Aldric stood atop the roof, his eyes locked onto Magnus, a force of nature barely contained in human form. In a heartbeat, he moved—no, vanished—from his perch, reappearing inches from Magnus with his blade already slicing through the air. The very wind seemed to scream as it was torn apart, shockwaves radiating outward.

In that breath, Magnus' cane levitated out and illuminated brightly as a crystalline barrier appeared before him. The blade clashed with the barrier and for a moment, it seemed his magic might hold. Suddenly, Aldric’s aura surged, cracking the barrier and sending Magnus hurtling backward through walls and buildings. However, that's what Magnus wanted… he needed to get further away!

As Magnus flew through the air, he unleashed beams of condensed mana from his cane, the streams of energy zigzagging unpredictably through the air. Yet, they were easily deflected as Aldric's sword glided with finesse, meeting each of the beams. Not a single one could touch him. Even with only a single arm, Aldric showed no signs of weakness.

Magnus’s expression darkened as he realized his attacks were futile.

'Dammit, how can he move like this while being affected by the disease?'

Aldric lowered his body as his legs sprung forward.

Panic flickered in Magnus's eyes as he saw the civilians who had emerged from hiding, watching the scene unfold in awe.

"Let’s see if you’re fast enough to protect them!" Magnus snarled, flicking his cane. Magical bolts shot toward the onlookers.

For a fraction of a second, Aldric hesitated. But only a second. His sword glowed with a golden hue as he slashed through the air, sending arcs of aura to intercept the magic just as they would reach the citizens. The bolts shattered, dissipating harmlessly before they could reach their targets.

"Is that all you got?" Aldric shifted his attention back to Magnus.

"You really were made for each other," Magnus sneered. "Your naivety will be your downfall."

Before Aldric could react, something flickered into view—a rune floating ominously in front of him. In an instant, it vanished, and beneath his feet, a large magic circle ignited. Intense gravity pressed down on him, forcing him to lower his stance, locking his movements in place.

Magnus's eyes gleamed as more runes poured out from him, ascending into the sky. As they rose, they dissipated, and in their wake, vast magic circles began to form. One after another, they layered across the heavens, each one covering several city blocks. These circles were imbued with decades of meticulously stored mana.

"Two decades of preparation," Magnus said somewhat bitterly. "I never thought I’d use this magic on you, Aldric. But if I have to bury you today, so be it!"

As he finished speaking, four colossal magic circles hovered above, each radiating immense power. Runes held magical instructions and served as individual spells. But what happens when a spell is too complex that a single rune couldn't contain it? Magical formulas were the master thesis of the world of mages and runes were simply parts of it that makes it whole.

Advanced mages had a technique that allowed them to combine the separate spells into something far more powerful, something greater than the sum of its parts. This technique was known as Magic Stacking.

Magnus raised his hands and brought them together. "Let's see how you fair against the the full might of a Stellar Mage!"

The four magic circles began to converge, layering atop one another, fusing into a single, intricate construct. The sky darkened further as the combined circle hummed with overwhelming power. This was no mere spell—it was a weapon of mass destruction. One of the conditions to being a Stellar Mage was the ability to formulate ones own magical formula which consists of at least three sets of magical instructions. At four sets, Magnus was already qualified as a highly accomplished mage. Accounting for the fact that these particular runes were imbued with decades worth of mana meant it carried the destructive might face most any creature in Kladin! For years, he had poured his efforts into creating this—his ultimate trump card.

With a delirious laugh, Magnus declared, "I promised to bury you, but I'm afraid there won't even be a corpse left. Disappear along with half of your precious kingdom!"

The magic circle above completed its formation. Thunder roared, and purple lightning crackled around Aldric, each bolt snaking through the air like a viper. The frightened citizens scrambled for cover, their screams drowned out by the sky's fury. Lightning struck the ground, causing nearby houses to crumble into rubble. Aldric gritted his teeth, moving sluggishly against the crushing weight of the gravity spell. Though it was designed to immobilize him completely, he fought against it, each step titan's effort, his gaze never leaving Magnus. Lightning continued to strike around him, narrowly missing with every hit—but none of them ever touched him.

Magnus smirked, unconcerned. The stray bolts were merely a prelude to the true onslaught.

"This is the end of the road for you," Magnus laughed. "Say hi to Lysandra for me. [Great Lightning Tribulation]!"

A high-pitched screech filled the air, followed by a blinding flash of white light, then—

BOOOOM!

It was as if the earth itself was shattering. The kingdom trembled as the deafening lightning bolt crashed down from the heavens directly onto Aldric's position. The sky opened up, and a massive pillar of light, searing and blinding, surged downwards, splitting into jagged branches that scorched the ground. The intensity was overwhelming; to look directly at it was to risk blindness. It lasted only a moment, but the echo of its impact reverberated across the entire kingdom.

As the light began to fade, the true scale of the destruction was revealed. The nearby buildings lay in ruins, reduced to rubble, and a half-kilometer of ground had been completely vaporized, leaving behind a vast, smoldering crater. This was the formidable power of a Stellar Mage. Even from a safe distance, Magnus had shielded himself with additional protection, knowing the attack’s might could reach him. That was how powerful such an attack was.

Stellar Mages were rare, and this was why the other human kingdoms only had a handful of them. Their magic was no joke and few dared to get on their bad side.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Magnus panted heavily, his breath ragged. Though much of the spell drew on mana he had stored over the years, activating it still demanded a continuous stream of his own mana. “Damn fool,” he muttered with a smile. Taking a moment to catch his breath, he moved back toward the site of impact. He didn’t believe Aldric could have survived, but something urged him to gloat over the spot where his old friend had perished.

As he approached, however, he suddenly froze. His mouth gaped, and his heart seemed to skip a beat. In the center of the crater, smoke billowed upward—but from what?

A figure stood, arm raised, sword held aloft. As the smoke cleared, Aldric emerged, slouched and weary, his clothes mostly burned away, yet somehow, he still stood. He gripped a silver sword above him that gleamed brightly through the smoke.

“H-H-How…” Magnus's eyes widened with fear and confusion. As his gaze inevitably fell on the sword, realization dawned. Aldric had been wielding the ceremonial royal sword of Cranch. It was never meant to be a weapon for battle. When Aldric first attacked, Magnus assumed he had simply reinforced the blade with his aura, making the dull edge sturdy and sharp. But now, the sword in Aldric’s hand was different. The encrusted gems were gone, and the once-golden handle was now rustic and bronze. The blade, which once had a superficial shine, now radiated an ethereal glow—a light of pure, unyielding might.

As both the Lord Regent and a native of Cranch, Magnus had studied the stories and legends. That sword was unmistakable.

He pointed a trembling finger at Aldric. "W-What are you doing with that sword? How do you have the sword of Lyle the Unbreakable?"

This was the sword of the original King of Cranch, a weapon said to have shielded the legendary heroes led by Emanuel the Brave. Though often noted ironically as a sword being a shield, its legacy proved otherwise. The unbreakable blade was forged by the most skilled race, the dwarves, from an unknown material that required the hands of over a hundred artisans to shape and refine. When the work was complete, it was hailed as their greatest achievement. So much so that the dwarves never crafted another sword, knowing no blade could ever match its exquisite creation. Even against the weapon wielded by Emanuel the Brave himself, this sword stood second to none.

Yet, according to legend, after the kingdom of Cranch was formed, the sword had been lost, never to be seen again... until now.

"It seems you are the one who knows nothing," Aldric said coldly as he began to move. Light flickered in his eyes, his gaze fixed intently on Magnus. Each step he took was deliberate, the weight of the sword dragging lightly against the ground. "The sword never disappeared. The first king foresaw how coveted his blade would become. Despite being part of the heroes who vanquished the Great Evil, he knew his allies and others would desire it. He understood that as long as the sword remained in his possession, his kingdom would be perpetually threatened, his family never at peace. So, he staged a performance, pretending the sword was lost, while secretly transforming it into the ceremonial sword of Cranch. Everyone believed it gone forever, even his children and their successors. But in my hands, the sword speaks. It thirsts for battle once more, to taste the blood of its enemies... and I think I will help it quench that thirst."

Aldric continued his slow advance toward Magnus, his pace unhurried, his expression calm yet resolute.

Magnus took a step back, his composure slipping away, his fear becoming more palpable with each passing second. "Stay back!" he shouted, panic creeping into his voice. He fired a barrage of magic missiles at Aldric, but the projectiles were easily deflected, bouncing harmlessly off the shimmering blade. His trump card had already been played; his options were now severely limited. The realization dawned on him—he was no longer certain he could kill Aldric.

In that moment of doubt, a thought took hold: perhaps it was best to flee.

Magnus immediately took to the skies, climbing higher and higher with each step. For all his strength, Aldric couldn't fly without magic. Even enhanced by his aura, the best he could manage was a leap as high as a large tree—nowhere near enough to reach the clouds.

As he ascended, finally high enough to overlook the city, Magnus let out a shaky sigh of relief. But his relief was short-lived. Below, Aldric slowly pulled his sword back in a manner Magnus recognized all too well.

"That move…" Magnus's eyes widened, his pupils dilating with sudden fear. Memories flashed before him, the image of a younger Aldric superimposed over the current one. He had only seen this move a handful of times. Aldric rarely used it in the past because the backlash would often leave him bedridden for weeks, and the cost was always the destruction of his weapon. The Whirlwind of Cranch, the man known to leave a path of destruction—if any move truly symbolized his title, it was this one. Aldric had never found a single sword that could withstand it... until now.

Panic set in, and Magnus tried to flee, but it was too late.

[Sundering Rend]

Aldric swung his sword down with tremendous force, a slash so powerful it seemed to pierce the very fabric of the air. The sky split open, and the clouds parted violently. Magnus tried to raise his cane to block, but the force of the strike shattered his defenses. His cane broke in two with a sharp crack. Blood spurted from his mouth as the impact sent him plummeting to the ground. He hit the earth hard, skidding across the dirt.

Coughing and bleeding, Magnus struggled to his knees, trying desperately to crawl away. His strength was all but spent. Behind him, Aldric appeared, walking slowly. His muscles spasmed visibly, contorting under the strain of the powerful attack he had just unleashed. Yet, his expression remained emotionless, cold as he loomed over his former friend.

"Wait, wait!" Magnus begged, fear in his voice. "You don't want to do this. Think of our history together! I was your best friend. How many times did we scrape by together on our adventures? Just let me go, and I swear I’ll never trouble you or set foot in this kingdom again!"

Aldric's gaze bore into Magnus. "I don’t know who you are, but my friend is gone. You’re just wearing his face."

He lifted his sword, aura surging along its length, the air around it humming with energy. "I will mourn my old friend's passing. As for you... goodbye."

He swung his sword down, but his blade met a crystalline barrier. The two forces clashed, sparks flying as neither side gave way.

Magnus's eyes began to bleed, and he coughed up blood, but a crazed smile spread across his lips. He chuckled, a bitter laugh escaping him. "You... you bastard, you really pushed me this far." A glowing rune appeared on Magnus's forehead, its light pulsating ominously. "I didn't want to resort to this. But even if I have to burn my magic circuits and end up crippled, I'll make sure you die by my hands!"

In an instant, the mana around him surged back to life, revitalized as if drawn from the very depths of his being. The charred earth around them began to tremble and rise, transforming into jagged earthen spikes. They encircled Aldric, infused with an overwhelming amount of mana. Before Aldric could react, mounds of earth surged up and latched onto his feet, holding him firmly in place.

Magnus was tapping into a forbidden source—burning his own life force to fuel his magic, overloading his circuits beyond their natural limits. It was a form of taboo magic, a last-ditch effort for mages. The consequences were dire: after using it, they would never be able to wield magic again. The burst of power would only last a few seconds, but Magnus was already resigned to his fate.

"Let's see who gives out first!" he screamed manically. The earth spikes launched toward Aldric, racing to impale him. Aldric, gritting his teeth, focused everything he had on breaking the crystalline barrier. Cracks began to form across its surface, but the spikes were already mere inches away.

Suddenly—

> Minus Strength

Magnus’s triumphant expression shifted to one of shock and disbelief. The barrier shattered all at once, and Aldric’s sword cut through, cleaving through Magnus's body with brutal finality. The earthen spikes crumbled back into dirt, falling harmlessly to the ground as Aldric leaned against his sword, his strength utterly spent.

He watched as Magnus, bleeding and broken, collapsed. Magnus stared blankly at the sky above, his vision blurring, consciousness slipping away. With his final breath, he muttered a curse. "Hah… fucking summoned…"

Aldric fell to his knees, his breathing ragged and heavy. Tears streamed down Aldric's face, dripping onto the scorched earth below. His voice trembled. "Lysandra… " His strength finally gave out, and he collapsed fully, the darkness closing in as he blacked out.