The training facility was silent except for the faint hum of the lights and the sound of heavy breathing.
Nathan and Lucas stood facing each other, their weapons drawn, the tension between them palpable.
Nathan's katana gleamed in the harsh light, his wings unfurled and ready, while Lucas held his mechanical longsword with an almost casual ease, his expression unreadable.
Nathan struck first, his wings propelling him forward with incredible speed.
He slashed at Lucas with his katana, the blade cutting through the air with a sharp whistle.
But Lucas blocked it effortlessly, his longsword meeting Nathan's katana with a loud clang.
The force of the impact sent a shockwave through the room, but neither of them faltered.
Nathan pressed the attack, his wings slicing through the air like blades as he tried to overwhelm Lucas with a flurry of strikes.
But Lucas was calm, his movements precise and economical as he parried each blow, his longsword moving like an extension of his body.
At first, it seemed like they were evenly matched, Nathan's speed and agility allowed him to keep up with Lucas, and his wings gave him an edge in maneuverability.
He darted around Lucas, striking from different angles, trying to find an opening.
But Lucas was always one step ahead, his blade always in the right place at the right time. He didn't waste a single movement, his defense impenetrable.
Nathan's frustration began to grow. He was putting everything he had into this fight, but Lucas wasn't even breaking a sweat.
It was like the guy was toying with him. Nathan's strikes became more aggressive, more reckless, as he tried to force Lucas into a mistake.
But Lucas didn't make any mistake. He countered every attack with ease, his movements fluid and controlled.
Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the balance began to shift.
Lucas started to take the offensive, his strikes coming faster and with more precision.
Nathan now found himself on the defensive, his wings and katana working overtime to block Lucas's attacks.
The pressure was relentless, and Nathan could feel himself being pushed to his limits, his breathing grew heavier, his movements slightly slower, while Lucas seemed as calm and composed as ever.
Nathan's frustration boiled over. "Stop holding back!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the room.
He launched himself at Lucas, his wings sharpened to a razor's edge as he slashed at him with everything he had.
But Lucas simply sidestepped the attack, his longsword flicking out and grazing Nathan's side.
The bracelet on Nathan's wrist partially activated, a hexagonal barrier almost forming to absorb the blow.
Had the strike been any deeper, the barrier would have activated. The message was crystal clear now: Lucas could have ended it there if he wanted to.
Nathan realising this growled, his anger fueling him as he pressed the attack again.
But Lucas was in complete control now. His strikes were faster, more precise, each one forcing Nathan to retreat further.
Nathan's wings, once a source of strength, now felt like a liability as Lucas exploited every opening, his blade cutting through the air with deadly accuracy.
Finally, Lucas saw his opportunity. He feinted to the left, drawing Nathan's katana out of position, and then spun around with blinding speed.
Before Nathan could react, Lucas was behind him, his longsword slashing toward Nathan's neck.
The bracelet activated instantly, a 3D hexagonal barrier forming to stop the blade just before it could make contact.
The room fell silent. Nathan stood frozen, his chest heaving as he processed what had just happened. He had lost. And not just lost—he had been completely outclassed.
He just stood there, frozen, his breath coming in ragged gasps, his hands trembling with a mix of exhaustion and fury.
Lucas stepped back, his expression as calm and unreadable as ever. "Good effort," he said, his tone almost mocking. "But you'll need to do better than that if you want to keep up."
Nathan simply grit his teeth in further anger upon hearing Lucas's casual and almost mocking tone.
And it was really crystal clear. He knew from the beginning that he was unlikely to beat Lucas.
He knew that from the very beginning, yet he hadn't expected to be this outclassed. Lucas never went all out from the very beginning and knowing this fact hurt.
It hurt quite a lot for someone who had someone he wanted to save from their grim future.
From her grim future.
And yet more and more people stronger than him kept popping up. Like this he won't be able to save her.
And he had made up his mind to save her from that future, even if it meant killing the protagonist, even if it meant becoming a monster, he would save her, for she was his light.
The only light he had ever known.