The commander unsheathed his sword in one swift motion, his gaze burning with a threatening intensity. It was clear—this man wasn’t the type to joke around.

“You’ll regret mocking me, impostor!” he growled, his voice deep and thunderous.

Without warning, he raised his blade, and a brilliant light burst from it, spreading at an almost incomprehensible speed. But my heightened reflexes kicked in just in time, allowing me to dodge the strike with precision.

“Not bad,” the commander admitted, his voice tinged with a hint of admiration. “But don’t fool yourself—you won’t evade me forever!”

He followed up with a flurry of attacks, unleashing beams of light that sliced through the air with a sharp, whistling sound. Each strike was so precise and relentless that it pushed my reflexes to their absolute limit as I struggled to block and counter them.

Quickly analyzing the data from my interface, I realized just how outclassed I was. My opponent was a Level 80 veteran, far beyond my current capabilities. His expertise in combat was the foundation of his mastery over light-based weaponry.

Interface:

Name: Heracles Level: 80 Age: 35 Traits: [Light Attacks, Adaptation, Super Strength, Intuition, Extrasensory Awareness, Previsualization] Resistance: [Light]

“[Skill Activated: Lightning Reflex],” I muttered under my breath, feeling a surge of energy course through my body.

My movements became faster, more fluid. I managed to deflect his attacks with increased ease, but the commander wasn’t letting up.

“Impressive, but that won’t be enough!” he roared, channeling his mana into his strikes.

The speed and power of his attacks multiplied, his light beams becoming blindingly fast and devastatingly powerful. Exhaustion crept in as I struggled to maintain my defenses, my reflexes beginning to waver.

“It’s time to end this!” the commander bellowed, his sword radiating a blinding glow.

Realizing he was preparing a devastating blow, I had no choice but to respond with everything I had.

“[Skill Activated: Mana Amplification],” I announced, feeling my life energy surge and intensify.

A shimmering aura enveloped me, and my speed skyrocketed. Gripping the black sword of Valoria, I braced myself for the clash.

Our attacks collided in a deafening explosion, sending shockwaves rippling through the fortress. For a moment, it felt as though time itself had stopped as our blades locked in a deadly dance.

Despite my superluminal speed, the commander adapted to my movements, his [Adaptation] skill allowing him to counter me with unnerving precision.

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The battle grew fiercer, our exchanges shattering walls and cells around us.

Amidst the chaos, I noticed a familiar figure slipping out of a nearby cell—Mira! She was using the distraction to escape. But before she could take more than a few steps, an elite squad of paladins spotted her.

“No, Mira!” I shouted, panic gripping me.

The commander seized my momentary distraction, landing a brutal strike that sent me crashing into the wall.

“You have no chance, you miserable worm!” he sneered triumphantly. “Your friends will pay for your insolence!”

I struggled to my feet, gasping for breath, only to see the paladins capturing Mira. She fought back with all her strength, but she was hopelessly outnumbered.

“Mira!” I screamed, rushing to her aid, but the commander blocked my path.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he taunted, his voice dripping with malice. “Your fight is with me, impostor!”

I clenched my teeth, frustration boiling within me. I had failed to protect Mira, and now her fate was in their hands. But I couldn’t give up—not after coming this far.

“Fine,” I growled, tightening my grip on my sword. “If it’s a fight you want, I’ll give you one to remember!”

I launched myself at the commander, our blades clashing in a storm of sparks. Our movements became a blur, each strike threatening to bring the fortress down around us.

But no matter how hard I fought, the commander’s superior experience and mastery of light-based techniques kept me on the defensive.

Still, I couldn’t back down—not when I had promised to protect Mira. Gathering the last of my strength, I pushed myself harder, matching the commander blow for blow.

Suddenly, I saw an opening. With a swift, decisive strike, I aimed for his flank, catching him off guard. But to my shock, he dodged at the last moment, narrowly avoiding a serious injury.

“Impressive,” he admitted, his eyes gleaming with a mix of admiration and determination. “You’re no ordinary opponent.”

He stepped back, glancing at his glowing sword thoughtfully.

“Unfortunately for you, I can’t afford to let you walk away,” he said gravely. “The Empire doesn’t tolerate traitors. I’ll make sure you’re no longer a threat.”

With that, he readied himself, his weapon glowing with deadly intent. I mirrored his stance, knowing this fight was far from over.

Just as we prepared to clash again, movement caught my eye—Mira! She had somehow broken free from the paladins and was sprinting toward the exit, taking advantage of the commotion.

“Mira, no!” I yelled, fearing she’d be caught again.

The commander noticed her too. He turned and charged after her, his footsteps pounding with fury.

“You won’t escape me!” he thundered.

Amidst the chaos of our relentless duel, we stumbled into a strange chamber. At its center stood a mysterious artifact—a red, metallic arm radiating a menacing aura.

The commander froze at the sight of it, his eyes widening with shock and greed.

“No… it can’t be. The Primal Demon Vein!” he whispered, his voice trembling.

He approached the artifact slowly, almost reverently, running his hand over its surface with a look of awe.

“Yes… With this power, I could become the Supreme Paladin! Nothing could stop me!”

I stared at him, horrified. If Heracles managed to claim the artifact’s power, he would become an even greater threat.

Taking advantage of his distraction, I prepared to strike again. But before I could, the commander spun around, his sword blazing with energy.

“You won’t stop me from claiming this treasure!” he roared, lunging at me with terrifying force.

His glowing eyes seemed to fling me across the room, as if telekinesis itself was his weapon.