The two repeatedly clashed with no clear victor until they put some distance between themselves.
Basil's breathing had grown heavier, but his eyes burned brighter. Gabriel stood opposite him, golden mana flickering around his body like a living flame. Neither had landed a decisive blow. Neither had gained the upper hand.
The Fire domain spread by Basil had reached a crescendo. Like a knight in the middle of a battlefield, gripping his sword with both arms, he reversed it before pushing it downward into the burning earth as he declared solemnly.
"Unlimited Sword Domain!"
From the burning domain, unlimited elemental swords were born. Basil raised his head, and with him, countless swords floated before shooting at Gabriel like shooting stars.
Fwoosh! Fwoosh!!!!!!
As for Gabriel, he knew he couldn't defend against those elemental swords and come out unscathed, so he decided not to solely defend but to attack as well.
He decided to make use of the lightning element. Golden lightning appeared and covered his body, not only outwardly but inwardly as well. His reaction speed increased. Taking a deep breath, his concentration was at its maximum. He punched forward in a simple motion while in reality, he had punched several times at high speed.
"Deluge of Normal Punches!"
Dozens of golden lightning-infused punches shot forward at the incoming elemental swords.
Lightning and Fire clashed, resulting in a powerful explosion that shook space.
Kaboom!
Gabriel used this as cover. By blending the Light and Lightning elements, his speed increased so much you could have mistaken it for teleportation.
He appeared to Basil's left with a powerful punch, but the attack was blocked by an elemental sword that suddenly rose from the ground.
Bam!
The two moved at high level in the air to clash.
Gabriel blocked another sword attack, but his arm bent slightly under the force of the blow.
He clicked his tongue and adjusted mid-air, spinning to the side and letting Basil's next blow graze past his shoulder.
He did not waste even a single chance, utilizing the imperceptible opening.
His leg came around low and fast, slamming into Basil's ribs. The guild master grunted, his body shifting back half a step in the sky, but there was no sign of pain—just growing excitement at how fast this man was getting accustomed to the fight. He was adapting well.
Basil's excitement was reaching its zenith. His attacks grew restless, his sword slashes becoming more deadly. Gabriel was dancing between each attack.
But not for long.
Basil stomped his foot against the air itself. The Fire domain beneath him roared in response. Every floating sword within a hundred meters reversed direction and converged on Gabriel from all sides simultaneously.
No blind spots. No escape.
Gabriel's eyes widened. His mind raced.
He cornered me on purpose.
The golden lightning around him crackled wildly. He had two choices—defend and be overwhelmed, or attack and break through.
He chose the latter.
"Lightning God's Descent!"
The name came to him in that instant. He poured every ounce of mana he had into his right arm. The golden lightning intensified, shifting from gold to a blinding white. The dragon scales from before reappeared, but this time they were not illusionary—they were real.
He punched downward.
Not at Basil. Not at the swords.
At the domain itself.
The moment his fist connected with the burning earth below, a shockwave erupted outward like a dying star's final breath. The Fire domain cracked. The elemental swords faltered mid-flight, their momentum stuttering.
Crack. Crack. Crack.
The domain shattered like glass.
Basil staggered, his connection to his own technique severed. For the first time in the fight, genuine shock crossed his face.
He broke it. With raw power.
Gabriel did not stop. He descended like a meteor, golden-white lightning trailing behind him, and slammed both feet into Basil's crossed sword.
The impact created a crater beneath them.
Basil coughed. His arms trembled.
But he was smiling.
"Not bad," he said, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "Not bad at all."
Gabriel leaped back, landing ten meters away. His body was steaming. His knuckles were raw. But his eyes were calm.
"I still haven't knocked you down," Gabriel said.
Basil straightened, rolling his shoulder. "No. You haven't."
He raised his sword one more time.
"Then let's end this."
The two stared at each other across the scorched earth.
And then they moved.