Chapter Thirty-Eight – Lies Of Nature
Princess Isha staggered to her feet, her body trembling from the last shockwave. Dust filled the air, and before she could catch her breath, another impact struck — the ground split beneath her feet, sending cracks crawling across the arena floor.
She raised her eyes toward the sky — and froze.
Up above, Luke Blackwood and Azeon were clashing midair, their movements so fast that her elven eyes — sharp enough to track arrows in flight — couldn't follow them. All she could see were flashes of green and crimson, two lights colliding and separating again and again.
Each time they met, the sky itself thundered. Every impact sent a shockwave powerful enough to rattle the bones of the world.
Isha's heart pounded as she whispered, "Is… this how gods fight?"
A sudden burst of red light exploded above — Azeon's foot crashed into Luke's chest, sending the Guardian hurtling downward. The shockwave shattered the arena wall like glass.
Azeon hovered midair, smirking. "No doubt, you're skilled, young man. But tell me—why won't you use your magic against me? Do you think you're too good for me? Or…" He tilted his head, grin widening. "Are you afraid of hurting this boy's body?"
The rubble below exploded as Luke burst free, soaring upward at sonic speed. His foot connected with Azeon's jaw — blocked just in time, yet the impact released another deafening shockwave.
Azeon retaliated instantly — his fists blurred, striking Luke's face, ribs, and chest in a flurry too fast to count. Luke was sent spiraling through the air, only to be caught by a vicious kick that hurled him clear out of the stadium.
The earth cracked when Luke hit the ground. For a moment, all fell silent. Then, with a groan, he stood — his body broken, his ribs shattered — yet his wounds sealed instantly as green light enveloped him.
Azeon landed softly in front of him, still smirking. "Well? Will you finally use your magic… or shall I keep breaking your bones until you do?"
Luke's eyes flared bright emerald. He raised both hands, voice deep and resolute: "Earth Magic — Hands of Judgment!"
He clapped his palms together.
The ground split apart. Tremors shook the earth as two colossal hands — each the size of a mountain — rose from the ground behind him, their rocky fingers reaching for the skies.
Azeon looked up, eyes narrowing — but before he could react, the hands slammed together, trapping him between them.
The sound was apocalyptic. A wave of destruction tore through the arena, leveling everything within miles.
Princess Isha shielded her face from the wind, her hair whipping violently. "Such power…" she whispered, her voice trembling. "That spell… it has to be over. There's no way anyone could survive that."
She took a cautious step forward, Ready to Fly— but then she froze.
The colossal hands were trembling.
A cold dread crept up her spine as she focused her gaze — and saw, through the cracks, Azeon holding the hands apart with his bare arms.
He was laughing.
"Not bad, human. Not bad at all."
Then, with a thunderous roar, Azeon pushed outward — the mountain-sized hands exploded into debris. Shards of rock flew in every direction like cannon fire.
A massive chunk, larger than a house, shot toward Princess Isha. She barely had time to gasp.
But just as the shadow of the boulder fell over her, strong arms wrapped around her shoulders — and in the next instant, she was gone.
She blinked — and found herself high above the battlefield, cradled in David Diamante's arms.
Her breath caught. "David! You— you saved me."
He looked down at her calmly, his silver hair glowing in the red light of the sky. "Couldn't let a princess die under my watch."
She struggled, pointing down toward the devastation below. "Then go! Help Luke! You're a Guardian too — he needs you!"
David's expression softened, but he didn't move. "Princess… Luke's the Captain of the Guardians. He fights best when he's alone."
Below, dust cleared to reveal Azeon standing amid the ruins — unscathed, his grin wider than ever.
"It was a fine spell," he admitted, brushing debris off his shoulder. "If I hadn't reacted, it might've hurt. But you gave yourself away the moment your mana surged — I knew a big attack was coming."
Luke hovered above, staring down at him. For a brief moment, everything else vanished — the loss of Princess Izza, the mission, even the destruction. For the first time in years, he was enjoying the fight.
He rose higher into the crimson sky, his aura blazing like emerald fire. "You wanted to see my magic, demon?" he said quietly. "Then let me show you… what true power looks like."
He raised one hand toward the heavens. "Earth Magic — Hidden Spell: Lies of Nature!"
The air grew heavy. The sunlight dimmed.
Princess Isha, watching from above, blinked — confusion washing over her. "What's happening? Why is it getting dark already?"
Then she looked up — and her voice caught in her throat.
Above the clouds, a meteor the size of a mountain burned through the sky, its trail lighting the heavens in orange fire.
Her body trembled. "By the Gods…"
David's lips curled in a faint smile. "Impressed… or terrified, Princess?"
"Both," she whispered.
He nodded. "You should be. Humanity may be the weakest kingdom among the Four… but Luke Blackwood — the Human Guardian — is the strongest of us all. And that's why he's our captain."
Below them, Luke stood calmly, hands in his pockets, emerald light flickering around him as the meteor roared closer.
Azeon tilted his head, grinning up at the sky. "So that's your plan, huh?" he said softly. "You'd destroy an entire kingdom… just to win?"
Luke's smirk didn't fade. "If that's what it takes to protect my prince… then yes."
To be continued…