"What… a Centurion? Why is someone with such a high rank even here? What are you doing here?"
The man rolled his eyes toward the sky and slowly stroked his goatee, pretending to think. A mocking smile formed on his lips.
"Hmm… hehe. I've been bored since the beginning of the battle. I came here to be useful to my troop. Normally, I should have fought the Centurion who was killed by Ario. Anyway… are you going to let me take him or not?"
The tip of the Centurion's sword was still resting beneath Abel's neck. He withdrew it, sheathing his blade, then bent down to grab Enette's unconscious body but Abel interrupted him.
"I told you not to do that. Killing him like this is a cowardly act. You're a Centurion, and you're going to kill an unconscious legionnaire and…"
"Shut up. You're not in a position to give me orders. And his death might actually help you become stronger."
"But you don't even know him. What are you talking about? Your words are nothing but speculation."
"My words are the truth. That man Enette Yushitachu killed my brother. He's narcissistic, arrogant, and irresponsible."
« For once… he's not entirely wrong. Even if lately I feel like Enette has been putting his ego aside. But one event could easily bring it back. »
"He killed my brother just to acquire a Rank 2 Qephraï. They were supposed to hunt one together despite belonging to different troops. Both of them were considered geniuses at their own level. But my brother died because that bastard killed him out of sheer thirst for power. I would like to fight him, but he doesn't even deserve that. His death alone will satisfy me."
"I understand… but what satisfaction will you really get from killing Enette like this? You won't see fear in his eyes. A genius who managed to kill your brother and survive in this world."
The man stared at Abel intensely. His dark gaze burned him with a single glance.
"Hm… you're probably right. Very well. I'll wait for him to wake up. He'll die either way."
« Phew… he listened. Attacking his pride worked. Now I just have to wait for Enette to wake up so we can fight him together. If I fought him alone, I'd be dead before Enette even opened his eyes. This way, we can face him and the fight might not last as long. »
The battle between Ario and Anastasia continued. Both were giving everything they had. Since Anastasia had used her power on Ario, she had the upper hand. Ario was now only trying not to die, waiting for the perfect opening. One single strike could be enough to decide the battlefield.
All around them, men continued to slaughter each other. The two Tribunes were still fighting, their movements growing heavier with fatigue. Their duel would end when one of them ran out of energy.
And in the middle of all this, Abel and the Centurion were waiting. Who would have thought that, during a war, the only thing to do would be to wait?
Time passed. The sun began to set, and the major battles were still ongoing.
« How can they keep fighting like this? They can't just go on forever. A strategic retreat should happen at some point… If this continues, I won't even know who wins in the end. »
Lost in his thoughts, Abel stared at the half-orange sky until a voice interrupted him.
"Hey. What happened? And who is that?"
Abel and the Centurion turned toward Enette. He had finally woken up.
The Centurion wasted no time and attacked Enette immediately. Still sitting on the ground, Enette managed to parry the strike. Both men drew their blades, ready to fight.
"Hey! Why are you attacking me right after I wake up? Who are you? And why haven't you killed Abel yet?!"
"You bastard… how did you parry my attack so easily? I'm a Centurion of the Green Bees. The child didn't fight me because he knew he'd die instantly. He told me I could fight you once you woke up."
The man stepped back several paces and beckoned Enette forward with a hand gesture.
"Well then… let the fight begin. But know this Centurion or not, I don't give a damn. You're going to die."
Enette charged head-on.
In swordsmanship, both men were evenly matched. But when it came to powers, everything was still uncertain. As shown in the fight between Ario and Anastasia, a single ability could completely change the course of a battle.
Neither of them seemed willing to use their powers yet.
Abel, however, was ready.
The problem was timing.
He had to wait for the Centurion to use one of his strongest abilities before activating his own the Rank-3 Qephraï power. It had taken him an enormous amount of time to learn how to use it, but now he was ready. That power would change the course of the fight.
However, it consumed a tremendous amount of energy. He could only use it briefly. He also had to avoid interfering with Enette's combat that was why he was waiting for the perfect moment.
« Alright… I just hope Enette doesn't lose before I can act. I can't help him yet. This fight reminds me of our battle against the Rank-3 Qephraï. I was useless the entire time… but I still managed to win in the end. »
The fight intensified until the Centurion decided to make it decisive.
He activated his strongest power, hoping to incapacitate Enette in a single strike.
The Centurion slashed.
Enette parried but immediately after, a second strike appeared, reversed from the first, cutting into Enette's shoulder.
From now on, every attack launched by the Centurion would be followed by a second, random strike. There was no indication of where or when it would land.
The Centurion attacked again.
Enette parried.
The Centurion waited for the second strike.
Nothing happened.
"What?! Why didn't my second attack activate? You were supposed to die!"
Abel looked at him calmly.
"That power isn't yours anymore. I assimilated a Rank-3 Qephraï. I can now use its ability. My power allows me to take an ability I've witnessed and temporarily give it to someone else. Your power has been transferred to Enette. In ten minutes, it will return to you. But if you die before that, the power disappears. Enette can't keep it it's a temporary exchange."
"What?! You little bastard! You trapped me! That means I have to fight him with one power less while he has an extra one and it's mine?!"
"Yeah. Looks like it. Now I get to use your power against you. Come back."
The Centurion, sweating, his hand trembling, turned and ran away from Enette.
But Enette chased him down.
He struck once the first blow landed.
The second followed, slicing into the Centurion's calf.
The man collapsed, bleeding and covered in dirt, begging for mercy.
"P-please… don't kill me. I beg you. I didn't want this. I just came to see if you were really that strong. Please…"
"Hm… you know, the sun is about to set. And if I kill you, there's a good chance I'll become a Centurion myself. So… sorry. I don't really have a choice. I'll keep you alive for now while I go help Anastasia with her opponent. Then I'll come back and kill you."
Enette left, heading toward Anastasia and Ario.
Abel stayed behind, pointing his weapon at the Centurion.
When Enette reached them, he charged Ario but the sudden surge of power went to his head.
Despite his new ability, he couldn't touch Ario.
Worse Ario grabbed Enette hostage and hurled him straight into Anastasia.
Both fell to the ground.
Ario used the opening to escape a fight he would eventually lose.
"No… that's impossible. I can't see him anymore. What did you do, Enette? I told you not to act unless I told you to. Anyway… he'll return to the Green Bees' camp. I'll resume my fight with him tomorrow."
Enette was deeply embarrassed.
He returned to the wounded Centurion and killed him without a word.
Not even a thank you to Abel.
Then he went back to his tent.
« What a dog's face… he's sulking over his own mistakes. I'll go rest too. Even without fighting, doing nothing all day exhausted me. »
Fifteen minutes before the Centurion's death, the battle between the two Tribunes was nearing its end.
Blows continued to clash. Both men were exhausted.
Ethan looked at his opponent and smiled.
"Well… we're both too tired to run or dodge anymore. But now that I know you can't evade even one of my strikes, I can use my final ability. Your accumulated fatigue will prevent you from escaping. This fight is over because you are…"
"Dead."
Ario interrupted the duel.
Ethan fell killed before he could unleash the attack that would have secured his victory.