Varek's expression darkened.
"Don't get too comfortable."
Flames surged around his sword.
He lunged forward, swinging at Duke's neck. Duke ducked beneath the blade and counterattacked with his second dagger, aiming for Varek's ribs.
CLANG!
Varek blocked the strike, twisted his wrist, and forced Duke backward.
But Duke wasn't finished.
He stepped forward again, slashing from the opposite direction. Varek parried, only for Duke to change his grip and thrust toward his abdomen.
The blade grazed Varek's side.
"You're getting annoying!" Varek growled.
He swung his sword in a wide arc.
A wave of fire burst from the blade, forcing Duke to retreat.
Duke landed several meters away, his breathing growing heavier.
His defense is incredible, but I can still find openings.
Varek charged before Duke could recover.
Their weapons collided repeatedly, sparks and embers scattering through the air. Duke attacked relentlessly, while Varek used his sword to redirect each strike.
Then Duke suddenly changed his rhythm.
He threw one dagger toward Varek's face.
Varek knocked it aside.
That was exactly what Duke wanted.
He rushed past Varek's sword and slashed across his back.
SHING!
Varek grunted and spun around, his blade sweeping toward Duke's chest.
Duke barely managed to block it.
The impact sent him sliding backward.
Varek raised his sword above his head.
"Enough playing around!"
Flames gathered along the blade, growing brighter and hotter until the air itself seemed to shimmer.
"FLAME SLASH!"
He brought his sword down.
A massive crescent of fire tore toward Duke.
Duke immediately spread his hands apart, as though opening a book.
"IRON BARRIER!"
A thick, square wall of iron erupted from the ground.
KABOOOOOM!
The flame slash crashed into the barrier, shaking the entire clearing. Cracks spread across the metal as the fire poured over its edges.
Duke gritted his teeth and poured more magic into the structure.
The barrier held for a few seconds before part of it shattered.
The remaining force pushed Duke backward, but he managed to stay on his feet.
Smoke drifted between the two fighters.
Varek lowered his sword.
"Still standing? You're tougher than you look."
Duke wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"And you're more troublesome than you look."
Without warning, Duke rushed forward again.
Varek prepared to block, but Duke suddenly dropped low, sliding beneath his sword. He rose behind Varek and slashed across his back.
Varek staggered.
Duke turned, ready to deliver another strike.
But flames erupted from Varek's body.
"BURN!"
The fire spread across the ground.
Duke jumped away, but Varek followed immediately, thrusting his flaming sword toward him.
Duke crossed his daggers to block.
For an instant, their weapons locked.
Then Varek twisted his blade and unleashed a concentrated burst of fire.
The flames engulfed Duke's left hand.
"AAARGH!"
Duke stumbled backward, clutching his injured hand. The skin was badly burned, and his fingers trembled as he struggled to move them.
"Duke!" Lena screamed from behind him.
Janelle took a step forward, panic spreading across her face.
"His hand…!"
Varek approached slowly, flames dancing around his shoulders.
"That's the difference between us," he said. "You have potential, but potential alone won't save you."
Duke tried to raise his left hand, but pain shot through his arm.
Damn it. I can barely move it.
Varek lifted his sword.
"Now, let's finish this."
He charged.
Duke's eyes narrowed.
At the last moment, instead of blocking with his daggers, he thrust his right hand toward the ground.
"IRON MAGIC!"
The earth beneath Varek's feet split apart.
SHHHK! SHHHK! SHHHK!
Iron spikes burst from the ground.
Varek's eyes widened as one pierced straight through his chest, striking his heart. Several more followed, impaling his body before he could escape.
His sword slipped from his fingers.
For a moment, he remained standing, staring down at the spikes protruding from his body.
Then his knees buckled.
Duke lowered his arm, breathing heavily.
Varek's head drooped.
The clearing fell silent.
Duke dropped to one knee, exhausted.
"Is… is it over?"
Lena hurried to his side.
"Duke! Are you okay?"
He looked at his burned hand and then at the blood on his clothes.
"I'm fine, I guess."
"How can you say that when you're injured like this?" Lena demanded, her voice trembling.
Duke managed a tired smile.
"Because I'm still alive."
Lena looked away, her cheeks turning slightly pink.
Janelle knelt beside him and began healing him
"Stay still. I'll take care of your injuries."
A soft glow spread from her hands.
But before anyone could relax, a strange crackling sound came from behind them.
CRACK.
Duke turned.
The iron spikes piercing Varek's body had begun to glow red.
"What the…?"
The metal softened, melting under an intense wave of heat.
Varek's fingers twitched.
Then his head slowly lifted.
His eyes opened.
"You actually thought that would kill me?"
The remaining spikes melted away as flames erupted from his body.
Varek stepped forward, his wounds still visible beneath the fire consuming him.
Lena froze.
Janelle was shocked.
Duke struggled to stand, his injured hand hanging uselessly at his side.
Varek's expression twisted with rage.
"I offered you a place in my clan. I gave you a chance to walk away."
His flames rose higher, setting the surrounding trees ablaze.
"And now, I'm going to kill every last one of you!"
Duke tightened his grip on his remaining dagger.
He was exhausted, injured, and barely able to stand.
Yet he refused to look away.
The battle was far from over.
The scene switched to the Legion Academy Coliseum
Damon stood with his sword raised, breathing heavily.
"I underestimated you," he admitted. "But don't think I'll make that mistake again."
Caleb smirked.
"Good. I was starting to think this would be boring."
Damon charged.
His sword cut through the air, aimed directly at Caleb's torso.
But Caleb moved at the last second.
He stepped down on Damon's sword, pinning it against the ground, then swung his leg upward.
BAM!
His foot slammed into Damon's face.
Damon was sent flying backward, crashing onto the coliseum floor.
The present scouts where surprised
Caleb stood calmly, brushing off his clothes.
"That's one way to end a fight."
For several seconds, Damon didn't move.
Then he groaned and slowly pushed himself upright.
"You little…"
He reached for his weapon, only to discover that Caleb was still standing on it.
Damon looked up.
"What the hell was that?"
Caleb grinned.
"It's a little something called surprise."
He stepped away from the sword.
"You see, most people focus on their hands when they fight. They forget the legs can be just as dangerous."
"And when I combine them with my magic, things get interesting."
Damon smilea
"What else did I expect, your cadoc's brother after a-"
"Dont compare me to that guy"
He interrupted
Caleb's smile vanished.
His voice grew cold.
"I don't look anything like him, and I'm far better than he'll ever be."
Before Damon could respond, Caleb launched himself forward, blue flames spiraling around his leg.
Then he launches him self upward
Damon quickly dodged to the side.
Caleb's foot struck the ground.
KRAAAAAAAAAK!
The coliseum floor shattered beneath the impact.
A massive crack tore through the ground, spreading outward from Caleb's foot. Chunks of rock burst into the air as a crater formed in the section where he had landed.
Damon stared at the destruction, his face drained of color.
Caleb straightened and looked over his shoulder.
"I bet my brother can't do that, can he?"
Damon swallowed.
"I… I am calling off the fight."
Caleb raised an eyebrow.
"What happened? I thought you weren't going to underestimate me again."
"I'm not scared!" Damon snapped, though his trembling voice betrayed him. "I just think we've seen enough!"
Caleb shrugged.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night."
He turned and walked toward the exit.
As he disappeared from the arena, the two another scouts hurried over to Damon.
"Damon! you ok man?"
Damon opened his mouth to answer.
"I need a doctor…"
His eyes rolled back.
He collapsed onto the shattered floor.
The scout stared at him in alarm.
"MEDIC!"
And that ended their collision