A chilling wind cut through the rocky plain as Erika and Gray faced Magnus, whose presence warped the very air around him.
Cracks of energy pulsed beneath their feet.
Erika tightened her grip on her twin blades — one gleaming white, the other burning orange.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Ice Blade Magic: Absolute Zero."
"Fire Blade Magic: Hell Core."
The twin swords flared — one releasing a cold mist that froze the air, the other blazing with molten heat. Then, in a blink, both lights dimmed — the colors fading to a dangerous calm.
And Erika vanished.
A sharp crack echoed — she reappeared behind Magnus, her white blade slicing downward.
The ground split as the strike missed by inches — the impact freezing everything it touched.
A ripple of frost tore through the battlefield, spreading outward in crystalline veins.
Erika spun, twisting her body mid-motion — her orange blade ignited again, searing through the icy haze.
She struck with perfect timing—
A clean hit aimed straight for Magnus's shoulder.
But before contact—
A black cube formed around the impact point, pulsing with void-like energy.
Her blade stopped dead.
"What—?"
The cube shimmered once, then shattered soundlessly.
Magnus was suddenly in front of her, his hand extended — a swirling sphere of black light forming in his palm.
"You still don't understand," Magnus said coldly. "In this realm, your elements belong to me."
Erika's eyes widened.
"But… who—"
Before she could finish, the sphere detonated.
BOOM!
The explosion hurled her backward — crashing through jagged rocks, shattering them one by one.
Dust and shards filled the air.
Gray's hand thrust forward, liquid silver rushing from his arm.
"Mercury Magic: Fluid Cushion!"
The metallic surge softened Erika's fall, forming a reflective pool beneath her.
But before Gray could breathe, Magnus appeared behind him — silent, almost blending with the distortion of the realm.
"This," Magnus murmured, his voice echoing through the void, "will be your first mistake — facing me together."
He released another sphere — darker, larger, charged with dimensional energy.
Gray spun instantly, his body coating in liquid metal.
"Mercury Armor: Mirror Vein!"
BOOM!
The explosion slammed into him, sending shockwaves across the stone field — yet through the glare, Gray still stood, molten mercury dripping from his form.
He wiped blood from his lip and muttered,
Far away, a giant rock began to smoke.
From that smoke, Erika shot out like lightning.
Her twin blades glowed — one white like ice, the other orange like fire.
She dashed straight at Magnus.
Their clash shook the ground.
Every swing was faster than the eye could follow.
Erika's blades struck again and again, but Magnus blocked each one with his hands, forming black cubes that swallowed her attacks. Each hit just vanished the moment it touched him.
The ground cracked under their feet.
Rocks floated in the air from the force of their fight.
A few meters away, Gray raised his hand.
Silver liquid flowed around his body like moving metal.
"Mercury Magic: Blade of Spherical Curse!"
Hundreds of sharp mercury blades appeared in the air behind him.
With a wave of his hand, Gray sent them flying toward Magnus — fast and deadly. Some curved around Erika's attacks, moving perfectly under Gray's control.
Magnus was trapped — Erika in front, Gray's blades closing in from behind.
But then, everything stopped.
The mercury blades froze midair, covered in black cubes.
And then — they disappeared.
Gone, like they never existed.
Erika didn't slow down.
She pushed forward and stabbed her ice blade right into Magnus's stomach.
But something felt wrong.
She looked down — the blade had gone in only a little.
A dark magic circle glowed across Magnus's body.
And then she heard it.
"Aahh!"
Gray's scream.
Erika's eyes widened.
She looked — and saw the tip of her own blade sticking into Gray's stomach.
"No…!"
She pulled it out quickly. Magnus's body faded, his voice echoing in the air.
"Dimension Magic: Reflection Displacement."
He had swapped the space between them. Her attack on him had been redirected into Gray.
Erika rushed to Gray's side. Blood dripped onto the cracked stone — red mixed with silver.
"Gray! Are you okay!?"
He clenched his teeth and stood, barely holding himself up.
"Yeah… just alive by an inch," he groaned.
A small silver glow spread over his wound — mercury forming a hard layer over it, stopping the bleeding.
"He turned your attack toward me," Gray said, breathing hard. "He's folding space itself…"
Magnus stepped through the smoke. His eyes glowed faintly.
"Try again," he said quietly. "Let's see if you can break the rules of space to survive."
Erika's grip tightened on her blades. Frost spread over the ground under her feet, while flames rose around her shoulders.
Gray stood beside her, his wound still bleeding but his eyes locked forward.
Without saying a word, they both charged.
The next crash of power shook the whole dimension.
The ground shook as Erika and Gray rushed forward together.
Magnus didn't move. His dark aura twisted the air around him, making everything shimmer like heat over fire.
Erika's boots slammed into the cracked stone, light flashing beneath her feet.
She moved first — her ice blade swung in a wide arc, freezing the ground around Magnus.
He dodged easily, but that was part of the plan.
Gray's voice echoed through the air:
"Mercury Bind!"
From the ground, silver chains burst upward, wrapping around Magnus's legs and arms. The liquid metal tightened, locking his movement.
For the first time, Magnus's eyes narrowed.
Erika didn't waste a second. She jumped high into the air, both blades glowing — one white, one orange.
"Dual Blade Strike! Frost and Flame!"
She came down hard, crossing her blades in a perfect X.
The impact hit Magnus dead center — frost spreading from one blade, fire bursting from the other. The explosion sent dust and shards of rock flying everywhere.
Gray raised his arm, forming a mercury shield to block the shockwave.
When the smoke cleared, Magnus stood still — his clothes torn, black smoke rising from a burn across his chest.
They had done it — they had landed a hit.
But then—
The ground under Gray's feet glowed with dark symbols.
"Gray! Move!" Erika shouted.
Too late. The symbols pulsed, and the space around Gray twisted like broken glass. He vanished and reappeared above Magnus — trapped midair.
Magnus looked up calmly.
"You think you can trap space itself?"
He raised a single hand.
A black cube formed around Gray, spinning fast.
"Dimensional Crush."
The cube closed in. Pressure exploded outward. Gray yelled, his armor cracking, mercury leaking from his body like liquid light.
Erika leapt forward, fury in her eyes. She swung her orange blade — a flash of fire slicing through the cube's surface.
It shattered, releasing Gray, who fell hard to the ground but rolled back onto one knee, panting.
Erika stood between him and Magnus now, her aura burning stronger than before. Frost spread under one foot, fire under the other.
Magnus's smile returned, faint and calm.
"Better," he said softly. "But you're still only scratching the surface of this dimension."
Erika raised both blades again.
"Then we'll break through it."
Gray stood beside her, silver light pooling around his hands once more.
Shift
The battlefield cracked under the storm.
Lightning and fire fought for control of the sky.
Kai Alden walked forward slowly, dragging his blade across the ground. Sparks burst out with every step, trails of dark purple lightning crawling along the rocks.
Each spark grew brighter until bolts of light shot toward Zeran Drake like veins of thunder.
But Zeran didn't move.
He stood still — calm, focused.
A burning circle of magic formed over his left eye, glowing like a fiery scope.
With a wave of his hand, a blazing arrow appeared — made of pure flame, spinning with energy.
He pulled back his arm and fired.
The arrow streaked through the air, twisting midflight. It didn't aim where Kai stood — it aimed where he was going.
A blinding explosion tore through the battlefield.
Fire erupted in a wave, shaking the ground and filling the air with heat.
When the flames cleared… Kai was gone.
Zeran's eyes narrowed.
For a second, there was silence.
Then —
he felt something.
A sharp pulse from above.
He looked up — just in time to see Kai diving from the clouds, lightning bursting around him like a storm. His sword glowed with dark purple energy, the thunder roaring in rhythm with his movement.
"Lightning Magic: Eight Clap!"
Kai flashed past Zeran in a blur.
Eight bolts of lightning followed his path — each one striking Zeran in a perfect pattern.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
Electric light exploded across the field, shaking the ground and splitting the air. Zeran's body jolted with each strike, the impact so fast he couldn't even react in time.
By the eighth bolt, he dropped to one knee, his balance broken, smoke rising from his armor.
Kai landed behind him, lightning still crawling across his blade.
He didn't speak. His eyes were cold, focused, ready for the next strike.
Zeran's flames flickered weakly — but the look in his eyes said the fight is just started.
"Not bad, Alden," he said, spinning his flaming arrow once. "But you'll need more than speed to burn me."
Kai landed a few feet away, his sword sparking with purple lightning. The ground sizzled under his boots. His cloak fluttered from the heatwave, and his eyes flashed with focus. "Then I'll just strike faster than fire can move."
Zeran raised his hand, snapping his fingers. Flames wrapped around him like armor, and his bow reshaped itself — longer, sharper, and made of molten gold.
"Flame Magic: Phoenix Burst!"
He drew back the string. A burning phoenix-shaped arrow roared into the air, its wings spreading fire across the battlefield.
Kai spun his sword, channeling lightning through his blade. "Lightning Magic: Flash Break!"
He dashed forward in a blink. The two forces collided — fire and lightning — exploding in a blast that lit up the sky. The shockwave ripped through the ground, throwing chunks of rock everywhere.
Kai burst through the smoke, slashing in a blur. Zeran blocked with his bow, the impact creating sparks that glowed red and purple.
Zeran suddenly spun and kicked Kai in the ribs. Kai flew back, sliding through the dirt, but caught himself with his sword and skidded to a stop.
Kai grinned through the pain. "Didn't know you could fight up close."
Zeran smirked. "I'm full of surprises."
He rushed forward this time, his bow turning into twin flame daggers. Each swing left trails of fire, cutting the air. Kai dodged and parried, lightning flaring with every clash. Sparks lit the field like a storm trapped in fire.
Then Zeran feinted left, vanished in a flame flicker, and appeared behind Kai — stabbing forward.
But Kai twisted just in time. His sword pulsed with power. "Lightning Drive — Second Mode!"
Lightning exploded out of him, forming crackling wings of energy. He moved at blinding speed, slicing across Zeran's chest. The hit landed — a deep burn mark formed where the lightning cut.
Zeran staggered back, smoke rising from his armor. For the first time, his grin faded. "You're… fast."
Kai pointed his sword forward, lightning crawling along the blade. "And you're not keeping up."
But before he could move again, Zeran slammed his palm on the ground. A red circle spread instantly.
"Flame Zone — Inferno Field."
The earth glowed red-hot. Pillars of fire burst up around Kai, cutting off every path. The air turned heavy, suffocating.
Zeran stood in the center, his bow reappearing. His aura was now pure fire — wild and angry.
Kai wiped sweat from his face, electricity flickering across his arms. "So… you're serious now."
Zeran aimed his glowing arrow, his voice deep. "Let's see if lightning can survive hellfire."
Zeran's arrow glowed like a small sun.
He released it — the flaming shot ripped through the air, splitting the ground as it passed.
Kai vanished. Lightning flashed. He reappeared beside Zeran, swinging his sword down.
Zeran spun, blocking with his bow — fire clashed against lightning. The explosion shook the ground, blasting both back.
Before the dust could settle, Zeran fired again — three arrows in a row, each burning hotter than the last.
Kai moved like a storm. Sparks trailed behind him as he dodged every shot, the arrows missing by inches. One grazed his arm, burning the sleeve off — but he didn't stop.
He jumped high, lightning bursting from his boots. "Lightning Slash!"
He came down like a thunderbolt, blade first.
Zeran crossed his bow, blocking the strike, but lightning spread through the ground, shocking everything in a wide circle.
Zeran growled, forcing back the charge. "Flame Burst!"
A fiery explosion erupted from his feet, blasting Kai away.
Kai flipped midair, landing on his feet. The instant he touched the ground, he charged again — faster, brighter, unstoppable.
Their weapons clashed again and again. Sparks exploded like fireworks with every hit.
Zeran ducked, then swung his bow like a staff — flames whipped through the air, cutting through the smoke. Kai blocked with his sword, lightning scattering off in wild arcs.
Then Kai vanished and reappeared behind him. "Thunder Kick!"
He spun, lightning coating his leg, and kicked Zeran straight in the side.
Zeran flew through the air, crashing through rocks. But before Kai could move, a pillar of fire shot up, hiding Zeran inside.
From within the flames, Zeran roared, "Flame Magic: Blazing Barrage!"
Hundreds of fire arrows formed above him — then rained down all at once.
Kai's eyes flashed. "Lightning Field!"
Electric rings spread from his body, meeting every arrow midair. Explosions went off like a storm of bombs. The sky turned orange and violet.
Through the chaos, Kai launched forward again, his sword glowing so bright it hurt to look. He cut through the flames, his blade finding Zeran.
Slash — lightning hit home, cutting through his shoulder armor.
Zeran snarled, fire bursting from his wound, healing it instantly. "I'm not done!"
He jumped high, spinning his bow and charging a massive flame arrow. "Flame Magic: Meteor Shot!"
The arrow turned into a burning sphere — a fireball so huge it lit the whole area. He fired.
Kai lifted his blade, lightning bursting from his core. "Lightning Magic: Storm Breaker!"
The lightning blast hit the fireball head-on. The collision created a massive explosion that tore open the ground and split the sky with light.
Both were thrown back, crashing into opposite cliffs.
Kai pulled himself up, breathing hard, lightning still crackling all over him. Zeran rose too, flames crawling along his arms and face, his eyes glowing red.
They glared at each other — both hurt, both smiling.
Without a word, they charged again.
Zeran punched, flames exploding from his fist. Kai blocked with his sword, then countered with a lightning uppercut. Zeran ducked, kicked Kai's leg, and spun, flaming elbow aimed at Kai's neck.
Kai blocked again, sparks and fire bursting in every direction.
Zeran slammed his bow into the ground — flame spikes erupted in a line, chasing Kai.
Kai jumped, lightning flashing from his hands, and threw a bolt down. "Lightning Strike!"
The bolt hit the spikes, blowing them apart.
Zeran appeared right in front of him midair. "Flame Shot — Point Blank!"
The fire arrow blasted straight into Kai's chest. Lightning and fire exploded together — both of them were thrown apart again.
Kai landed hard, sliding through the dirt, his cloak on fire. He ripped it off, lightning flaring stronger than ever. "You're not winning this."
Zeran wiped blood from his mouth, his flames burning brighter, hotter. "We'll see about that."
They both screamed — their auras exploded. Fire and lightning spiraled upward, colliding in the sky like two dragons.
And then — they charged one last time, blades, flames, and thunder crashing together in a blinding blast that shook the entire battlefield.
Then they vanished.
BOOM!
Their first clash cracked the earth apart. Fire blasted upward like a volcano. Lightning slammed down, making the air shake.
Zeran spun, shooting three flaming arrows.
Kai dashed through them, blade spinning with purple sparks — each swing cutting the arrows in half.
But the explosions didn't stop. Each arrow burst midair, flames raining down everywhere.
Zeran rushed forward, using the smoke to hide. He appeared beside Kai and threw a fiery punch — his fist blazing like a comet.
BAM!
Kai blocked with his sword, lightning bursting out in all directions. The shockwave threw both of them backward.
They landed hard, feet digging into the ground. Cracks spread out like spiderwebs.
Kai roared, raising his hand — lightning formed a spear in midair.
"Lightning Art: Thunder Spear!"
He hurled it with full power.
The spear tore through the battlefield, splitting stone and fire alike.
Zeran crossed his arms and shouted,
"Flame Wall!"
A giant wall of fire rose in front of him. The spear hit it — and exploded like a bomb.
The blast blew Zeran backward, his armor burning, but he rolled and got back up. Flames danced on his shoulders.
He shouted,
"Flame Magic: Inferno Strike!"
A spiral of fire wrapped around his bow. He dashed in close — faster than before — and swung it like a sword.
Kai blocked with his lightning blade —
BOOM!
The explosion threw them apart again, smoke everywhere.
Kai gritted his teeth. "You think fire can burn through lightning?"
He raised his sword to the sky. Lightning gathered like a storm, turning everything purple.
"Lightning Drive: Surge Blade!"
Electricity exploded from his body, shattering the ground under his feet. He shot forward, slicing through the air like a flash.
Zeran crossed his bow, flames surrounding him.
"Flame Drive: Phoenix Form!"
Fire wings burst from his back, flames spreading across the battlefield like waves.
They collided midair — one in lightning, one in fire.
The explosion could be seen for miles.
Ground shattered. Rocks floated into the air before being vaporized. Trees burned to ash. The entire land became a sea of red and violet light.
Kai struck first — slashing down, lightning crashing like thunder.
Zeran blocked, countered with a fiery kick that sent shockwaves through the ground.
CRACK! The land split in two.
Kai dashed in, punched Zeran with lightning-charged fists. Zeran spun and hit him back with a blazing elbow.
Each hit made the air explode.
They were too fast to see now — only flashes of flame and lightning crossing again and again.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Each time they clashed, another crater appeared.
The world itself felt like it was falling apart.
Kai yelled,
"Lightning Magic: Storm Pulse!"
Lightning covered everything — a dome of violet electricity that trapped both of them inside.
Zeran clenched his fists. "Then let's burn the cage."
He lifted both hands —
"Flame Burst: Hellfire Rain!"
Hundreds of fireballs appeared above him and fell like meteors.
Each one exploded as it hit Kai's lightning dome — filling the world with roaring light.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The sky was on fire. The ground was lightning. The two elements crashed again and again, louder and louder.
Both of them screamed as they charged one last time.
Their final hits collided —
FIRE PUNCH vs. LIGHTNING SLASH.
The explosion destroyed everything.
For a moment, the world turned white.
Then silence.
When the light faded, both fighters lay in the center of a burning crater.
Zeran's bow was broken. Kai's blade cracked down the middle.
Smoke rose from their bodies. Neither moved.
But then —
A hand moved.
Zeran's.
He tried to lift himself. His arms trembled. Blood dripped from his mouth. His legs shook like they would break. But he didn't stop.
He pushed harder — one knee. Then both. Then, somehow… he stood.
Barely breathing, eyes weak but still burning.
Kai tried to move too — but his lightning faded, suddenly his body feel heavy and dark faint out and his body fell back, unable to rise.
Zeran looked at him, half-smiling, half-crying.
"Thanks bro for this fight…..."
He turned, stumbling through the destroyed ground. The air was hot, filled with the smell of smoke and ash.
Every step he took left small flames behind.
He stopped once, looking at the battlefield — a wasteland of destruction.
Then whispered softly,
"we will take you back from them."
And fell to one knee again, as the last flames flickered out behind him.
Zeran stood, barely breathing, flames fading from his hands. He looked at Kai and gave a weak smile.
"Guess… I need some rest too," he whispered.
Then he fell to the ground beside Kai, both lying still as the smoke slowly cleared.