Inside Ehrek’s armor, a vibrant array of colors flickered and pulsed, as if some dormant energy within had awoken. The blade, now lodged in his chest, began to frost over, icy tendrils creeping along its steel surface and fusing it to him. The swordsman tried to pull it free, but the blade was completely frozen in place. Ehrek grasped the hilt, holding it firmly as he staggered upright, his powerful frame steadying as he looked directly at his opponent.
"I’ll admit," he said, a wry edge to his voice, "you caught me off guard with that one." With a swift motion, he lifted his leg and kicked the man backward, forcing him to release his grip. The swordsman staggered from the blow but quickly regained his balance, standing firm as the wind began to swirl around them, growing fiercer with every passing second.
Ehrek’s armor seemed to morph, each joint and plate sharpening as if preparing for the next level of combat. He tightened his grip on the hilt of the katana, and in a strange, ethereal shimmer, the blade disintegrated in his hand. He tossed the empty hilt back to the swordsman, who caught it deftly, the blade reforming in his grasp as it darkened, mirroring the ominous shift in the sky above. Clouds began to spiral, descending like a vortex as the wind picked up, whipping the blossoms and leaves into a frenzied cyclone around them.
Ehrek watched as the sky darkened further, shadowy clouds circling and touching down, forming a series of cyclones that erupted around the field. The swordsman, now fully engulfed in a black, mist-like armor that shimmered with white clouds of energy, advanced toward Ehrek, his presence intensified by the orange glow in his eyes. The aura he radiated was even more fearsome, each step carrying a lethal calm.
The man’s voice, resonant with purpose, echoed through the cyclone-strewn battlefield, his words ringing like a challenge. "私の名前はゴンギです。そして今日ここで、私の名前はあなたの叫び声以外にあなたが聞く最後のものになるでしょう." ("My name is Gong-gi, and here today my name will be the last thing you hear besides your own screams.")
Gong-gi stepped out of the cyclone, transformed. His form was cloaked in swirling black mist, exuding an unnatural energy that added an almost majestic yet terrifying presence to him. His eyes glowed fiercely, the orange piercing through the darkened storm, as smaller cyclones spiraled around, tearing into the earth and intensifying the maelstrom around them.
Ehrek’s armor continued to sharpen, his form casting an imposing silhouette against the apocalyptic backdrop. As Gong-gi approached, the battlefield, once filled with clashing armies, now felt eerily empty, save for the cyclones tearing across the terrain.
The ground trembled as Ehrek and Gong-gi dashed forward, closing the distance in an instant. They met in an explosive collision, trading brutal, unarmed strikes that sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. Ehrek’s armor clanged with each blow, while Gong-gi’s black mist armor erupted with sonic booms from each hit, the sheer force resonating outward as both warriors moved at blinding speeds.
As their brawl dragged on, Ehrek’s body began to feel heavier, his armor growing denser with each impact. Yet, instead of slowing, this added weight only amplified the force behind his strikes. Gong-gi, unable to absorb the sudden, intensified blows, staggered as his footing faltered, the impacts jarring him toward the ground. Seeing his chance, Ehrek raised a fist, preparing to slam it down in a devastating strike. But just before the blow landed, Gong-gi raised his hand skyward, unleashing a powerful updraft that lifted Ehrek into the air.
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In a split-second maneuver, Gong-gi recovered and appeared above Ehrek, intent on slamming him back down. But Ehrek’s own cunning intervened—a wormhole opened on his back, connecting to one behind Gong-gi’s head. As Gong-gi’s fist drove forward, he struck his own head, momentarily dazing himself.
Ehrek saw his opening and activated another wormhole beneath him, falling through it and reappearing above Gong-gi. With a sudden, summoned mace in hand, Ehrek brought it crashing down, smashing Gong-gi into the ground with relentless force. The earth cratered beneath them, rock and debris flying outwards from the impact. Ehrek’s weight increased further, his landing amplifying the force, pressing Gong-gi into the dirt as the crater grew deeper.
Standing atop the shattered ground, Ehrek looked down with a smirk. “Just because you know how to control your conduit form doesn’t mean you’re more skilled.”
Ehrek opened another wormhole, swapping his mace for his sword as his armor began to return to its previous state. He stepped back to the edge of the crater, watching as Gong-gi slowly rose, his eyes now glowing with a renewed, eerie intensity. The hilt of his katana from earlier flew back into his hand, and a distinct voice, not Gong-gi’s, resonated from the armor. “Appears you incapacitated the poor kid. And if you lay a hand on me again, I’ll make you regret it.”
Ehrek chuckled. “For the Conduit of Air to be so particular about its wielder—it’s ironic.”
The conduit’s voice grew tense. “What are you insinuating?”
Ehrek’s grin grew sharper. “Ironic that you, a conduit who’s wielded others for battle, would think yourself above reproach.”
The conduit fell silent, the words striking a nerve. “I’ve never met the Conduit of the Cosmos until now. How could you know such things?”
Ehrek’s armor finally settled back to its original state, but his stance remained firm and confident, his silence adding to the conduit’s rising agitation.
The conduit hesitated, then questioned, “Why did you show up to this war?”
Ehrek stared at him with unyielding calm. “Why did you attack me? You, of all conduits, know what happens when you go after one stronger than yourself. The fact that I’m sparing you now should tell you how merciful I am being.”
Ehrek’s voice echoed ominously across the battlefield, making even the raging storm and ongoing war seem muted. The conduit’s voice faltered. “I-I warned the kid, but… he was furious after you killed those people…”
“It’s a war,” Ehrek replied, his tone cold and resolute. “Tell that kid to wake up and face the truth. The fact you were even here, defending a side that despises magic, is baffling. Why were you really involved?”
The conduit let out a weary sigh. “To kill Merkmal… a forbidden Conduit that’s resurfaced. The kid feels this Merkmal threatens the peace he values.”
Ehrek’s eyes narrowed at the mention. Summoning a wormhole, he nodded. “If he couldn’t face me, he stands no chance against another forbidden conduit. But I’ll remember this Merkmal. Let this serve as his reality check.”
Ehrek turned and stepped through the wormhole, returning to the chaotic battlefield, the clash of spells and gunfire raging around him once more. As he emerged, he found himself face-to-face with a familiar figure, a man in a sleek suit with a faintly glowing blue aura surrounding him, who looked at him with a knowing expression amidst the chaos.