Descendant Duel

A young man exited the grand dining hall, his footsteps echoing through the corridor as he made his way to his room.

Alex let out a quiet huff, running a hand through his hair. What's their problem? It wasn't like training mattered to him. Ambition? That's for people who want something in life. I already have everything I need.

When he reached his room, he pushed the door open and stepped inside. The familiar space did little to lift his mood. He sighed, leaning against the wall, arms crossed. "I shouldn't let them get to me," he muttered. But seriously, what a way to ruin my morning."

Then, as if grasping for a distraction, his eyes lit up. "Right… there's a party tonight." A grin crept onto his face. That should help me unwind. He could already picture the atmosphere—the music, the drinks, the beautiful women. Yeah, that sounds perfect.

But just as quickly as his mood lifted, reality came crashing down.

His expression darkened.

"Wait… today's Wednesday." He groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. Descendant duel day.

Just thinking about it made his headache worse. After the lecture he'd just sat through, today's match would be brutal.

"I already pissed off Logan by running my mouth, and then there's Morgan…" A visible shudder ran down his spine. "Ugh. Just remembering why she's called 'Little Demoness' is enough to give me nightmares."

The thought alone drained the energy out of him.

"Forget it," he muttered, shaking his head. "Thinking about it is already making my head hurt."

Instead, he reached for his communicator—an advanced device resembling a modern smartphone, but reinforced to withstand mana flow disruptions that would normally interfere with network frequencies.

"I should call Scoot, and see if she's coming tonight."

At least someone could help him take his mind off things.

—

"Yo, what's up, man?"

"Not much," Alex replied. "But hey, quick question—do you know if *she's* gonna be there tonight?"

Scoot snorted. "Dude, which 'she'? Your list is endless."

"Ha-ha, real funny. You know exactly who I'm talking about—Lauren."

"Oh, *Lauren*." Scoot dragged out the name in a sing-song tone. "That's surprising; I wasn't expecting you to get all worked up over that girl. But yeah, I heard she's coming with Jesse and some of the girls."

Alex let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "Nice. And no, I am not head overhill for her. Should I dress up, or is it, you know, casual?"

"Please, like anything in your closet won't make any girl fall." Scoot laughed. "But hey, go ahead, spruce up your best outfit. But make sure to leave some girls for the less fortunate."

"Wow, thanks for the confidence boost," Alex shot back, rolling his eyes. "Should I come pick you up?"

"Nah, I'll head over myself. Need to pick Mia,"

"Yeah, yeah. Loverboy."

Nate's laugh echoed through the line. "You better get yourself a real girlfriend."

Alex laughed. Not me dude."

"I am waiting for that day and will remind you of today. Anyway, see you later."

"Alright," Alex replied, as he hung up.

"Ahh, time to get prepared for that spar, " said Alex as he lay on the bed thinking about how to overcome the adversary ahead.

….

The heavy double doors of the hall creaked open and in strode Alex, wearing a grin.

"All right, everyone, hold your applause," he called out, spreading his arms in a mock bow, his voice carrying easily across the hall. "The star has arrived."

Logan, already warming up, barely looked up from his stretches, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Someone's sure of himself today, ready to get beaten"

Alex approached confidently, adjusting the gloves that hung around his neck. "I must express that I am in a positive mood this Afternoon.

Mogan, who was casually leaning against the far wall, raised an eyebrow, displaying a blend of amusement and mild exasperation. "It is surprising; I anticipated you would be disheartened due to the consequences of the physical confrontation that Logan and I are planning to put you through."

Alex emitted a theatrical sigh and responded, "Mogan, no amount of adversity will diminish my anticipation of tonight."

With that, he confidently positioned himself on the stage, lightly bouncing on his feet and maintaining a steady smile. Although he acknowledged the potential challenges, Alex felt a surge of enthusiasm for the night ahead, recognizing that experiences become much more engaging with an appealing lady.

….

Alex stood on one side, bouncing on his toes with a wooden katana in hand. His usual cocky grin slipped a bit as he looked between his older siblings. "So, are you guys ready for this? I'll go easy on you if you ask nicely," he teased, trying to keep up his confidence.

Logan adjusted his gloves with slow, deliberate movements, his jaw set and eyes narrowed. "You've been talking a lot of trash lately, Alex," he said, his voice almost too calm. "Are you sure you're ready to back it up?"

Morgan, standing at Logan's side, cracked her knuckles with a mischievous smile. "Oh, don't worry. We're not planning on going easy," she added, her gaze sharp. 

Alex swallowed, glancing between them. The playful spark in their eyes was gone, replaced by something more… united. They were both out for him. "Whoa, hang on now," he said, forcing a laugh. "It was just a little joke, no big deal, right?"

Logan stepped forward, rolling his shoulders. "Maybe, but someone's been getting a bit too comfortable running his mouth. Think of this as… corrective training."

Alex backed up a step, his heart pounding faster. "Come on, I'm just trying to keep things interesting around here!"

"Interesting, huh?" Morgan said, advancing as well, her eyes gleaming. "Let's see how interesting it gets when you get beaten."

All three stood at the center of the stage, their anticipation palpable as they waited for the match to begin. At least two of them appeared excited, while the last person seemed nervous.

"Alright, I will referee this sparring match," said a large muscular man with red eyes and a scar running across his face as he stepped onto the stage. "Lucas and Mogan you know the rules, wear the restriction bracelet, we don't want you killing your brother." 

"Ok Uncle Dean," both replied while equipping the bracelet to reduce their mana level to Alex's.

"But with you here, we can't even kill him, but we can beat him. Still, he faints, right?" commented Mogan. Alex, hearing these, gulped while looking at Dean, who was making his way out of the stage. Who didn't try to clarify their statement?

Without another word, they both lunged, with Logan equipped with a wooden spear while Mogan carried a wooden greatsword. 

Alex ducked, rolling out of the way just in time to avoid Logan's quick stabs. He sprang back up, hands raised defensively, eyes darting between them. "Okay, okay, let's all just chill for a sec—"

But Logan didn't let up, circling him with measured steps, his spear precise and controlled. "What's the matter, little brother? Not so cocky now?"

Alex dodged left, narrowly avoiding Morgan's downward slash that came right after. "I didn't mean it like that! You two are great, I mean it! Really… *great*!"

Mogan smirked, feinting with a diagonal slash with the greatsword before launching a quick slash to the chest. "Too late, Alex. You had your chance to be nice."

He twisted away, catching his breath. "Can't we just talk this out?"

Logan shook his head, an amused smile playing on his lips as he moved in again. "You're the one who has been talking shit lately. Remember?"

Alex groaned inwardly, eyes darting between the two of them as they closed in again, trapping him from either side. He had one option left: to take the spar seriously or he was doomed.

He briefly closed his eyes as he took his stance, one hand resting lightly on the blade of his katana while the other hovered just above the hilt, fingers relaxed yet poised. With his feet positioned shoulder-width apart and his back heel raised, he appeared still; however, every muscle in his body was primed for action.

The aura around him sharpened, locking onto the target as golden lightning crackled.

Logan and Morgan halted mid-sprint, each assuming their respective stances seeing as Alex had decided to take this match more seriously. 

Logan shifted into a low position, his feet staggered for stability. He gripped his spear below its midpoint, balancing his weight with slightly bent knees and angling his body sideways.

This posture minimized the impact of his blue lightning, which crackled around him and his weapon.

Meanwhile, Morgan planted her feet wide apart, angling her back foot outward for better balance. Both hands gripped the hilt of her greatsword, poised for action, with the blade held diagonally behind her. Red lightning danced around her and the greatsword, ready for destruction.

The air charged as they all tapped into their mana and elemental powers. In the center stood Alex, his feet set wide apart, hand resting lightly on his blade. His eyes, glowed a brilliant golden instead of their usual yellow, as they darted between Logan and Morgan. He was acutely aware that one misstep could lead to disaster.

Logan lunged, thrusting his spear at Alex's chest, but Alex moved smoothly to the side, deflecting the spear with a precise swipe of his blade. Morgan charged in from behind before he could press his advantage, her massive sword raised. Alex spun to evade just in time as her blade crashed down where he'd been, sending dirt flying. He quickly sliced upward at her exposed side, but Morgan twisted away, forcing him back with her strength. Meanwhile, Logan was already circling, readying his spear for another strike.

As the two opponents converged, Alex shifted his grip, pulling the blade close, knees bent for a burst of speed. He watched, waiting—and then saw his moment. Logan's spear lunged toward Alex's side, just as Morgan swung her heavy blade down with force.

With a sharp exhale, Alex ducked and twisted low, slipping under the spear and out of the greatsword's reach. His blade whipped toward Logan's arm, forcing Logan to recoil, narrowly missing the strike but losing his balance.

Alex pivoted sharply, lunging at Morgan with precise cuts aimed at her defenses. Morgan met him head-on, her powerful swings forming a barrier of steel that drove Alex back just as Logan recovered and moved in again.

Breathing hard, sweat beading on his brow, Alex's movements were faster than Morgan's but were slightly slower than Logan's.

They pressed him relentlessly, each attack forcing him to evade with razor-sharp precision. Yet his stance stayed controlled, his body coiled and ready, staying a step ahead as he danced between the spear's reach and the greatsword's weight.

He retaliated with a flash of his weapon for every attack he dodged, striking unexpectedly. Despite his talent, a single mistake could be fatal—the spear's edge and the greatsword's weight pressed relentlessly, pushing him back. In the chaos, Alex fought on, his blade a blur of fury, knowing that only precision and instinct would keep him away from getting beaten.

….

At a particular side of the hall, Lucian was watching the battle taking place beside him was, Dean who was supposed to be the ref of the match

The two elders watched from a particular room in the hall meant for viewing matches, their eyes keen and alert as the siblings sparred in the clearing. Lucian's expression, though serious, carried a hint of pride as his Children fought with precision, speed, and power.

"She's gotten quicker," he remarked, his tone gruff but approving. "Her movements are sharper than the last time I saw her. She's getting used to the greatsword."

Dean, a grandmaster entity in the family, nodded thoughtfully. "Quicker, yes. And the power of her slash—has become more destructive, She's finally learning to use the weight of the greatsword not to lessen her speed.

The father's gaze shifted to his eldest, Logan, as he planted his feet, and performed multiple thrusts in less than a second. "And him… He's finally starting to use his strength wisely. Look at the way he holds his ground. He's not just relying on his superior speed anymore."

"True," Dean agreed. "He's starting to use the length of the spear to control the fight, keeping him in his range. That stance of his—it's steadier than before."

The youngest child, Alex, darted forward unexpectedly, his swings becoming faster and more accurate with each attempt. The father's lips curled into a faint smile. "There he is, surprising me once again. Even my talent pales compared to his; he has begun to trust his instincts."

"Not just instincts," Dean added, leaning forward slightly. "He's weaving in feints now. Did you catch that last slash? He made her think it was going high and then drove it low. Smart move."

The father nodded, his voice softening as he watched them clash again, their movements fierce yet measured. "They've each come a long way. It's good to see them pushing each other like this."

"Still," Dean said with a knowing glance, "I wonder how long he can hold out against the two of them. They've started working together."

The father chuckled, a rare sound. "He'll manage. He always does. And if he doesn't… Well, it'll be a lesson for him."

The two watched in silence for a moment, the clanging of weapons filling the clearing. The father's voice was thoughtful when he spoke again. "They're growing into the warriors they were meant to be. It's good to see.

….

The three siblings stood in a tense standoff, breath ragged and bodies battered. Dirt clung to their clothes, and each carried the marks of a hard-fought battle. But no clear victor had emerged.

Alex, gripping his katana with determination, broke the silence. "Enough dancing around," he said, his voice steady but fierce. "One last strike. You both come at me, full force."

Logan, resting his spear against his shoulder, exchanged a glance with Morgan, who held her greatsword poised at the ready. They nodded in silent agreement.

"Alright, little bro," Morgan said, her voice edged with a hint of challenge. "But don't say we didn't warn you." As she took a stance, with the greatsword held diagonally behind her

Logan twirled his weapon, setting his stance low and angled, his eyes narrowing. "Let's finish this. Together."

Alex exhaled, settling into a low, focused stance, one hand on his katana's hilt. He lowered his body, every muscle tense, prepared to unleash his blade in a single, unstoppable draw. The golden lighting around him began cracking with more power, and his yellow hair stood straight. His eyes flicked open with golden light, and he observed his siblings reading their intentions, waiting for the slightest hint of movement.

The air became heavy as each channeled all their remaining mana into these last attacks.

"Thunder control: Katana form, first art._____ Godspeed slash"

"Thunder control: Spear form, first art._____ Lighting thrust"

"Thunder control: Greatsword form, first art._____ Doom slash"

A heartbeat passed. Then another. And then they charged.

In the blink of an eye, Alex's form appeared to blur and contort as he unleashed a surge of power that seemed to defy nature. He erupted forward, leaving a streak of golden lightning tearing through the air with blinding speed. Reality appeared to struggle to keep up, with space warping around him as he moved in a crackling, golden arc.

Logan was ready, his focus razor-sharp, every muscle coiled in anticipation. With eyes narrowed, he sprang forward, spear extended, his body surrounded by a storm of azure lightning. The air crackled as he lunged, and his thrust shot out with such blinding speed that he vanished, leaving only a jagged trail of blue energy in his wake.

Beside him, Morgan's form glowed with fierce, crimson lightning that crackled over her skin, its energy pulsing with raw power and destruction. She gripped her greatsword tightly, lifting it high as ton lightning surged along its edge, the forit intensifying until the air itself trembled. With a roar, she charged forward, each step leaving scorch marks on the ground as she cleaved through the air, her greatsword blazing with destructive energy.

As the three converged, golden, azure, and crimson lightning collided in a dazzling display of power, each sibling bringing their unstoppable force to the clash. Their attacks lit up the air, the sheer energy from their movements threatening to tear apart everything in their path.

Alex's gaze zeroed in on Logan, his mind racing. He knew the spearman's speed could break through at any moment, so he struck first, unleashing a burst of golden lightning as he closed the distance between them.

Logan seeing these, didn't hesit. His speed flashing forward with a sharp crackle of azure lightning that split the air, the ground shuddering under his approach.

They collided with devastating force, Alex's katana intercepting Logan's spear in an explosion of gold and azure lightning.

The impact blasted outward, sending cracks splintering through the ground beneath them. The sheer force drove a crater into the earth, and a wave of energy rippled outward, scattering debris and shaking the air as their clashing powers fought for dominance.

Alex gritted his teeth, redirecting Logan's spear with a fierce twist of his blade. For a split second, he thought he'd managed to destabilize his brother—but his senses flared as he felt a dark pulse of energy from his side. Morgan was already upon him.

Crimson lightning arced around her greatsword, and before Alex could react, she swung down with all her might. Her blade connected with his torso, and the force exploded through him like a detonation. The ground beneath his feet shattered, sending shards of earth flying as the crimson lightning surged through his body, amplifying the impact with destructive energy.

Pain surged through him, causing his vision to blur. He gasped violently as air escaped his lungs, and he was propelled backward, the katana slipping from his grip. He bounced twice on the stage before coming to a halt, shy of being thrown off it. The aftershock from Morgan's strike pulsed through his body. The edges of his vision darkened, and his last glimpse was of the faint glint of red lightning crackling along Morgan's blade. Then everything faded to black, and Alex lost consciousness.