The training room was alive with tension and energy, the walls reverberating faintly with the hum of mana that hung thick in the air. Xyenn stood there, panting heavily, his chest rising and falling as beads of sweat dripped from his forehead. His shirt was torn in places, exposing faint cuts and bruises on his skin, and his legs wobbled slightly, though he refused to let them buckle. Across from him, Gorran and Mertha were in similar states—breathing hard, their own wounds visible but minor. Despite their exhaustion, both looked as sharp and intimidating as ever.
Gorran, his Xenith blade resting across his shoulder, glanced at Xyenn out of the corner of his eye. The kid had held his own far better than he expected. His movements had become more calculated, his reactions sharper, and his ability to adapt mid-fight was something Gorran hadn’t thought possible in such a short amount of time. He didn’t want to admit it, but Xyenn was improving—and fast.
Mertha, meanwhile, broke into a wide grin, her sharp teeth flashing as she wiped blood from her knuckles. “Alright, brat,” she said, stepping closer to Xyenn. “You keep this up, and you’ll be a badass like me in no time.”
Xyenn chuckled, though it came out strained as he leaned on his knees to catch his breath. “A badass like you? Please. I don’t think the world could handle two of you,” he teased, his grin growing despite his exhaustion. “You’re such an oaf.”
Mertha barked out a laugh, her voice echoing through the room. “Oaf, huh? Takes one to know one!” She extended her fist toward him, and Xyenn, still grinning, raised his own weakly to meet hers in a solid fist bump.
Xyenn then turned to Gorran, lifting his fist toward him as well. “Don’t leave me hanging.”
Gorran stared at him, his expression deadpan as he muttered, “That’s gross.” He swatted at Xyenn’s hand, attempting to slap it away.
But Xyenn, grinning mischievously, dodged the slap and kept his fist extended. “Shhh. Just one bump. What are you afraid of? Huh?”
Gorran growled, trying again to slap Xyenn’s hand away, but Xyenn dodged each attempt, his laughter growing louder. “Stop moving, you little—”
“You’re really bad at this, Gorran!” Xyenn teased, hopping back with his fist still raised.
Gorran’s patience snapped. With a low growl, he pulled out his Xenith blade, the massive weapon glowing faintly before darkness and shadows erupted from it like waves of fire. “I’ll give you a fist bump, alright!” he snarled, his voice rising to an almost comical squeal as he swung the blade. Shadows licked the air, and the flames hissed as they spread in spiraling arcs.
Mertha stepped between them, laughing so hard she nearly doubled over. “Alright, alright, break it up, you two! You’re killing me over here!” She placed a firm hand on Xyenn’s shoulder, her grin softening slightly. “For real, though, you’ve come a long way, brat. I’m proud of you.”
Xyenn blinked, surprised by the sincerity in her tone. He quickly disguised his awkwardness by lightly punching her chest with his fist. “Thanks, Big Mertha. You too.”
Mertha smirked, clearly amused by the nickname, and gave him a playful shove. Xyenn stumbled but quickly steadied himself, scratching the back of his head. “I mean it, you guys,” he said, his voice quieter now. “Thanks for taking the time to train me. I know I can be a handful, but… I appreciate you bearing with me.”
Gorran turned his head away, his expression unreadable. “Tch. I told you I would, didn’t I?” His voice was gruff, but there was a hint of something softer beneath it.
For a brief moment, Gorran’s mind wandered back to Soulcaris. He remembered the sight of Xyenn kneeling before him, blood streaming from his nose, ears, and eyes after his reckless fight with Salazar the Crow. Xyenn had been clutching Gorran’s arm, his voice trembling as he begged, “Please… train me. I can’t keep screwing up like this. I don’t want to keep risking everything like an idiot just to win.” That moment flashed in Gorran’s mind like a burning brand, and he shook it off quickly, returning to the present.
Suddenly, the heavy sound of boots on stone echoed through the room. Klem entered, carrying a large wooden crate with ease. The steel inside clinked faintly with each step, and the faint glow of runes could be seen peeking out from the edges. Klem set the crate down with a thud and grinned, wiping his hands. “Alright! I’m here now! Training has just begun! Gridd just finished forging these for you. FOR US.”
The group gathered around as Klem opened the crate, revealing an assortment of weapons. There were swords, hammers, axes, and other blunt and bladed weapons, all gleaming with pristine steel. Each weapon was inscribed with glowing white runes that pulsed faintly with light.
Klem gestured toward the weapons. “Gridd used Aethuis crystals to forge these. They’re infused with Lancelot’s light—y’know, the same stuff clerics use to purify potions and elixirs. But Gridd found a way to embed the crystals directly into the steel, so these weapons can cause wounds that heal after a few minutes. Means you can go all out without worrying about killin’ each other.”
Mertha raised an eyebrow. “Aethuis crystals, huh? Fancy stuff. What’d Gridd do, cook them in a stew or something?”
Klem scratched his head, clearly trying to recall the process. “Uh… well, he said somethin’ about heatin’ the steel to a specific temperature, then using his overpowered super cool hammer to liquefy the crystals so they’d bond with the metal. Or… wait, no, maybe it was the other way around—” He paused, frowning as he struggled to piece it together.
Xyenn yawned loudly, leaning on Gorran. “Is this story gonna take much longer? I might die of boredom.”
Mertha snorted. “Ughhhhhh.”
Klem glared at them but pressed on. “Oh! Got it! Anyway! The runes allow you to channel your own mana into the weapon. The light energy reacts with your mana type, so it enhances your attacks without losing the healing effect. It’s revolutionary!” He grinned, clearly proud. “Though, I’ll admit, Faera and Vektor are probably gonna chew me out for this. They’re real sticklers about Lancelot’s light and how it’s supposed to be used.” He shrugged. “But fuck it. We can’t win if we don’t evolve.”
‘And Faera is scared of change out of all the Clerics.’
Mertha’s grin widened. “Alright then. Let’s put these fancy weapons to the test. How about me and Gorran versus you and Xyenn?”
Klem’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “Been waitin’ for this, Mertha. I’ve been itching to fight you more than anyone here. You’ve got the same lust for battle I do.”
Mertha laughed. “Damn right I do, pussy cat.”
Klem’s tail flicked as he grabbed his axes. “That’s lion, thank you very much!”
In the far corner of the training room, the two teams stood facing each other. Xyenn hefted a large steel greatsword inscribed with glowing white runes that spiraled along the blade like vines.
He inspected it, thinking, ‘It looks cool. That’s the only reason why I chose it. And my Dark Sun blade is almost this size. It’s weighty, but not too heavy. I kinda have super strength after all. This is probably the most intense training session I’ve had with Mertha. I remember my first session with her, and we beat the shit out of each other in Vördrheim. Anyway, Mertha and Gorran have trained, so they would be stronger than before. So I know this won’t be a walk in the park.’
Mertha held a massive hammer, its runes carved in jagged, lightning-like patterns. Gorran wielded two steel swords with elegant, spiraling runes, while Klem gripped three steel axes—one in each hand and another wrapped tightly around his tail, the runes on them glowing faintly.
As Klem explained how to channel mana through the runes, Xyenn conjured dark sun flames—black, dark yellow, and tinged with streaks of dark pink. The flames danced along his blade like living shadows. Mertha’s hammer ignited with dark pink and black flames, while Gorran’s swords were engulfed in spiraling black flames with flecks of red and faint dark pink.
Clerics gathered around, whispering among themselves.
“Do you think they’ll destroy the room?”
“Mertha’s hammer alone could crack the walls.”
“Klem’s insane for letting them use those weapons.”
Klem raised his hand. “Ready—”
Mertha cut him off with a roar. “Go!”
The room erupted into chaos as the two teams dashed toward each other. Xyenn clashed with Gorran, the impact of their blades sending shockwaves through the air. Mertha, laughing wildly, swung her hammer at Klem, who blocked with his axes, sparks flying as their weapons collided.
The room became a maelstrom of chaos as the battle erupted in a flurry of movement and steel. Klem launched himself forward with a powerful dash, leaving streaks of white flames in his wake, the glowing heat carving through the air like a comet. His twin axes blurred as he spun low to the ground, aiming for Mertha’s legs with a sweeping slash. Mertha barely twisted her body in time, leaping backward with enough force to crack the ground beneath her boots.
“Nice try, pussy cat!” Mertha barked, her voice loud and alive with exhilaration. She brought her hammer down in a two-handed vertical swing, the massive weapon cutting through the air with a whistling roar. Klem lunged to the side, the head of the hammer smashing into the stone floor with an ear-splitting crash, sending fiery shards of debris flying in every direction.
‘For such a big muscular woman, she’s fast!’ Klem thought with an amused smile.
Klem used the momentum of his dodge to twist mid-air, his tail whipping one of his axes in a brutal arc toward Mertha’s exposed side. The axe screamed through the air, leaving a trail of white flames in its wake, but Mertha reacted with near-inhuman reflexes. She swung the shaft of her hammer to intercept, the two weapons colliding with a thunderous clang. Sparks erupted between them, and the sheer force of the impact sent both fighters skidding back across the cracked floor.
Mertha grinned, blood dripping from a fresh cut on her cheek. “Not bad, lion boy. But you’re gonna have to hit harder than that!”
Klem’s golden eyes burned as he crouched low, digging his claws into the ground. “And you need to move faster, haha!” He growled, his voice deep and menacing. His muscles coiled like springs, and in an instant, he launched himself forward, his axes spinning in his hands like twin buzzsaws. He knew she was already fast, but he mocked her so she could go faster. He was definitely enjoying this.
Mertha stepped into his dash instead of retreating, her grin widening as she ducked low beneath his spinning blades. She drove the butt of her hammer into his gut with a brutal upward jab, the impact causing Klem to grunt as blood sprayed from his mouth. Undeterred, Klem grabbed the shaft of her hammer with one hand, his claws digging into the steel, and brought one of his axes slashing upward with his other hand.
Mertha twisted her body, narrowly avoiding the blade as it grazed her shoulder, leaving a shallow but bloody gash. She laughed, the sound echoing through the room like a war cry, and used her free hand to punch Klem square in the jaw. The force of the blow sent him staggering, but his tail lashed out in retaliation, the axe attached to it slicing toward her midsection.
Mertha caught the tail-axe with the head of her hammer, twisting the weapon to lock the blade in place. “You fight dirty. I like it,” she said, grinning through blood-streaked teeth.
Klem smirked, his eyes narrowing. “You haven’t seen dirty yet, muscle woman!”
With a burst of strength, Klem yanked his tail back, freeing the axe and forcing Mertha to stumble slightly. He followed up with a rapid series of attacks, his axes striking from every angle in a blistering flurry of white flame and steel. Each slash was precise, deadly, and relentless, forcing Mertha onto the defensive. She spun her hammer in tight arcs, deflecting the blows with sparks and the sound of metal screaming against metal.
‘Oooooh, I can see why he was Sugred’s Siren. He’s definitely got the skill and control for a Battle Mage.’
Klem suddenly feinted a high slash with his right axe, and when Mertha raised her hammer to block, he dropped low and drove his left axe upward into her ribs. The blade bit deep, slicing through flesh and muscle, and Mertha let out a grunt of pain as blood sprayed from the wound.
Instead of backing off, Mertha grinned wider. “That all you got?” she growled, grabbing Klem by the arm before he could retreat. With a roar, she twisted her body, slamming him into the ground with bone-shaking force. The stone floor cracked beneath his weight, but Klem rolled with the impact, using the momentum to kick Mertha’s legs out from under her.
Mertha crashed to the ground, but she was already moving, swinging her hammer in a brutal horizontal arc from her prone position. Klem leapt over the swing, his tail slashing downward with its axe like a guillotine. Mertha rolled to the side, the axe embedding itself into the floor where her head had been moments before.
Before Klem could pull his tail-axe free, Mertha was on her feet, blood dripping from her side but her grin unbroken. “You’re good, lion boy,” she said, hefting her hammer onto her shoulder. “But I’m better!” She launched a devastating punch, which bashed Klem in the face, and sent Klem slamming against the wall.
Meanwhile, across the room, Xyenn and Gorran’s duel was just as vicious. Xyenn darted forward, his greatsword igniting with black, dark yellow and pink flames that spiraled along the blade like living shadows. He swung the weapon in a wide, horizontal slash, the flames trailing behind the blade in a crescent-shaped wave of destruction.
Gorran met the attack head-on, his twin swords flashing as he parried the strike with a cross-block. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, and both fighters were pushed back slightly.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“You’ve improved,” Gorran admitted, his voice calm and steady. “But you’re still too reckless. Don’t hail mary shit, you knew I was gonna block it, but you did it anyway. Make each strike mean something.”
Xyenn smirked, blood dripping from a cut above his eye. “Reckless?! I beat Nacht and his assassins!” He feinted another horizontal slash, but at the last second, he twisted his wrist and brought the greatsword down in a vertical strike aimed at Gorran’s shoulder.
Gorran sidestepped, the blade narrowly missing him, and countered with a quick slash from his left sword. Xyenn leaned back just in time, the blade grazing his chest and leaving a shallow, bloody gash.
Gorran said, “Are you getting cocky?”
Xyenn stuttered, “N-No!”
‘I was. That’s my bad. It’s hard to not be proud of myself for it, but it’s slowly blaming me think I’m super awesome. Wait, is that even a bad thing? But he was right about one thing: I have to make each attack count, each strike should have meaning, each one should be treated as a final killing blow!’
He planted his foot and spun, using the momentum to bring his sword around in a reverse grip. The blade slashed toward Gorran’s midsection, but Gorran blocked it easily with one sword while driving the other toward Xyenn’s throat.
Xyenn ducked under the thrust and twisted his body, slamming the hilt of his greatsword into Gorran’s ribs. The impact made Gorran grunt, but he didn’t falter. Instead, he brought his knee up, driving it into Xyenn’s stomach and forcing the younger fighter to stumble back.
“You need to make more blows connect than the blows that are thrown.” Gorran said. “You forget I’m a more experienced swordsman.”
Xyenn coughed, blood dripping from his mouth, but he grinned nonetheless. “You hit like a brick wall,” he said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “But I’m not done yet.”
‘Make more blows connect, it needs to outweigh the attacks that are released! Man if I was using my Dark Sun blade and going all out, I would win—.’
Gorran said, “I bet you’re thinking if you were using your Dark Sun Blade along with its abilities, or you being merged with Yuuna, you would beat me easily. And though it’s true that none of us would stand a chance against you when you use your power, it can't be relied on all the time, fool. Imagine a dragon god or goddess who cancels out your magic or even creates a domain where you can’t even use them. What then?”
Xyenn gritted his teeth, thinking, ‘I hate that he’s right! I don’t think about situations that could happen. Draconic deities are unpredictable, and with Gorran being older than me, it’s best to listen.’
He charged again, this time feinting a high slash before pivoting and bringing the blade around in a low sweep aimed at Gorran’s legs. Gorran jumped over the strike, his swords flashing as he brought them down in a scissor-like motion aimed at Xyenn’s back.
Xyenn twisted mid-swing, using the flat of his blade to deflect one of Gorran’s swords while narrowly dodging the other. The maneuver left him off-balance, but he used the momentum to roll forward, coming up in a crouch and slashing upward with his greatsword.
Gorran leaned back, the blade missing him by inches, and countered with a quick thrust. Xyenn twisted his body to avoid the strike, but the blade grazed his side, leaving a line of blood in its wake.
‘In swordsmanship, Gorran has me beat! I can’t land a crucial hit!’
But he didn’t stop. He couldn’t stop.
The battle raged on, each clash of steel more brutal and precise than the last, the white flames from Klem’s dashes and the dark spiraling energies from Gorran’s blades painting the battlefield in a storm of light and shadow.
The clash of steel and the roar of flames filled the training room as the fighters blurred into motion once again, their strikes relentless and ferocious. The air was thick with the heat of mana and the scent of blood, each fighter adapting to the chaos around them. It was no longer one team against another—it was a deadly dance of switching opponents, brutal counters, and unpredictable strategies.
Mertha and Gorran stood shoulder to shoulder as Klem dashed toward them with streaks of white flames trailing behind him, his axes spinning like bladed whirlwinds. Xyenn trailed close behind, his greatsword igniting once more as dark sun flames spiraled along the blade, flickering with deadly intent.
Mertha moved first. With a battle cry, she launched herself forward, her hammer spinning in a wide arc that aimed to crush anything in its path. Klem didn’t stop—he dashed low under the swing, his body twisting mid-slide as his tail snapped like a whip, the axe at the end slashing vertically toward Mertha’s exposed ribs.
“Not this time!” Mertha thought, pivoting on her heel and slamming the butt of her hammer down, intercepting the tail-axe in a screech of sparks. The force of her block caused Klem to spin, and she took the opportunity to drive the head of her hammer in a brutal upward swing aimed at his chin.
But Klem was faster. He planted one hand on the ground and vaulted over her attack, landing behind her with a feral grin. “Too slow, oaf!” he snarled, both axes in his hands slashing horizontally toward her back.
Before the blades could connect, Gorran appeared like a shadow, his twin swords crashing into Klem’s axes with enough force to send white flames streaking out in all directions. “Watch your back, Mertha,” Gorran muttered, his tone calm but sharp. “Let’s switch for now.”
“You nerd, I had it!” Mertha barked, spinning around to swing her hammer at Klem again, but Klem leapt backward, his white flames scorching the ground as he dashed toward Mertha.
As Gorran stood, Xyenn dashed past him, his greatsword aimed at Mertha in a wild, flaming arc. Mertha turned just in time to block the strike with her hammer, the impact sending a shockwave through the air.
“Switching it up, huh?” Mertha said with a grin, pushing Xyenn back with sheer brute force.
“Just keeping things interesting,” Xyenn replied, flipping backward to create some distance.
Klem, now facing off against Gorran, wasted no time. He dashed forward with streaks of white flames trailing behind him, his axes spinning in intricate patterns as he closed the gap. Gorran met him head-on, his twin swords flashing as they intercepted the axes in a flurry of sparks.
“You’re fast,” Gorran admitted, his voice calm. “But speed alone won’t win this.”
Klem grinned, his tail-axe lashing out toward Gorran’s legs. Gorran jumped to avoid the strike, but Klem used the opportunity to leap upward, both axes coming down in a brutal overhead slash.
Gorran crossed his swords above his head to block the strike, the force of the impact sending a sharp jolt through his arms. “He’s stronger than he looks,” Gorran said to himself, gritting his teeth as he pushed back against Klem’s weight.
Klem suddenly twisted his body, using the momentum to spin and drive his tail-axe toward Gorran’s side. Gorran reacted instantly, dropping one sword to deflect the tail-axe while using the other to slash upward toward Klem’s chest.
Klem jumped back, the blade grazing his armor and drawing a thin line of blood. “Not bad, big guy,” he said, landing in a crouch.
Gorran didn’t respond. Instead, he dashed forward, his remaining sword flashing in a series of rapid, precise strikes. Klem parried each one with his axes, the sound of metal clashing against metal echoing throughout the room.
Meanwhile, Xyenn and Mertha were locked in a brutal exchange of blows. Xyenn’s greatsword moved like a blur, his dark sun flames swirling around him as he pressed forward with a series of wild, unpredictable strikes.
‘Keep her guessing, my attacks need to land, each one needs to be critical… !’
Mertha laughed as she deflected each attack with her hammer, her movements heavy but deliberate. “You’re getting better, brat!” she shouted, blood dripping from a cut on her forehead.
“Thanks, Big Mertha,” Xyenn replied with a grin, his sword igniting with even brighter flames. “But I’m not done yet!”
He suddenly feinted a high slash before twisting his body and driving the pommel of his sword toward her gut. Mertha blocked the attack with the shaft of her hammer, but Xyenn used the momentum to spin and slash upward toward her shoulder.
The blade bit into her flesh, drawing blood, but Mertha didn’t falter. Instead, she swung her hammer in a brutal horizontal arc, the head of the weapon crashing into Xyenn’s side and sending him flying across the room.
Xyenn coughed as he hit the ground, blood dripping from his mouth. “Damn… she hits like a truck,” he thought, pushing himself to his feet.
Mertha charged towards him, and attacked again, but Xyenn flipped over her, and pretended to swing at her with his blade, but Mertha grinned, “Predictable-!”
Xyenn dropped his blade, and kicked it towards her in mid air, and Mertha ducked it, but Xyenn dropped to the floor, spun, and kicked Mertha in the face, sending her flying and bashing into the wall.
‘Got her!’
The fighters continued to switch opponents, their movements blending into a chaotic montage of strikes, dodges, and counters. Each clash was more brutal and stylish than the last, the floor stained with blood and flames as the battle raged on.
And Xyenn ended up facing Gorran again.
“Round two?” Gorran said.
“Last round, bitch.”
“Calling your trainer a bitch? I won’t go easy, you fraud.”
“Don’t ever go easy.”
The room was a battlefield of chaos and fire, the air thick with the metallic tang of blood and the overwhelming heat of mana-infused flames. Xyenn stood across from Gorran, his chest heaving, blood trickling from a cut above his brow, the dark sun flames on his greatsword flickering like malevolent shadows. Gorran, as composed as ever, stood tall, his twin swords still burning with black flames and spiraling red energy.
"You swing too much and land too little," Gorran said, his voice calm but cutting. "You're wasting energy. Every attack needs purpose, boy."
Xyenn gritted his teeth, his dark yellow and pink flames flaring brighter. "Yeah, yeah. I get it," he muttered, his grip tightening on the hilt of his greatsword.
‘HE KEEPS REPEATING THE SAME THING!’ Xenn roared in his mind.
Gorran said, “You’re probably annoyed that I keep repeating the same thing. I don’t care honestly—.”
“—HUH?! ARE YOU READING MY MIND?!”
“That’s weird. I don’t read minds. Take this seriously, I’m making you a god of death right now.”
“You’re insane.”
Xyenn dashed forward, flames trailing behind him like a burning comet. His greatsword roared to life as he swung it in a wide horizontal arc, the sheer force of the strike kicking up debris and sending it flying toward Gorran. Gorran stepped in, his twin swords spinning in tight, controlled circles as he deflected the incoming blade with a ringing *clang*. But Xyenn didn’t stop this time—he flowed into his next move with startling fluidity.
Pivoting on his heel, Xyenn turned the momentum from his swing into a spinning kick aimed at Gorran’s side. The blow connected with a heavy thud, forcing Gorran to slide back a few feet.
“Finally,” Gorran muttered, his tone almost amused.
Xyenn didn’t give him time to recover. He followed up with a downward slash, his greatsword splitting the air with a fiery hiss. Gorran moved to block, but Xyenn twisted his grip mid-swing, redirecting the blade at the last second to slice toward Gorran’s thigh. The edge grazed Gorran’s armor, drawing a thin line of blood.
“Good,” Gorran said, his voice steady even as blood dripped from the cut. “But you’re still leaving openings.”
Before Xyenn could respond, Gorran surged forward, his twin swords moving in a blur of black and red. Xyenn barely managed to block the first strike, his greatsword shuddering under the impact, but the second blade whipped around in a tight arc, slashing toward his ribs. Xyenn twisted his body, letting the blade graze him instead of cutting deep, and countered with a quick upward thrust.
The point of his greatsword drove toward Gorran’s chest, but Gorran tilted his body at the last second, the blade skimming past his armor. Xyenn growled in frustration, but his mind was already racing. “He’s too fast—if I don’t keep moving, he’s gonna keep reading me,” he thought, his eyes narrowing.
Xyenn suddenly spun on the balls of his feet, bringing his sword around in a wide arc before dropping low to the ground. He planted one hand on the floor and used it as a pivot, spinning his entire body in a low, sweeping motion. His blade lashed out like a deadly windmill, forcing Gorran to leap backward to avoid the strike.
Gorran raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "You're learning," he said, his voice calm but with a flicker of approval.
“Damn right I am!” Xyenn shouted, pushing off the ground and launching himself toward the wall. He hit it running, his boots kicking up sparks as he sprinted along the vertical surface. Flames erupted from his greatsword as he kicked off the wall, spinning mid-air and bringing the blade down in a fiery, diagonal slash.
Gorran crossed his twin swords above his head to block the strike, the impact sending a shockwave rippling outward. But Xyenn wasn’t done. He twisted mid-swing, using the recoil from the block to spin and drive his knee into Gorran’s chest. The blow connected, forcing Gorran to stumble back.
Xyenn landed in a crouch, his greatsword already spinning as he threw it toward Gorran like a massive, flaming spear. The blade cut through the air with a roar, forcing Gorran to sidestep as it embedded itself into the ground behind him.
Xyenn didn’t hesitate. He dashed forward, his fists igniting with dark yellow flames as he threw a series of rapid punches at Gorran. Gorran deflected the blows with his swords, but Xyenn used the rhythmic exchange to close the distance. He ducked low, twisting his body into a sweeping kick that knocked Gorran off balance.
Before Gorran could recover, Xyenn leapt toward his greatsword, grabbing the hilt and twisting his body around it. He used the embedded blade as an anchor, spinning around it to deliver a powerful kick to Gorran’s jaw. The impact sent Gorran staggering, but he quickly regained his footing, his eyes narrowing.
“Not bad,” Gorran said, blood dripping from his lip. “Byt mix it up more. You’re becoming predictable again. You may have been able to defeat Nacht, but I will be honest with you. Going all out, the rest of the Tyrants could’ve beat him. He was the weakest Dragon god. Victory won’t come so easily in the future. You know this don’t you?”
“Tch! I do!”
‘But I’m still happy about my victory nonetheless. I know I still need more experience fighting stronger Dragon Gods, and I don’t plan on running from them.’
Xyenn suddenly dropped to all fours, gripping the hilt of his greatsword with his teeth. The massive weapon seemed unwieldy at first, but Xyenn’s movements became animalistic, his body low to the ground as he darted toward Gorran.
Gorran’s eyes widened slightly. “He’s mimicking that damned Lysfødt’s crystal beasts…from Gabriel’s Ladder…” he thought, a flicker of amusement crossing his face. “Interesting.”
Xyenn lunged forward, his movements erratic and unpredictable. He twisted his body, using the weight of the sword in his mouth to swing it in a deadly arc. Gorran blocked the attack, but the force of it forced him to retreat a step.
Taking advantage of the opening, Xyenn sprang upward, flipping over Gorran’s head and grabbing the hilt of his sword with one hand. He twisted mid-air, bringing the blade down in a vertical slash that forced Gorran to raise both swords to block.
The impact sent sparks flying, but Xyenn didn’t stop. He landed behind Gorran and immediately spun, his blade trailing flames as he slashed toward Gorran’s back. Gorran turned just in time, his swords flashing as they intercepted the strike.
“You’re faster,” Gorran admitted, his voice steady. “But can you keep it up?”
Xyenn grinned, blood dripping from his mouth. “Watch me.”
He surged forward, his movements a blur as he unleashed a flurry of strikes. His greatsword moved like an extension of his body, each swing flowing seamlessly into the next. He mixed in kicks and punches, his flames burning brighter with each attack.
Gorran countered with equal ferocity, his twin swords moving in intricate, spiraling patterns as they deflected and redirected Xyenn’s strikes. The two fighters moved faster and faster, their blades clashing in a blinding storm of steel and fire.
Xyenn feinted a high slash, then twisted his body into a spinning kick that connected with Gorran’s ribs. As Gorran stumbled, Xyenn followed up with a horizontal slash that forced Gorran to block. But instead of retreating, Xyenn drove his shoulder into Gorran’s chest, knocking him off balance.
Gorran spoke, his red-spiraling eyes gleaming. "You’re finally thinking ahead," he said, his voice tinged with approval.
Xyenn grinned, his flames flaring brighter.
‘It feels awesome for him to approve of what I’m doing. Knowing how he is, it’s like a big achievement. Thank you for training me, Gorran and Mertha.’
The two fighters clashed again, their movements faster and more precise than ever. Each strike was brutal, calculated, and relentless, the room echoing with the sound of steel and the roar of flames. Xyenn’s improvement was undeniable, his attacks landing with increasing accuracy and force.
Then, Klem and Mertha collided again, and the impact made them stagger back.
The moment the weapons clattered to the ground, the training room transformed into something far more primal. Klem and Mertha locked eyes, their grins wild and feral. White flames still flickered around Klem’s mane, and blood dripped from the gash on Mertha’s ribs, but neither seemed to care. They were lost in the thrill of battle, their breaths heavy but their energy undiminished.
“Finally,” Mertha said, rolling her shoulders and cracking her knuckles. “I was wondering when we’d get to the real fun.”
Klem chuckled, baring his sharp teeth. “You talk a lot for someone who’s about to get her ass handed to her.!”
“Oh, you’re cute,” Mertha replied, taking a stance, her fists raised. “Let’s see if those claws of yours are good for anything other than scratching walls when you have a fit!”
With a roar, Klem dashed forward, streaks of white flames trailing behind him as he closed the distance in an instant. His fist shot out in a blur, aiming for Mertha’s jaw, but she ducked low, pivoting on her heel to drive her own fist into his ribs. The impact sent a ripple through his body, but Klem only laughed, twisting his torso to deliver a brutal elbow to Mertha’s temple.
The blow connected with a sharp crack, and Mertha staggered back, blood trickling down the side of her face. But instead of retreating, she laughed even harder, wiping the blood away with the back of her hand. “Not bad, pussy cat. But I hope you’ve got more than that, or this is gonna be a short fight!”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got plenty more!” Klem growled, lunging at her again.
The room echoed with the sound of fists colliding with flesh and bone as the two fighters exchanged brutal strikes in rapid succession. Mertha ducked under a wide hook from Klem and countered with a devastating uppercut that snapped his head back. Klem retaliated immediately, grabbing her wrist and yanking her forward as he drove his knee into her stomach.
Mertha coughed, blood spraying from her mouth, but she used the momentum to headbutt Klem square in the nose. The sickening crunch of cartilage breaking filled the air, and Klem’s head snapped back, blood pouring from his nose.
“Damn, woman,” Klem said, his grin widening even as blood dripped down his face. “You hit like a beast.”
Mertha grinned back, her teeth stained red. “You’re not so bad yourself, lion boy.”
As they continued pounding into each other, their punches grew heavier, their movements more reckless. Each strike left bruises, cuts, and splatters of blood on the floor, but neither of them slowed down. If anything, the pain seemed to fuel them.
Xyenn and Gorran stood a few feet away, their weapons still in hand, but neither moved to intervene. They simply watched, their expressions a mix of shock and amusement.
“Are they serious right now?” Xyenn asked, his brow furrowed as he watched Mertha land a brutal haymaker that sent Klem stumbling.
Gorran crossed his arms, shaking his head. “I… I don’t even know what to say. This is insane. We were supposed to be using our weapons. Guess that wraps this up.”
“They’re insane,” Xyenn corrected, wincing as Klem retaliated with a spinning backfist that sent Mertha crashing to the ground.
Mertha immediately rolled to her feet, laughing as she spit out a tooth. “Not bad. Not bad at all.”
By now, the commotion had drawn the attention of everyone in the training room. Illyana, Yuuna, Quinara, Kivorn, and several of the clerics stood at the edge of the room, watching the fight unfold with varying degrees of disbelief.
Yuuna clung to Illyana’s back, her eyes wide with excitement. “They’re like two wild animals! This is awesome!”
Illyana sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “They’re going to kill each other before we even get to the Sanctuary.”
Quinara leaned against the wall, smirking. “Honestly? I think this might be the scariest thing I’ve ever seen. And ive seen some SCARY stuff.”
Kivorn replied, “I mean, they’re definitely committed. But this feels… excessive.”
“Are you surprised?”
“Not really. Mertha is the kind of woman to do this out of nowhere. Even if it’s a stranger.”
One of the clerics whispered to another, “Are they just… punching each other now?”
“Yeah,” the other replied. “And they’re laughing about it. It’s kind of terrifying.”
“Definitely not cleric style, Klem is way too different.”
Ten minutes later, the fight was still raging. Klem and Mertha were both covered in blood, bruises, and cuts, but neither showed any signs of stopping. Klem’s mane was disheveled, white flames flickering weakly as he ducked under one of Mertha’s wild swings and countered with a brutal uppercut that lifted her off her feet.
Mertha landed hard on her back but immediately rolled to her knees, laughing as she wiped blood from her mouth. “You’re a tough bastard, I’ll give you that,” she said, pushing herself to her feet.
“You too, oaf,” Klem replied, cracking his knuckles.
The rest of the group, however, had grown visibly bored. Xyenn and Gorran were lying on the floor, their weapons discarded beside them as they dozed off in the middle of the chaos. Yuuna was sprawled across Illyana’s lap, playing with her hair as Illyana sat cross-legged, watching the fight with a tired expression. Quinara and Kivorn were sitting against the wall, chatting idly while occasionally glancing at the brawl.
One of the clerics yawned. “Are they still going?”
“Yep,” another replied, lying flat on the floor. “I think they might actually fight forever.”
Finally, Illyana stood up, brushing Yuuna off her lap as she walked toward the two fighters. “Alright, I think that’s enough,” she said, her voice calm but firm.
Mertha and Klem froze mid-punch, their fists inches from each other’s faces. They turned to Illyana in unison, pouting like scolded children.
“Aw, come on!” Mertha whined, lowering her fist. “We were just getting to the good part!”
“Yeah, this is unfair!” Klem added, his tail flicking in annoyance.
Illyana placed her hands on her hips, raising an eyebrow. “You two are covered in blood, bruises, and I’m pretty sure you’ve both broken at least three ribs. We’ve got a raid on the Sanctuary coming up. You can’t exactly fight if you’re half-dead before we even get there.”
Mertha and Klem exchanged a glance before sighing in unison. “Fine,” they muttered, clearly disappointed.
As the two fighters reluctantly stepped away from each other, the rest of the group let out a collective sigh of relief.
And everyone said, “Finally..”