Flames vs Fangs

Gio's body rippled as he absorbed the flames, his skin glowing like molten steel. With each step, he tore up the ground beneath him, and waves of heat flared from his body. Then, without warning, he lunged forward, his movements accelerating into a full sprint.

Kyren barely had time to react. He tried to leap aside, but Gio's fist erupted in fire before he could escape. The blast struck his leg, searing his skin. His armor began to mend itself, but the raw pain of burned flesh made his vision blur.

"Liora, I could use a healing right about now," Kyren thought desperately.

A streak of golden light cut through the air. Liora's flight wavered briefly in the rising heat, but she pushed through, wrapping her arms around Kyren's neck.

"I got you," she said, her face set with determination.

Golden mana swirled into Kyren's body. His charred skin regenerated rapidly, the pain fading faster than his armor could repair itself. But Gio was still coming. The heat rolling off him grew hotter, distorting the air around him.

Kyren sprang to his feet the moment his leg regained feeling, steadying himself just as Gio sent another flaming punch his way. He twisted to the side, barely avoiding the fire. He didn't stop moving—couldn't afford to. His feet pounded against the scorched ground as he circled his opponent, staying just ahead of the blazing strikes.

Gio lashed out wildly, fists swinging, flames bursting with every punch. Kyren weaved through the inferno, his movements fluid, effortless. But his lungs burned, his muscles ached, and his mana reserves were dangerously low. He was reaching his limit.

Closing the distance to five feet, Kyren felt the heat licking at his skin, the edges of his vision wavering. He jumped back just as another blast of fire erupted toward him—smaller this time. Each attack was shrinking.

He's burning through the fire he absorbed, Kyren realized. Without the church's flames fueling him, he can't sustain this level of power.

He baited another strike, forcing Gio to expend more energy. The flames around him shrank further. Gio's frustration was palpable—his movements grew reckless, his heat radius tightening to just three feet. Scorched footprints marked his path as he pressed forward.

Kyren's core ran dry. It was time.

He activated Stalwart Shield.

Stored mana from every hit he had endured surged through his body. His muscles ignited with power, his senses sharpened. His body moved on instinct.

With one final burst of speed, Kyren dove straight into the heat. The pain was immediate—his skin screamed in protest—but he gritted his teeth and pressed forward. Every ounce of mana left in his body fueled his final attack. His feet blurred beneath him, Soundless Step reaching a level beyond anything he had ever felt before.

He channeled his last reserves into Lion's Requiem, sharpening it to its absolute limit.

The blade met flesh.

A final Momentum Slash carved through Gio's body.

Kyren landed behind him, vision swimming, body drained. He collapsed onto the ground, his breath ragged. Behind him, Gio staggered before crashing to his knees, blood pouring from his wounds.

Kyren tried to move, but exhaustion anchored him. Even as his mana flickered out, a strange warmth spread through him, dulling the worst of his fatigue.

Liora released his neck.

"Good fight, Kyren," she murmured before darting toward Lydel, grabbing him the same way.

"How can I help?" she asked.

Lydel's voice echoed in her mind. "I'm bleeding again… and I can't keep up with his speed."

Two waves of mana spread over his body—one closing his wounds, the other flooding his legs with power. His muscles tightened, his tendons stretched, his speed increasing beyond its normal limits.

Lydel launched himself back into battle.

His opponent, the man in silver, had drawn a short sword—one eerily similar to Lydel's own. Their blades clashed, sparks flying. Lydel moved like a ghost, his afterimages flickering, barely evading the silver-clad man's rapid strikes. Each movement was precise. Each dodge, a hair's breadth from disaster.

Lydel had landed one clean hit—but at a cost. He hesitated. Could he risk it again?

The sounds of Kyren and Gio's fight fading in the distance made his decision for him.

Yes.

He poured mana into his ring, summoning another afterimage—this time, one that appeared just over his left shoulder.

The two Lydels shot forward, splitting apart at the last moment. The afterimage lunged first, drawing the silver-robed man's attack. His blade shot forward, piercing through the illusion.

That single moment of distraction was all Lydel needed.

He sidestepped the strike and brought his sword down.

Steel met flesh.

The silver-robed man's hand hit the ground, his weapon clattering beside it.

A scream tore through the air. Without hesitation, the man turned and ran.

Lydel made to pursue, but his body protested. His stamina was nearly gone. Kyren was unconscious. He had no choice.

Lydel sprinted to Kyren, grabbed his arms, and began dragging him across the plaza. He moved with precision, making sure as few people as possible saw them. The cult was still out there. The last thing they needed was a mob forming.

The moment they reached the plains, Lydel's strength finally gave out. He collapsed beside Kyren, panting.

"We could use your tent right now, man," he muttered. "So wake up."

He slapped Kyren's face—not too hard, but not gentle either.

"Come on, buddy. We need to move before the cult catches up."

Kyren stirred, groaning. His eyes fluttered open, unfocused.

With a trembling hand, he summoned a small glass bottle into his palm.

"Give… me… this," he rasped.

Lydel wasted no time. He ripped the golden cap off and pressed the bottle to Kyren's lips, pouring the mana potion down his throat.

The effects were instant. Kyren's body absorbed the liquid like a dying man gasping for air. Mana flooded his system, washing away his fatigue. His breath steadied, his muscles loosened.

Slowly, Kyren sat up, taking in the scene—the open plains, Lydel's exhausted form beside him, the faint glow of the still-burning church flickering in the distance.

They weren't safe yet. But they had survived.

For now.