Chapter 12 — The Battle Continues
Morry stood with both swords in his hands.
His breathing was heavier than before. Varen’s attacks had already pushed him to his limit, but he still refused to step away from Rin and Lena.
Varen slowly walked toward him.
"You’re exhausted."
Morry wiped the blood from his forehead.
"I know."
"You can’t keep defending forever."
Morry smiled.
"Then I’ll finish this before I get too tired."
Varen raised his ice weapon.
Morry tightened his grip on both swords.
Varen attacked.
Morry blocked the first strike with his right sword and immediately used his left sword to counter.
Varen moved backward.
Morry followed.
His two-sword style allowed him to attack from different angles, forcing Varen to defend instead of constantly attacking.
Varen suddenly froze the ground beneath Morry.
Morry jumped.
Varen expected him to land in the same place.
But Morry twisted his body in the air and landed behind him.
He immediately attacked.
Varen barely managed to block.
For a moment, Morry had the advantage.
Then Varen increased his Ice Power.
The temperature around them dropped sharply.
Ice formed around Varen’s body like armor.
Morry’s expression became serious.
"You’re getting stronger."
Varen smiled.
"So should you."
Varen attacked again.
This time, Morry struggled to block.
One strike forced him backward.
Another nearly knocked one of his swords from his hand.
Morry stepped back and took a deep breath.
His arms were shaking.
Rin looked worried.
"Morry can’t keep this up."
Lena watched carefully.
"But he’s still standing."
Morry heard them.
He smiled.
"That’s enough."
He raised both swords again.
Meanwhile, Kil Ful and Darian continued their fight.
Darian had covered a large part of the forest floor with ice.
Kil Ful’s speed was still giving him an advantage, but Darian had started predicting his movements.
Kil Ful rushed forward.
Darian created an ice wall.
Kil Ful changed direction instantly.
Darian expected it.
An ice blade appeared from the side.
Kil Ful’s reflexes reacted just in time.
He leaned backward, allowing the blade to pass over him.
He immediately moved forward and struck Darian with an energy-enhanced punch.
Darian blocked with his ice armor.
The impact pushed him backward.
Kil Ful didn’t stop.
He increased his speed and attacked again.
Darian created another barrier.
Kil Ful struck it.
The barrier cracked.
Darian used the opportunity to create several ice spikes behind Kil Ful.
Kil Ful sensed them.
He jumped forward and landed several meters away.
Darian looked at him.
"Your reflexes are impressive."
Kil Ful smiled.
"You’re repeating yourself."
Darian laughed quietly.
"And you’re becoming predictable."
Kil Ful’s expression changed.
He understood what Darian was trying to do.
Darian wasn’t simply defending anymore.
He was studying Kil Ful’s movement.
Kil Ful slowly raised his hands.
"Then I’ll change the way I move."
He suddenly rushed forward.
Instead of attacking directly, he moved around Darian at incredible speed.
Darian turned to follow him.
Kil Ful changed direction again.
For a moment, Darian couldn’t determine where he would attack from.
Kil Ful appeared behind him.
He concentrated his energy into his fist.
Darian turned around just in time.
Their attacks collided.
Both were pushed backward.
Neither had gained a decisive advantage.
On the other side, Ravian and Kaizen were also continuing their battle.
Kaizen created a large amount of ice around himself.
Ravian raised his hand.
His Force Manipulation activated.
The force behind the incoming ice was reduced, causing the attack to lose its momentum.
Ravian then redirected the remaining force away from himself.
Kaizen immediately understood.
"You don’t simply create force."
Ravian smiled.
"I manipulate it."
Kaizen attacked from close range.
Ravian didn’t move.
Instead, he manipulated the force of Kaizen’s attack and pushed it slightly away from his body.
The strike missed.
Ravian countered with a concentrated force attack.
Kaizen blocked with ice.
The two were pushed apart.
Ravian looked at his opponent.
"Your Ice Power is strong."
Kaizen replied,
"And your ability is troublesome."
Ravian smiled.
"I’ll take that as a compliment."
Back with Morry, Varen attacked once again.
Morry blocked.
His right sword began to crack under the pressure.
He looked at it.
"Not good."
Varen attacked again.
Morry crossed both swords.
The impact forced him down onto one knee.
Rin took a step forward.
"Morry!"
Morry looked back.
"Stay there."
His voice was tired, but firm.
Rin stopped.
Morry slowly stood up.
His two swords were still in his hands.
Varen looked at him.
"Why are you still fighting?"
Morry looked toward Rin and Lena.
"Because they’re depending on me."
He turned back toward Varen.
"And I don’t abandon people who depend on me."
Varen remained silent for a moment.
Then he raised his weapon again.
"Then show me how far that determination can take you."
Morry took his stance.
The three battles continued simultaneously.
Kil Ful against Darian.
Ravian against Kaizen.
Morry against Varen.
The forest around them had already been transformed by the battle.
But none of the three fights had reached its conclusion.
The mission was still in danger.
And the five members still had a long way to go before they could reach the neighboring kingdom.