Chapter 11
The air crackled with tension, thick with the scent of blood and earth.
Lucas's chest heaved with each breath, his muscles screaming with fatigue.
His katana gleamed in his hand, but it felt heavier than ever.
The battlefield around him looked like a warzone—trees torn to shreds, the earth cracked open, pools of water flooding the ground where attacks had collided with brutal force.
He stood at the center, his feet rooted in the dirt as he faced his bloodied adversary.
The guy across from him, a towering figure with wild eyes and a steady breath, wiped a streak of blood from his lips.
Despite the carnage, there was a calmness to his expression, as though he had accepted his fate—or perhaps, was daring Lucas to continue.
His kunai glinted in the fading light, and his posture shifted, preparing for the next clash.
"You're strong," he admitted through gritted teeth.
Lucas didn't respond.
He didn't need to.
His body was aching, his mind laser-focused.
The fight had gone beyond mere survival now.
It was a battle of wills—who could hold out longer, who could outlast the other.
The other person lunged first, his kunai cutting through the air with a hiss.
Lucas reacted instantly, his katana flashing in a deadly arc, meeting the kunai with a resounding clang.
Sparks flew, the sound of metal on metal ringing in his ears as they locked blades, each fighter trying to force the other back.
Clang!
Ting! Ting! Ting!
Their weapons collided in a flurry of strikes, the exchange so fast that the world around them blurred.
The force of their clashes sent vibrations up their arms, each blow designed to end the fight in an instant.
But neither yielded. Lucas was relentless, his katana moving with fluid grace, but the guy was a shadow, slipping through his defenses with unnerving speed.
his kunai shot forward, aiming for Lucas's throat.
Lucas ducked, his katana sweeping upward in a counterattack.
He twisted mid-air, narrowly avoiding the blow, his kunai flashing toward Lucas's exposed ribs.
Lucas gritted his teeth, shifting his body to the side just enough to avoid the worst of it.
But the guy's blade grazed his side, the sharpness sending a wave of pain through his body.
Blood dripped from the wound, but Lucas didn't flinch.
He fought through it, retaliating with a sharp knee to the warrior's ribs.
The impact was solid, sending him skids backward.
Water Spell: Aqua Barrage
He recovered quickly, his eyes narrowing as he flicked his wrist.
Dozens of water bullets materialized from the air, each one launching toward Lucas with deadly precision.
Without hesitation, Lucas engaged.
Mana Spell: Slasher
A crescent arc of pure mana shot from his katana, slicing through the water bullets with ease.
The destructive arc collided with the remaining projectiles, sending them scattering in all directions.
But Lucas didn't stop.
He was already moving, his body a blur as he rushed toward his opponent.
In a split second, he vanished into a mist of water.
Water Spell: Ocean Veil
A shimmering dome of water rose around the guy, just in time to absorb Lucas's next strike.
The katana slammed into the barrier, the force of the blow sending ripples through the dome, but it held firm.
He stood within, a smirk on his lips.
Lucas narrowed his eyes, his grip tightening on his katana.
His body was screaming from the strain, but he would not back down.
The battlefield was their canvas, and he was determined to paint the final stroke.
Mana Spell: Searing Lance
A burning spear of mana coalesced in Lucas's hand, glowing white-hot as he hurled it forward.
It struck the water dome with a deafening crack.
Steam exploded outward, engulfing the field in a mist so thick that it swallowed everything around them.
Lucas's vision blurred, but his instincts remained razor-sharp.
He closed the gap.
Water Spell: Serpent's Coil
A massive serpent of water erupted from the dome, its jaws opening wide to devour Lucas whole.
In a flash, Lucas was already in motion.
Mana Spell: Arc Cleave
With a single swing of his katana, Lucas unleashed a crescent of energy that split the water serpent in two.
The remaining water cascaded across the field, creating a series of trenches in the earth as the impact rippled outward.
He staggered backward, his eyes wide in shock.
He lunged again, desperate now.
The kunai flickered through the air like a flash of lightning, aiming for Lucas's throat.
But Lucas was faster.
He sidestepped the strike, grabbing his wrist as he passed, flipping the man over his shoulder.
The guy landed hard on his back, the impact rattling the ground beneath them.
Before he could recover, Lucas was already on him, pinning him down with one knee in his chest.
He raised his katana high, prepared to end it.
But he wasn't done yet.
Water Spell: Tidal Fury
A surge of water erupted from beneath the warrior, launching him high into the air.
Lucas barely had time to react before two tendrils of water shot out, aiming to impale him.
He twisted, his movements too fast for the tendrils to catch, and appeared just inches from his chest.
Mana Spell: Shadow Mirage
Lucas split into multiple afterimages, his real self hidden among the illusions.
The tendrils lashed out at the mirages, but Lucas had already closed in.
In a blur of motion, he delivered a powerful punch to the warrior's chest, sending him crashing into the earth.
But he barely managed to roll with the impact, but Lucas was already on him, driving an elbow into his stomach.
He coughed, blood spitting from his mouth as he tried to push Lucas off.
They struggled, hands locked in a brutal grapple, each fighter using every ounce of strength to overpower the other.
His breath was ragged.
But it was fading.
Mana Spell: Astral Chains
With a pulse of energy, Lucas summoned glowing chains that shot forward, wrapping around his limbs, restricting his movements.
He growled in frustration, his body straining against the magical restraints, but it was no use.
His movements slowed as his mana drained, and Lucas stepped forward, closing the distance between them.
He lifted his kunai weakly, but Lucas was already there, his katana raised for the final strike.
He brought it down with everything he had left.
The body fell limp, blood pouring from the gaping wound.
Lucas stood over him, chest rising and falling with heavy breaths.
His sword was slick with blood, his body battered and bruised.
But the battle was over.
The guy had fought well—perhaps better than Lucas had expected—but in the end, it was Lucas who had won out.
He sheathed his katana with a slow, deliberate motion, his gaze lingering on the fallen form of his opponent.
Despite the victory, Lucas didn't feel elation.
Just exhaustion.