Chapter 16: A Battle of Wits

Kael’s sword clashed with Dalen’s dagger again, the force of each strike reverberating through his arms. He was struggling to keep up, his Sword Talent (Flicker) not yet advanced enough to match Dalen’s swift, precise movements. Dalen’s Dagger Talent (Stream) gave him a significant edge, and his experience in battle showed with every fluid motion. It was all Kael could do to hold his ground.

The others weren’t faring much better. Sera, with her hammer, was trying to keep Dalen off balance, but even her strength couldn’t match his speed. Tarin’s arrows were doing little more than slowing down the other attackers, and Alec was locked in a desperate struggle with one of Dalen’s companions. Mira, in the back, was casting healing spells as quickly as she could, but they were outnumbered and outmatched.

Dalen smirked, his cold eyes never leaving Kael as they circled each other. “You’ve done well so far,” he said, his voice mocking. “But this is where it ends. You should have left when you had the chance.”

Kael’s mind raced. He couldn’t match Dalen in a straight fight—his talents were too weak, his essence still stuck at Mote (Rank 1). But there had to be another way. Dalen was confident, almost too confident. Kael needed to find a way to exploit that arrogance, to make him slip up.

“Keep talking,” Kael muttered, his eyes scanning the area, looking for anything he could use. “You’re not the first to underestimate me.”

Dalen’s smirk faltered, just for a moment, and Kael saw it—a flicker of doubt. He wasn’t invincible. Kael had already proven that by surviving their first encounter. Now, he just needed to push Dalen into making a mistake.

Sera swung her hammer again, and Dalen leaped back, avoiding the blow with ease. Kael saw his opening.

“Now!” Kael shouted, and Sera, understanding immediately, swung again with everything she had, this time aiming for the ground.

The hammer smashed into the dirt with a thunderous impact, sending up a cloud of dust and debris. Dalen flinched, momentarily blinded by the dust. It was all the time Kael needed.

With a burst of speed, Kael lunged forward, his sword flashing toward Dalen’s chest. Dalen reacted quickly, bringing up his dagger to block, but Kael’s strike wasn’t aimed at killing him—it was a feint. As Dalen parried, Kael pivoted on his heel and swung the flat of his blade toward Dalen’s side, aiming for a crippling blow.

The sword struck Dalen hard in the ribs, and he let out a grunt of pain as he staggered back. The opening was brief, but Kael knew he had to capitalize on it. He pressed the attack, slashing and thrusting with renewed energy, forcing Dalen to retreat.

Behind them, the rest of the group had found their rhythm. Alec had managed to knock one of the attackers off balance, and Tarin’s arrows were starting to find their mark. Sera, with her brute strength, was holding off the remaining enemies with sheer force.

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But Kael’s focus remained on Dalen. The assassin was still dangerous, but now he was on the defensive, his overconfidence shaken by Kael’s sudden burst of aggression.

“You’re not as invincible as you think,” Kael said, his voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through him. “You’re just a bully who’s used to picking off weaker opponents.”

Dalen’s eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched. “You think this changes anything? You’re still nothing compared to me.”

“Maybe,” Kael replied, stepping forward again, his sword ready. “But I don’t need to beat you. I just need to outlast you.”

Kael could see it now—Dalen was starting to tire. His strikes were still fast, but they lacked the precision of his earlier attacks. The arrogance that had fueled him was fading, replaced by frustration.

“Finish him off, Kael!” Sera shouted, her voice strained as she held off another attacker. “We don’t have much time!”

Kael tightened his grip on his sword. This was it. If he could push Dalen just a little further, force him into one more mistake, the fight would be over.

Dalen lunged at him again, his dagger aimed for Kael’s throat, but Kael was ready. He sidestepped the attack, and as Dalen passed by, Kael brought his sword down with a swift, powerful strike. The blade sliced across Dalen’s arm, drawing a deep gash.

Dalen cried out in pain, stumbling back. His hand went to his arm, blood seeping through his fingers. He glared at Kael, hatred burning in his eyes.

“You… bastard,” Dalen snarled, his voice filled with venom. “You’ll regret this.”

Kael stepped forward, his sword raised. “No. You’re done.”

Dalen’s eyes flickered with panic, and he took a step back, his confidence shattered. For the first time, Kael saw fear in the assassin’s face. Dalen knew he had lost.

Kael didn’t waste any more time. With one final, decisive strike, he knocked Dalen’s dagger from his hand and sent him sprawling to the ground. Dalen gasped for breath, clutching his wounded arm as he glared up at Kael, defeated.

The remaining attackers, seeing their leader fall, hesitated. One by one, they backed away, disappearing into the trees, unwilling to continue the fight without Dalen’s command.

The clearing fell silent.

Kael stood over Dalen, his chest heaving with exhaustion, but his grip on his sword never wavered. Dalen glared up at him, his face twisted in rage and pain.

“This isn’t over,” Dalen spat, his voice a low growl. “You’ll pay for this.”

Kael looked down at him, his expression cold. “Maybe. But not today.”

He stepped back, lowering his sword. Dalen, realizing he was being spared, staggered to his feet, still clutching his wounded arm. With one last glare at Kael and the others, he turned and limped into the forest, disappearing into the shadows.

Kael let out a long breath, the adrenaline slowly draining from his body. The fight was over, for now.

Behind him, his teammates gathered, their expressions a mix of relief and exhaustion.

“You did it,” Mira said softly, her eyes filled with gratitude. “You stopped him.”

Kael nodded, though he didn’t feel like celebrating. Dalen had escaped, and Kael knew that the assassin wasn’t one to give up easily. He would return, and next time, he wouldn’t make the same mistakes.

“We need to keep moving,” Kael said, his voice firm. “The trial isn’t over yet. We have to finish this.”

Sera wiped the sweat from her brow and nodded. “You’re right. Let’s get through the rest of this before anything else happens.”

The group quickly regrouped, tending to their injuries as best they could before continuing on. The forest around them was quiet again, but Kael couldn’t shake the feeling that they were still being watched. Dalen’s threat lingered in the back of his mind, a reminder that the battle wasn’t truly over.

But for now, they had survived. And that was enough.

As they pushed deeper into the forest, Kael’s mind was already turning to the next challenge. The Academy trials were far from over, and if they wanted to make it to the end, they would need more than just strength.

They would need strategy, teamwork, and the ability to adapt to any challenge that came their way.

Kael glanced at his teammates, the people he had fought beside and bled with. They had proven themselves today, and he knew they could go further. But there was still a long road ahead.

And Dalen’s shadow loomed over it all.

Kael’s focus sharpened as the group pressed on. He knew that the real challenge was just beginning, and if they were going to make it to the Academy, they couldn’t afford any more mistakes.

Survival was just the first step.

The real test was yet to come.