Chapter 18: Fight the Might
SWOOSH!
KTANGG!
KTANGG!
Kael's backyard echoed with the clash of metal, the sharp rhythm of two blades colliding. Liraen's Wind Might speed cut through the air, mixing with the crackling bursts of Kael's electric-shoe dashes.
Then suddenly—
KTANGG!
Both swords met again. The impact sent sparks flying as they locked in place, faces inches apart, separated only by Ralis, Liraen's white obsidian sword, and Tesseract, Kael's single long black blade.
"Hngghh—!"
Kael grunted. His strength was no match for Liraen's. Back in the underground level, he only fought Liraen's wind blade projection—not a real white obsidian blade, one of the hardest materials in the entire realm. Unlike its counterpart, black obsidian, which is far more fragile.
"Hah! You need more than those metal shoes of yours to fight me, Kael!"
Liraen taunted him.
But Kael still had energy to spare. He surged power into his electric shoes, forcing his body forward and pushing Liraen back through their locked blades.
SWOOSH!
Liraen slid backward slightly, while Kael was thrown much farther.
From a distance, Aeronis watched with mild surprise.
Hmm… good one, Kael… but that alone wasn't enough.
Commander Aeronis analyzed the fight carefully.
He obviously can't wield a sword. Liraen is dominating him easily. But… that sword—Tesseract… it can withstand white obsidian? What material is that blade made from…? Aeronis thinks deeply.
"Ha! Show me more, Kael!"
SWOOSHH!
Liraen rushed forward again, this time even faster, his sword pointed straight ahead.
Cih! He is fast…
Kael barely dodged the rush with his electric boots.
He stabilized himself.
BZZTT!
The boots hummed after the rapid dodge.
The mechanism was simple… yet brilliant. Air was compressed by the shoes, pushed out in all directions, bottom, top, left, and right. The boots ran on a battery Kael had made, charged from the large cylinder he salvaged from the black box. Unlike Wind Might, which gathers wind magically, these boots used electric energy to absorb air from one side, compress it, then blow it out the other side.
Kael had even installed air stabilizers. The pressure could be finely controlled by his toes — the harder he pressed, the more stable the force of air on every side, keeping him balanced. It also allowed him to dash forward: if he jumped, the pressurized air would propel him.
It's ironic. Magic versus logic… a wind created by Magic versus air pressure calculated by math.
"Great one, Kael…" Liraen's voice rang.
"But not good enough!"
SWOOSH!
Another powerful dash hurtled toward him.
Here he comes again… Kael thought, eyes narrowing.
I can't keep dodging forever… I need to land a hit!
He lowered his body, and his boots automatically sensed his intent to jump. The compressed air surged, lifting him high enough to dodge Liraen's attack.
In mid-air, Kael seized the opportunity to analyze the situation. He only had his wind-pressure boots and his single black sword.
I can't rely on gadgets alone… it's sword fight or nothing. Alright, then…
He landed with a thud, one hand on the ground, the other gripping the blade.
"Okay, Ren… let's do this."
Liraen smirked, readying himself.
"Okay then…"
Liraen lifted his sword straight up with his right hand, while his left hand opened, palm outward. A visible swirl of wind began to gather, growing stronger and stronger as he collected the air around them. He coated Ralis, his sword, with the captured wind.
At that moment, the white surface of Ralis began forming a greenish-blue pattern.
"Wh-what's that?!" Kael exclaimed, eyes wide with shock.
Liraen brought his face close to the sword, closing his eyes. Instantly, a green-blue aura spread over his entire body. His hair lengthened slightly, and when he opened his eyes, his emerald gaze glowed intensely. A confident smile curved his lips.
"I will end you…Kael."
Kael froze, stunned. This is Might Dominance… he realized, recalling the technique Liraen had told in his backstory back in the underground level.
"Ohh…" said Commander Aeronis in amazement. "Well done, Liraen! You're able to use Might Dominance not just with your body… but also with your weapon. I'm impressed," he added, his tone full of novelty.
Liraen smirked.
SWIRL!
The wind currents around the white blade intensified, spinning violently.
Without hesitation, Liraen pointed his sword at Kael even though the distance was too far for it to physically reach. Kael's eyes widened, confused about what Liraen was about to do.
Then, in an instant, a violent wind struck him in the stomach.
FWHOOM!
THUD!
Coughing violently, Kael was thrown several meters back.
But he rose again, using his black blade as support.
"Hghhh! Not yet," he muttered through gritted teeth.
Once more, with a prideful glare, Liraen aimed his sword at Kael.
FWOOOOM!
Another wind strike slammed into Kael's chest.
Agh!
A direct hit. Kael was thrown back again — but he refused to lose.
Kael stood up once more.
The wind… it seemed almost invincible. To Kael, without a Might of his own, it was impossible to see, impossible to predict.
It's impossible to see the wind…
If that's the case… I have no choice but to try this…
His eyes flicked to the sword's handle—the hollow compartment. He remembered what Durmuk had told him a week ago: "Maybe that's where a battery goes." Thinking fast, Kael reached for the backup battery he always kept in his side pocket for his electronic shoes. He pulled it out, steady and careful despite the chaos around him, and slid it into the slot.
Luckily… it fits.
The reaction was immediate. The blade grew slightly, red electric currents tracing intricate patterns across its surface. Kael's eyes widened in amazement.
But before he could fully admire it —
SWOOOSH!
Liraen was already behind him, aiming for his open back.
FWHOOM!
Agh!
Kael was thrown back once more.
"What's this, Kael?" Liraen sneered. "If this is all you've got, you'll never become a Realm Protector!"
The wind swept him again, relentless, merciless — like a predator closing in.
Just accept your defeat, Ka—
TCHHK!
Liraen gasped as blood trickled from his cheek.
"Huh?"
Kael rose to his feet, a confident smirk on his face.
"Now… both of us can use ranged attacks," he said.
"Woah… that's new…" Commander Aeronis muttered, shocked.
Kael's sword now floated, controlled entirely through the handle. Electrical currents ran through the black blade and the handle, generating powerful electromagnetic forces that allowed it to hover and move at Kael's command.
With a subtle flick of his wrist, Kael commanded the black blade to retreat, floating smoothly back toward him.
Cih!
SWOOSH!
Liraen's eyes narrowed. He wasn't going to wait for a ranged fight any longer. With incredible speed, he dashed forward, closing the distance.
He swung his sword upward, aiming straight at Kael.
KTANGG!
Kael met the strike head-on, channeling every ounce of his remaining energy into the block. Sparks flew where steel met electric-imbued metal.
FWOOOSH!
Using the propulsion from his electric boots, Kael was flung backward, landing nimbly but ready.
The duel continued, a storm of electricity and wind, Kael's tech-enhanced sword versus Liraen's Might-infused attacks. Each movement was a test of speed, skill, and ingenuity, as neither gave an inch….
"Good… but not good enough," Liraen muttered.
In the blink of an eye, he dashed forward, aiming to end Kael.
SWOOSH!
Liraen was already in front of him.
SWOOOSH!
He swung his sword, Ralis, with blinding speed. Kael's eyes widened, Liraen had caught him off guard again.
KTANGG!
Tesseract met Ralis with a shower of sparks as Kael blocked the strike.
SWOOOSH!
Instantly, he leaped backward, his electric boots propelling him safely away.
"What now, Kael? Afraid?" Liraen taunted, his emerald eyes gleaming. "If that's all you can do, just give up already!"
"I'll end you with this strike…" Liraen added, raising Ralis, ready for a final, decisive blow.
Panting heavily, Kael felt his body nearing its limits but still he refused to yield.
Liraen smirked, his sword poised to strike Kael from the side.
"You're so weak, Kael… so slow… so fragile," he taunted. "It's impossible to see you become a Realm Protector like this…"
But then his gaze softened slightly. "…Yet… those eyes of yours are still burning with determination. Your mind is still searching for a solution… even though your body can barely respond. I'll give you credit for that."
With a final, decisive strike, Liraen swung his sword at Kael's side.
Kael tried to block with Tesseract.
SWOOSSH!
But exhaustion weighed on him, luckily, he barely managed to dodge. The blade grazed his cheek, drawing blood.
THUD!
"Aghh!"
He slammed into the ground, his black sword sliding out of reach. His vision starting to blur, His breath heavy and his head dizzy.
Ouch… my sword… Kael groaned, stretching for it, but it was too far.
Before he could recover, SWOOOSH!
The tip of Liraen's white sword hovered at Kael's neck.
"You've lost, Kael."
The words hit Kael silently, but there was nothing he could do, this was as far as his body could go. Without proper training, this was all he could do.
Kael smiled weakly and exhaled. "Sigh… okay, okay, you win, He take a breath and all of his body started to feel better again.
Liraen extended his left hand, offering Kael a chance to rise. With a nod of acceptance, Kael grasped it, letting Liraen pull him back to his feet.
"Thanks…" Kael murmured.
"No problem, Kael," Liraen replied warmly.
Kael smiled as he stood upright, steady now.
"Ren… you're strong," He looks at Liraen with admiration.
Liraen returned with a proud, yet bittersweet smile. There was a tinge of regret, not because he was weak, but because he could no longer become a Realm Protector. Perhaps it was the trauma of his past, but more accurately… he had already found someone truly worthy.
He looked at Kael with hope and a quiet certainty. He is the one, Commander…
"I swear, in the name of the Etherians," Liraen thought, as he watched Kael prepare for what lay ahead.
End of Chapter 18