Staring at the shadowy figure opposite him, Alden clamped down on his displeasure and slipped into a battle-ready state as effortlessly as breathing.
Even though darkness shrouded his opponent, the night obscuring most of their features, the young man's eyes slowly became accustomed to that blackness. He vaguely determined his foe possessed a slender physique.
'Odds are they're pretty agile. I have to be careful.'
While it was not the end of the world if they were slim, Alden would have preferred it if they were bulky.
That way, he could only worry about dodging and ensuring he outmatched his opponent's speed.
Although… it probably wouldn't matter too much in the end.
One touch from him and Alden knew his enemy would be dead.
As he circled the mysterious figure - using the help of Ignia's senses and his own eyes to determine their exact position - Alden slowly tightened the grip on his dagger.
His lips curled into a cold grin.
Before he acted on any of his dark thoughts, however…
"Who are you?"
…It was better to glean a few things first.
Alden purposefully made his voice deeper, hoping it would intimidate the figure into talking.
Unfortunately for him, his foe seemed utterly unfazed.
He inwardly clicked his tongue.
"Are we acquainted?"
Again, no response.
Alden's brows furrowed.
"Why are you trying to kill me? I don't believe I've done anything to warrant your ire."
Alden sensed his opponent flinch a little, and his gaze immediately sharpened.
"Is it because-"
Before the young man could continue, the figure rapidly lunged at him.
Alden calmly stepped to the side.
A glint of steel flashed from where he had just been a moment prior.
Alden whistled internally, increasing his concentration.
Within the confines of the Territory of Flame, shrouded under the cover of darkness, two figures clashed, both seeking an end to the other.
Light snow fell from the heavens above.
***
Alden dashed forward, kicking the ground.
The sound of his feet crunching against the snow seemed far quieter than it should have been.
By now, Alden would have been a fool not to realise something was utterly wrong.
Some sort of magic had to be at play, muddling with his senses, and perhaps even concealing his immediate vicinity from the rest of the world - no one had come out of their houses to investigate the disturbance they had doubtless made, which he found strange.
After all, sound travelled far at night, made louder by the emptiness of his surroundings.
For it to be so muted, Alden couldn't help but feel it was a ploy set up by the mysterious figure to kill him with no one being the wiser. A chill travelled down his spine - different from the all-encompassing cold emitted from the Glacial Belt.
It was a chill born of concern.
In his strange surroundings, he had no one to rely on apart from himself.
There would be no reinforcements or any prospect of help ever arriving.
If Alden did not do his best to overcome the current danger, he would surely meet his end.
Of course, in a fight, he knew there was a risk of death.
However, the fact that he was now isolated and stripped of any potential aid only hammered that point in further.
He could not… and would not mess up.
Alden's features turned grave, mirroring the dire situation.
He circulated his mana.
As he neared his opponent, the young man took a deep breath and lunged.
He tensed his legs, using the momentum of his earlier dash to propel himself forward.
Alden's dagger shot through the air, aiming for the mysterious figure's neck.
Through the frigid gloom, Alden sensed them remain unperturbed.
They hadn't even attempted to block!
He inwardly frowned.
Then, just as his knife entered the immediate vicinity of the shadowy figure, Alden felt a sudden resistance bar his path.
It was as if he had just struck an insurmountable wall.
Alden felt his attack lose all its momentum.
He cursed as he gritted his teeth.
This…
This was no doubt the [Shield] skill in effect.
'Annoying.'
Alden clicked his tongue and pursed his lips.
He immediately coated his right hand with decay, trying to apply the same guiding principle to his weapon.
Unfortunately, however… Alden came up short.
His lack of control and mastery over mana manipulation held him back here.
He had no time to curse, though, for in the next moment, he sensed the mysterious figure's frame abruptly speed up!
Alden belatedly realised his opponent had used [Haste].
Clenching his jaw so tight he feared all his teeth would crack, Alden hurriedly moved his body out of the way. He also brought his dagger down in a defensive stance, right in the trajectory of his opponent's attack.
Sparks flew as his knife, and the figure's weapon collided.
The fleeting illumination generated dispelled the darkness for a brief moment.
…Enough for him to gain a glimpse of pupils the colour of flame staring at him with immoral intensity.
Alden's arms trembled as he parried the killing blow.
The mysterious figure then launched another strike, aiming for one of his legs.
'Bastard!'
Alden cursed at the near miss, managing to step back in time.
A bead of sweat slid down his face as he retreated a few paces.
So too did his breath cloud over, escaping his mouth in great vaporous puffs.
Alden panted lightly, ignoring the rising and falling of his chest.
He increased his grip on the knife, determined not to fall.
The young man attempted to coat his weapon once more with the insidious power of the Abyss, but as soon as he did, he lost control over the tendrils of mana.
'Wretched Asterons!'
It seemed like he had to find another way to bypass his opponent's guard.
Unfortunately for Alden, there was no more time to think.
His enemy pounced, using the split-second where his guard was incomplete to slip in an attack bolstered by [Haste].
As he sensed the weapon hurtling towards him menacingly, a wave of calm washed over Alden.
In that tranquillity that came before death, he achieved an epiphany.
His mind whirred, sharpened to an extreme degree.
Alden's lips curled.
Then, with stunning clarity, he viewed the fruit of his efforts as the mysterious figure suddenly paused.
It was as if they had just stumbled into an unnatural barrier.
Of course, this wasn't just any normal barrier.
It was… a [Shield].