Unexpected battle

After expressing his conviction in his words, Kder notices that the blade of his sword is shining brightly with reluzent light blue energy, which makes him slightly disappointed in himself:

"(So that was it... I am really pathetic...)"

Vektor charges at Kder and launches the first attack. Using the Burning Silver, Vektor can unleash a huge burst of flames with a single slash. Even though he is able to easily dodge the slash, Kder is still slightly burned by the range of the flames.

The flaming attacks continue, but Kder manages to dodge them all, this time with extra caution to avoid further burns. After finding an opening, the swordsman escapes the attack by jumping back, but his opponent causes a small explosion to propel him into a high-speed leap towards Kder. Using his own body's inertia to amplify his strength, Vektor attacks with another flaming slash, this one much more powerful than the previous ones.

Unable to dodge, Kder defends himself using his sword, but his opponent takes advantage of his nervousness to begin another series of attacks. Clumsily, Kder continues to defend himself from each of Vektor's attacks, until he manages to regain his posture. Wasting no time, the swordsman once again dodges one of the attacks, and uses the very short interval of time between his opponent's attacks to attack with a quick sequence of 15 shallow slashes, which lightly wound Vektor's entire body, making him fall to his knees on the ground. Each wound shines with the same intensity as the blade of Kder's Sword, indicating that they are not simple slashes.

Kder backs away a few meters, without lowering his guard. After a few seconds, all of Vektor's wounds are instantly healed by the purple flames. Slowly, Vektor gets up and positions himself to attack. With another explosive dash, the possessed boy advances again towards Kder, who this time advances simultaneously.

Their swords collide with a powerful impact. The Burning Silver glows with a fiery red light caused by the flames, while Kder's Sword glows with a strong blue light. After a brief struggle of strength, both begin to attack each other simultaneously. Few of the attacks manage to complete their trajectories, as almost all of the attacks collide with each other. During the exchange of attacks, Kder's hair clip is burned by one of Vektor's attacks, causing his hair to come loose in the middle of the battle.

After 10 long seconds, Kder, who was avoiding using all his speed, takes advantage of another opening to get away as quickly as possible. In the few seconds he has left until the next attack, the swordsman organizes his thoughts:

"Looks like... I've finally mastered the two-dimensional slash. However, at my current level, the most I can do is match my opponent. I feel like my hands are still hesitant to surpass a certain limit... At this rate, my exhaustion will make me lose another battle...! I guess my only salvation at this point... is using that technique."

According to the teachings of the previous Kder, the most skilled of swordsmen have the ability to transfer their own energies to the blades of their swords, granting them the power to cut in different dimensions simultaneously.

Intensely trained swordsmen are capable of using two-dimensional slashes, while the very few who have been able to awaken the supreme potential of swordsmanship can use three-dimensional slashes. The only ones capable of using four-dimensional slashes are those who have reached the divine realm.

Two-dimensional slashes have an increased range, increasing the effectiveness of attacks, which can easily cut through things that regular slashes cannot. Vektor's possessed body takes longer to heal from two-dimensional slashes, meaning the only way he can be defeated is with a series of lethal attacks from Kder.

Knowing this, the swordsman prepares to perform a technique he has trained for years, hoping to use it in battle once he learns to use his power. Vektor advances towards him, but Kder wastes no time and attacks with a powerful vertical slash that cuts his opponent's chest, leaving a bright and shining mark.

Continuing his attack, Kder cuts Vektor with a diagonal slash and a horizontal slash. He then delivers a final diagonal slash, completing a blue asterisk of light on Vektor's chest. This is Kder's ultimate technique:

"Two-dimensional slashes: 8-directions Asteroid!"

The asterisk of light then shines and explodes, generating a strong shockwave that pushes Vektor's body to the ground. The sudden impact opens a small crater in the ground, while much of Vektor's blood spurts out of his body from the severe wound in his chest.

The purple flames slowly begin to heal Vektor's body again. Exhausted from using his technique, Kder calmly steps away as he prepares to end this battle once and for all. After standing up completely healed, Vektor once again charges forward with another flaming dash. However, after concentrating, Kder unleashes the final attack:

"(...Please, forgive me.)

Two-dimensional slash!"

...

While his possessed body is battling the legendary swordsman, Vektor's soul returns to the World of Nightmares. Like last time, all he can do is defend himself from the monsters there. However, this time his endless battle is interrupted by a strong light, which engulfs him.

Upon opening his eyes, he finds himself in a completely illuminated place, seeming as if everything is made of light. This place is almost the exact opposite of Vektor's subconscious visually. Before the young man has a chance to process what is happening around him, an elder appears before him and says:

"Welcome, Vektor Drenn."

"Eh...? Who are you? W- Where am I?"

"You are now in the Guardians' Realm. It was I who pulled you here, for I am able to control the course of lost souls. I am Eternus, the Guardian of the Underworld."

"Underworld...?"

"The Guardians' Realm is the exact point within the dimensions that separates the world of the living and the world of the dead."

"And what am I doing here?

(...Wait, it can't be!)

D- Did I die?!"

"Do not worry, you are alive. However, your body is currently being controlled by the power of Vak-Oh, and is right now in the middle of a deadly duel against young Katsuo."

"You mean I'm fighting Kder?!"

"Yes... The Burning Silver has not fully awakened, and the dark curse has caused you to lose control over your own body."

"But why?! We did everything right!"

"The Etykiran energy is nothing but a signal. I am the one who grants the sword its original power. But the moment you signaled me, the power of Vak-Oh that echoed in that place prevented me from acting. Most likely, he must have used that young lad as a way to manifest his presence."

"Maken...!"

"However, now that you are here, I can directly hand over the power of your sword to you, using your soul as transportation. I will take you back to your world, and upon awakening, you will automatically hand over this power to the Burning Silver."

"I- I see... Thanks for the help."

"You may not have realized it yet, but something much bigger is happening, and you are already a part of it. So please, do not give up, no matter what happens."

"Leave it to me!"

"Now, go! Return to Drettonus, and retrieve the Slasher Platinum, the true treasure of the Drenn family!"

Vektor serenely closes his eyes as Eternus takes him back to his body. Before opening his eyes, he feels his body moving through the air at high speed, without being able to change his movement route. The first thing he hears other than the wind is Kder's voice saying:

"Two-dimensional slash!"

Vektor immediately opens his eyes, but before he has a chance to react, his abdomen is cut by a powerful sideway slash delivered by Kder. His wounded body falls to the ground, and only then does he feel the pain of having taken a lethal blow:

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!"

"...!"

Kder immediately rushes to aid Vektor, who is bleeding heavily as his wound is partially healed by the remaining purple flames on his body. Vektor's voice starts failing in pain, as Kder despairs:

"Vektor! Have you regained consciousness?! Forgive me, I went way too far! Everything will be fine, don't worry!"

Kder hears Maken's voice coming from not far away:

"Thank you, Katsuo. Thanks to you, I can finally finish my work."

"Hiroshi... What are you...?"

"Now, could you step aside? After all this, I don't want to fight you again."

"..."

Looking at his sword, Vektor sees the Burning Silver shining with an intense light, which surprises both swordsmen. The light fades as the transformation is complete, revealing the beautiful and powerful legendary sword:

"Slasher Platinum..."

While Kder and Maken remain silent, Vektor, now partially recovered, stands up with great effort while holding his new sword. Despite being exhausted and panting, he positions himself for battle, keeping his gaze fixed on Maken, who tries to hide his nervousness:

"(Is that the real legendary sword?! How did he...?!)"

"I can still... fight...!"

"(This isn't good... I'm at a real disadvantage right now. I won't be able to keep up with two wielders of legendary swords with just one broken sword.)"

"Why all the delay?! Running away now?!"

"I won't run away! I'll just...

(If I fight now, maybe they'll buy time to call for reinforcements. In my current condition, the last thing I need right now is to face some Etykiran master...)

...change my plans a bit."

"I dunno, looks a lot like running away to me."

"Don't get too cocky! I'm still capable of killing you at any moment, don't forget that! I just have spent too long waiting, so I can't stay here anymore. Listen, Vektor Drenn. You'll have one last chance to face me. Tomorrow, at sunrise, go with your sword to the Dawn Plateau."

"What if I don't want to?"

"You always have the option to reject my words and be killed wherever you are. The choice is all yours."

"..."

"If you accept, then I'll see you again tomorrow."

"W- Wait!"

Maken once again uses a Shadow Crystal to disappear before Vektor and Kder. Vektor's arms and legs grow weaker and weaker, and his consciousness gradually fades away. By the time Kder turns around to see him, his arms have already let go of the Slasher Platinum and his body has already fallen unconscious to the ground.