Inferno didn't wait this time.
The ground split beneath Julien as soon as he moved, sending spiraling flame and molten stone shooting up like a trap. The heat scorched his armor as he sprang sideways, one gauntlet lifted to protect his face. The tiles behind him were torn apart by a second blast as his boots brushed against solid stone.
Inferno's voice cut through the chaos. "You're getting slower, Kirios. Maybe all that righteousness is dragging you down."
Julien didn't reply. He slammed his palm into the ground. Light pulsed outward in a clean purification wave, and the flames around him dimmed. They weren't gone but weaker.
Temporary gap created. I've got to go now.
Inferno met him halfway as he charged ahead through the smoke.
A sharp crack reverberated throughout the plaza as their weapons clashed. Julien refused to back down as the flame-whip twisted around his blade. He was exhausted by each blow, but he held.
[Mana: 1440 / 7000]
[Sun Slash Cooldown: 0.6s]
[Burn Resistance: 58%]
"You always hide behind fire," Julien said, voice tight. "You never fight fair."
Inferno snorted. "That's why you'll never win."
Julien dropped low and swept upward. Light followed the arc of the sword, catching Inferno off-guard and carving across his shoulder. He hissed and staggered back.
Julien stepped in. One more slash. Then another. The next came close.
"You're not untouchable," he said. "You'll bleed like everyone else."
Inferno grinned. "Do I? Then go ahead, prove it!"
He snapped his fingers.
A wave of heat slammed out. Julien was flung across the broken plaza, armor scraping against the shattered stone.
[Impact Damage Sustained -- Fracture Level 2]
[Mana Stabilization Failing]
[System: Recommend Withdrawal]
Blood welled in his mouth. He spat it out, shoved himself back up.
Ignore it. You're still conscious. Keep going.
His ribs screamed. His vision blurred.
But he hadn't fallen.
Inferno stepped closer, his smirk sharpening. "How much longer before you fall, Kirios?"
Julien clenched his fist. "You're not allowed to ask that."
At Inferno's fingertips, flames twisted into shapes and curled. "Let's say you kill me. Then what? Hang around the Marked Guild hoping someone claps?"
He's shifting tactics. Trying to stall and distract me. Stay focused.
"I don't fight for fame," Julien said.
"Then why?" Inferno stepped forward, sparks dancing around him. "To prove you're better than me? To erase everything I've worked for?"
Julien didn't blink. "I'm doing it so no one else has to watch their friends burn."
Inferno let out a harsh laugh. "Nice little dream you've got there. Shame I'll be the one to crush it."
Flames surged. The plaza burned red.
Julien stepped in without slowing, blade glowing with a clean edge of light.
"I'm not afraid of your fire," he declared. "And I'm tired of hearing your voice."
Inferno growled, "Then shut me up," and the earth exploded beneath them both.
With his cape in ruins and his sword blazing as it sliced through the firestorm, Julien exploded through the shockwave. Mid-strike, his blade encountered resistance; Inferno's flame-whip jerked upward, catching it with a steel and heat crack. Sparks flew into the smoke.
[Sun Slash Ready]
[Burn Resistance: 54%]
[Mana: 940 / 7000]
Ugh… Mana's dropping. I can't keep this up for long.
The heat was no longer limited to the outside. It slowly and relentlessly tore at his insides.
Still, he held steady, locked in. Focus. He's a mage. No matter how strong his shields are, his body will only withstand a few perfect hits from me.
He lunged--a high feint, then a sharp drop. Sun Slash activated mid-swing. A blade of light tore upward through the haze, straight at Inferno's side.
Inferno twisted just in time. The beam tore through his cloak, seared across his ribs. He staggered, teeth clenched.
Julien pressed forward, not giving him any room.
Every swing came faster, tighter. Light and flame collided in rapid succession, each strike ringing louder than the last.
Wiping blood from a new wound, Inferno spat, "You act like this is some noble crusade. "But you're just like me."
The whip almost fell out of his hand with Julien's next swing. "Then you obviously don't know me."
Another flurry, sword against flame, pressure building. And then--
Inferno's palm slammed into Julien's chest. Point-blank.
A blast of fire erupted. It consumed him.
The air ignited in waves. The earth cracked beneath the force. Smoke surged up in a thick wall, hiding everything inside.
Julien didn't even have the breath to scream.
[System: Damage Threshold Breached -- Overheat Imminent]
Get up. Get up! GET UP! Julien's mind screamed.
Inferno stood with one arm extended. His eyes stayed focused on the blaze.
Something made a sound, and there was movement.
Through the fire, a shape emerged--staggering forward, barely upright.
Julien burst out of the smoke.
His armor was glowing red-hot, the chestplate was warped and cracked. His cape was gone and his sword arm trembled. But he still held the blade up high.
Inferno's eyes narrowed.
Julien wiped blood from his mouth with a shaky motion. His lips were cracked, jaw blistering. His hair was singed at the edges, half-stuck to his face. But his grip on the sword kept firm as ever.
[Warning: Heat Exposure Critical]
[Pain Suppression: Fading]
[Mana: 410 / 7000]
[Sun Slash Cooldown: 2.1s]
Body's failing. I need to end this soon. Even if I die, I have to take him with me.
Inferno was unlike any opponent Julien had ever faced. Strength alone wouldn't cut it; no predictable pattern could possibly work against him. He was cautious, cunning, and patient. But worse, Julien felt his own limits closing in.
Inferno exhaled slowly. "Unbelievable. You're actually still alive. I guess they call you a hero for a reason."
There was a hint of respect in his tone.
Julien coughed, then managed a half-smile. "No way I'd make this easy for you."
"Whatever. When I rule all of the Meraline Continent," Inferno said, "I'll make sure they write songs about this moment. The hero, burned to the bones, too stubborn to stay down. And me, their amazingly powerful king, the one who effortlessly defeated him."
Julien said nothing. Every breath cut sharper than the last, but the smile stayed.
Inferno looked a little surprised. "You finally seeing how funny it all is?"
Julien met his gaze, eyes dull but steady. "No. I just think you love the sound of your own voice."
Then Julien moved. Not fast nor clean... but steady.
Even though each step felt like it might be his last, he endured. Once more, he lifted his blade. The weight made his body shake, but he continued.
Inferno's grin returned. "You seriously think you've got one more miracle in you? I really hate to break it to you, but whatever luck you had left is looong gone."
Julien used his sleeve to wipe blood and ash from his face. "I don't care. I won't need it."
He moved forward once more.
Then another step, and another. The armor now felt like a mountain pressing down, but his blade stayed up.
[Mana: 390 / 7000]
[Sun Slash Cooldown: 1.2s]
[Warning: Muscle Fatigue Threshold Passed]
Right now, I'm really pushing the limits. I might not outlive him, even if I get him now.
"You're always saying things like that," Inferno said. "Isn't it exhausting? And nobody's impressed."
Julien didn't flinch. "Good. I'm not here to entertain you."
He swung again.
Inferno met it with a flick of his wrist, fire twisting tightly around the steel. The clash screamed through the air. Julien's hands burned on the hilt, his legs nearly giving out.
Inferno leaned in, voice low. "You know, you really could've ruled beside me. I'd've welcomed you. We could've burned this continent clean."
Julien forced his blade forward, jaw clenched. "No way in hell!"
"Shame," Inferno said softly. "I think we would've understood each other. In another life."
"Never!" Julien snapped, eyes locked on him. "I'd rather die standing right here than become a psychopath like you!"
Their weapons clashed again. Light against flame, sparks flying between them. Julien pushed forward, running on pure willpower. Sweat and blood streaked his face. Breath came in sharp bursts through reddened teeth. He was slower now, less precise. But no less deadly.
Inferno parried and stepped back--not retreating, just calculating. Watching for his next move.
With a casual, almost bored tone, he questioned, "Is this really what you're dying for? For people who aren't even here to see it, in a crater no one will remember?"
Julien's voice was hoarse. "It's for the ones who are still here. Who have to live after you're done with your senseless rampages."
Yet again, he whipped his blade up, wild and angry but it hit. A thin line of gold scraped Inferno's arm, burning through the edge of his coat.
That was it.
Julien's eyes flared. Weak, but I'm getting close. He's got to be as low on mana as I am now. He can't keep casting those spells forever.
"You think I'm just flailing? Every second I'm still breathing, you're losing ground."
Inferno laughed. "You've got dozens of burns and almost certainly no mana left. What exactly am I losing?"
Julien said nothing.
[Sun Slash: Ready.]
He shifted, faking left. Inferno moved to intercept but the real strike came low. A sudden upward slash flared with golden light, cutting through haze. The blade shone brighter than it had all fight, a wave of power tearing toward Inferno's core.
Inferno's arms snapped up. Twin flame-barriers flared.
A shockwave reverberated outward as the beam collided with them. The first barrier broke and cracked. The second one just about held.
Julien dropped to one knee, chest heaving.
[Mana: 80 / 7000]
[Sun Slash Cooldown: 9.9s]
[Status: Critical]
Everything hurt. His vision blurred, and the world tilted.
Come on, body. Don't give up on me now!
Inferno's cloak was half-ruined across the plaza. Scorched ribbons hung from instead of one sleeve. The skin of his right shoulder was raw and blistered. His hair was singed, too.
He had lost his smile.
Breathing heavily, he gazed at Julien. For once, there was silence.
"Why won't you just die?"
Julien looked up, shaking with effort.
"Because you're still alive."