|Light and Shadow|

The noise of thunder roars across the sky. The lightning flickers and hits where Lucas is, causing havoc to the surroundings, but he's left unscathed. Instead, it causes the lights in the Red-light district to black out. A heavy downfall along with his anguish turns into a devastating power. After destroying the roof of the brothel, all people in the district can see his light radiating in the darkness from above the sky,

[Lucas: .... BEGONE...]

Lucas cast a powerful magic skill and launches it towards the injured man. A crescent-shaped light magic flew down and tried to eradicate the person behind his anger.

[???: Shadow magic!]

[Lucas: ....]

Someone emerges from shadows and managed to deflect it back to the sky. It was Ethan who used his imbued weapon- Shadow dagger.

[Ethan: What's going on here.... ?!?! I see.. I somewhat understand the current circumstance we got here..]

Ethan looked around and saw Evelyn covered in a cloak, lying on the bed... He turned his gaze upon the man behind him and somehow figured what happened.

[Ethan: Shadow magic- "Obscurity Shadow"]

He uses his magic to get Evelyn and put her into his shadow from afar. It seems like the shadow has its own life by just using his spell. She was slowly being swallowed by it and eventually got inside without a problem. The same goes for the man behind him. He did those precautions to keep no one from getting hurt.

[Ethan: I told you to take some leisure moment, but this is too much, Lucas (We were halfway through the mission and this happened?!).]

That's what he said, glancing at Lucas as he blames himself for overlooking this possibility.

(Earlier, Ethan's point)

[Ethan: .... I shouldn't let him go somewhere else. Now I have to call him back.]

Ethan sighed and wandered around the second floor as he seeks for Lucas. Scratching his head to show his irritation, he suddenly runs up against somebody at the end of the corner. Thus, bumping with each other and the person he collides with fell over.

[Ethan: I apologize for being reckless, my lady.]

He gives that woman a hand who fell to the ground in return but..

[Gianna: ?!?! PLEASE!! HELP THEM!! I'M BEGGING YOU, PLEASSEE!! HELP EVELYN!!!]

Gianna gasped for air after asking Ethan for some aid. She keeps on saying everything she saw at the same time. Therefore, Ethan couldn't understand a single sentence out of her.

[Ethan: First, calm down. Anyone who panics can't think straight, so I need you to keep your sanity intact.]

He told her that while giving her a handkerchief from his pocket.

[Gianna: Evely-]

Before Gianna could finish her sentence. A rumbling sound resonates from above the floor. Ethan felt it. Someone used magic with no permission granted. The only person who appears in his mind was "him". And so, tremors come one after another. Causing the ceiling to crack, creating lines as the time goes by.

[Ethan: The structure looks different from a typical ceiling. Normally, one wouldn't get a rift with just a slight disturbance unless... Don't tell me...]

Ethan looks up, observing the ceiling as he asks Gianna. She told him there's a third floor- a hidden floor only for those prostitutes who don't have a shelter for a living. He then assumed that Lucas was above, which caused some uproars. After confirming that it was truly Lucas who went berserk above the floor using his magic to locate him, he asked her to go to a safe place, and he'd be the one who'd settle it all at once.

Furthermore, he rushed towards the other side of a second floor using his shadow magic, which he buried from one place after another in advance. He extended his right arm forward, pointing out his finger to indicate a new instruction, and ordered Floyd to evacuate people as much as he can inside the brothel.

Heading towards the meeting room, Blade and Charles were waiting for his arrival. Ethan surmised they felt it too. Without any further ado, he opened apace the door before him. The 4 aristocrats were in a deep confusion with what's happening.

[Jayson: What are you doing here?!]

One of the aristocrats shouted at him. Jayson's the one who governs the East district in the kingdom. As of now, He's wearing several expensive garments as he scolds Ethan for his immorality.

[Grady: That's enough, Mr. Jayson.]

Grady terminates Jayson's chides against Ethan, he's the one who has a scar on his forehead and governs the North district area. He turned his gaze to Ethan and promptly asked him the situation they are in.

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[Ethan: I need you to evacuate to the safest place at once.]

Ethan replied to him and told them to flee. This isn't the time for arguing, he added. And so, Ethan instructed the two to escort the 4 aristocrats, including those women cowering at the back. With immediate action, all of them went outside the room and started to leave the brothel.

The room was certainly quiet, until someone below the round table comes apparent. The first person Ethan sees was Javier, and Giovanni comes next after him.

[Ethan: ... I need you two to do something a bit different....]

Ethan didn't waste time and began to order them a separate task.. He uses his magic to guide them, and they quickly split into two groups after telling what they needed to do.

Ethan uses his magic to become one with shadow as he searches around the upper floor. It was a right timing that he found out Lucas's location and managed to appear before them.

(Now)

[Lucas: ....]

[Ethan: Lucas... You.. You don't seem yourself, do you..(He's emitting a warmth magic, but at the same time, I can feel his murderous intent all over the place. This is too peculiar!)]

Now that all people have gone outside the brothel thanks to Ethan's subordinates, he changed his defense into a combat stance. He strenuously grips 2 shadow daggers in both hands as he slightly bends forward. Shifting his right leg ahead to a certain degree while the other one stays still, the gap of his legs becomes broader as he performs his first attack.

[Ethan: I need to stop your rampaging, Shadow magic- "Tele Tenebrosity".]

With the help of his posture, Ethan throws his dagger using his right hand at full speed. The dagger he threw soars towards Lucas's direction, but he managed to evade it...

Ethan's real purpose is to instantly teleport to it using his magic skill. Lucas felt his move and turned back. Nevertheless, Ethan didn't let him have his way and he instantaneously strikes him at his abdomen using his left hand where the dagger is still available, causing Lucas to go down to the third floor vehemently. The destruction upon the place gives rise to those people to be in awe as they see an overwhelming battle in a distant place.

On the other hand, Lucas blocked Ethan's attack at the last second, but the impact made him suffer with considerable damage. Ethan continued to use his magic midair, he threw his dagger(using left hand) to him and teleported subsequently. After landing to the ground, he creates another shadow dagger and points its blade near Lucas's face.

[Ethan: Come back to your senses, Lucas. Otherwise, I have no hesitation in doing what's appropriate, for sure... This time.]

Steadily aiming the tip of the dagger to him, Ethan asked in a chilly manner, but then a cracking sound below his footing begins to show a sign of collapsing. He looked down and noticed the flooring where he's standing is about to crumble.

[Ethan: ?!?!]

Lucas took this slim chance and kicked Ethan's lower leg to make him off balance. Thus, the floor collapses due to the collision which makes him in a tight situation. He tries to cast a magic skill before he lands to the second floor but Lucas didn't let him do so. After kicking Ethan, he uses his blade of lights to strike him down along with the furnitures.

[Ethan: ACKK!!]

Objects keep falling one after another to Ethan who's lying on the ground. Lucas didn't stop attacking him, he advance downward and performs an immense light magic spell. The building shone in the middle of a downpour, thunderous clattering as lightning strikes.

[Ethan: You intend to kill me? My only rival.. I guess I should be serious now.]

Standing above Ethan, Lucas creates a huge sword made of light. Before he could pierce him to a point-blank range, Ethan blends in with his shadow to escape from being stab and went outside.

[Ethan: HUFFF... HUFFF.... When there is light, there is shadow... When there is happiness, there is sorrow.... As long as you're here, I too.. Am going to get stronger!! Shadow magic- "Shadow doppelganger"!!!]

Thanks to Lucas's bright light, Ethan's "own" shadow gets clearer and darker. By using his spell, the shadow came to life and gradually turned into his black doppelganger.

[Shadow: Hey, that's rude of you!!! I was busy watching for those hot mom- I mean, I was researching for eymmh uuhmm... Anyway! Why did you call me so suddenly?!]

[Ethan: Time to pay for your rent{living as his shadow}, you sleazeball.]

In the middle of their argument, A spear of light dashes forward to their location. Keeping them apart from one another. Lucas came at their sight from the second floor where the walls are destroyed as he carries his sword.

[Shadow: Whoahh! That's crazy! I almost died, lol. So? Want my help Ethan?]

[Ethan: TCH! That's the sole purpose I called you here.]

The shadow doppelganger creates a sufficient barrier to sustain the next fight. After doing so, the shadow turned into a Dual Persian blade. Specifically, this sword is Akinaka. A type of dagger or a small sword and usually made from bronze/iron but in this situation... It is made of shadows, yet this isn't a normal dagger he uses in the previous scenes. This weapon can manipulate shadows at will.

*I searched types of swords online (I can't imagine one yet)..

[Ethan: Let's go!]

[Shadow: Aye Aye!]

Using shadow as his footing, he jumps into the air one by one. Making unnecessary movements to ensure he won't fall. Lucas on the other side, began to leap down to face him once and for all.

A battle between Light and Shadow created a massive catastrophe around the place. The effect of a strong gust of wind made by them generated a large amount of external damage.

They exchange hits consecutively as they please. No one can stop them at this point. Should the other side fall, then it's over.

.

.

.

.

After exchanging strikes, the two nearly collapses. Kneeling while pinning their weapons to the ground as a support for them not to lose their balance.

[Lucas: Huff...]

[Ethan: Huufff.. Hufff.. I can't go o-]

[ Don't give up Ethan! If you really want to be by my side then you must bear the risk of having difficulties from now on!]

[Ethan: ?!?!?! To think I would recall something from the past...]

Although he's covered with blood and wounds all over his body, he still has the time to smile after reminiscing a part of his past.

[Ethan: I guess I can't give up now..]

Ethan stands up and made some resolve as he goes with his stance once more. Lucas too, did the same thing and grips his sword tightly, he's showing the aura of "ready to attack at any moment".

This last blow will surely determine who'll be the last man standing. The two concentrated all of their remaining mana at their weapons, enhancing them to its utmost extent. After doing so, they advance towards each other. Meanwhile, Lucas's light beams to the other side of the pathway while Ethan's shadow gets darker. In a split second, a rapid lightning flash intervenes between the two before they could kill each other.

[Ethan: ?!? Princess Vivian!?]

To be continued...