Blade, panting, surveyed the battlefield, now turned chaotic. The jagged fragments of the ground still floated in the air, and lightning crackled around him.
He slowly stood up, his breath caught by the intensity of the pain. A whisper barely escaped his lips:
— Overburst: Steel Zephyr…
No sooner had he spoken than the wind froze. The sound of lightning and sharp debris vanished, replaced by an almost supernatural silence. In an instant, Blade's entire body seemed covered in a metallic veil, like armor.
Every movement of his muscles resonated through this invisible metal.
Thunder instinctively stepped back, feeling the overwhelming energy radiating from Blade, as if the air and matter around him were constantly being sliced.
Every breath felt cut, every particle of air vibrated, as if the world itself had been transformed into a gigantic blade ready to strike.
Thunder's eyes shone with astonishment, a smile stretching across his face:
— Looks like I'll have to go in brutally.
He focused, raised his blade to the sky, and yellow incandescent lightning struck it—once, twice, three times—illuminating the graphite-strewn ground that crackled with each of his steps.
The fight was about to reach a new level: faster, deadlier, and more destructive than ever.
Each electric arc made the air vibrate; every spark seemed ready to fuse with the floating debris, ready to explode at the slightest touch.
Blade, still enveloped in his metallic veil, stared at Thunder, his red eyes gleaming sharply.
The confrontation was about to escalate from controlled chaos to total catastrophe.
Thunder lifted his blade toward Blade, a spark of challenge in his eyes:
— Let's go, Blade… may the best win!
Blade fixed him with a look of burning determination.
In a fraction of a second, Blade found himself in front of Thunder, pulled forward as if by force. But Thunder was even faster. Surprised, Blade had no time to defend himself.
— What's wrong, Blade? Thunder asked, a carnivorous grin on his lips.
— You forgot… my blade has become a super-powered magnet when in contact with lightning. Your armor has just sealed your fate!
With a lightning-fast strike, Thunder hit Blade.
The impact was deafening, as if the lightning itself had crashed into him.
The shockwave made the debris vibrate while Blade's metallic veil trembled under the combined force of the blow and magnetic pull.
For Thunder, Blade was no longer the attacker but the plaything.
Every movement Blade made was anticipated; every attempt to move away was violently countered.
Blade's anger surged.
He could no longer act—he was only enduring. The situation was unbearable.
His red eyes blazed, and every muscle in his body seemed to scream against the injustice of this domination.
Suddenly, a mouth appeared on the metallic veil of his armor, and a guttural scream escaped:
— Let me go!!!
The power of his rage materialized instantly. The ground split everywhere, the floating debris turned into razor-sharp dust, and the explosion of force sent Thunder flying, surprised and off balance.
Thunder got up, eyes locked on Blade.
— Not bad, your blade is sharp again.
— Die!!! Blade shouted.
Axel, on one knee, murmured:
— So… even your voice has become sharp.
Blood gushed from Thunder's ears; his eardrums had been cut. Blade had reached an entirely new level.
Thunder, denying the pain, slowly got back on his feet, blood still running down his face.
He whispered in a low, determined voice:
— From now on, I must fight without my hearing.
Every movement would now be a challenge: he had to rely on instincts, reflexes, and the electricity around him, without hearing the environment or Blade's attacks.
The duel had reached a new plateau, where every breath and gesture could decide victory or defeat.
Thunder, his gaze burning with determination, whispered:
— Ryndar, the Celestial Lightning Rod: The Fall of Olympus!
Above them, the clouds parted to form a perfect circle.
From the center, a wild violet lightning swirled, as if watching. It illuminated the devastated cave.
Every flash cast sharp shadows over the debris, while the air crackled with electricity, vibrating like a massive drum ready to explode.
Blade stared at the phenomenon, the metallic veil on his armor reflecting the violet light.
Tension rose instantly: the next strike would pulverize everything on the battlefield.
Thunder raised his blade toward the celestial circle, ready to channel the lightning. The bolt struck violently, but before it could hit, Blade swiftly severed one of his fingers and hurled it into the lightning.
A deep, resounding noise echoed, shaking the earth and sending the few nearby animals fleeing in a chaotic panic. The floating debris swayed dangerously above the battlefield, each dust particle dancing to the rhythm of the upheaval.
Thunder, his right arm severed, collapsed to the ground, his gaze lifeless.
Blade, still breathing heavily, stared at Thunder with an incandescent look. Every word he spoke seemed to resonate through the suspended debris and electrified air:
— Your lightning has become one of my blades. My world is sharp… yours is shattered.
Blade's eyes were still red, yet filled with an unusual serenity. Every move, every moment of the duel had etched itself into his memory like a deadly dance.
— Thank you… for this fight, Blade murmured, his voice echoing with a mix of fatigue and respect.
— Now, all that's left is to deliver the Bubble to the boss… but where is it? Blade whispered, his voice tinged with worry.
Suddenly, the Bubble appeared a few meters in front of Blade, floating gently in the air as if the wind itself guided it. Its luminous surface shimmered, casting silvery reflections on the surrounding debris.
— There it is! I did it! Blade exclaimed, bouncing with joy, his eyes fixed on the Bubble.
He reached out to grab it, but at that moment, faint whispers and footsteps sounded behind him.
The wind stiffened, as if warning Blade of imminent danger.
He spun around, hand still outstretched toward the Bubble. In the shadows of the ruins, a figure emerged, moving silently but with unnerving precision.
— I thought I made myself clear… you don't stand a chance, Benine, Blade said coldly.
Benine, eyes wide, his torso bare and scarred, advanced slowly, each step echoing on the shattered ground. The wind lifted his hair and the fragments around him, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
He raised his head, staring at the sky streaked with violet and red clouds. A fierce light shone in his eyes, a mix of joy and hatred, a pure emotion.
— I understand… Blade, what you call Burst… I've achieved it.
— Oh really! Then come at me! Blade shouted.
Benine, a grin on his lips and ready for battle, murmured:
— Burst: Catastro, the Founding Bubbles.
End