods of her world might have lacked the grandeur or strength of deities from other realms. In some cases, even Heroic Spirits from certain other worlds might match or exceed their power. But that didn't change the fact: Brunhilde stood at the very top of the group's current power scale.

In the end, she defeated Esdeath.

But Esdeath showed no frustration as she looked at her victorious opponent. Her eyes remained as fierce as ever.

To her, defeat was nothing more than a challenge. Her path was clear: train harder, grow stronger, and win next time.

Because Brunhilde was exactly the kind of opponent she lived for.

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