**Chapter 17** The Clash of Brothers

The battlefield was silent, save for the crackling of residual energy and the heavy breaths of the combatants. Sky stood tall, his crimson eyes gleaming with malice. Exalibar, faced him with a steely resolve, his fists clenched and his body radiating power. The air between them was electric, charged with the weight of their actions and the lives lost in his wake.

Sky sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "With the twins dead, the only ones left are Jack, Chloe, and you, brother. The rest of the school can't even hold a candle to the amount of power we hold. So why do you defend them?"

Exalibar's gaze didn't waver. "It's the right thing to do. But how would you know?"

Sky chuckled, a cold, mirthless sound. "You know what? You're right. How *would* I know? I was raised to complete the mission if you failed. Thank goodness for that, because look at you. You're a failure. You were meant to be the strongest, but you always held yourself back. Let's get rid of this, shall we? Like I got rid of Aisha!"

Exalibar's eyes flared with rage. "SKY!"

Sky spread his arms wide, a twisted grin on his face. "Call me brother. After all, we *are* family!"

Without another word, Exalibar moved. In a blur of speed, he flash-stepped in front of Sky and delivered a devastating backhanded blow to his jaw. The force of the attack would have sent anyone else flying, but Sky barely flinched. He turned his head slowly, his grin widening. "Almost there, brother." Before Exalibar could react, Sky countered with a brutal kick to the gut, sending him flying across the battlefield. But Exalibar wasn't done yet. Mid-air, he unleashed a searing heat-vision blast, severing Sky's leg at the knee. Sky stumbled, his expression one of mild surprise. "How long have you been holding onto that?" Exalibar landed gracefully, his eyes glowing with intensity. "Does it matter?" With a swift motion, Exalibar fired a photon blast, not aiming to hit but to distract. The blast missed its mark, but it achieved its purpose. In the split second that Sky was disoriented, Exalibar closed the distance and delivered a crushing blow, decapitating his brother in one clean strike. "That's two," Exalibar muttered, turning to Chloe, who was charging up a powerful energy blast. "The moment he resurrects, fire it. Make sure he's on his last leg."

Ten seconds later, Sky's body twitched, his head reforming as he rose to his feet with the haste of a man wronged. His eyes burned with fury as he scanned the battlefield, then bolted. Exalibar was hot on his heels, determined not to let him escape. Like a lion chasing its prey, Exalibar pursued him relentlessly.

Sky ran laps around the school, his movements erratic and desperate. As he returned to the spot where he had killed the twins, he encountered Jack, who was kneeling on the ground, weeping over the lifeless body of his girlfriend. The sight of Sky reignited Jack's rage. With a cry of pure bloodlust, Jack charged at Sky, his fists glowing with the power of an Eclipse—the same attack that had once killed Exalibar in training. But Sky was ready. He dodged at the last second, and the blow meant for him instead hurtled toward Exalibar, who was locked in pursuit. Thinking quickly, Exalibar blasted the ground beneath him, propelling himself into the air and landing directly in front of Sky. With a roar, he punched him in the chest twice, the force sending Sky reeling. Exalibar grabbed Sky by the arm, preventing him from flying away, and unleashed a barrage of dual-force punches, each strike amplified by the power he had copied from Samantha's 3rd Law.

Sky grunted in pain, his body buckling under the relentless assault. "How?!" he spat, blood dripping from his mouth.

Exalibar's voice was cold and unwavering. "You think someone has to be alive for me to copy their ability? This is the power of one of the girls you killed. It's called 3rd Law, and it's the reason you're going to die here."

Sky's eyes narrowed, his grin returning despite the pain. "But how much force do you think you can return?"

Exalibar's fists glowed brighter, his resolve unshakable. "As much as it takes to kill you."

Sky laughed, a harsh, guttural sound. "You'll fall like the rest."

The two brothers clashed once more, their hands locking as they grappled for dominance. Sky, using Jack's strength, pushed back with all his might, while Exalibar countered with Samantha's 3rd Law, redirecting the force with precision. The ground beneath them cracked and splintered, the air around them warping under the sheer intensity of their power.

**To Be Continued…**