His plea went unheard as Alaris and Lysandra continued their aggressive exchange, while Lyra laughed, clearly enjoying the chaos she had instigated.
Caelum, seizing the opportunity, turned his attention to Kairos.
"Don't think I've forgotten about you,"
he growled, his hands igniting with flames. With a swift motion, he launched a series of fireballs directly at Kairos.
Kairos quickly summoned a shield of celestial magic, deflecting the incoming fire. The force of the impact sent a shockwave through the courtyard, causing the others to momentarily pause their bickering.
"Not bad,"
Caelum admitted, his eyes narrowing.
"But let's see how long you can keep up!"
With a roar, Caelum charged at Kairos, his body engulfed in flames. Kairos responded by drawing his sword, imbuing it with celestial energy. The two clashed, fire meeting light in a dazzling display of power.
Clang!
The sound of metal on metal echoed as Caelum's fiery strikes met Kairos' blade. Sparks flew as Kairos parried each blow, his celestial magic counteracting the intense heat of Caelum's attacks.
"Focus, Kairos," Eclipse's voice guided him. "When Caelum overextends, step to the right and counter with a crescent slash."
"Getting tired yet, cousin?" Caelum taunted, his voice laced with determination.
"Not even close," Kairos shot back, his eyes gleaming with resolve. He sidestepped a particularly fierce swing, following Eclipse's instructions, then retaliated with a quick slash, sending a wave of celestial energy towards Caelum.
Boom!
The energy wave exploded on contact, forcing Caelum to retreat, his feet skidding across the ground as he struggled to maintain his balance. But before Kairos could press his advantage, a sharp pain shot through his side. He glanced down to see a spectral arrow embedded in his ribs.
Lysandra, having disengaged from Alaris, stood at a distance with her bow drawn, smirking.
"Gotcha."
"She's too far for a direct attack,"
Eclipse advised.
"Close the distance with a short burst of speed, then disarm her."
Kairos moved swiftly, taking advantage of his superior speed. He deflected another arrow with a flick of his wrist, then closed the distance between them in an instant. With a swift strike, he disarmed Lysandra, sending her bow flying.
"Too slow," he whispered, knocking her off balance with a gentle push.
Before he could capitalize, Alaris and Lyra attacked in unison, Lyra sending a stream of water to bind his legs while Alaris pounced from above.
"Don't get cocky, Kairos!" Alaris hissed as she brought her claws down, aiming for his chest.
"Break free with a pulse of celestial energy!" Eclipse commanded.
Crash!
Kairos unleashed a pulse of celestial energy, breaking free from Lyra's water bind and knocking Alaris off course. She landed on her feet, but the shockwave sent her stumbling backward.
Caelum reemerged from the steam cloud, his hands blazing with fire. "I'm not done with you yet!" he shouted, launching a barrage of fiery orbs at Kairos.
"Now, Kairos," Eclipse urged, "Combine your celestial magic with a crescent slash. Aim to disrupt his concentration."
Kairos gritted his teeth, focusing all his energy into his sword. With a mighty swing, he released a crescent-shaped beam of light that cut through the air, slicing through the fireballs and heading straight for Caelum.
Caelum barely managed to erect a barrier of flame in time, but the impact still sent him reeling. "Damn it!" he cursed, struggling to maintain his footing.
Orion frantically trying to heal the minor injuries everyone had sustained. "This is madness!" he muttered, casting a soothing aura over the area to calm the escalating tension.
But the fight was far from over. Alaris and Lyra regrouped, preparing to launch a coordinated attack, while Lysandra recovered her bow and knocked another arrow. Caelum, still seething, reignited his flames, his eyes locked onto Kairos with fierce determination.
Kairos, breathing heavily but undeterred, tightened his grip on his sword. The battle had gone on for nearly twenty minutes, and everyone was pushing themselves to their limits. As he looked around at his cousins, he felt a surge of pride. This was his family—strong, determined, and unyielding. And he was ready to take them all on.
"Come on then," Kairos said, a small smile playing on his lips. "Let's see who's really the strongest."
The sparring session resumed with renewed intensity. Kairos faced off against his cousins, deflecting, parrying, and countering each of their attacks with a precision that surprised even him. Every clash of weapons, every burst of magic, filled the air with a symphony of sound—clang! whoosh! thwip!—the sounds of a fierce battle, yet one rooted in the bond of family.
The fight continued, a whirlwind of motion and energy, each cousin showcasing their unique abilities. In the end, it wasn't about who won or lost—it was about testing their limits, understanding each other's strengths, and growing stronger together.
As the fight drew to a close, all of them exhausted but exhilarated, Kairos felt a deep sense of satisfaction. He had held his own against some of the most powerful members of the Aurelius family, and he had earned their respect in the process.
And as the final blow was struck, signaling the end of the match, Eclipse's voice echoed in his mind once more.
"Mission complete, Kairos. Congratulations—you've earned your pocket dimension. And as a bonus for your exceptional performance, your status board has been updated. Take a look."
Kairos smiled, feeling the new power settle within him. The sparring session had been more than just a fight—it had been a crucial step in his journey, both as a warrior and as a member of the Aurelius family. And now, with his new ability, he was even better equipped to face the challenges that lay ahead.
He opened his status board, eager to see the updates:
[Status Plate]
Kairos Solari (formerly Ichibei Sukejuro)
Age: 15
Race: Human (Aurelian)
Title: [??], [Star Child] - 60%
Affiliation: House Aurelius, Astella City
Attributes:
Strength: 80.0
Dexterity: 70.0
Endurance: 70.0
Intelligence: 73.0
Wisdom: 90.0
Charisma: 40.0
Luck: 36.0
Mana: 1000.0
Skills:
Movement Mastery Lv. 8 (Evolved from Crawling Mastery): Mastery over fluid and efficient movement, allowing for rapid and controlled mobility.
Swordsmanship Lv. 10: Proficient in the art of sword fighting, capable of executing complex techniques and maneuvers.
Intermediate Celestial Magic Lv. 1: Access to a higher tier of celestial magic, unlocking more powerful spells and abilities.
Observation Lv. 5: Enhanced ability to notice and analyze details in the environment and opponents.
Mana Manipulation Lv. 6: Skilled in controlling and shaping mana for various purposes, including combat and magic.
Celestial Magic Lv. 10: Mastery over celestial magic, allowing for the manipulation of cosmic energies and light.
Memory Retention: Ability to retain memories from past life with exceptional clarity.
Special Abilities:
Eclipse: A mysterious system granted by the dark god, serving as a guide and companion.
Memory Retention: Ability to retain memories from past life with exceptional clarity.
Galaxy Step Lv. 0: A Sword Art that combines celestial magic with swordsmanship. To obtain this skill, focus on applying celestial magic to your swordsmanship and see where it leads.
Pocket Dimension (Basic): A personal inventory space with a weight limit of 100 kg. Cannot store living things.