The storm of battle raged on.
Kael's fire burned hotter than ever, deep crimson flames swirling around his form like a living entity. Opposite him, Stormreaper stood with lightning coursing over his body, the crackling energy illuminating the battlefield with every spark. Their duel had gone beyond mere training—this was a true test of strength, will, and endurance.
Stormreaper dashed forward, his speed a blur. His twin daggers, now wreathed in white-hot lightning, carved through the air in a deadly arc. Kael barely managed to raise his sword in time, the Sword of the Undead colliding against the electrified steel. Sparks and embers exploded from the impact.
Kael pushed forward, gritting his teeth. He could feel his muscles screaming from exhaustion, but he refused to falter. He twisted his body, letting Stormreaper's dagger slide past him before countering with a burst of flames aimed directly at his opponent's chest.
Stormreaper flipped backward, avoiding the blast, but Kael was already moving. He lunged, swinging his sword in a wide arc. The moment the blade came down, Stormreaper met it with both daggers, locking them in place.
For a brief moment, they stood, weapons crossed, eyes locked.
Kael smirked. "Still think I can't keep up?"
Stormreaper chuckled under his mask. "Not bad, dragon boy. But—"
Lightning surged.
A sudden burst of energy erupted from Stormreaper's body, sending Kael flying backward. He barely had time to recover before his opponent appeared above him, dagger raised.
Kael acted on instinct. He thrust his palm forward, releasing a concentrated blast of fire straight at Stormreaper's midsection.
The lightning wielder twisted at the last second, avoiding a direct hit, but the heat still seared his coat. He hit the ground, rolling to disperse the impact, then immediately sprang forward again, determined to press the attack.
Kael clenched his jaw. His energy was draining fast, but he wasn't done yet. He steadied his grip on his sword and exhaled.
The moment Stormreaper came within range, Kael unleashed his trump card.
His flames condensed into a razor-thin arc along the edge of his blade. With a single slash, a fiery crescent shot outward, screaming through the air toward Stormreaper.
Stormreaper's eyes widened. "Oh, shi—"
The attack struck.
A massive explosion of fire and lightning erupted at the center of the battlefield, sending shockwaves in all directions. The sheer force of the impact blasted both fighters backward, neither able to maintain their footing.
The dust settled.
Both warriors lay on the ground, breathing heavily, their bodies covered in burns, bruises, and cuts. The fight was over. Neither of them had the strength to continue.
Seren sighed, stepping forward with her floating tome already glowing. "Honestly, you two are worse than children." She raised her hand, and a soft, warm light enveloped their bodies.
Kael let out a sharp breath as his wounds slowly began to mend, the pain fading. Stormreaper groaned, cracking his neck.
"Well," Stormreaper said, stretching his arms, "that was fun."
Kael exhaled, running a hand through his sweat-drenched hair. "Fun? I nearly melted you."
Stormreaper smirked under his mask. "Yeah, but I nearly fried you. So I'd call it even."
Seren shook her head, adjusting her glasses. "Idiots, both of you."
Kael leaned back, staring up at the sky. Despite the pain, despite the exhaustion, he smiled. He was getting stronger.
And this was only the beginning.
The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and lingering embers from last night's campfire. Kael sat on a fallen tree trunk, tightening the straps of his gauntlets, his body still sore from the brutal fight against Stormreaper. Despite the pain, he felt stronger. Every battle, every challenge pushed him closer to reclaiming his true strength.
Stormreaper, already up and stretching, let out a satisfied sigh. "So, where to next, fearless leader?" he asked, casually spinning one of his daggers between his fingers.
Seren, as usual, had her nose buried in her floating tome, flipping through its pages with an unreadable expression. "The next trial," she said without looking up, "should be beyond the next gate. But we'll need to be prepared. We don't know what kind of trial awaits us."
Kael nodded, standing. "Then we move."
The three of them gathered their supplies and set off. The landscape around them slowly changed as they walked—trees became sparser, the air grew colder, and an unsettling stillness settled over the land.
Stormreaper clicked his tongue. "Why does it feel like we're walking straight into an ambush?"
Kael remained silent. He felt it too. The weight of unseen eyes. The hush of a place that had long been abandoned by life. The tower had tested them before, but this was different. This was something old. Something waiting.
After hours of trekking, they reached it.
The next gate.
A towering arch of ancient stone, covered in frost despite the absence of snow in their surroundings. The runes carved into its surface pulsed faintly, as if responding to their presence.
Kael stepped forward, placing his palm against the icy stone. Immediately, a deep tremor rumbled beneath their feet, and the runes flared to life. The gate groaned, splitting open with an eerie creak, revealing the path beyond.
A gust of freezing wind blasted through the opening, carrying the unmistakable scent of ice and blood.
Beyond the gate lay a vast landscape of snow-covered ruins. Towering peaks loomed in the distance, their jagged forms hidden behind thick sheets of mist.
Kael's breath hitched.
This place… It felt familiar.
Seren's eyes narrowed as she flipped through her tome. "This… isn't just a frozen wasteland."
Stormreaper let out a low whistle. "No kidding. I think we just walked into a graveyard."
Kael clenched his fists. He recognized the architecture, the symbols carved into the ruins.
This was the land of the Exiled Ice Dragon Tribe.
His people's sworn enemies.
And now, he would have to face them.