Mm, yes.
The memories of my writing returned to me, and the images of Fahal, the sword mentor and Jin, the de Nuantra family patriarch, merged into one. Those actions I had once simply designed with words were now a physical and concrete depiction for me to enjoy.
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Jin had no desire to waste even a single second. The moment his sword collided with Eve's blade, he took a step back.
Mana rushed out of Jin's pores, creating a raging human mana bonfire that towered into the sky.
"An offering to the gods is made in three ways," Jin spoke as his mana burst out like a bomb, knocking Eve's blade away from his sword.
Eve narrowed her eyes as she tilted her single-edged blade around, feeling the weight of her weapon. She watched as Jin's mana surged without end. His energy control was malevolent and chaotic.
His ranking had yet to stabilise, but Jin was using such a fact to his advantage.
He would use chaos to fight humanity's strongest.
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"But we, the de Nuantra Preservers, follow only one. And that is burning." Fahal spoke to his students as he controlled his blazing bonfire-like mana to surge even further.
Flickers of blue became visible to the naked eye given the density of mana that he was now exerting.
An imaginary foe had formed itself in Fahal's mind as he aimed his sword. His figure then rushed forward as his mana fuelled every fibre of his being. His muscles tensed, and three fierce slashes ran through the air, tearing apart what was in front of him.
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Eve had to swiftly defend herself with her blade. Jin was surrounded by fiery mana that could be seen with the naked eye. It was a deep, deep blue that signified the mana of an A ranker.
Every strike that fell upon her blade pushed her back as she danced between every strike directed at her. Metal clanged against metal and sparks flew everywhere. The shockwaves born from their fierce exchange cracked the concrete structures around them.
"With every strike, we offer a piece of our being," Jin spoke as a lull appeared in his battle with Eve. He stood in place, seemingly waiting for something interesting to happen.
Slick—!
Several wounds appeared on Eve's skin, prompting her to raise her brows. Blood dripped down from the thin cuts before the wounds quickly closed.
"How is it?" Jin sneered at humanity's strongest, "This is my family's [ Preserver's Offering ]. Isn't it a sword art worthy to be executed before you?"
Eve chuckled with disdain.
"With just this? It's average." She then brandished her blade and charged forward, relentlessly and without hesitation.
"A true martial art requires greater risks, greater sacrifices, and greater hardships." Eve's mana churned, silent and deadly. "I'll show you what a true A rank martial art looks like."
She then couldn't help but lace her tones with a little mockery, "I'll do it slowly, so that you may learn something before I take your head."
Clang—!
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"A sword art is not always about attacking," Fahal spoke as he drew his sword back and adjusted his aura, "Just like how an offering is never a one-sided interaction with a god."
The blazing bonfire of mana shifted before my very eyes. From a raging flame, it turned into a steady candlelight that would sway with the wind. Fahal executed moves that showed me the other side of Preserver's Offering.
He danced with his sword, looking like he could survive whatever life would throw at him. No matter what storm would rage and threaten to kill his flame, he would be there to weather it all.
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"A two-sided sword truly is very different from a one-sided blade," Jin spoke with a grim tone as he gasped for air. One weapon never turned back and always continued forward. The other was dangerous no matter where one faced.
The nature of their techniques reflected such facts. Eve's martial arts were unrelenting and endless. Jin had the ability to adapt.
But...
After a desperate round of defence, there were chips on Jin's sword. A few wounds had found their way into his body. Eve's relentless pursuit had finally stopped for a moment, enough for him to catch his breath.
"There is no way out for you, Thallajin." Eve scanned the wounded figure before her, "You should have tried to ascend to the Divine-Grasping realm elsewhere. Aelthrie is my city and mine alone."
The gap between him and Eve was still insurmountable as ever. Doubt had already started creeping in—Jin's heart was wavering.
"I refuse to believe that I will not be able to take you down," Jin growled as he readjusted his grip and his form flickered. He was going on the offensive once more.
The battle suddenly shifted into high gear. The city of Aelthrie crumbled beneath their feet, but no screams echoed out.
The city was barren and empty.
Jin let loose a barrage of strikes, piercing through rubble and slicing apart buildings. Actual flames began to burn across his blade. His entire form had been ignited through friction.
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My eyes gleamed as I watched Fahal unleash his barrage of sword strikes. The faint smell of his clothes and skin being roasted under the heat of his movements tickled my nose.
His movements were ingrained in my memories. I memorised every swing, every stab, and every slash he made. I recorded the motions of his mana as it flowed in battle.
Fahal struck the imaginary enemy in front of him, seamlessly shifting from offence to defence at a moment's notice. His movements were akin to a fire in the wind, unpredictable and dangerous.
"To offer up one's heart is to offer up one's being!" Fahal boomed, and the students all around him had a fanatic shine in their eyes.
"Once the entire art is completed, one completes the ritual for the ceremony." Fahal transitioned into a familiar stance. "That is when the glory of heaven descends to bless us with strength unimaginable."
He then slashed across the horizon, his sword truly blazing with flames at that moment. His strength rose to Rank C before my very eyes. A faint divine light shone from Fahal's wrists as if it was trying to form a set of mana programs with physical mana.
'Beautiful,' I thought to myself. 'Paradoxical, just as how I made it to be.'