The tension was unbearable.
Ari stood with her blade trembling slightly. Her eyes, filled with conflict, remained locked on her brother. She didn't want to hurt him—not again.
Aden took a slow breath, his aura dark and swirling.
"Dark Wind Magic: Destructive Winds."
A sudden surge of wind burst from Aden, spiraling out in all directions. Razor-sharp gales howled toward Ari, slashing and battering her from every side.
"Ahh—!"
She staggered, unable to anchor herself. Her feet slid across the cracked floor, her light barrier flickering. The wind magic was stronger than before—wild, merciless.
Aden's hand lifted again.
"Dark Wind Magic: Wind Compress."
The winds abruptly halted.
Ari blinked, confused—only to feel a sudden, crushing weight all over her body. The air itself had thickened into an invisible pressure. She dropped to one knee, choking, unable to draw a breath.
"I… can't…"
But she didn't hesitate. With trembling hands, she raised her sword.
"Light Magic: Eternal Blade!"
A flash of divine light erupted from her blade as she swung downward. The pressure shattered, vanishing like mist.
Ari gasped for air, panting.
"Hah… hah…"
But there was no time.
Aden appeared before her in an instant.
"Too slow… sister."
His blade carved an arc of black wind, slamming into Ari and throwing her across the hall. She hit the wall hard.
"Ugh!"
Aden didn't stop.
"Dark Wind Magic: Tornado of Destruction!"
A spinning, dark-tinted tornado formed and roared toward her. It tore up debris and stone as it charged.
Ari forced herself to stand.
"Light Magic: Light Departure!"
A horizontal beam of radiant energy blasted forward. It struck the tornado head-on—and pierced through it. The force struck Aden, sending him flying back. He tumbled across the ground before stabbing his blade into the floor to stop himself.
A smile crossed his lips.
"Finally… you're serious."
And then—he vanished.
No, he was moving—blitzing toward her faster than before.
Ari steadied her stance. She exhaled.
Clang!
Their blades collided mid-air. Sparks flew.
"Light Magic: Grand Light!"
Tiny particles of light bloomed around her—then converged toward Aden in a dazzling burst at close range.
But Aden barely flinched. The attack hit, but he endured it, pushing forward through sheer force.
Both leapt back, breathing heavily.
Aden raised his hand.
"Dark Wind Magic: Endless Slashes!"
A thousand wind blades roared toward her.
Ari didn't retreat.
"Light Magic: Heavenly Fall!"
Columns of light rained down from above, meeting the wind blades mid-air. Explosions rocked the space between them.
Ari raised her hand.
"Light Magic: Light Projectile."
Beams of light—shaped like long, floating spears—appeared behind her. With a sharp motion, they launched like arrows toward Aden.
Boom!
A dust cloud swallowed him.
But when the smoke cleared, Aden still stood—smirking.
"I'll end this, Ari Hale."
He raised his hand.
"Wind Zone."
A massive surge of wind magic surged out, enveloping the area in a stormy sphere. The pressure changed.
Ari's expression hardened. Despite the shift in power, the dark energy around him hadn't increased. It was still the same amount as before.
Aden lifted his blade.
"Dark Wind Magic: Wind Vortex."
The wind formed a spiraling cyclone and shot toward her.
Too fast! She couldn't dodge.
She was trapped inside the vortex. Blades of wind slashed at her from every angle—her skin cut, her clothes torn, her blood trailing in the air.
She gritted her teeth.
"Light Magic: Radiant Blast!"
A flash of energy exploded from beneath her. The vortex shattered instantly.
She stood, bloodied but defiant.
"Light Magic: Eternal Blade!"
She swung her shining sword, but missed—on purpose. The blade passed mere inches from Aden.
Behind him, the wall was split cleanly in half.
Aden blinked. She could've killed me. His smirk faded.
But then, he laughed—loud and wild.
"You finally showed your real resolve."
Ari didn't reply.
Aden tightened his grip.
"Dark Wind Magic: Arc Division."
He moved past her in a blur. A crescent-shaped wind arc appeared around her, then—
Zip.
He sliced through the arc, and Ari suddenly winced as blood spurted from her waist.
She clutched the wound and healed it quickly. It wasn't deep—but it reminded her how far Aden had come.
"You've grown strong…" she whispered with a sad smile.
She lowered her stance, her eyes glowing.
"Light Zone."
A new aura burst around her.
Aden's eyes widened. Her power had risen drastically.
"Light Magic: Divine Arena."
From the corners of her zone, walls of light formed, enclosing them in a sacred arena. Tiny particles of light floated down like fireflies.
"Absorb."
The particles clung to Aden. Slowly—his magic began to drain.
Ari: "The harder you push, the more power I drain. Just give up, brother."
Aden: "You think this cowardly magic will beat me?! Don't insult me!" he roared.
"Dark Wind Magic: Endless Slash!"
Dark slashes rained down inside the arena. Ari couldn't counterattack—so she focused on defense, letting the arena slowly weaken him.
Cut after cut landed on her skin. But she endured.
Finally—the draining stopped.
Ari: "I've taken enough of your magic. Now…"
She took a breath.
"Light Magic: Light Walk."
In a flash, she moved—like light itself. One moment here, the next—there.
Aden couldn't keep up.
"If you think teleporting will help—think again."
He focused.
"Dark Wind Magic: Perfect Circle."
A sphere of slicing wind formed around him. A deadly trap.
Ari flashed inside it.
Aden whispered:
"Center… Cord."
Shing!
A blade slash flew within the wind. He struck—cutting straight through Ari.
But—
She burst into particles of light.
A clone!
"Light Magic: Ray of Blade!"
Multiple clones surrounded him—attacking from every direction. Blinding beams slashed across him.
Then, the real Ari appeared—her blade gently touching his chest.
Aden froze. He hadn't even seen her come.
Ari: "Now you see the difference… Stop hiding behind rage and pride."
She stepped back.
Aden dropped to his knees—gasping in disbelief. His pride shattered.
But then—his eyes burned with shame.
"Dark Wind Magic: Destruction of Hurricane!"
A storm unlike any before began forming around him. The very air screamed with pressure.
Ari sensed it—this was his final, most devastating attack. Its power grew with every passing second.
She tightened her grip.