Noriala had remained silent all this time, merely observing. Her mother, however, was different—her sharp eyes carefully studied the King and Rihisna, both of her hands resting calmly at her lower abdomen.
The King took his first step, manifesting a flame iktas in his palm. Without hesitation, he hurled it straight at Rihisna.
Rihisna narrowly dodged with lightning speed. In one fluid motion, he spread his arms backward.
"MANTRALANA! Solid Fist!"
His powerful voice echoed through the hall as he charged toward the King with explosive agility.
The King blocked the attack using only his right hand. A violent gust of wind burst forth, shattering the silence of the throne hall.
"Impressive… you can hold your own," the King said, swiftly counterattacking with his left hand. Rihisna dodged to the King's right side. Lowering his body, he retaliated instantly.
Flames erupted around the King, encircling him completely.
"Aaaargh!" Rihisna was blasted several meters away, crashing to the floor on his knees.
"Haa… haa… haa…" He gasped for breath, struggling to steady himself.
I almost forgot, his iktas burns nearly as fiercely as the bird beast I fought before,
Rihisna thought grimly.
Very well… then I'll use my own iktas.
"MANTRALANA! Defensive Barrier!"
A spherical shield enveloped Rihisna entirely.
"Oh! That's the barrier I've been waiting for!"
The King exclaimed in excitement, raising his right hand high.
A small fireball formed in his palm. It continued to grow larger and larger until it became ten times the size of his own body.
"What… just as I thought. This is high-tier fire iktas, just like the bird beast's,"
Rihisna murmured, awe and excitement flickering across his face as he smiled.
"So, you like it? Don't get too excited yet, this is only the beginning, traveler,"
the King said as he advanced step by step.
An overwhelming wave of heat flooded the entire throne hall. Noriala gasped in shock at the sight before her, while her mother showed no fear at all only an admiring smile.
Suddenly, Noriala grabbed her mother's hand.
"Mother! We must stop this fight! If this continues, Rihisna will be injured or worse, killed!"
she pleaded urgently.
"There's no need, my child," her mother replied calmly, smiling.
"We only need to watch."
"What? Mother, are you serious?!" Noriala was stunned.
"Yes. You see—"
"Enough talk, Rihisna! Are you ready?"
The King's booming voice cut through their conversation.
"Yes, Your Majesty! Without a doubt!"
Rihisna replied confidently.
"Hahaha! Such confidence! Then you should witness this, traveler!"
The King clenched his raised hand, which had been holding the massive fireball all along.
Twin fire vortices formed on the left and right of the supreme fire iktas. They continued to grow, matching the first in size. Soon, three colossal fireballs rotated together supported by both of the King's hands.
"This can't be… three at once? One alone is already beyond me,"
Rihisna whispered, shock and fear creeping into his heart.
"I'm finished this time…" he muttered faintly.
"What should I do…?" Rihisna froze, standing motionless like a statue.
"Hm? What was that? I couldn't quite hear you," the King taunted.
"Tch! Looks like I have no choice I'll have to use that method again,"
Rihisna said, lifting his gaze as he launched himself into the air, rising to the same height as the King's fireballs.
His heart pounded violently.
"Aaaargh! It's happening again…" Rihisna groaned, clutching his chest in pain.
"What are you doing? There's no more time!" the King declared.
"Very well—I'll release them now!"
All three fireballs shot forward at tremendous speed toward Rihisna.
Rihisna retreated rapidly, but the fireballs were even faster.
"Oh no!" he screamed, raising both arms to shield his face.
A deafening explosion erupted in midair, engulfing the throne hall in blinding light and searing heat. Noriala covered her mouth in horror, shielding her eyes from the intense glow. Her mother, however, watched with a cold, knowing smile.
It seemed the battle had ended.
Yet there was no burning body, no figure flung aside. As the smoke slowly dissipated, the King looked upward carefully, searching for any sign of Rihisna.
There was nothing.
Perhaps he had been completely annihilated.
"MANTRALANA!"
A voice suddenly rang out from behind the King.
Two dark purple chains burst forth, binding both of the King's arms.
The King immediately turned and leapt several steps away from Rihisna.
"So this is the chain that absorbs the bird beast's iktas," the King remarked, studying the chains wrapped around his wrists.
"Iktas Absorption!"
Rihisna shouted, clenching his left fist tightly.
The chains expanded violently, forcing the King's arms apart.
"Very well then," the King said, flames blazing once more in his hands.
"Let's see just how much iktas you can absorb!"
Both of them assumed battle stances and charged forward at full speed.
Suddenly, both warriors were halted by a surge of ice based iktas.
The ice had been conjured by the Queen, who stood between them with both arms outstretched. Rihisna and the King were instantly frozen in place, stunned by the sight.
"Hahaha! It seems our duel ends here," the King said with a satisfied smile.
"Eh?! The Queen can fight?!" Rihisna exclaimed in shock.
"Of course," the Queen replied with a gentle smile.
"Otherwise, I would never have agreed to this duel."
"And if you're curious," the King added while melting the surrounding ice,
"She was once a general."
"Phew, so the fight's really over, huh," Rihisna sighed, collapsing flat onto the floor.
From a distance, Noriala watched the three of them in silence. She never expected to see her mother in action again. It had been a long time since the days when her mother had personally trained Noriala in combat. A very long time indeed.