**[The Battle Begins: Garrick and Victor's Clash]**
The atmosphere was thick with tension as Garrick and Victor stood poised, ready to unleash their strength. Kael and Mia received their instructions clearly.
"Kael, you and Mia handle that girl and Thomas. I'll take care of the other two," Victor commanded.
"Got it," they both replied in unison.
Without hesitation, Victor launched himself towards Garrick. The sound of their swords clashing echoed across the battlefield, sending ripples of pressure throughout the area.
Kael watched in awe. "What kind of sword is that? And why aren’t they using magic?" he asked, puzzled by the intense physical combat before him.
Mia, exasperated, shot him a glance. "You’re such an idiot. They’re using magic, but it’s to enhance their physical and sword strength. Only a fool would use long-range magic at this close range."
Kael felt a pang of embarrassment. "Was that directed at me?" he thought, his face falling.
Meanwhile, Thomas and Edwin prepared to assist Garrick, but Kael intercepted Thomas before he could make a move. Their swords clashed, and Edwin paused, glaring at the two before deciding to head toward the fight between Victor and Garrick.
"Hey, brat, watch what you’re doing!" Edwin shouted as Kael engaged Thomas in close combat.
"I know what I’m doing!" Kael replied, his voice serious.
Thomas smirked. "Are you ready?" he asked, his tone almost playful.
Kael hesitated, confused. "What is he talking about?" he wondered.
"Enjoy this!" Thomas said, stepping to his right. Behind him, Isolde had prepared a flaming ball of magic, aimed directly at Kael.
Isolde hurled the flame ball towards Kael with a sinister grin.
"No… no, no, no… not again. I can’t die, I don’t want to die!" Kael thought desperately, closing his eyes and swinging his sword wildly in the air.
**[A Narrow Escape: Mia's Timely Intervention]**
The sound of fire being extinguished by water filled the air. Kael slowly opened his eyes, trembling, to see Mia standing in front of him.
"How would you survive without me, you idiot?" Mia said, turning around and flipping her hair. Her expression softened for a moment as she thought, "Thank goodness I didn’t miss…"
Victor noticed Kael and Mia fighting together. "Maybe I can relax a bit and focus on my own battle," he thought, satisfied that they were holding their own.
**[The Battle Layout]**
|_______________[Gate]
| _
| _
|____[Isolde]__[Thomas]
| _
|______[Mia]__[Kael]
|
|__________________________________[Garrick]___[Edwin]
|
|_____________________________________[Victor]________________|
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Isolde, taken aback, watched Mia. "How can that girl use such precise magic at her age?" she thought, fear creeping in. "If she can neutralize my attacks, then I’m not even a part of this battle… and if I’m not part of this fight, then she won’t be either," Isolde decided, trying to regain her composure.
Thomas noticed her anxiety and teased her, "Look who’s the crybaby now! I thought you were brave and could be trusted. Was I wrong?" His deep voice was measured, each word deliberate.
Isolde’s confidence flickered, but she straightened up. "I’m not a crybaby!" she declared, her determination rekindled.
**[Kael and Thomas’ Duel: A Test of Strength]**
"Thanks for saving me," Kael began.
"You can thank me once we’re out of this mess," Mia cut him off, dismissing his gratitude.
Kael sighed. "Okay…"
"Sword Style: Consecutive Sword!" Thomas announced as he advanced toward Kael.
Kael took a deep breath, calming his nerves. "Aran Style: First Form, Normal Sword," he declared, enchanting his sword to strengthen its blade.
As their swords clashed, sparks flew. Despite being only an eight-year-old boy with a height of roughly 4 feet 9 inches (usually extended to 5 feet 2 inches with special shoes), Kael held his own. However, Thomas’s more mature physique and physical strength gave him a significant advantage.
Kael grimaced as he matched Thomas blow for blow, his shorter frame struggling against the older opponent. The force of their swords striking sent vibrations through his arms, but he held on, determined not to falter.
"Tch… I knew it," Thomas thought. "His grandfather must’ve trained him well. Matching my physical strength at his age is troubling."
Thomas closed his eyes briefly, focusing. "Blood Art," he muttered, cutting his palm with his sword and letting his blood coat the blade. His eyes snapped open, glowing an angry red. As he rotated his sword 360 degrees, a wave of unease swept over the battlefield. Mia and Isolde both felt an intense weakness, their energy drained.
Everyone noticed the sudden change in Thomas.
"What is he doing?" Edwin thought, alarmed by the speed at which Thomas was executing the technique.
Victor, too, was shocked and called out in desperation, "Kael, stop him!"
Kael heard Victor’s warning and immediately launched into action. "Aran Style: Wind Style Gust!" he shouted, increasing his speed as he dashed toward Thomas.
But it was too late. Thomas completed the technique.
"Blood Moon Sword," Thomas whispered with a sinister smile.
In an instant, Thomas was behind Kael. Blood splattered on the ground.
Kael barely managed to avoid a fatal blow, twisting his body at the last second. The sword slashed his leg instead, and he used the momentum to propel himself off the ground, narrowly escaping a worse injury.
"Tch… survived, did you? But not for long!" Thomas snarled, pressing his attack. Kael, injured and bleeding, fought back with all his might, but Thomas gave him no time to recover.
"Mia, help!" Kael cried out, his voice laced with pain. He could see her distress as she struggled to maintain her focus against Isolde.
Victor, fighting his own battle, was both furious and sorrowful, but he couldn’t afford to lose focus.
"It hurts… but I have to keep fighting. What now? That hit was too close. I can’t use my grandfather’s techniques as well as he could. The only option left is my third technique, but I need time…" Kael thought, his mind racing as he exchanged blows with Thomas.
Gathering his strength, Kael pushed Thomas back momentarily and sprinted towards Mia.
"Mia, can you cast any protective magic? I have a plan, but I need time to activate it," Kael asked urgently.
"Protective magic? I… I’ll try!" Mia replied, her mind racing.
"Now what? Think, Mia, think!" she urged herself, trying to come up with a solution.
Isolde, seeing Mia distracted, advanced toward Thomas. He noticed something odd as Kael stood his ground. The wound on Kael’s leg had stopped bleeding and appeared to be healing rapidly.
"How is that possible? How did he heal so quickly? It’s a blood art wound!" Thomas thought, astonished.
"Are you okay, Thomas?" Isolde asked, her voice laced with concern.
"Yes," Thomas replied curtly, though his mind was spinning with questions.
"Barrier Magic: Medium Level Barrier!" Mia chanted, casting a protective barrier around herself and Kael.
As the barrier formed, Kael felt a momentary sense of relief, knowing that he had a brief window to execute his plan. But the battle was far from over, and both sides were bracing for the next wave of attacks.
[Battle Layout]
|____________________________________[Gate]
|
|_________[Isolde]__[Thomas]
|
|
|
|_______________[Mia]
|_______________[Kael]