Chapter 22: Light

Nuadu was being pushed by Bres' unpredictable form and style as Excalibur cycled through centuries of past warrior lives that once wielded the Sword of Kings. Bres whirled his sword as he relentlessly attacked the Danann king, he sent a swift slash towards Nuadu's throat but failed as his blade struck against his opponents, blocking the attack.

Bres flipped sideways and attacked faster not letting the Danann catch a break. "Your blood will stain my steel!" Bres declared with Nuadu cringing slightly from the statement.

Bres propelled himself backwards using the momentum from his last attack getting blocked and stood there with his eyes squinted as he glared at his target. "We end this now, former King."

"Indeed, that we will, Fomorian," Nuadu responded. "I cannot win against a one-man army, so I will call forth his old one," Nuadu stated as his blade began to glow a slow golden light hugging tightly to the blade and hilt.

Nuadu drew upon his breath and soul, unleashing something deeper, he was who he was a servant to his people, a leader, a symbol, someone they could look up to and hope for a better future. He let his blade become one with him, their cores in sync he let the light flow in and began to emit a powerful golden glow. "I will free us from your oppression,"

"You will die trying," Bres responded as he seized his blade and basked in its true power. He let the blade's essence flow through his veins, the beings who once wielded it and every ounce of knowledge and experience they have, coursing through him, "I am a god!"

The two roared as their weapons clashed within the blink of an eye, their clash shook the very Earth they stood on and the soldiers nearby, both Danann and Fomorian fell to their knees. Bres sent a barrage of slashes in multiple different styles and Nuadu parried and blocked each one. Nuadu pushed him back with the force of his bulkier body and attempted a precise slash towards Bres' neck. The Fomorian ducked underneath as the attack flew above him, sending a wave of energy that left a hole in the terrain.

Bres recovered to his feet and spun in the air, throwing a kick, two more before landing back on the ground and lunged as Nuadu was sent back by the unexpected attack. Bres sent an arrogant slash which made a loud clang as it clashed against Nuadu's sword, they continued dancing with their swords, with no room for words or remarks. Nuadu channelled more of the light, he sent a hard right punch to Bres' rib, making the Fomorian wince as he felt his rib crack from the impact. Nuadu groaned as a sharp pain emerged from his injured arm on impact.

Bres retaliated and attacked, his sword cut through the air as it slashed towards Nuadu's neck. Nuadu flipped his sword and prepared to block as the blade covered both his torso and neck. Bres' let the blade glide across but caught it with his other arm before striking on Nuadu's sword of light. He turned and gashed Nuadu's chest but Nuadu roared through the pain stabbed his sword through Bres' lower abdomen near his thigh.

"I thought you were a king, you fight with honour," Bres mumbled as blood dripped from his lips.

"I am a king, not a fool, anything goes in battle, you taught me that in our last duel when you took my hand."

Nuadu pulled out his sword and began attacking fiercely, he slashed towards Bres' chest, his weapon landed on Excalibur as Bres blocked the attack. "More!" Nuadu shouted as he continued his barrage of attacks. Bres spun, flipped, turned as he manoeuvred through the attacks.

Bres felt gashes form on his skin with each slash, he let himself become more connected with his blade, his armour emitting a brighter blue glow. "I will win, I always win," He says arrogantly as he begins to counter more of the attacks and even lands his own successfully. Nuadu cuts Bres' thigh and Bres moves fluidly, ignoring the pain and cuts the Danann's shoulder. Nuadu sweeps Bres off his feet and strikes him with the hilt of his sword, launching the Fomorian leader back and swiftly races behind him, landing a powerful kick that launches Bres again in the opposite direction. Nuadu dashes once more, this time his sword aiming to lodge in Bres' heart. Bres parries the attack and redirects Nuadu into the air.

Nuadu free falls as light gathers around his sword and lodges into the ground where Bres once was, causing a large explosion that scars the earth.

"We end this now," Bres remarked.

Bres bends Excalibur to his will and the blade wields itself to him. He takes its core inside him and growls as power flows through him, a dim blue glow overtaking his body. His eyes turn blue and he forces out an animalistic growl.

Nuadu gathers more of the light and his eyes turn into a bright golden glow and the two clash once more. Bres sent a barrage of attacks with teeth grit.

"Excalibur!" Bres roared as his weapon charged with all its might. Nuadu followed suit, violently screaming the name of his sword " Claíomh Solais!" The two kings were engulfed in a surge of blue and golden energy that decimated their terrain, expanding almost far enough to reach their soldiers.

The two heroes groaned in pain as they wrestled with their blades, the weaker one would die.

The two were now in a deadlock as the blades continued to clash, Nuadu cracked a smile knowing what would happen. "My sword accepts me, it is like an extension of my body. But yours, your Excalibur despises you, you force it to obey. you might be worthy to wield it and while it is stronger than mine, you will never be able to unleash its full power nor will you win this battle. The two swords imploded from the continuous impact, creating a small potent explosion that decimated both of them.

"Fuck, I never would have thought I would die here, facing off against you lower species," Bres muttered as he fell to his knees and the dust clearing up. The two warriors were spent, their armour in pieces and drenched in blood.

"I told you, my people will be free of your kind," Nuadu said staying on his feet and using his sword as a crutch. He thought he would die with Bres but he will survive to lead his people.

"I pity you, Danann," Bres slurred as he fell weaker. "But I also respect you, I die today but I will return, farewell, your majesty," Bres said as he lost his life and his soul passed onto Excalibur. Nuadu fell unconscious from the exhaustion immediately after the parting words.