The night swallowed the destroyed village, where only stubborn flames still fought against the darkness.
Its trembling light cast grotesque shadows on the rubble, turning every piece of charred wood into dancing creatures. The air smelled of wet earth and burnt flesh.
At the epicenter of the destruction, two figures faced each other.
Colin spun the dagger between his fingers, beads of sweat evaporating before even touching the electrified metal. His muscles were tense, every fiber alert to the opponent's slightest movement.
The Commander spat blood on the ground, his flaming sword spraying lava into the air. The flames reflected in his eyes, two cruel chisels in a scarred face.
CLANG!
The clash of blades sent sparks flying, momentarily illuminating Colin's tattered cloak, burns forming maps of pain on his skin. The Commander's uniform was only slightly scratched, but his right arm dripped blood.
"You move like a drunken recruit," the Commander laughed, the sword resting on his shoulder as if he were in a town square, not a battlefield. "They say dark elves have infinite mana reserves... But you?" A disdainful whistle. "Pathetic. Facing an Ultan Commander like this... Do you want to die?"
Colin didn't answer. His golden eyes shone in the darkness, fixed on the adversary.
This piece of shit is still holding back... His fingers tightened on the dagger's hilt. I need to make him spend everything. Then... then I'll end this.
The attack came like lightning, literally.
The Commander lunged, the fiery blade drawing a flaming arc in the damp air. Colin retreated, but not fast enough. The flames licked his cloak, turning the fabric into flying ashes.
Opening!
SWISH!
The dagger cut through the air charged with electricity, embedding itself in the Commander's arm. The man screamed through gritted teeth, but his flames only grew, fueled by pain.
CLANG-BOOM!
The counter-attack came in a blow so strong it made the ground tremble. When the sparks dissipated, there was only The Commander, breathing heavily, his injured arm trembling, and Colin... smiling. A wolfish grin that made even the veteran hesitate.
"Beginner's luck!" the Commander growled, spitting blood.
Tch… this bastard!
"I won't lose to scum like you!"
The flames reflected in the puddles of blood and rainwater, creating a mirrored hell beneath their feet.
Colin danced between the flaming blows, his dagger shimmering with electrical energy that made the air crackle. Every move by the Commander was met with precision: block, dodge, counter-attack.
What the hell is this? The thought invaded the Commander's mind as his burning blade met only air once more. He's reading my movements like an open book! My mana... His eyes lowered to his trembling arm. Is it running out?
"Do you think I'll accept this?"
The blow came like lightning. The flaming blade tore through Colin's chest in a diagonal arc, blood spurting onto the soaked grass. The impact made the false elf recoil, spitting blood.
"Heh! I'll dismantle you piece by piece, elf!" The Commander laughed, sweat running down his blood-splattered face. "Until that shitty smile of yours disappears!"
Colin wiped the blood from his lips with the back of his hand.
"Is... is that all?" he provoked, panting. "The legendary soldiers of Ultan... the most feared on the continent..." A hoarse laugh. "You're just a senile old man with a fancy lighter."
The sword hilt creaked under the pressure of the Commander's fingers.
"Delirium of a dying man! Look at yourself!" he shouted, pointing to the trail of blood. "You're already more dead than alive!"
"I wish."
"You…"
The Commander's attack was a hurricane of hatred and flames. The blade cut through the air with a menacing WHOOSH, missing the false elf by millimeters.
ZAP!
Colin's electric blade embedded itself in the Commander's shoulder, making him scream.
"SON OF A BITCH!"
But the veteran didn't fall. Instead, the flames around him grew, forming an infernal whirlwind. His blows became a storm, forcing Colin to retreat.
"How is this bastard still standing after losing so much blood?!"
In a desperate move, the Commander gathered his last reserves. His sword transformed into a fire dragon, growing three times its size before descending like a meteor.
Colin didn't flinch. With an impossible leap, his wounded body spun in the air, flames licking his boots as the earth exploded behind him.
"SHIT!" the Commander fell to his knees, panting, realizing too late:
Colin staggered, his blood dripping in crimson threads, pooling on the soaked earth.
Fuck... everything hurts... His muscles trembled, vision blurring. How much longer can this stubborn old man hold out?
The Commander raised his sword with trembling arms. When he tried to channel mana, a spasm of pain doubled him over, his chest burning as if swallowing embers.
It was enough.
SWISH!
Colin's dagger was thrown and embedded itself in the Commander's thigh, tearing flesh and tendons.
"SON OF A—!"
The warrior fell to his knees, the flaming blade extinguishing with a final puff of smoke. Colin approached, stepping into puddles of blood mixed with rain.
"You're good." Colin spat blood. "Almost killed me."
With a precise kick, the sword flew away, burying itself in the mud. The Commander looked up, eyes injected with hatred and... respect?
This damned Elf… I refuse to lose to this bastard!
The dagger rose for the final blow—
BOOOOM!
A wave of heat exploded, throwing Colin backward. The Commander screamed, his body becoming a human crucible, flames dancing under his skin, healing wounds in real-time.
What the hell is this?! Colin swallowed hard, feeling the scorching heat even meters away.
"Do you really think I'd lose to trash like you?!"
The Commander was now a flaming silhouette, the earth beneath his feet turning to molten glass.
Fuck it. Colin spat blood on the ground. Advantage? I'm screwed. But he's burning his own life now.
The dagger in his hands came alive, blue lightning dancing like serpents.
"Are you going to cry or fight, old man?"
The two collided in the center of the hell that had been the village, electricity against flame, desperation against pride.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Each blow rained down embers and sparks. The Commander advanced like a walking volcano, but Colin didn't retreat; if he faltered, he would die.
Burning my vitality, this damned Elf is keeping up with me!
Doesn't this old shit get tired?
Colin and the Commander whirled in the center of the inferno, two shadows intertwined in a visceral dance.
The flesh on Colin's hands was already gone, revealing white bones gripping the dagger with desperate force. His arms melted like wax, but each blow still came charged with lightning.
I need to hit the heart and end this, or I'll turn into charcoal!
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The Commander dodged like a demon made of fire, his sword leaving trails that burned the air.
Until—
Here! An opening!
BOOM!
The electric dagger plunged into the warrior's chest, exploding in a storm of energy.
"NOOOO!"
The Commander's cry echoed as his flames dissipated, revealing an aged and fragile man.
Is it over? Did I… win?
Both fell.
Colin collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. His body was a map of horror - exposed ribs, charred muscles, burned lungs. The rain bubbled in his open wounds.
Damn it… am I... dying? His vision darkened.
On the other side, the Commander laughed, panting.
"Hehe... just... a few minutes..." he spat blood. "You fought well..., but you were never a match... for Ultan... My men will return and help me, but you… it was fun, elf."
Footsteps in the mud.
A girl, the same one who served as the commander's plaything, emerged like a ghost from the rain, her eyes burning with pure hatred. In her hands, a leather pouch and deadly determination.
"You..." the Commander choked. "Help me up!"
She ignored him, kneeling beside Colin. With steady hands, she injected a red needle into his chest.
The effect was immediate: muscles began to rebuild, skin started to close.
"What...?" The Commander forced a nervous smile. "You're... coming back to Ultan with me, right? I took care of you… I didn't let those bastards touch you!"
The girl raised Colin's dagger.
The first blow struck his left eye.
"BITCH! I'LL KILL YOU!"
The second, third, fourth pierced his chest with the accumulated fury of days of abuse.
"GO TO HELL! BASTARD!"
She spat on the still-trembling corpse, the blood of vengeance washed away by the rain.
All that remained was the whisper of the rain cleaning the blood, along with the crackling of the last flames and a man and a woman, survivors of a nightmare.