Kael's breath came in ragged gasps as he dodged another strike, the force of Eryndor's blade carving a deep gash into the stone behind him. His muscles screamed in protest, but he forced himself to keep moving. To falter now would mean death—not just for him, but for everything he fought to protect.
"Do you feel it, Kael?" Eryndor taunted, his voice dripping with malice. "The weight of the Heart's power pressing down on you? It's only a fraction of what I've endured."
Kael gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain in his limbs. "And yet you gave in to it. You let it consume you."
Eryndor laughed, a hollow, bitter sound. "I embraced it. That's the difference between us, Kael. You fight against the inevitable, clinging to your fragile ideals. But the Heart rewards those who accept its truth."
Kael's grip tightened on his sword as he steadied himself. His mind raced, searching for a way to end the fight. Eryndor's strength was overwhelming, his attacks relentless. But Kael had faced impossible odds before, and he wasn't about to give up now.
He feinted to the left, drawing Eryndor's blade away, and lunged forward with all his strength. His sword connected, slicing a shallow wound across Eryndor's side. It wasn't much, but it was enough to slow him down.
Eryndor hissed in pain, his expression darkening. "You think that's enough to stop me?"
Kael didn't respond. He couldn't afford to waste energy on words. Instead, he pressed the attack, his movements fueled by sheer determination. Eryndor was powerful, but Kael knew his limits. The Heart's power came at a cost, and Eryndor's body was already beginning to show signs of strain.
As their blades clashed again, Kael caught a glimpse of something in Eryndor's eyes—a flicker of hesitation, a moment of vulnerability. It was brief, almost imperceptible, but it was enough to give Kael hope.
"You're still in there," Kael said, his voice low but firm. "I know you are."
Eryndor's expression faltered, his movements slowing for just a moment. But the darkness quickly returned, his face twisting into a mask of anger. "Don't waste your breath, Kael. The man you knew is gone."
Kael's heart ached at the words, but he refused to give up. He had to believe that Eryndor could be saved, that there was still a shred of the man he had once admired buried beneath the Heart's corruption.
The fight continued, each clash of their blades sending shockwaves through the ruins. But as the minutes dragged on, Kael began to see the cracks in Eryndor's facade. His movements were becoming more erratic, his attacks less precise. The Heart's power was consuming him, just as it had consumed so many before him.
Kael knew he didn't have much time. If he couldn't break through to Eryndor soon, the man he once called mentor would be lost forever.