The Battle Rages On
BOOOOOOM!
The battlefield trembled as Bolt and Vael'Zarith collided once again, their blows sending rippling shockwaves through the air. The sky above had turned into a swirling storm of lightning and wind, responding to their battle like a living force.
Bolt's body ached, but he couldn't stop.
Not now.
Not when he was finally pushing back.
Vael'Zarith smirked as he dodged Bolt's next attack, his lightning-cloaked form phasing through a devastating ice-enhanced punch.
"You're improving," Vael'Zarith admitted. "But you still have one weakness."
BZZZZZT!
Before Bolt could react, a blinding bolt of violet lightning arced from Vael'Zarith's fingers, piercing directly into Bolt's chest.
ZZZZZZZZT!
"GRAHHH!"
Bolt's vision blurred.
His nerves screamed, his entire body spasming as the electricity surged through him.
Then—Vael'Zarith appeared behind him.
With brutal efficiency, he delivered a crushing knee strike to Bolt's back, launching him straight into the air.
WHOOSH!
As Bolt soared, Vael'Zarith vanished—and then reappeared above him.
Bolt barely had a second to react.
CRACK!
A lightning-infused roundhouse kick slammed into his side, sending him plummeting back toward the earth like a falling comet.
BOOOOOOM!
A massive crater erupted where Bolt landed.
Dust and debris filled the air.
For a moment, all was silent.
Then, slowly—Bolt stirred.
His body screamed in protest, his limbs heavy as stone.
His breath came in ragged gasps.
He was losing.
Even at 15% mastery, even with his newfound control, Vael'Zarith was still leagues above him.
Damn it.
But as he pushed himself to his knees, his mind raced.
What am I missing?
He had landed two clean hits earlier. That meant he could fight back—he just wasn't doing it right.
Vael'Zarith descended slowly, his feet touching the ground with a soft hum of electricity.
"This is where it usually ends," he said casually. "You gave a decent effort, but it's not enough."
Bolt clenched his fists, his mind working at lightning speed.
His 15% mastery was stable, but it wasn't enough.
He needed more.
And then—he had an idea.
Bolt closed his eyes.
Vael'Zarith's brow furrowed.
"What are you doing?"
Bolt ignored him.
Instead of forcing more power—he let go.
He let the storm take over.
The wind, the ice, the earth, the water, the lightning—they were already his to command.
But now, instead of controlling them individually, he let them flow together.
He let them become one.
And then—something changed.
ZZZZZZZZZZT!
The air shifted violently as Bolt's body began glowing with a radiant, swirling energy.
His lightning no longer crackled chaotically—instead, it flowed smoothly, intertwining with the elements in a seamless dance.
His eyes snapped open—and for the first time, they weren't just glowing.
They were radiating pure elemental force.
Vael'Zarith's smirk faded.
"…Ah."
He stepped forward—but Bolt moved first.
BZZZZZT!
In a blink, Bolt vanished.
Not like before.
This time—he became the storm.
He reappeared right in front of Vael'Zarith, and before the Warborn could react—
BOOOOOOOM!
A devastating punch infused with lightning, wind, and ice slammed into his chest, sending Vael'Zarith flying backward for the first time in the battle.
But Bolt wasn't done.
WHOOSH!
With a burst of wind, he flashed above Vael'Zarith's falling form, slamming both hands together—a swirling orb of water and electricity forming between them.
Vael'Zarith's eyes widened slightly.
"Interesting."
Then—Bolt unleashed it.
KRAKOOOOOM!
A massive elemental blast engulfed Vael'Zarith, the sheer force splitting the clouds above and sending shockwaves across the battlefield.
The ground shattered, ice spreading in jagged spikes as lightning crackled through the air like a living beast.
Silence.
Bolt hovered above the crater, his body still glowing, his breathing heavy but controlled.
He had done it.
He had unlocked true elemental fusion.
But then—Vael'Zarith's voice echoed from within the smoke.
"That was unexpected."
BOOM!
A streak of pure lightning surged forward—and Vael'Zarith stepped out, unharmed.
Bolt's stomach dropped.
Vael'Zarith dusted off his armor, his expression unreadable.
Then—he smiled.
"You've finally taken your first step," he said. "But you still have much to learn."
Bolt's fists clenched. "So, what now?"
Vael'Zarith exhaled, crossing his arms.
"Now?" He smirked. "Now, we see if you can survive the next phase."