Ultima's Bite!

April's breath hitched. The voice wasn't external—it resonated inside her, deep within her core.

She felt a rush of energy, her body tingling with newfound awareness.

"You are ready."

The words echoed in her mind. But before she could fully grasp them, something else emerged. A presence—not physical, but there.

It was her Gear. Speaking to her.

A single name burned into her thoughts.

"Ultima."

April's eyes widened.

The name.

The name of her Gear. The name that marked it, that defined what it was.

It was more than a name. It was a threshold. A doorway.

But even as she processed this revelation, the voice spoke again.

"You have taken the first step. But to break the next barrier… you must fight. Truly fight."

April's jaw tightened. "What do you mean?"

The response was calm. Absolute.

"Only in a battle of life and death will you awaken further. Only when you face true destruction will you break your limits."

A cold weight settled in her chest.

She had grown stronger. Faster. More precise.

But it wasn't enough.

Not yet.

She clenched her fists. "A life-or-death battle, huh?"

Her mind flashed to Ragnarök. To Vance. To the enemies lurking in the shadows.

She exhaled slowly. "Fine. If that's what it takes… then bring it on."

The glow from her sigil faded, but something within her had changed.

Ultima had spoken.

And now, it was only a matter of time.