Daren stood at the edge of the clearing, heart racing as he watched Tarek face off against Lorik. Every swing of Lorik's sword seemed like a lethal promise, and he felt a deep-seated anxiety knotting his stomach. Tarek had always been resilient, but against Lorik's brute force, he feared for her safety.

“Come on, Tarek,” he whispered under his breath, as if his words could somehow reach her through the chaos. Daren clenched his fists, a surge of frustration coursing through him. Why couldn’t he help her? The urge to leap into the fray overwhelmed him, but he knew he would only become another burden.

Rudra, standing beside him with an air of calm, noticed his turmoil. “Daren, focus,” he said, his voice steady. “Observe closely. What mistakes are they making, and what can they do to avoid them?”

Daren turned his attention back to the fight, forcing himself to breathe deeply. Tarek was agile, dodging and weaving around Lorik’s powerful strikes, but he could see the fatigue beginning to take its toll on her. Every move she made was met with another aggressive swing, and Daren couldn’t help but feel a sense of urgency.

“Watch how Tarek uses her speed,” Rudra continued, pointing as Tarek ducked beneath a wild swing of Lorik’s sword. “She needs to close the distance. If she can get in close, she’ll have the advantage with her daggers.”

Daren squinted, his heart racing. “But what if he catches her with a swing?”

“Then she must use her agility to evade him,” Rudra replied. “It’s a risk, but it’s necessary. Every fighter has weaknesses. Tarek must exploit Lorik’s overreach.”

As he spoke, Rudra's eyes flicked nervously to the message clutched tightly in his hand. He had already read it countless times, yet each word felt like a hammer striking against his resolve, amplifying the anxiety bubbling within him. The implications of the message gnawed at him, its contents haunting his thoughts as he tried to concentrate on the fight unfolding before him. He shook slightly, unable to quell the unease pooling in his stomach. What if he couldn’t reach there in time? What if everything he feared was about to unfold? He had to stay focused, but the message pulled at his mind like a relentless tide.

Rudra closed his eyes, and a wave of nostalgia washed over him, pulling him back to a time of uncertainty. He found himself standing alone in a dusty street, his clothes tattered and caked with dirt, a stark reflection of his desolation. The weight of hopelessness hung heavily on his shoulders, each breath a reminder of the burdens he carried. The world around him seemed muted, colors dulled by the dust that settled everywhere, mirroring his own spirit.

In that dreary place, a figure appeared before him, a man clad in flowing white and green robes that danced gently in the breeze. The fabric shimmered with an ethereal glow, reflecting light in a way that made the colors seem alive. This stranger’s presence was striking, exuding an aura of peace that felt like a balm to Rudra's troubled heart.

The man’s smile was warm and inviting, with eyes that sparkled with understanding and wisdom. There was something comforting in his gaze, as if he could see right into Rudra's soul, recognizing his doubts and fears. “Hey wanna join me.” he had asked, his voice soft yet compelling, echoing with a sense of belonging.

Suddenly, the memory faded, pulling Rudra back to the present. He saw Tarek still evading Lorik's sword.

Meanwhile, Kael faced his own formidable challenge.

The clash of steel rang through the air as Kael defended himself against Beni and Vish, his mind focused and adrenaline pumping. Each swing of Beni’s blade was heavy and precise, aimed to overpower Kael, but what truly made the fight difficult was Vish's interference. Standing at a distance, Vish hurled spears with unerring accuracy, every strike calculated to keep Kael from fully engaging Beni.

Whenever Kael tried to close in on Beni, another spear came whistling toward him from behind, forcing him to break off his attack. The constant back-and-forth left Kael frustrated, stuck between Beni’s powerful strikes and Vish’s endless barrage of spears. Vish wasn’t moving in close like a typical fighter but instead acted as a distant puppet master, keeping Kael on the defensive with his long-range attacks.

“Let’s see what you’ve got, Kael!” Beni taunted, swinging his blade with a flourish. The blade glinted in the sunlight, and Kael felt the weight of the challenge hanging in the air.

Kael responded with a swift side step, narrowly avoiding Beni’s slash. The wind from the blade whispered past his ear, and he countered with a quick jab of his fist, channeling his chakra. It struck Beni in the shoulder, making him stumble back.

“Nice try!” Beni shouted, regaining his balance. “But you’ll need more than that!”

Vish launched a spear from the back, the weapon whistling through the air toward Kael. He barely had time to react, diving to the side. The spear struck the ground with a thud, quivering in place. Kael quickly rolled back to his feet, scanning for Vish, who was already preparing to throw another spear.

“Keep your eyes open, Kael!” Beni yelled, swinging again. Kael’s instincts kicked in, and he blocked the blow with his forearm, the impact jolting through his body. He could feel Beni's strength pushing against him, but he used that momentum to pivot and deliver a swift kick aimed at Beni’s midsection.

Beni grunted as the kick connected, sending him stumbling back, but he quickly regained his footing. Kael turned just in time to see Vish's spear hurtling toward him once again. He dropped to the ground, allowing the spear to soar over his head, embedding itself in a nearby tree.

Kael pushed himself off the ground and charged at Vish, ready to close the distance. With Beni momentarily distracted, Kael aimed to take advantage of the opportunity. He leaped into the air, channeling chakra into his legs to enhance his jump. He landed next to Vish, delivering a swift punch that caught him off guard.

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Vish staggered back, surprise flashing in his eyes as Kael pressed forward. “You certainly are strong but do you think you can take both of us?” he gasped, regaining his stance and raising his spear defensively.

“Let’s find out!” Kael shot back, rushing toward Vish. He moved with agility, evading the spear’s reach as he closed in. Just as he was about to strike, Beni recovered and charged at him from the side, swinging his sword in a powerful arc.

Kael barely had time to react. He ducked under Beni’s swing and pivoted, launching a low kick at Beni’s legs. Beni stumbled, but his momentum carried him forward, and he quickly adapted, redirecting his weight and swinging his sword backward, narrowly missing Kael again.

“Stay focused!” Vish shouted, his spear now aimed at Kael’s throat. Kael raised his arms, channeling chakra to enhance his strength, blocking Vish's thrust with his forearms. The force of the impact rattled him, but he pushed back, using his own momentum to break free and spin away from both opponents.

“Two against one?” Kael grinned, breathless but invigorated. “still can't defeat a single person!”

Beni, irritated by Kael’s bravado, rushed forward, his sword poised for another attack. This time, Kael anticipated the movement and moved to the side, striking Beni with a low kick that sent him tumbling to the ground.

“Come on, Beni!” Vish yelled, urgency lacing his tone. “Focus!”

Beni charged forward again, his sword gleaming in hand, while Vish stood poised behind him, readying his spears for the attack.

Kael thought to himself, I need a new approach. Every time I move to strike Beni, Vish hurls his spears. And when I turn to face Vish, Beni comes at me. I can't keep playing into their trap.

Beni swung his sword with force as Vish hurled five spears in quick succession toward Kael, the coordinated attack leaving him little room to escape.

This time, Kael decided not to evade the oncoming spears. Instead, he channeled chakra into his legs, enhancing their strength and preparing for an unexpected counterattack. With a swift, determined kick, he sent all five spears soaring into the air, defying their intended trajectory. Spotting a spear lodged in a nearby tree, Kael seized the opportunity to propel himself higher. Using it as leverage, he launched himself upward with a powerful burst of chakra, feeling the rush of energy coursing through him.

As he reached the peak of his jump, Kael assessed the battlefield and formulated a new strategy. A thought struck him: Vish could only create ten spears at a time. Kael realized that Vish would likely use four of them to intercept the incoming attack, leaving just one spear for himself. That’s when I can turn the tables, Kael mused, determination igniting within him. I’ll redirect that remaining spear back at him.

With this tactical insight guiding him, Kael prepared to outsmart his opponent. He focused intently, ready to use Vish's own tactics against him. As he descended, he redirected four of the spears back toward Vish, aiming with precision and intent. The last spear he hurled directly at Beni, eager to turn the tide of the battle.

Seeing Kael's unexpected display of power, both Vish and Beni were momentarily surprised but quickly smirked, their confidence restored. They exchanged knowing glances, eager to respond to Kael's challenge.

Vish let out a booming laugh, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “Haha, Lorik’s a genius! Just from our last match, he figured out your fighting style. He told me to keep making only ten spears when I could create more. So when you attacks, thinking I’m out of options—"boom! Suddenly, spears pop up all around them, catching them completely by surprise! "You thought you had the upper hand, but you just played right into our hands!” Vish’s taunt echoed through the clearing, his confidence radiating as he prepared for Kael’s next move, ready to capitalize on the moment.

Kael’s expression shifted to one of grim determination, his brows furrowing as he processed Vish's words

Vish hurled all the remaining spears at Kael, having successfully deflected the four he aimed at him. At that moment, Beni seized the opportunity, swooping down from above to launch a surprise attack on Kael, determined to catch him off guard.

Seeing all the spears hurtling toward him and Beni descending for an attack, Kael's mind went blank for a moment, overwhelmed by the sudden rush of danger. Time seemed to slow as he struggled to focus, searching for a way to counter the dual assault threatening to engulf him.

At that moment, Kael's hand moved instinctively, driven by pure survival instinct. With a fluid motion, he locked all the spears mid-air, halting their deadly trajectory. His sword glided effortlessly through the air, tracing a path that felt almost otherworldly, as if the very space around it was parting to let the blade through.

The arc of his sword was mesmerizing, slicing through the air with an elegance that seemed to defy the laws of physics. It spiraled gracefully, carving out a trajectory that shimmered in the light, leaving a faint afterglow behind it. Each movement felt choreographed, the blade dancing through the atmosphere with a precision that suggested an intimate connection to the very essence of battle.

As the sword moved, it created a gentle whooshing sound, as if the air itself was gasping in awe of its path. The trajectory of his strike wasn’t just a reaction; it was a manifestation of Kael's will, an embodiment of his determination to control the fight. With each swing, it felt like the sword was pulling the air around it, bending it to his will, redirecting Beni's incoming attack and transforming the tide of battle in an instant.

Beni and Vish were momentarily stunned by Kael's attack, their eyes widening in disbelief. The elegance and precision of his movements mirrored Laura's sword style, an uncanny resemblance that caught them off guard. Each swing of Kael's blade displayed a mastery they hadn’t expected, as if Laura's spirit guided his technique. The realization ignited a sense of urgency in both opponents.

Beni's eyes sparkled with excitement, a wide grin spreading across his face as he watched Kael's impressive display. “You're a monster” he exclaimed, eager to engage in a serious fight. The thrill of facing such a formidable opponent ignited a fire within him.

Meanwhile, Vish's expression turned serious as he assessed the situation. Well, that’s not good for us, he thought, realizing the stakes had just risen dramatically. With Kael tapping into a level of skill reminiscent of Laura, Vish understood that their previous strategies would need to change. The balance of power had shifted, and they would need to fight smarter if they wanted to overcome this unexpected challenge.

Kael let out a fierce scream, a surge of adrenaline coursing through him as he realized he had gained a slight upper hand. "Jin! Where are you?" he called out, his voice echoing through the battlefield. The urgency in his tone reflected his need for support, knowing that teamwork could turn the tide of the fight.

Suddenly, a sharp, electric sound filled the air—a low, resonant bzzzzz that cut through the tension of the moment. Kael turned his gaze upward, squinting against the light. At the top of a tall tree, Jin stood confidently, striking a heroic pose that showcased his readiness for battle. A wide smirk spread across his face, radiating a playful arrogance.

“Did someone call me?” he called down, his tone light and teasing, contrasting sharply with the intensity of the fight below. Kael felt a wave of annoyance wash over him. Despite the urgency of the battle below, he couldn't help but roll his eyes at his friend's dramatic entrance.