Dust and blood mixed in the air.
The battlefield rumbled, filled with screams, clashing metal, and the roar of wounded beasts.
Through it all—Theo stood.
His breath was ragged. His broken sword trembled in his grip. A trail of blood ran down his cheek from his torn ear. His golden eyes glowed faintly beneath the smoke, burning with a light that seemed to defy the chaos itself.
He pointed the shattered blade toward Zeven.
"Let's start again," Theo said quietly, voice steady despite the tremor in his body. "This time, I'm going all out."
Zeven froze for a second. Then, he laughed—a sharp, cruel sound that echoed across the shattered field.
"All out?" Zeven's lips twisted into a mocking grin. "You really think sheer confidence can bend the world to your will?"
He raised his sword, crimson energy gathering along its edge like liquid fire.
"I'll show you what happens when arrogance meets the wrong enemy!"
Theo didn't flinch. He tightened his grip and braced himself. His stance was lighter now, sharper—almost instinctively perfect.
Zeven's eyes glinted red.
"Bloodline Edge!" he shouted, swinging his sword downward.
A wave of red energy tore through the ground, slicing through stone and sand alike, aiming straight for Theo's head.
But right before the sword hit, Theo moved.
In a flash of light, his body vanished—reappearing just a few meters away. The red slash split the ground where he once stood, leaving a smoking crater.
Zeven blinked. "What—?"
Theo dashed again, a blur of motion as the next attack cut nothing but air.
Zeven's surprise melted into fury.
"You can't dodge forever!" he roared, lunging forward.
He swung again and again—each strike carrying the weight of a monster's fury. Yet, Theo slipped between them like wind through shattered glass. Each short burst of movement left a faint golden shimmer behind him.
On the wall above, Kairo leaned forward, eyes wide.
"Those movements… that speed—!"
He opened the Command Nexus interface hovering before him, scanning Theo's stats.
Name: Theo
Race: Human (Dragon Blood)
Tier: 2
Class: None
New Skill: Naga sword style: Rattle of the deep, Dash
Kairo's heart skipped.
"He ranked up? In the middle of battle?"
He tapped on the skill description.
Dash: Grants short bursts of speed, temporarily amplifying physical reactions and evasion.
Kairo muttered, half in disbelief, "He's Tier 2 now… but will it be enough to face Zeven—a Tier 3?"
Below, the fight raged on.
Theo leapt backward, narrowly avoiding another blazing arc from Zeven's sword. Sparks lit up the battlefield. He landed lightly on cracked stone, chest heaving.
Zeven charged again, his rage mounting. "Stop running!"
Theo blocked, steel meeting steel, but Zeven's strength overpowered him. He slid back several feet, boots carving furrows into the dirt.
Theo took a deep breath. "He's too strong head-on… then I'll just—"
He jumped, twisting midair as Zeven's sword sliced below him. Landing lightly, Theo flipped backward, dust scattering around him. His movements had become cleaner—instinctual, like his body was adapting on its own.
Zeven snarled. "Quit playing!"
"Fine." Theo smirked faintly. "I won't."
In one smooth motion, he hurled his broken blade straight at Zeven.
Zeven reflexively raised his sword to deflect it. The metal clanged midair—
—but the sound masked Theo's next move.
In that instant, Theo was already gone—dashing forward like a golden streak. He grabbed a discarded sword lying in the rubble and used the momentum to slash across Zeven's side.
Zeven's eyes widened.
Blood splattered across the ground.
He staggered, clutching his arm. The dominant hand he used to wield his sword was intact—but the other arm hung loosely, crimson dripping from the torn flesh.
"You—" Zeven hissed, disbelief and fury warring on his face.
Theo stood tall, chest rising and falling, his golden eyes fixed on him.
"I told you," he said calmly. "I'm going all out."
For a moment, the battlefield seemed to freeze.
Flint and Raghul's clash paused as Raghul's gaze darted toward Zeven. The sight of his fallen comrade twisted his expression into shock.
"ZEVEN!" he roared, his voice breaking with rage. "You bastard! Don't you dare die on me!"
He smashed his twin axes together, creating a thunderous boom that shook the ground. Flint, though injured, held his stance, blocking Raghul's path.
"You dare stop me!," Raghul roader in fury.
Flint growled, righting his fists, his tail swing in the air ready to strike like a third hand.
"I'll tear you apart!" Raghul bellowed, slamming his axe down, forcing Flint to brace himself as sparks and dust erupted between them.
Back near the center, Zeven pushed himself up, face pale but eyes burning.
"You… you think this means anything?"
He spat blood and stood, fury overtaking reason.
"You cut me… you cut me!"
Theo said nothing, his expression unreadable.
Zeven's rage boiled over. "You'll pay for that, you little insect!"
Theo didn't respond. He raised his sword again, ready for whatever came next.
High above, Kairo clenched his fists.
"He's holding out better than I imagined… but Zeven isn't down yet."
And from the distance, another figure watched silently—Ardan.
He had been motionless, sword stabbed into the ground beside him, his hands trembled from the earlier fight, not from fear, but rage, seeing Theo standing against Zeven—seeing Raghul's fury and Flint's battered form—Ardan's expression hardened.
"...this is enough."
He grasped his sword. The ground beneath him cracked slightly as he drew it free. His eyes were grim, but his steps were steady as he began walking toward the battlefield.
Kairo's eyes widened in disbelief as he saw Ardan, silent until now, rise from the rubble. The warrior's weary frame straightened, his hand closing around his sword's hilt—a storm of resolve igniting behind his calm, battle-worn gaze.
Theo stood over the bleeding Zeven, his sword glinting faintly under the crimson light. Zeven's bloodied lips curled into a twisted grin as he looked past him toward Ardan, laughing hoarsely, Zeven's breath came out ragged, but his grin returned—feral and bitter.
"This isent over...not yet!"
Theo met Ardan's gaze through the settling dust, golden eyes burning. He turned to Zeven, forcing a faint grin. "Don't worry… I wasn't planning to end it quickly either." The air thickened as Ardan's calm eyes locked with Theo's glowing ones—two wills colliding in silence.
To be continued.....