Zald, this monstrous being who once devoured the Behemoth and emerged victorious, wasn't someone a few explosive spells could take down.
That man had consumed the creature's flesh and gained unimaginable strength but in return, his body was rotting from within. Poisoned. Cursed. His flesh withered, his time running out.
And yet, even like that… he stood, undying.
From within the ocean of flames, a colossal figure emerged. Armor charred black, sword in hand, Zald walked through the magical onslaught as if it were nothing but a summer breeze.
"Boring fireworks." He sneered, voice echoing eerily in the firestorm. "Can't even keep the mosquitoes away."
With a casual wave of his sword, a violent gust of pressure exploded from its edge.
FWOOM—!
The windstorm ripped apart Akira's attacks and scattered the flames in an instant.
Zald smirked, eyes flashing with challenge. "If you've got anything else, bring it outm Now!"
"Tch…"
Akira leaned back, his footing light and flexible. Then—
SLAM!!
A slash tore through the floor beside him like a landslide. A four-meter-wide ditch cracked open at his feet.
"What the hell… What a troublesome old man! Can't you just drop already?!"
As Zald charged again, his greatsword dragging with a terrifying howl, Akira side-stepped and vanished into the chaos of cracked terrain.
In the maze of shattered stone, four afterimages flickered around Zald.
"Hmm?" Zald paused, sword mid-swing. "Clones?"
No—too fast.
In a flash, the four images doubled. Four became eight. Eight circled around him like hungry wolves. Then, as one, they struck.
Zald grunted, fending off slashes from all directions. His blade cut through illusions, but no flesh met steel.
"What the hell am I biting into? Mist?!"
Some of the phantoms vanished instantly but the real Akira was nowhere to be found.
Dimensional Shadow. A high-level skill of Dimension Walker. Each illusion radiated real weight and presence, making it nearly impossible to distinguish.
Zald's eyes narrowed. The heat had suddenly intensified. A bad feeling crept into his chest.
"Quit hiding, you brat!"
Suddenly—
CRACK!
A fierce kick slammed into his back, sending him stumbling forward.
"Guh—!"
He spun with a snarl and swung his blade, only to hit empty air and scatter smoke and shadows.
"Over here, uncle!"
Akira's voice came from the side and before Zald could even turn fully, BAM!—a jab slammed into his ribs.
The cycle repeated for several more seconds. Jab, vanish, jab again.
The hits weren't strong, but the humiliation?
Priceless.
"Son of a—! You're dead meat!"
Enraged, Zald growled and squatted low. He held his black greatsword over his shoulder. Invisible currents began spiraling around him.
It wasn't wind, it was raw power.
"You think you can keep running?! Let's see you dodge this."
He spun his greatsword in a full circle like a monstrous baseball bat.
WHOOSH—!!!
A colossal wave of pressure exploded in all directions like a shock bomb. The very space around them cracked under the weight of it.
Walls shattered. Ground split. Illusions burst.
Even the legendary Wall of Sighs fractured like brittle glass.
Akira's illusions vanished instantly. Now it was just him, alone, facing the storm.
"Tch!"
Thinking fast, he yanked the greatsword stuck in the floor and brought it up like a shield.
The force hit him head-on.
BOOM—!!
Akira's guard held for a moment, but his stance shattered. The force blew him backwards like a leaf in a hurricane.
"—Got you!"
Zald's savage roar shook the ruins.
He didn't hesitate. Bending his knees, he launched into the air like a coiled spring, his body a blur of red cloak and black steel.
With a war cry that echoed across the battlefield, he dove toward Akira from above, sword raised high, ready to bring this clash to its final crescendo.
As the greatsword erupted in a blaze of searing flames, a fierce gust of wind spiraled around Akira, lifting his body into the air.
He twisted midair, spinning rapidly, channeling momentum to amplify his next strike.
Rotation to increase power.
Even if his physique fell short compared to monsters like Zald, he had magic to close the gap.
But—
BOOM—!
When their swords collided again, Akira's body convulsed violently from the impact. The strength difference was too great. He couldn't hold out this time.
"Guh—!"
A searing pain tore through his arm, and before he could react, his body was flung like a ragdoll across the battlefield.
"I'll give you that one, brat."
Zald's roar echoed as Akira crashed into the far wall with the force of a meteor.
The stone structure split open with a deafening crack, and rubble rained down like an avalanche, burying Akira under a mountain of broken rock.
Zald landed lightly, the scorched earth beneath his feet hissing from the heat radiating off his black sword. The blade burned crimson, and the faint aura of battle clung to him like a second skin.
His lips curled into a grin. His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, remained fixed on the mountain of rubble.
Beneath the heap of jagged stones, Akira lay half-buried, propped up awkwardly on one elbow. He exhaled slowly, eyes narrowed in annoyance.
His body was caked in dust, hair a chaotic mess, damp strands plastered to his face with sweat.
"If you weren't half-dead from poison already, old man… I wouldn't have shown even this much mercy." He muttered, the words bouncing off the walls of the ruined chamber.
It sounded like a taunt, but the truth was—there was recognition in his voice.
Zald was strong. Scary strong.
Akira wasn't stupid. Had Zald not been rotting from the inside out due to Behemoth's lingering venom, the outcome of their clash would've been far murkier.
Time passed, and the rubble pile remained still.
Zald narrowed his eyes. Not a sound. Not a groan.
Yet, not even a trace of blood in the air.
He could tell. That brat wasn't injured.
"…Tch."
Zald slowly paced in front of the ruins, the black sword in his hand tapping rhythmically against the cracked floor.
Dong… Dong… Dong…
The metallic thuds echoed through the hollow chamber, like a funeral bell mocking Akira's silence.
"Come on, brat! Don't just turtle up in there." Zald barked, irritation creeping into his tone.
Beneath the rocks, Akira let out a weary sigh and curled his lip. "So damn noisy. Can't this uncle give it a rest already?"
He shook off the fatigue, channeled magic power into his core, and with a soft pulse of light, he teleported.
In the blink of an eye, Akira appeared atop the rubble, sitting cross-legged like it was a lounge chair.
Dusting himself off with a casual flick, he let out an exaggerated groan.
"I know, I know… You're really persistent, uncle."
He slapped the remaining grit off his arms.
"Why can't you just accept defeat and tell me what you're planning, huh?"
Zald glanced at him, sword still resting in one hand. A slight smile tugged at his lips.
"…You really are just like Alfia said. Rude, arrogant, and reckless."
"Huh?!"
Akira froze mid-pat.
He blinked, then snapped his head up, his voice rising in disbelief. "You mean that rude aunt actually badmouthed me?! Seriously?!"
"I even helped her. And she's talking crap about me behind my back?! No wonder no one remembers her name."
He waved his arms in the air in protest, flailing with theatrical indignation.
Zald watched this display with a raised brow and scratched his chin thoughtfully.
Come to think of it… what did Alfia say that day?
"If they fought, they're probably close…" Zald muttered under his breath. "So… maybe she just wanted attention?"
He couldn't help but laugh.
If that woman actually had a soft spot for the brat in front of him… then that would explain everything.
"Hahaha! So that's how it is…"
Zald let out a hearty chuckle, watching Akira fume in adorable frustration.
If Alfia had fought him and lost something during the match, say, a certain glove she always wore, she'd definitely be acting flustered back home.
Interesting.
"Hey, kid." Zald grinned, eyes glinting. "Tell me what really happened between you and Alfia."
Akira, still perched lazily on the rubble, rolled his eyes.
"Uncle, I'll be honest. Alfia probably didn't say anything when she got back, but… she and I had a physical exchange."
He emphasized the words, his smirk unrepentant.
"Technically, blood is a body fluid. I absorbed hers. For health monitoring purposes."
The chamber fell into stunned silence.
Zald's eyes widened. His smile froze. His hand trembled.
"…Wait, wait, wait. What?!"
The greatsword clattered to the ground.
Zald clutched his head in both hands, utterly dumbfounded.
What does that mean?! Did the iron tree… bloom?!
They'd only known each other for a day! Was this some kind of end-of-life instinct?
No… No way! He's thirteen!!
But… this kid is talented. Strong. Sharp. And he wasn't bad-looking either. Actually, once he matured, he'd probably surpass half the smug male gods in Orario.
But didn't Alfia once claim she was still—
…OH.
Zald's face twisted with realization.
So she was just being shy…!