Zephyr recognized that voice that was filled with a mix of amusement and pride.
"Arthur." He turned around, glancing at the man in the distance who was carrying a majestic sword that still remained in its sheath.
He had killed all of Zephyr's clones without even drawing out his sword. He was said to be a mortal that was no weaker than a god. In fact, in the current era, he stood amidst the most powerful beings.
"It seems to be our first time meeting," Arthur stated, glancing at Zephyr. "Then again, if we had met before, it would've been impossible to meet again."
"And why would that be?" Zephyr asked, not showing any fear either. He had heard a lot about Arthur, who ruled over the Kingdom where Raven was born.
Zephyr was someone who had followed Raven when they waged a war on Heaven. He had seen worse. He had seen Titans, Gods and even Mythical Beings, all slaughtered by his master. He didn't hold any fear anymore.
"And that must be the guy who made Hades suffer so much. If he wasn't the reincarnation of that traitor, I would've been quite happy to help him out just to spite that guy."
Arthur burst into laughter. Even in a serious moment like this, he was still light-hearted. However, Zephyr knew that Arthur wasn't a kind person. To reach his position, he also had a lot of blood on his hand.
"How about this? Hand over the boy and I'll make it quick."
Zephyr clenched his fists. "I'm afraid you can't afford him."
Arthur raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "I'm quite pleased. It would've been boring if it was that easy. It's been quite a long time since I got to fight to my heart's content. I hope you won't disappoint me."
Zephyr took a step forward, placing fake Raven on the side carefully.
He still hadn't unsheathed his sword, yet its aura was still strong. It was a sword that was said to belong to a God that had disappeared a long time ago. Yet, the sword's power hadn't diminished even in the slightest.
It was a sword that drank the blood of many gods. For many, it was known as the Demonic Sword. However Arthur has a different name for it... Excalibur.
As Zephyr prepared himself for the imminent clash, his bare hands crackled with the energy of shadows. He could feel the power surging through him, ready to be unleashed in this battle against Arthur and his sword.
With a sudden burst of speed, Zephyr rushed towards Arthur, his movements fluid and unpredictable. Shadows swirled around him, obscuring his figure and making it difficult for Arthur to anticipate his next move.
The battle had begun, yet Zephyr wasn't happy with it. He could see that Arthur wasn't even going all out. He was only observing his fighting style while blocking attacks with his sheath, as if trying to judge if it was even a battle worth taking seriously.
With each strike, Zephyr's blows carried the weight of darkness, leaving Arthur momentarily surprised. It brought a smile to Arthur's face.
"You're quite good. Unfortunately, it seems you have also been affected by Gaia's curse like other Traitors. Although your curse isn't even close to as strong as 'his', it has made you weaker. What a pity..."
Arthur genuinely seemed disappointed, wondering how fun it would've been if Zephyr was at his strongest.
"I heard you had accompanied that Traitor in the war? You must've been quite strong at your time. But all the reincarnations and curses have destroyed most of you. The more you fight, the more you'll lose yourself. So why...?" he asked.
"Why do you all still fight for that obsessive psychopath? Have you not learned your lessons from the past? Do you think anything will change even if you help him remember?"
Arthur kept blocking the attack. Even though he was being pushed back, the reality was that his defence wasn't once broken. From the beginning to the end, he had been in control of the flow of battle.
"You're all running on a fool's errand. I have some advice for you all. Surrender to Camelot and I'll protect you and your people from everyone else. All you have to do is forget about the past and abandon him."
"My life belongs to him. I will die before I ever abandon him!" Zephyr exclaimed.
"An unwavering loyalty... It's the most important quality for a Knight. Unfortunately, you've chosen the wrong master to serve. Even if you can help him remember, nothing will change. History will just repeat itself," Arthur stated as he kept stepping back, not once getting on the offensive.
"Don't tell me you haven't heard?" he laughed, taking a guess. "You truly haven't heard that Gaia has also been reborn? This will be her first reincarnation after that war. And since it's a world created by her, the world will always favour her growth."
"No matter what you do, it'll always end the same way. The day that Traitor decided to do that, he had sealed his fate. But you... You're even more foolish than him. Are you truly not going to accept my offer? I won't ask a third time."
Although Arthur was greedy for talent, he wasn't a fool. He knew when to advance and when to retreat.
As the battle intensified, Zephyr tapped deeper into the power of shadows. Dark shackles emerged from his hands, lashing out at Arthur with precision and speed.
The shadows snaked around Arthur's sword, attempting to disarm him and leave him vulnerable. Unfortunately, with a single swing, Arthur destroyed the attack. Even now, he hadn't pulled out his Sword.
The clash between Zephyr and Arthur became a mesmerising dance of light and darkness. Zephyr's bare hands moved with grace and agility, while Excalibur's sheath gleamed with the brilliance of a thousand stars. They were a perfect contrast of power, one harnessing the ancient might of the shadows and the other wielding the legendary sword of kings.
Zephyr didn't stop the battle. Instead, he became even more serious, which was the answer in itself for Arthur.
"I see... Truly a fool till the end." Arthur sighed, shaking his head in disappointment.
He swung his sheath, his entire aura changing. If previously, he was as calm as a pond, then now he was like a raging storm.