The Clash of Power
In the streets of LURENO, Silone faces Maxuel, the leader of the rebellion. Unfortunately, Silone isn't strong enough to defeat him. Darting in every direction, they exchange rapid blows. Silone, radiating a deep black aura, absorbs and counters the strikes from Maxuel's staff, relentlessly searching for an opening. Meanwhile, Maxuel thinks:
(He keeps impressing me. His only problem is power, but everything else… he's good. And he's even managing to leave marks on my staff, even though his sword didn't spark once.)
In the middle of the battle, Maxuel suddenly jumps back and stands still, saying:
"Y'know, you keep surprising me."
Silone positions himself, blade perfectly held, and asks:
"Why say that?"
Maxuel holds his staff horizontally and answers:
"See this blue staff? No one's managed to damage it for quite a while…"
At that moment, the staff begins to glow and emit an aura.
Maxuel: "Not to mention your skill and the way you fight—you've earned my respect. When you activate your magic, all your mana turns into that black aura you circulate through your body to boost your muscles and unleash powerful strikes…"
Maxuel shifts the staff left, taking a guarding stance.
"But y'know… I can imitate that too."
From the center of his torso, a blue sphere begins to shine.
Maxuel: "Even without changing the nature of my mana, the result is almost the same…"
Blue lines resembling veins spread from the sphere throughout his body. Even his head glows like the sphere.
Maxuel: "It's not that hard. It's just physical reinforcement."
The lines merge, forming a tense current running through each limb and flowing into the staff. The marks fade. Maxuel, still in his stance, says:
"So, do you get it now? This is where I really start trying."
Silone's eyes widen—too late. Maxuel is already in front of him. Silone tries to prepare, but Maxuel's staff suddenly extends before slamming down with full force, cracking the ground. Silone escapes and jumps back, but Maxuel is already beside him, swinging horizontally. Instinctively, the shadow surrounding Silone wraps around his sword. He blocks, but he's still thrown back.
Maxuel spins his staff, shrinking it, then brings down a rain of blows on Silone. Silone blocks what he can but still gets hit multiple times.
Overwhelmed, Silone thinks:
(I knew he was strong, but at this level… he's practically on par with Arthur—maybe even stronger. This is bad!)
Maxuel delivers several strikes, then steps back, increasing the staff's mass. Silone senses something coming and braces himself. Maxuel grips the staff with both hands on his right side and says:
"Divine Lance."
Silone sees it coming—too fast. His eyes widen before the supersonic extension of the staff hits him directly in the stomach, sending him flying more than 150 meters into buildings. His armor cracks, and he ends up lodged in a wall.
The staff shrinks back, and in a fraction of a second, Maxuel appears before him. He points the staff at him and gently asks:
"Have you finally given up?"
Silone tries to move—he still has his sword—but Maxuel presses the staff against his chest and says:
"Don't try anything. And honestly, I doubt you have anything to say."
He takes the staff like a spear.
"Farewell."
Calm and steady, he prepares to finish Silone—who is unable to move—but in a flash of lightning from the next street, Arthur appears and blocks the strike with his sword.
Arthur (serious): "You won't touch him."
Maxuel stares for a moment before smiling.
"Well, if it isn't the hero!"
Arthur places a hand on Silone, who instantly falls unconscious, then lowers his blade:
"Yes. I am the hero, Arthur Lisandera, and I'm here to put an end to your turmoil."
Meanwhile, Ella faces Ombre. She is attacked from all directions by masked figures dressed in black, emerging from shadows. Floating above the ground, she counters them with light spells, circling around Ombre, who silently observes her.
(In a few seconds, I already understood—the way Arthur was trapped, the mages I fought, and the woman in front of me… They're all linked to shadow magic.)
As she spins, more figures leap at her from rooftops, walls, and the ground. Ella pauses mid-air and summons a magic circle beneath her feet. A tornado of energy erupts around her, blowing away surrounding structures and erasing her attackers.
But behind her, Ombre summons small magic circles and fires black beams. Ella senses them and instinctively conjures a barrier. Then, shadow wolves leap toward her.
Ella twirls her staff and lifts debris with magic.
(Shadow magic… a rare variant, even I don't master it. I've only read about it.)
Magic circles form behind each piece of debris, sharpening them.
Ella: (Mages who wield it are called Shadow Masters, and they're probably the most advantaged.)
She launches the debris at the wolves.
Ella: (Their unique trait is their ability to create conscious creatures from shadows. And it doesn't cost much mana—large creations aside—because the creatures can fuel themselves.)
The wolves dissolve into black smoke upon defeat.
Ella lands before Ombre, still thinking:
(The problem with Shadow Masters is that once you've created multiple shadows, you can re-summon creatures at will. But since you all share the same mental space… they often suffer from loneliness or lack of affection. Despite that… they're usually enemies of mages. But this time… it's different.)
Ella stares at Ombre with a cold look.
"Give up. You know you can't win."
Ombre, unfazed, replies:
"Don't underestimate me."
They hold each other's gaze. Then Ella charges. Ombre shouts:
"Benlorane!"
Ella is blasted into a ruined building as a massive creature—half bear, half wolf—emerges from a shadow.
Hovering again, Ella thinks:
(I wish I knew how she awakened this magic…)
The beast lunges at her.
(She must've suffered. A strange story for someone like me who despises loneliness…)
The creature strikes downward, but Ella's protective sphere saves her.
Ella: (It's obvious.)
Ombre screams:
"Go!"
Ella looks down, head lowered. The beast attacks again—but chains of light bind it. Ella raises her staff and fires a beam through its torso.
(I wouldn't want to be in her place.)
Ombre regenerates the creature, mana overflowing.
(I don't hate this girl… but she's too dangerous. I have to help Maxuel.)
The beast breaks the chains and throws Ella into the air. She's still protected. It lunges again—Ella pierces it from three directions.
(That's why I hate fighting humans.)
Ombre refuses to give up.
She kneels, touching her shadow.
(No… this won't be enough!)
She pours mana into it. The monster regenerates again and strikes Ella.
(For Maxuel… I'll give more.)
A memory flashes: young Ombre, her head being gently patted.
The monster roars and charges Ella—only to be pierced again by light. Ella shows no expression.
(For him!)
Memories flood back. Ombre crying. Maxuel comforting her. Their past—meals, games in the rain, training, battles, the shift that forged who they are today.
Ombre, exhausted:
(For him… I can't give up.)
But she doesn't realize the fight has drifted toward her. The building beside her explodes. Ella floats inside her light sphere.
Ella points her staff. Ombre understands instantly. Their eyes meet—Ella's filled with sorrow, Ombre's with despair.
Ella: (Truth is, I already knew how to win—just hit the Shadow Master.)
Light gathers in a circle beneath her.
Ella (whispers): "Sorry."
A burst of light floods the dawn-darkened street.
Maxuel, battling Arthur, senses it and loses focus—Arthur kicks him squarely.
In the debris, only two figures stand: Ella, upright, and Ombre, severely wounded and staggering.
Ella: (I think I understand… all you wanted was…)
Ombre: (My only dream was…)
Ella & Ombre (together):
"…to be an eternal shadow!"
END OF CHAPTER
I cooked up something so good that none of you can rage anymore. Give me your thoughts in the comments.
NEXT CHAPTER: The Hero's Strength