Resounding explosions were heard all throughout the forest where ice and fire converged and clashed with one another. Even those in the far edges of the forest could see the great scale of the battle, stretching towards the sky.
Temperatures changed every now and often, one moment it was hot and the other it was cold.
Many had worries when they eventually made their way to the middle. Would they be caught in the crossfire between the great battle? Or would they simply succumb due to its after effects?
Nevertheless, the white ice never seemed to melt which removed the worries for hot steam spreading across the forest.
Veritas watched as the great clash unfolded, his eyes switched between being basked in radiance and to that of a cold splendor.
He used the Winds to somehow protect Jade and himself from succumbing to whatever aftereffects there could be.
Seeing this, he felt the groups on their side directions to vanish. It seems that they've got an idea to leave before things get worse.
'How could a battle between them ensue now?!'
It was the last day of the second stage. But.. It was early in the morning so Veritas did not expect his day to start with an explosion.
He hurriedly made his way towards Jade, "Let's go! We can't handle this much longer, we need to get far away!"
Could he withstand such a great scale of ice and flames? Perhaps..
Veritas never really seemed to be on the scale of battle like those two. He relied more on illusions and conjuring Winds. He only had one skill to maybe contend with the large explosions though, that is the Wrath of the Whisperer.
But even he seemed unsure.
This battle seemed like a true battle between two Sacred-Rank Paths!
'So Mercury has a Sacred Path too..'
He ran with Jade, who was pacing slowly behind him.
Veritas went slower as he saw her struggle to run. Then, he used the Winds to cast a Veil around her, making her feel the repercussions less.
They made their way opposite of the explosions.
But... It seems like other participants had the same idea.
He immediately felt a shift in the Winds on his right, with a significant distance. Two figures were hastily making their way towards Veritas and Jade!
In a couple of seconds, Jade noticed this and went on a state of alert.
"Line! There's two people approaching from our right!"
Without even glancing towards that direction, Veritas immediately unsheathed his sword and stood guard.
'They're getting closer!'
The two were fast, significantly faster than anyone he's ever seen!
"They're coming!"
Veritas gripped his steel blade tighter and anticipated the two's arrival.
In a few seconds, the bushes in that direction seemed to rustle and then revealed two figures from within!
A figure with amber hair and maroon-red hair appeared in front of them.
Veritas felt tipsy because he recognized the two.
'Morgan! Luciphus! Now's not the right time!'
Donning his disguise as Line, Veritas would be left with no choice but to fight. As much as he wanted to avoid fighting, there was no other option left!
"You take the boy and I'll take the girl!" Luciphus ordered Morgan.
To which Morgan replied with a nod, rushing towards Veritas with utmost speed.
'This is bad!'
Veritas knew that Jade could not fight so he would need to handle both of them. He made his way towards her direction and guarded her stature.
The two rushed towards his direction, carrying blades of their own. They each wore respective black bodysuits that were layered along with steel armor.
Veritas was faster to reach Jade and he had seconds before receiving the two's strikes!
He tensed his body and secretly activated Galebreathe!
His lungs immediately filled with air and there was no more need to breathe! He only needed to exhale once in a while!
Veritas gripped his blade with two hands and struck upwards, hitting Luciphus' strike. Then, once Luciphus had been deflected, he ducked and dodged Morgan's side slash, kicking his foot to make him lose balance.
But it was not that easy, Morgan was like a steel wall that was hard to conquer. Also, who knows how long he's been fighting? It seems that he's in a state where his Path had activated for a very long time!
'Had he been fighting since yesterday?!'
Morgan did not flinch from Veritas' attempt and instead, pulled his blade back and pierced his steel armor.
Veritas saw a shift in the Winds before he could even act and used the side of his blade to receive the blow, his white hair bouncing backwards due to the impact.
Jade, who was behind him, watched all of this unfold. He was battling two people at once and they were both significantly stronger than the previous one.
Never did she feel more useless than now!
Veritas turned around while receiving the two's attacks.
"Run!"
The perplexed Jade suddenly woke up from the shock! He heard Veritas' pleas and immediately turned around in the opposite direction.
Veritas jumped back and stared at the two, scanning their intent for battle.
Morgan looked refined but also tired, his face was muddied and there were dark spots under his eyes. However, there was an imposing aura that made him feel the most dangerous threat that Veritas felt in this second stage.
Not only is his battle prowess better, but his speed has also increased drastically.
Luciphus, looked calm and calculating.
It seems that in a battle, he was the one that tended to wait for an opportunity to deal a heavy blow. As if he was practicing the Northern Swordplay of Elrod!
His long hair was clean and his overall outfit seemed to shine, contrasting Morgan's messy appearance.
'I guess we all grew within the past week.'
Upon seeing this, Veritas twisted his blade and made a defensive stance as if telling the two to come and strike him down!
In a flash, Morgan appeared in front of him, forming an upward slash towards his neck. Veritas dodged by a hair's length, tilting his head back smoothly.
But immediately, Luciphus appeared right behind him! He aimed to strike at Veritas when a great opportunity arose!
He stabbed Veritas back but failed to do so because Veritas held his blade on his back to receive the blow.
Then, Veritas jumped in the air to dodge the two. Morgan followed through and met with him on the air, but it seems like a sudden gust of Wind perplexed Morgan and made him stagger for a second.
This was enough for Veritas, he spun in the air and burst out, as if he was stepping on the winds itself!
He flashed towards Morgan and made a downward strike followed by a strong stomp.
Morgan was sent flying down but it seemed like there was no damage to him at all. He stood up immediately and used his speed to catch up with the falling Veritas.
However, his calculations were incorrect as Veritas stood afloat for a while. Veritas stepped on Morgan's head and he flipped in the air, forming a side strike towards Morgan.
While Veritas floated in the air, Luciphus took this opportunity to leap above him and strike down!
However, Veritas dodged the blow and shifted his body aerially. Upon reaching a 360 degree spin, he used the momentum to strike his steel blade towards Luciphus, who was still in the air. Suddenly, Luciphus flew due to the impact and was sent Morgan's direction
Morgan rushed towards them but he didn't see Luciphus' flying body towards him.
So, the two of them clashed upon one another and fell to the ground.
"What are you doing?!"
"I could say the same about you!"
The banter between the two ended within those two phrases as they wasted no time to get up and face the harrowing foe in front of them.
"Quite formidable, what is your name?" Morgan asked.
Veritas floated down slowly and looked elegant while doing so.
"My name is not of your concern."
"I see."
Morgan flashed in front of Veritas, appearing within a fraction of a second.
"Then you shall fall here Nameless."
Veritas grinned using Line's face and said:
Winds seemed to envelop the entire scenery.
"Gladly!"
He felt exhilarated as he received Morgan's empowered blow!
It actually made him falter for a second, making his steel blade reverberate!
"Krnngkh!"
Veritas stepped back to recuperate but was immediately met with Luciphus appearance.
"I knew you would arrive here, fool."
He sent an upward slash towards him and the armor met with Luciphus sword, making Veritas wince in pain.
Wasting no time, Morgan leaped above him and used all his strength to hit Veritas' head.
Veritas leaned back to dodge, but instead of his head.. Veritas' chest was hit!
It sent a loud clang in the entire forest, echoing through the explosions caused by ice and fire.
He was sent down the ground and Morgan used his feet to step him down. He bounced within the leaves and blood spurted out of his mouth.
After stepping him down, Luciphus used his steel blade to pierce his torso, cracking the armor and penetrating it with force.
Veritas' bodysuit was hit and he felt its HP decreasing. Morgan followed through Luciphus' blow and pierced Veritas' solar plexus, hitting his bodysuit too!
"Gah!"
Veritas felt the pain enveloping him as the two overpowered him greatly.
This continued for a couple minutes before finally..
Drowning in a pool of his own blood, Veritas suddenly vanished into the Winds. It was as if his body faded due to the flowing winds in the surroundings.
He had been.. defeated.
By Morgan and Luciphus, whose battle prowess was greater than his when combined.
Morgan exhaled and scanned the whereabouts of the girl. He looked at Luciphus and gestured for him to look with his Path.
Suddenly! Cold sweat began to form within Luciphus' forehead, his eyes widened as if he'd been struck by great terror.
Morgan too, felt a looming fear creep up inside of him. He fell down to the ground and kneeled with one knee.
Luciphus kneeled similarly to Veritas and the both of them faced a single direction.
Footsteps among the leaves suddenly echoed along with the explosions of ice and fire. Then, a figure clad in black walked slowly towards them.
Morgan struggled to raise his head up but upon doing so he saw the terrifying figure.
It felt like he was bowing down to a King, no.. an Emperor!
The figure grinned silently as he opened his mouth and said:
"Is that all?"
His crimson-red eye glowed furiously amidst the forest.