Chapter 60 - Attack (6)

The forest was eerily quiet, the only sounds being the rustling of leaves and the occasional snap of a twig underfoot.

Lucas stood in a small clearing, already recovered from the kick, his mechanical longsword resting casually at his side.

His silver hair glinted in the dappled sunlight, and his expression was calm, almost bored.

Across from him stood Lyra, the dark elf, her dagger gleaming in her hand and her dark magic swirling around her like a shadowy aura.

Lucas tilted his head slightly, his voice calm but laced with curiosity.

"Why are you doing this?" he asked. "Going after children and civilians… that's a tactic only Terra would pull off. Fantasia isn't like that."

Lyra's eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a sneer. "This is war," she said, her voice sharp.

"And why do you believe Fantasia isn't a place like that? You think we're above such tactics? You're naive."

Lucas sighed, his grip tightening on his longsword. "I'm not naive. I just don't believe in having to stoop to their level just to win."

Lyra didn't respond with words. There was no need anymore.

Instead, she lunged at him, her dagger slashing through the air with deadly precision.

Lucas raised his sword, deflecting her attack with ease. The clash of metal rang out, the force of the impact sending a shockwave through the clearing.

Lyra used her dark elemental attribute to enhance her speed and strength as she pressed the attack.

She moved like a shadow, her dagger flashing as she struck at Lucas from every angle.

But no matter how fast or how hard she attacked, Lucas was always one step ahead. His movements were calm and precise, his longsword deflecting her strikes with minimal effort.

Lyra's frustration grew with each passing moment.

She then summoned dark tendrils of magic, the shadowy vines lashing out at Lucas in an attempt to ensnare him.

But Lucas simply sidestepped them, his sword then cut through the tendrils with ease.

"You're strong," Lucas admitted, his tone calm. "But I'll tell you this for free, you can't beat me."

Lyra growled at those words, her dagger slashing through the air as she tried to find an opening.

But Lucas was like a wall, his defenses impenetrable.

He didn't attack, choosing instead to defend himself and wait for an opportunity.

An opportunity to end the fight without killing her.

As the fight went on, it seemed Lyra was becoming frustrated as she overextended, her dagger slashing at Lucas's chest.

He sidestepped, his sword coming up to block the attack.

Then with a quick flick of his wrist, he disarmed her, sending the dagger flying into the trees.

Lyra stumbled back, her eyes wide with shock. But she wasn't done yet.

She summoned a ball of pure dark mana, and hurled it at Lucas with all her might.

The energy exploded on impact, sending a cloud of smoke and debris into the air.

BOOM

When the smoke cleared, Lucas was basically unharmed, his sword resting casually at his side.

He then stepped forward, his movements calm and deliberate.

Lyra tried to back away, but Lucas was faster. He grabbed her by the wrist, then pinned her against a tree with his sword at her throat.

"This fight is over," Lucas said, his voice calm but firm. "Drop your weapon."

Lyra glared at him, her eyes filled with defiance. "No."

Lucas sighed, his expression softening slightly. "I don't want to hurt you."

But Lyra refused to back down.

With a quick movement, she tried to summon another ball of dark energy, but Lucas was faster.

He knocked the weapon out of her hand and delivered a precise strike to her temple, knocking her out cold.

Lyra slumped to the ground, her body limp. Lucas stood over her for a moment, his expression unreadable.

Then he sighed, resting against a nearby tree as he tried to catch his breath.

The fight was over, but the weight of it lingered. Lucas was worn out, not just physically but emotionally.

Although he had been able to avoid killing her, but he doubted she would be alive much longer.

And judging from the screams earlier, he could tell that information would he needed.

And as for how they got it, well Terra never really minded the methods of getting the information, as long as they got it.

As he rested against the tree, Lucas couldn't help but wonder how much longer he could live and hide his identity in a world that seemed determined to expose him.