The Battle Between Two Sharp Blades

Darius took an involuntary step back, three paces in total, as he locked eyes with Lazarus. The intensity of Lazarus's gaze, sharp and brimming with killer intent, sent an eerie chill down his spine. But hesitation was a luxury Lazarus did not entertain. In the blink of an eye, he vanished, only to reappear directly behind Darius before he could react. Before he could even attempt to dodge, Lazarus was already two steps ahead.

With an iron grip, he seized Darius's back and, with overwhelming force, hurled him onto the bed. The impact was catastrophic—bones shattered under the sheer pressure, and the bedframe crumpled beneath the weight of the assault. But Lazarus wasn't done. Grabbing Darius by the head, he rammed his forehead against his enemy's face repeatedly. Blood spurted from Darius's nose, his eyes swelling shut from the relentless barrage.

The merciless attack did not stop there. Summoning his vast strength, Lazarus lifted Darius effortlessly, holding him like a mere ragdoll before launching him across the room. The force sent Darius crashing through the walls, destroying an entire section of the hallway. Glass from a nearby window shattered, embedding itself deep into his chest, piercing his flesh as his body was impaled in the wreckage.

Lazarus took a step forward, expecting screams of agony. Instead, he was met with something unexpected—a laugh. A deep, unsettling laugh echoed through the ruins. Bloodied, his body riddled with wounds, Darius coughed before grinning wildly. "Beautiful… This is beauty," he murmured before his voice grew louder, filled with twisted joy. "Finally, a worthy opponent!"

Lazarus stood motionless, his sharp eyes narrowing as he watched Darius's disturbing reaction. The man before him was no ordinary adversary—he was something else entirely. Then, something even more astonishing happened. Darius rose to his feet, his fists clenching as he shattered the remaining windowpanes around him. Every injury, every wound that had marred his body, began to close up rapidly. His bones realigned, his torn flesh knit itself back together, and within seconds, he was completely restored.

A low growl of amusement escaped Darius as he suddenly struck the ground with all his might. The impact sent tremors through the entire building. Cracks splintered through the foundation, and in mere moments, the entire upper floor collapsed. The weight of the debris buried the soldiers stationed above, their cries of pain lost amidst the chaos.

Lazarus, unfazed by the destruction, exhaled sharply. "You sure possess a marvellous level of strength," he remarked, his tone cold yet acknowledging the power before him.

Darius smirked in response. "Strength?" he scoffed. "What a fool you are." His expression darkened, and his voice dripped with venom. "I am no weakling like you. I am far superior to any human that roams this kingdom."

Lazarus smirked, his voice laced with mockery. "Oh really? Then why did you get thrashed in mere seconds?" He folded his arms, tilting his head slightly. "Looks like your so-called tricks are not as effective as you thought."

A wicked chuckle escaped Darius. "Oh, Lazarus… do you know what your mother's final moments were like? Or your father's? Ah, such wonderful memories…" He paused, allowing his words to sink in. Then, with a twisted grin, he added, "Oh, wait a minute. Before I ended her miserable existence, your mother was quite the beauty. I even got a taste of her lips."

Lazarus's entire body tensed. A searing rage ignited in his chest, pain and fury intertwining into a destructive force. Without hesitation, he lunged at Darius, his movements fueled by unrelenting wrath. But Darius was quick. His reflexes were sharper, faster. Effortlessly, he sidestepped the attack and caught Lazarus by the throat. A cruel grin stretched across his lips as he whispered, "The game has only just begun."

With unparalleled strength, he hurled Lazarus through the window. The sheer force sent him plummeting down, his body colliding violently with the earth below. Blood dripped from his forehead, his leg twisted at an unnatural angle, and his breath came out in ragged gasps. And yet, even with such severe injuries, Lazarus rose once more. He wiped the blood from his nose, his expression unyielding, his fighting stance unshaken.

Darius leapt down from the ruined building, landing gracefully on the ground. With a predatory smirk, he prepared to finish what he had started. But before he could strike, a swift movement interrupted the battle. A figure clad in golden armour appeared between them, her long black hair flowing like a shadowy veil. In a single, fluid motion, her blade slashed through the air.

The next moment, Darius's body was cleaved in half.

His torso split apart like paper, blood spraying across the ground as his lifeless remains fell to the dirt. The golden-armoured warrior turned her gaze to Lazarus and extended a hand. "Are you alright, brother?" Her voice was gentle, her presence radiating an air of lethal grace.

Lazarus blinked, then let out a soft chuckle. "Not too bad… nothing fatal," he admitted as he took her hand and pulled himself up.

The woman—Amelia—smiled, her laughter light and warm. "So, we're even now. You saved my life, and I saved yours."

Lazarus exhaled, shaking his head. "Yeah… looks like it." His lips curled into a rare smile.

But their brief moment of respite was short-lived.

A sudden, ominous presence filled the air. The severed body parts lying motionless on the ground began to move. Blood pooled together unnaturally, limbs reattaching as though they had never been severed. A dense, dark aura rose from the remains, twisting and pulsing with malevolent energy. Amelia and Lazarus watched in horror as Darius's body reformed before their very eyes.

The last droplets of blood were absorbed, and his figure stood whole once more. But this time, something had changed. His form was even more refined, his presence heavier with an unshakable power. Reaching into his pocket, he retrieved a cigarette, lighting it with a flick of his fingers. Taking a deep drag, he exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, his glowing eyes locked onto them with a sinister gleam.

He grinned, his voice dripping with amusement as he asked, "Are you not entertained?"