As the fire explosion calmed down, I raised my head. Shock descended throughout my entire body as I saw Rhyver still standing in front of me, unfazed. A massive grin cracked across his face as he looked down at me, his aura radiating with raw power. I glanced at the spot I had hit him.
Nothing. Not even a scratch.
"Nice flames you got there..."
Rhyver complimented, his voice laced with amusement. His hand reached out, grabbing the arm I had frozen in place, the very arm I'd thrown that hopeless punch with.
"Now it's my turn!"
Rhyver's words came out in a dangerously playful tone, one that sent a cold shiver slithering down my spine. I panicked as he effortlessly lifted me into the air and slammed me into the ground.
"UAGH!"
The ground shattered beneath me.
Spiderweb cracks burst across the area from the sheer force of the impact, sending rubble flying into the air. Agony tore through me. I could feel my muscles ripping, bones fracturing under the weight of the blow. My screams echoed across the battlefield.
Rhyver smirked.
Slowly, deliberately, he lifted my broken, hanging body back up to his level.
My face had gone pale, streaked with blood, my eyes half-lidded, only barely conscious.
"You, the one who was supposed to be the hero..."
Rhyver spoke with a mocking tone, his grin wide and unrelenting. His eyes locked onto mine.
"Is hanging half-dead in front of me."
He paused, letting the words sink in.
"Weren't you the one who would change the world? The one who would give birth to a new era?"
His smirk widened into a full grin as he tilted his head slightly, a mocking tilt that dripped with cruelty.
"The one who would claim the throne of the king?!"
Rhyver shouted, his energy surging violently around him, spiraling upward in a vortex of force.
Then, he went silent and let go.
The fall echoed.
A thunderous thud followed as my broken body hit the battlefield once more. The silence afterward was deafening.
"Your statements were a real disappointment... Kajin."
Rhyver declared, his tone darkening into something colder, sharper.
"And now, I shall end you, and all your meaningless promises right here."
He raised his sharp claws into the air, their tips glowing with a piercing red aura that shimmered with deadly intent.
"See you in hell."
His claws came down in a blur, aiming to slice me in two, but just before they connected, I disappeared. Rhyver's eyes widened in stunned disbelief.
"Huh?! What are you—"
Before he could even gather his thoughts,
I appeared in front of him.
His jaw dropped slightly, then clenched with frustration.
My glowing red eyes locked onto his and then my fist met his jaw in a crushing uppercut.
BAM!!
The impact released a shockwave that blew the dust clean off the battlefield.
Rhyver was launched into the air. I positioned myself calmly as he soared.
"How did that brat disappear like that...?!"
Rhyver wondered in furious disbelief, eyes burning with rage. As he landed with both feet, he spat blood onto the ground, then shot me a deadly glare. Our eyes locked.
"Dash Step..."
I thought to myself.
"An ability I saw Ruya use countless times during our time together. I studied it so well, I managed to perfectly copy it."
A small smile tugged at my lips.
"Even though this was my first time actually using it, I pulled it off flawlessly."
I looked down at my trembling, bloodied body.
"But with everything broken... I can't use it again. I need to be careful."
Just as I turned to face Rhyver again, he was already in front of me. His claws shot toward my chest, but I managed to catch them just in time.
He didn't give me a moment to breathe. Rhyver lunged with a sudden bite, but I shifted my body to the side and narrowly avoided it.
We clashed again.
I jumped, aiming a fiery kick toward his head. Rhyver blocked with his arm, then launched a retaliatory punch.
I dodged before jumping back to create some distance between us, then countered by firing a barrage of fireballs at him.
He was pushed back slightly, but his frame was too durable, almost untouched.
"Are werewolves so damn durable?!"
I thought in growing frustration. I gritted my teeth
and continued my fiery assault with even greater speed.
Rhyver stood with his arms crossed tightly around his head and chest, shielding himself from the erupting fire explosions.
"You're so annoying, Slave..."
he muttered darkly. Then, without warning, he dropped to all fours and started to sprint with feral speed.I launched after him, sending a barrage of fire projectiles his way. He began to circle around me, his movements rapidly increasing in speed with each passing lap.
"Nothing good could come out of this..."
I thought grimly. I ceased my fire attacks and focused entirely on his motion. My eyes stayed glued to him, tracking him with everything I had.
"C'mon... Show me what you're up to..."
The circle around me began to shrink, tighter and tighter.
Rhyver became a blur. I could no longer keep track of him. His body vanishing and reappearing with rapid flashes of movement.
Then suddenly, he launched toward me like a mad horse. My body tensed on instinct, and I barely managed to dodge the incoming dash.
But another came.And another. One after the other.
Each dash came faster, more unpredictable than the last. I kept dodging, straining every muscle to respond, attempting to counter with fire or find a way to break free
But nothing worked.
Then
An unexpected blow hit me dead-on, slamming into my chest with immense force. My eyes widened as my body was hurled across the battlefield.
I smashed into a pile of rubble, remnants of the destroyed buildings. A thunderous thud echoed as I crashed, sending a thick cloud of dust spiraling into the air.
Rhyver stopped, his rampage paused. He slowly rose upright, dust and debris swirling around him. A wide grin of pure victory and pleasure spread across his face.
"I'm surprised how you haven't died yet!"
He shouted at me, his voice filled with genuine surprise, and just a bit of awe.
"I mean, who lives, let alone fights with all of their bones broken, muscles torn, and deep wounds leaking blood?"
He chuckled with dark amusement.
"I might have to take my words back... You're the most exciting opponent I've faced in my whole life!"
Then, with slow, deliberate motion, Rhyver pointed his fingers toward me. His aura surged, his fingertips lighting up with glowing energy.
"Fight and prove to me what I just said!"
A massive aura spear began to take form, growing from his entire arm like an extension of himself. Sharp, vicious, and brimming with lethal intent.
"Spear of the Wolf!"
With a brutal thrust, he launched the spear from his arm like a missile. Rhyver stood back, watching with wild anticipation, that familiar grin etched deep on his face as the glowing spear tore through the air toward me.
I emerged from the rubble, bruised and broken, but alive.
My eyes instantly locked onto the incoming spear. I threw my arms in front of me just as it arrived.
The sheer pressure of the spear struck me like a storm. My entire body trembled violently under the force, but I stood my ground, digging into the earth as I struggled to resist
I pushed back. Every muscle in me screamed in defiance, trying to repel the overwhelming power. But just as I began to force it upward, Rhyver appeared beside me. His fist cocked back.
A punch incoming.
My eyes shot open in alarm. With a burst of desperation, I threw my whole body into deflecting the spear, redirecting it up into the sky, where it exploded in a distant burst of red light.
At the same moment, I narrowly dodged Rhyver's punch and countered with a powerful kick to his chest, sending him sliding back across the battlefield. Wasting no time, I leapt forward, chasing him midair. The two of us collided once again, trading savage blows in rapid succession. The intensity surged. Each movement, each strike, was fueled by pain and fury.
My body burned from within, fire roaring through my limbs.
My fiery arms and legs clashed against Rhyver's wild, razor-sharp attacks, his beastly strength meeting my unrelenting flame.
Every collision shook the very air around us.