The wind blew gently through the ruins, a rare moment of calm amidst the chaos. Flames flickered across Rudra's body, dancing wildly with each ragged breath he took. He stood, eyes locked on the man before him.
Richerd: "You've lost yourself, Rudra."
Rudra (coldly): "No. I've finally become what this world made me. You just can't accept it."
Richerd: "Then we settle this the old-school way. No holding back."
Rudra: "You think you can handle it?"
Richerd (smirking): "Worried about me? I haven't even started, and your flames are already flickering."
The battlefield echoed with the crackling of burning debris, the distant cries of the dying, and the whisper of ash in the wind. Blood stained the stones, and the sky was choked with dust.
Rudra stood tall, shirt torn, chest heaving like a beast ready to strike. His knuckles were bruised, his lip split, his eyes burning with a storm of sorrow and rage.
Across from him stood Richerd—the man who once led him, who once called him family.
A pause.
CRACK!
Rudra's fist slammed into Richerd's jaw, sending him staggering. Richerd retaliated with a brutal elbow to Rudra's ribs. The sickening crunch echoed across the battlefield.
Richerd ducked under Rudra's next strike, gripped his waist, and hurled him into a cracked stone wall. Dust rained down as Rudra's head snapped back, blood trailing from his lips—but his eyes didn't blink.
With a roar, Rudra rebounded off the wall and launched a vicious uppercut, sending Richerd skidding across the dirt, coughing blood.
Richerd (panting, smirking): "That was a good punch. Maybe I'll enjoy this fight after all."
Rudra: "Then let's see how much you can take."
They charged.
This wasn't graceful. It was raw. Brutal. Real.
Fists collided with faces. Knees slammed into guts. Bodies crashed into stone. Sweat. Blood. Spit. Every blow carried years of unresolved pain.
Richerd punched Rudra's shoulder to numb his arm. Rudra responded with a headbutt that snapped Richerd's nose.
Richerd kneed Rudra in the stomach. Rudra elbowed him in the throat.
Rudra slipped behind Richerd and locked in a chokehold.
Rudra (whispering): "You left me in that fire… You let them burn me. I should burn you."
Richerd shifted his weight, flipped Rudra over, and straddled him, raining down punches—one, two, three… twenty furious strikes in a blur.
Rudra's head jolted side to side. Blood splashed onto the stone.
Then—
Rudra's hand shot up, grabbing Richerd by the throat mid-punch. Their eyes locked.
Rudra: "I'm not that boy you once protected."
With a growl, he tossed Richerd aside. They rose again—barely standing. Legs trembling. Breaths ragged.
Silence.
From the shadows, Alex watched the battle unfold. Fear gripped him. He wanted to help his brother—but he knew, deep down, he was outmatched.
Alex (muttering): "Just don't die, brother…"
Richerd rose from the rubble, panting. He saw Rudra still standing.
Richerd: "You're not half bad. Ready for the next round?"
Before Rudra could answer, a bandit grabbed his leg, screaming at Richerd:
Bandit: "Stop playing! This thing isn't human! You didn't see what he did—hit him with everything you've got!"
Rudra (coldly): "And you think you can hold me? Filthy scum."
With a roar, Rudra smashed the bandit's head into the ground. A shockwave of dust exploded around them. When it cleared, the man's head was shattered—obliterated. Richerd froze.
Reality hit. Rudra had been holding back.
Without hesitation, Richerd leapt back, preparing to unleash his ultimate technique. There was no other way.
Rudra: "Don't back away now… my adopted father. You raised me. Won't you help me?"
Richerd: "You don't need help anymore."
He began chanting:
Richerd: "O Heavenly Father of Storms, hear my plea. Eradicate the coming destruction. Lend me your strength."
Thunder rolled. The sky turned black. Clouds swirled. Rudra watched as a massive eagle made of lightning took form in the sky.
Rudra: "Relying on tricks now?"
Richerd (roaring): "Lightning Eagle—STRIKE!"
The bolt hit Rudra, exploding into feathers of energy. The ground shook. Rudra dropped to one knee, smoke curling from his back.
Rudra (gritting teeth): "You've got some surprises… but I'm not done."
Richerd: "That strike could level an army… and it only brought you to your knees. You should surrender."
Rudra: "Never. Bring it on."
Richerd raised his hands again:
Richerd: "God of Thunder, hold the evil. Help humanity. Cage him with your wrath—Lightning Prison!"
Bolts rained down, trapping Rudra in a cage of lightning. He struggled, but couldn't break free.
Richerd knew—he had only seconds.
Richerd (chanting): "God of Thunder, make me your vessel. Grant me your weapon—VAJRA."
A weapon forged from bone and lightning appeared in his hand. With a cry, he charged.
Rudra braced himself—but the strike hit with godlike force. The impact shattered the ground.
Silence.
Rudra lay unconscious.
Richerd (breathing heavily): "It's over… I thought today was my last."
Alex rushed to his brother.
Alex: "Are you alright?!"
Richerd: "I'm fine. But listen—what happened here stays here. Take Rudra to a healer. He's injured."
Alex: "What about you, brother?"
Richerd (smiling faintly): "I'm alive… and for once, I'm glad. That nightmare is over."
Alex turned to his troops:
Alex: "Medic! Get the wounded to healers! We're heading back to the capital.