Ventelu's bow bent until the string threatened to snap off the metallic body. He aimed right at Befehlnadir, then he released the arrow.
It erupted free from the string with a jade explosion. The arrow traveled fast enough to completely disappear from the naked eye, yet it didn't amaze Befehlnadir.
He howled in response, causing powerful gusts of wind to knock the arrow off course.
"Damn! This is what a Noble Mind must be like, huh? Wonder if I can manifest a weapon or two," Befehlnadir grinned. "Only one way to find out."
Ventelu made a break towards Befehlnadir, jumping off the stone platform. His Sky Beast emerged from thin air to accompany its owner.
"That's it, good girl. Let's see what this arena has for us," Ventelu spoke to his mount.
Befehlnadir slammed a two-handed axe against his own platform, shattering it. He floated effortlessly over the wreckage, eyes glaring at Ventelu.
Wind roared to full strength, tossing Ventelu's Sky Beast around. The duo spun out of control before free falling.
As they flew in and out of gray clouds, Befehlnadir stormed towards them. He geared his right arm back, then struck forward as hard as he could.
Ventelu felt the blunt edge dig deep in his stomach before being spun around and tossed against another platform. The stone crumbled and faded beneath his weight, yet he knew he couldn't afford to recover.
So he shot up and rolled to the side. Allowing Befehlnadir to slam his axe where Ventelu rested.
"Come, girl!" Ventelu cried out.
His Sky Beast slammed on top of Befehlnadir, sending the tyrant to one knee. She scratched his back with talons precise and sharp enough to tap into the back of his ribs and spine.
The creature's mighty beak opened to snap onto Befehlnadir's neck, only to receive a powerful lightning strike. She screeched painfully, losing strength by the second.
"Go high!" Ventelu ordered.
She dragged herself off the platform on command, then took flight once again. Leaving Ventelu to lock eyes with Befehlnadir.
Thunder rumbled overhead, notifying Ventelu he might get struck. In response, he charged at Befehlnadir.
Right as he slid beneath the tyrant, lightning rained from above. Each one striking Befehlnadir and effectively staggering him.
Ventelu noticed his senses quickly rising, indicating he was returning to a normal amount of strength. He attempted to use this time to drag Befehlnadir out of his arena and into Koroth's Outer Atmosphere.
Clouds began to fade just as the winds went calm. Befehlnadir rose from his downed position to see his arena grow darker, prompting him to rally up more strength.
"I'm starting to get the hang of this gimmick. This must be my world, and the changing outskirts must be yours, right? Then I'll keep the fight here," Befehlnadir taunted.
He grabbed onto Ventelu's shoulder and threw him off the platform. Static electricity built up until Ventelu could barely move his muscles.
Befehlnadir manifested a shield, causing the storm to brew into a blizzard. His eyes quickly fixed right on Ventelu as he tried to control himself.
Then he hurled the shield towards him as hard as he could. It spun quickly, dragging snowflakes as it traversed the open sky.
Ventelu fought hard enough to flick his arm towards the projectile and throw it off. He felt a familiar warmth wash over him as his Sky Beast forced Ventelu to mount her.
Upon feeling her grace, Ventelu felt empowered once again. He gritted his teeth as he leaned forward on her back, prompting the Sky Beast to dive towards Befehlnadir.
As they careened towards him, they heard the shield rapidly gaining in them. It got louder and louder just as the wind grew furious until they rolled out of the way.
Befehlnadir caught his shield last second, but it was still enough to knock him onto one knee. Ventelu charged up several arrows, then released them all at once.
Six catastrophic jade explosions consumed the tyrant. By the end, he was left badly burned and even more confused.
"Keep attacking him, I'll get us out of here," Ventelu ordered.
His Sky Beast caught Befehlnadir in her talons, allowing her to claw and snap at his skin. Ventelu manifested a small green orb in his palm, which he forced to expand.
Befehlnadir regained his power, allowing him to toss the Sky Beast aside effortlessly. The creature growled and screeched as it caught itself before flying too far away.
All traces of a storm quickly faded. Befehlnadir looked around, realizing the forest from earlier coated the area where his arena once stood.
Clouds still clung to the sky, letting rain wash over the region as a sign of what's to come. Ventelu breathed heavily while keeping his eyes fixed on Befehlnadir.
"This fight isn't worth it. Maybe Fruzzy or Ketra could handle him, but I know I can't." Ventelu thought to himself.
Befehlnadir watched Ventelu mount his Sky Beast. The creature continued to growl in Befehlnadir's direction, warning him to back off.
"What's this? Leaving?" Befehlnadir taunted. He gestured down at himself. "Do not see yourself out just yet, creature. You'd be a coward!"
"A coward that escapes their fight to recover and prepare for the next isn't called a coward, they're called warriors," Ventelu retorted.
Befehlnadir laughed. But not as an insult. Ventelu was smarter than he gave him credit for.
"You clearly aren't ego-driven if you swallow your pride and retreat for a better fight. I can respect that. Now hurry, boy. Fly away with your pretty little bird," Befehlnadir ordered.
Ventelu didn't respond, he simply ordered his Sky Beast toff the ground. Rain soaked his hair, prompting him to put his trust on his tame.
"Fly me home, Trez. Fly me home safely," Ventelu whispered.
Befehlnadir watched the duo leave him behind. His shoulders relaxed and eyes looked low.
The entire fight replayed in his head again, picking apart what worked and what didn't. But he focused on the arena and how it shifted to suit him best.
"If this is what it means to be a pre-Noble, then I like it." He concluded.