"You all stand down. It doesn't concern you. It's between him and me," Amarok said, stepping forward. "If it's blood you want, then you will have it." Amarok's body trembled, harbored by the familiar energy of the first-order mode. He stepped forward.
His body blitzed out. The sword he received from Calder was unsheathed, shining with a blinding blue luster.
Kleid smiled as he dashed forward. The two figures sprinted at lightning speed. Then their two swords collided.
A blinding sparkle bloomed out, the fire around them blown away by the winds. Kleid's foot bolted forward, colliding with Amarok's knee. Amarok's eyes widened, his balance snatched as he fell forward. Kleid slashed upward, the winds whistling as being divided. Amarok spun to the side, a blood arc drawing upward. As he landed, a green light made a half-circle.
Amarok bent backward, his foot leaving the ground. It collided with Kleid's chin, a cracking sound heard as his body flung upward.
Kleid's eyes were bloodshot, his rune weapon bursting with green luster. The runes on his sword hummed to life. "Why couldn't you simply bow?"
The Zilfia Infinite Winds, the rune sword, struck down, dividing the void as it fell. Amarok bolted backward, the sword colliding with the ground, splitting it open, creating a sharp light that severed the ground charging at Amarok. The earth opened on its path, and the flames were forced away.
Amarok raised his hand, rings of white light flashing, condensing into a single ring. "Respect is earned, not forced." He struck the ground.
The earth quaked fracturing as it bolted forward ; the two forces collided. The ground underneath him caved in, sending huge chunks of earth into the void.
Amarok's body blitzed. "Trying to trick me... The little bitch couldn't," Kleid roared, staring at the floating rocks.
Suddenly, without even turning back, he raised his sword upward . A deafening sound echoed.
Kleid forced to one knee, blood splashing out, the flames engulfed in a violent storm of energy. The ground fissured.
The onlookers stepped back, the fissure stopping near their feet. They were speechless, having seen many fights, but this. They had no idea of the history between the two fighters but couldn't help but admire their strength and determination.
Silvia was uncertain, her heart pounding. Kinty stared intensely, just like the first time he saw Amarok fight, that day in that small village. The same vibe resonated from Amarok.
Louan stared in shock, never imagining the outside could contain such combatants. Mia stared in admiration, Amarok's words echoing within her soul.
Lyra was slightly trembling. Her heart pounding in her chest. Her hand baled into a fist.
Kleid stood up. Their heart sank. Even that wast enough to defeat him?. His sword shimmered with blinding vigor. wings made of Winds flapped out. Sending a Storm that forced amarok back.
His rune weapon had morphed. it edges became sharper. The runes had interconnected at the Center of the sword.
"Resonance," someone said with a gasp. The onlookers' minds shuddered. How could it be? Resonance was the state where the rune warrior's mind aligned with the rune in his rune weapon. In this case Kleid's sword. This was the gateway that separated talented people from the mass. In this state, the warrior could maximize the strength of his rune weapon.
"I never would have expected to see such a thing here. It's fascinating how fast one can grow," someone commented. He stood at the back of the crowd, and instinctively everyone stood away from him.
"Alone, he has no chance," Liviam said. The celestial guardian stared at him with respect. They now fully understood why he had stopped them. It had nothing to do with Amarok himself.
Amarok stared at Kleid in shock. He wasn't ignorant of what was happening. "Do you regret now?" Kleid mocked, observing the look on his face. "You never had any chance to begin with," he roared. His figure soared forward.
Amarok shielded his face; a green light zipped through him. Blood spilled out. Amarok held his neck, falling to a knee.
Kleid glided around him so fast that the fire dared not get close to him. Amarok moved in a circle, trying to keep him in view. "It's useless. You can't win alone. Die!" Kleid looked invincible, his sword tearing the void.
A whooshing sound echoed. Kleid collided with an arrow, forcing him back. Kleid froze; his Winds flapped as he shifted to the side, a golden light descended, missing him by an inch.
Kleid soared upward; water droplets had covered the sky, shooting like bullets. He danced with his wings, evading all of them.
"You're wrong. He is not alone," Lyra said, standing before Amarok. Amarok lifted his head to stare at Lyra's back. Silvia, Kinty, they all stood before him. Even Mist had stood up, supported by her sword. He felt a wave of warmth sweep through him. His eyes turned wet with the urge to cry. At the same time, he felt his soul burn with guilt; he had dragged them into his problems. "I intended to cut his head off before taking yours, but since you're all so eager, I don't mind," Kleid said undeterred.
His heart burned with envy observing the scene. Why wasn't someone defending him? Why was no one standing for him? He longed for that feeling, but it was always out of reach. Soon he was grimacing in hatred. He was better than Amarok in every aspect. He was more talented, stronger, accepted in a noble family. He had many people who wanted to be his friend. Why was he feeling empty inside? If he couldn't have it, then no one will, they would all be buried here. His eyes darkened.
His eyes pulsating with energy, his figure flashed, going straight for the ruby. Amarok and his friends followed closely. "What are you doing?" Liviam frowned, dashed forward. The whole crowd sprang into action, rushing towards the ruby. The fire guardians began converging. The violent fire winds surged forward.
Kleid, with his wind wings, was definitely the fastest. In a split second, he snatched the ruby. The fire mountain trembled.