As he shouted, Minwoo leaped up, dodging Matt's next attack and sending two bullets towards the rabbit.
Mattheos sprang into action, darting across the battlefield as he evaded and deflected the relentless stream of golden bullets. Each movement was a calculated effort to escape the fierce onslaught while keeping the White Rat at bay.
The enemy's attacks were relentless, but Mattheos's agility and quick reflexes allowed him to stay one step ahead. Feeling the White Rat's presence looming dangerously close, Mattheos executed a sharp maneuver, turning abruptly to face his foe.
With a determined glint in his eye, he prepared to strike back, his sword poised for a counterattack. The intensity of the battle heightened as he readied himself to engage directly, shifting from defense to offense with practiced precision.
But Minwoo was no novice; he was well-acquainted with Mattheos's formidable abilities and the fearsome reputation that preceded him. The White Rat knew all too well how the little bunny could alter the course of a battle with just one deployment of his technique.
Mattheos's power, particularly his manipulation of the Seven Vices, was a significant threat, capable of tipping the balance in any warzone. Minwoo's experience had taught him to be cautious of such overwhelming force.
He understood that underestimating Mattheos could be disastrous, and he remained ever-vigilant, preparing for whatever the rabbit might unleash next.
The intensity of their confrontation was a testament to the high stakes of their duel, with each combatant fully aware of the other's deadly potential.
The White Rat's smile widened as he readied his aim once more, his gaze locked onto Mattheos with calculated anticipation. Minwoo was prepared for the next move, but the rabbit was taking his time, deliberately drawing out the moment.
This infuriated Minwoo, whose impatience was becoming increasingly apparent. Mattheos couldn't help but smirk. He knew all too well how the White Rat's eagerness could become a disadvantage.
Minwoo's inability to tolerate prolonged engagements was his greatest flaw, though he was undeniably a beast in quick, decisive skirmishes.
The duel's dynamics played to Mattheos's advantage, as he used the White Rat's impatience against him, readying himself to exploit the openings that would arise from Minwoo's frustration.
"Switch. Feel the rage of the Golden Bull!" shouted Minwoo as his twin pistols started to vibrate.
Bingo, he actually took the bait...
"Third Sin…" muttered Mattheos, as he felt his mana pour into the blade.
He lifted the sword with a slow, deliberate grace, its edge glistening with streams of shadow and amber, pulsing like a heartbeat. The weapon hung poised in the air, a knight's promise aimed at his enemy.
At the same time, Minwoo's pistols shifted in his grip, dark magic curling from their barrels as sharp, twisted horns sprouted from each gun.
With a fierce intensity in his eyes, he brought the weapons together with a resonating click, merging them into a single, formidable spell bristling with raw, untamed energy.
"Taurus, rampage the gates!"
The White Rat unleashed the spell, sending it spiraling toward Matt, who stood firm, his calm demeanor barely wavering. The twin bullets spiraled through the air before merging mid-flight in a burst of ethereal light.
From their union emerged a spectral image—a towering, ghostly bull, its horns crackling with shimmering runes, its hooves leaving trails of glowing golden dust as it charged with a thunderous roar.
The creature's eyes burned with otherworldly light as it stampeded toward the unflinching bunny, radiating an aura of ancient, primal magic.
"Inferno of Avarice, Beelzebub," chanted Mattheos as a huge orb of black and orange mana dispensed from the tip of his blade.
The orb shimmered before erupting into a colossal wave, crashing forward like a living tide. It surged with elemental force, intercepting the charging bull and engulfing it in its depths, dissolving the spectral beast into mist.
Minwoo's eyes narrowed in frustration as he realized his hasty decision had backfired. Muttering a curse under his breath, he retreated, fading into the shadows of the night as if he were never there.
The rabbit, caught between relief and bewilderment, stared at the empty space. It was the White Rat who had demanded this duel—why flee when he was the one who could overpower his enemy?
"And I thought I might have a fighting chance… Well, it may be for the better…" whispered Matt as he kept his sword behind him.
The bunny let out a weary sigh as he trudged back to his makeshift quarters, the weight of unanswered questions pressing on his mind. His thoughts drifted to his partner—what had she been up to while he clashed with her counterpart from the Legion?
Was she caught in her own battle, or had she uncovered something more sinister? Or has she already made quick work on the Viceroy and could return?