With a smile, Nero was the first to move, launching a fireball before dashing left, while Delilah veered right. Their plan was simple: trap Nemsus in the middle.
But Nemsus only laughed. In an instant, another copy of him appeared.He was eager to test the new spell his father had given him.
With a flicker of movement, he vanished from the fireball's path, reappearing in front of Nero. Fast both of them thaught.
At the same time, his illusion pounced on Delilah.
The confusion on their faces was clear, but Nemsus didn't give them time to think.
Nero struck with his sword just as Nemsus closed in, but Nemsus countered with ease.
A smirk tugged at his lips as he effortlessly countered.
There's definitely a clear physical difference now. Nero couuld feel it in that counter. He wanted to see exactly how far that gap went—
Nero struck again-same result.Nemsus blocked, then cOuntered with a -fast kick to Nero's head, his new speed on full display.
Nero raised his arm just in time, but the force of the impact sent him flying backward. "Hah," Nemsus chuckled, standing tall with a proud smirk. But as he turned his gaze to Delilah, his expression shifted. He dropped to one knee-just in time. Her blade cut through the air, missing his neck by inches.
That cold expression. It never changed. She had seen through the illusion from the start but played along, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Her sword was still in motion, and he was on the ground. She spun with the momentum, launching a back kick at his face. He blocked it with his hand-only to realize too late. This wasn't just an attack. It was a trap.
A little smile appeared on her face.
Nemsus's eyes widened. *Nero!*
Nemsus knew Nero was coming from behind. He had two options to counter. Choosing the riskier one, he closed the distance with Delilah, pressing so close that she could no longer strike with her sword.
Then, just as the fireball came, he turned- blocking it at the last second. But Delilah's weapon wasn't just her sword. She drove a punch into his ribs, nearly knocking the air from his lungs!"
**"Oof," Nemsus hissed.
He realized he couldn't stay in this position any longer, so he activated his Lightning Rune, electrifying the entire area around him to force Delilah back.
As he stood up again, Delilah and Nero launched at him from both directions—but this time, Nemsus was faster.
He abandoned Delilah and rushed toward Nero, creating two more copies to distract him, hoping to take him down before his sister could catch up from behind."**
Here's an improved version of your passage with better flow, word variety, and intensity while keeping the meaning intact:
Nero played along, feigning confusion.
The first illusion struck from the left, while the other two closed in from the right—but he barely spared the first a glance. Instead, he laughed and lunged at the second, forcing it to defend.
Nero smirked. "I know you better than you think, Nemsus."
A split second later, his form began to waver. He didn't vanish, but even though he stood right in front of Nemsus, his presence became disturbingly hard to track—his body flickering like a mirage.
Nemsus gritted his teeth. He hated that spell. It didn't erase an opponent from sight, but it made them feel almost nonexistent, their presence slipping just beyond focus.
Reacting instantly, he lunged ten meters to the left, dodging what he was sure would be a sneak attack.
But Delilah was waiting.
As he closed the distance, his instincts kicked in—his sword lashed out before he could even think.
Here's your passage with improved flow, more natural dialogue, and refined action while keeping everything clear and intense:
---
She barely managed to counter properly—after all, he was much stronger. But even in that vulnerable state, he ignored her for a split second, choosing instead to strike at the open space on his right.
Nero was there.
Their swords clashed, and for a brief moment, Nero thought he had the upper hand—until a surge of electricity exploded between them.
A sharp jolt shot through his body. His muscles locked up. His vision blurred.
Nemsus grinned. "You seem to forget, Nero—" he twisted his blade, sending another pulse of lightning coursing through the metal, "—I have a Lightning Rune. Never attack a lightning user with a blade empty of mana."
"Damn, he planned this."
Nemsus let out a satisfied chuckle. "And you know what's worse? I know exactly how much mana that Absence Spell of yours burns. I've counted every second you have left."
Nero's grip faltered as his body convulsed under the relentless current.
For a blade to block lightning, its wielder had to maintain a steady flow of mana—countering the invading energy before it could pass through. But Nero had none left. Every last drop had been drained, swallowed whole by a spell he had no business using.
His vision dimmed. His legs gave out. He collapsed, his body twitching.
Nero collapsed, his body twitching.
Nemsus barely had time to smirk before something caught his eye—a glint of ice. He twisted just in time to dodge a jagged block of it, then lunged at Delilah from the right. But the moment his foot touched the ground, he lost traction.
What—? His eyes widened. Ice.
The terrain beneath him had been frozen solid.
He barely had time to react before two ice spears came hurtling toward him. He threw himself right to avoid them—only to halt abruptly, his breath catching.
Delilah's blade was already at his throat.
"Checkmate" Delilah liked the feeling, she didn't show it but she was happy they were able to defeat an ascendant while still only mages
A bitter grimace crossed nemsus's face. Damn it... He could've overwhelmed them from the start. He could've drowned them in illusions, used stronger spells. Instead, he'd wasted time trying to humiliate Nero with swordplay and a half-mastered technique—
And he'd forgotten one undeniable truth.
Delilah was smarter than both of them. Combined.
From the ground, a weak, raspy sound broke the silence.
"Hhhh."
Nero was laughing. Even with his face pressed into the dirt, body paralyzed, he was still mocking him.
Nemsus clenched his jaw. His gaze flicked to Delilah, who had barely moved throughout the fight—barely used any mana. And yet, she had still won.
By simply using her brother as a distraction.
"Fuck this," he muttered under his breath. "You two will find me in the orphanage."
Without another word, he turned and ran, shame burning through him. He couldn't face Nero like this.
Not after that.
He should have known better. But he let himself be baited._delilah_
Delilah stepped toward her brother
He hides it well, but I can see . The exhaustion. The cost of that spell.
kneeling beside him. Without a word, she placed a hand on his back, a soft glow spreading from her fingertips as healing energy seeped into his body.
"Good fight, brother."
Nero was still laughing, his voice hoarse but amused. "After all these years of never beating me as a mage, he really thought he could win with a humiliating fight just hours after ascending?" He let out another chuckle, shaking his head. "Of course he was gonna make mistakes."
As he pushed himself up, his body still twitched slightly from the lingering effects of the lightning. He rolled his shoulders, exhaling sharply.
"Let's go," she said, offering him a hand. "The others are waiting."
Nero took it, and together, they walked back toward the place they had always called home.
As they arrived, the orphanage stood before them—a sturdy, timeworn building that had seen years of laughter, struggles, and growth. Its white walls, though simple, held warmth, and the structure itself gave a sense of quiet resilience. The wooden door creaked slightly as they stepped inside, a familiar sound that welcomed them home.
The scent of aged paper and faint traces of cooked meals lingered in the air, mingling with the crisp evening breeze that flowed through the open spaces. Despite its modest design, the orphanage was alive with quiet movement—muffled conversations, the sound of pages turning somewhere in the distance, and the faint clatter of dishes being put away.
They walked through the halls, the floorboards creaking softly beneath their steps, until they reached the heart of the orphanage—an open courtyard where life seemed to gather. Towering trees stood like silent guardians around a long wooden table, their leaves whispering in the wind. The setting sun cast golden hues over the gathered children, about eighteen in total, they were all younger then Nero, after all besides nemsus Nero and Delilah were the first children viser brought here.
As the kids looked at them, the voices stopped. A single vase sat at the center of the table, as it always did, a small yet constant piece of their shared space.
"You're late," a voice called out.
"Sorry," Nero and Delilah responded in unison.
"Take your places."
They sat without another word. Nero's gaze found Nemsus's across the table. A knowing smirk played at his lips, but he didn't say anything. After all, here, manners came first.
And so, they ate in silence, the rustling leaves above and the distant sounds of their home.