Justus stared up as Daemon raised a fist the size of a boulder.
“I warned you,” Daemon said grimly.
Justus slowly drew his steel sword, the metal humming softly in the tense air.
“I know.”
The wind suddenly cut out completely.
Ragnar leaned back against a ruined pillar, a cruel smirk playing on his face.
Everything went dead quiet.
Daemon stood in the center of the square like an immovable iron mountain.
His muscles had dense metallic sheens reflecting the firelight, covering him entirely from head to toe.
“Last chance,” Daemon growled, raising his fist higher.
“Already made my choice,” Justus replied, dropping into a low stance.
Daemon let out a heavy sigh.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
BOOM!
In a split second, Daemon vanished.
He reappeared directly in front of Justus, his iron fist driving forward like a battering ram.
Justus barely managed to bring his sword guard up in time to block.
CRASH!
The sheer kinetic impact shattered the stone beneath Justus’ feet and launched him through the air.
He crashed through a wooden house, rolling heavily through debris before slamming into the far wall.
“Damn it…” Justus coughed, struggling to stand beneath the rubble.
“My ears are ringing…
That speed doesn’t make sense for a guy his size.”
Daemon walked through the destroyed doorway, completely unfazed.
“You’re still standing.”
Justus wiped a smudge of blood from his lip, his crimson eyes gleaming dark.
“So are you.”
Daemon charged again, throwing a devastating punch straight for Justus’ head.
Justus ducked low, swiveling his hips, and delivered a full-force slash straight across Daemon’s exposed midsection!
CLANG!
Sparks flew, but the sword bounced off uselessly.
What?!
Justus’ eyes widened in shock.
Nothing?!
Not even a scratch?!
Leaping into the air before Daemon could counter, Justus drove his knee straight into Daemon’s jaw, forcing the iron giant back a step.
“Come on,” Daemon grunted, barely affected by the knee strike.
“You’re gonna need more than that to break through me.”
Daemon vanished again, appearing instantly at Justus’ side.
He grabbed Justus by his shirt collar and hurled him across the square.
Justus hit the stone floor hard, skipping like a stone and leaving a shallow crater in the dirt.
Ragnar threw his head back and laughed.
“This is the boy everyone’s talking about?
Pathetic!”
Daemon walked slowly toward the crater.
“I warned you not to interfere, but you wouldn’t listen.”
Justus slowly pushed himself up from the dirt.
His breathing was heavy, his arms were bruised, and his grip on his sword trembled slightly.
He looked past Daemon toward the terrified villagers hiding in the alleyways.
A little girl was crying behind her mother; an old man was bleeding from his head, staring at him with hopeless eyes.
“Don’t get me wrong,” Justus muttered, his voice raspy.
“I’m not trying to play the hero here or anything.”
Ragnar scoffed from the sidelines.
“Then why keep fighting, brat?”
Justus looked up, a wild, sharp smirk breaking across his bloodied face.
“I just know that if a loser like you beats me today…
I’ll never be able to look that old geezer on Dragon Island in the eye again.”
“Daemon!” Ragnar roared angrily.
“Finish this brat right now, or I’ll incinerate both of you!”
“Time to end this,” Daemon said, bursting into a forward sprint.
Justus’ expression went completely cold.
“Couldn’t agree more.”
Setting his feet, Justus reached deep into his core and violently unleashed his spiritual energy.
FLARE!
A massive aura of pure, blinding energy erupted around Justus, sending a shockwave rippling across the entire square.
Both Ragnar and Daemon froze in sheer disbelief.
“What is this…?” Daemon gasped, shielding his face.
“His spiritual energy…” Ragnar stammered, his smirk instantly melting away.
“It’s enormous!”
Justus channeled the wild flood of energy, compressing it entirely into the fine edge of his steel blade.
As Daemon reached striking distance, launching a heavy iron fist, Justus twisted his body with razor-sharp precision.
Daemon’s fist grazed harmlessly past his cheek.
Justus swung.
SLASH!
The blade, now reinforced with concentrated spiritual energy, cut clean through Daemon’s iron skin, leaving a deep, bloody gash across his collarbone and chest!
Before Daemon could comprehend the pain, Justus spun on his heel, reinforced his leg with spiritual energy, and delivered a devastating kick straight to Daemon’s jaw!
BANG!
The iron giant was lifted off his feet, flipping backwards before crashing face-first onto the cobblestones, completely unconscious.
Ragnar stood frozen, holding his face in utter disbelief.
This brat…
actually beat Daemon?
THAT Daemon?!
Justus turned slowly, pointing his blood-dripping sword straight at Ragnar’s throat.
“Hey, jackass.
I’m gonna kick your ass now.”
Ragnar’s face flushed red with pure rage.
“You little piece of—”
“Actually, hold on,” Justus interrupted, turning to the trembling villagers.
“Hey.
Pick Daemon up and tend to his wounds.
Take him to my ship down at the harbor.”
The villagers stared at him in utter shock.
They hesitated for a second, but seeing Justus’ absolute authority, they rushed forward, lifting Daemon’s heavy body and carrying him away from the battlefield.
Ragnar laughed hysterically.
“What do you expect to accomplish by saving my subordinate, boy?!”
Justus began walking toward Ragnar with slow, deliberate steps.
“I think you should be worrying a lot more about yourself right now.
Don’t you think?”
Ragnar covered his face with his hand, his teeth grinding in fury.
“Of all the arrogant bastards I’ve ever met…
You’re the one I want to kill the most.”
A manic grin split his face as magma flared wildly around his arms.
“Oh, I’m gonna enjoy melting you to ash!”