Cadogan and Matiane charged at each other, their weapons clashing with explosive force. Every swing of their blades sent shockwaves through the air, destroying the buildings around them. The city crumbled as if it were made of sand, turning into ash from the sheer power of their fight.
Cadogan pushed forward, his eyes glowing green as he activated Cheetah Steps. His body moved at incredible speed, faster than the eye could follow. But Matiane just laughed, his red Neba flaring with confidence.
"Cadogan, are you mocking me?" Matiane sneered as he dodged the attack effortlessly. "Don't you dare use Green Neba against me, you fool!"
With a wide slash of his sword, Matiane unleashed a massive red shockwave that roared through the air. Cadogan had to react instantly, switching back to his Blue Neba core.
The icy blue glow surrounded him as he narrowly dodged the attack. The shockwave passed just inches away, leaving destruction in its path.
Cadogan steadied himself, his jaw tightening. *That was close* he thought. *This guy is insanely strong. Most Blue Neba users wouldn't last a second against him.*
Determined not to back down, Cadogan surged forward again. "Red Core: Bullseye." His speed doubled as he shot toward Matiane like an arrow, aiming straight for his chest.
But Matiane dodged again, smirking as if this was nothing. Cadogan didn't stop. In an instant, he switched, activating his Blue Zeten ability. "Leviathan's Bite."
Hundreds of glowing blades materialized around Cadogan, floating like a shimmering wall of ice.
"Oho… These aren't blades," Matiane muttered, narrowing his eyes. "They're Leviathan's teeth. Interesting, how did you kill it?"
The teeth shot toward Matiane at incredible speed, tearing through everything in their way. Buildings were shredded like paper, the ground ripped apart by their force. Matiane had to take flight, dodging and weaving through the onslaught. Even so, some of the teeth nicked him, drawing lines of blood across his pale skin.
Cadogan wasn't done. He charged forward again, this time summoning the strength of the Orange Neba: Wild Beaver. With a loud crack, he leaped into the ground and came up crashing at Matiane, striking him square in the chest. The impact sent Matiane flying into the rubble, the ground splintering beneath him.
Cadogan's eyes flickered orange for a moment before returning to their usual blue. Without wasting time, he followed up with a powerful slash, aiming to end it. But Matiane blocked the attack, even though his hands were still clutching his injured chest.
Instead of using his hands or sword, Matiane tilted his head forward, letting Cadogan's blade strike his mask to block the attack. The mask shattered, pieces falling to the ground as Matiane landed.
For the first time, Cadogan saw his enemy's face. Matiane's pale white skin made his blood-red eyes and hair stand out even more. His features were sharp, almost elegant, but there was something monstrous about him. He was tall, skinny, and looked more like a vampire than a man.
Matiane wiped a streak of blood from his lip, grinning. "I underestimated you, Cad," he admitted. "Looks like it's time to get serious."
Matiane's grin widened as his body began to glow brighter, his red Neba radiating like a firestorm. The air around him shimmered with heat and energy. "Let's end this," he said, his voice calm.
Before Cadogan could make his next move, Matiane shot forward, faster than ever before. "Mutated Bat: Blood Coffin of Innocent." he declared.
The world around them warped. The sky turned crimson, and the ground beneath Cadogan's feet shifted into something wet and slimy. Blood-red liquid pooled around him, stretching endlessly in all directions. Buildings, trees, and even the horizon dissolved into this eerie landscape.
"What is this place?" Cadogan muttered, gripping his sword tighter.
Matiane floated above him, his red aura blazing. "Welcome to my Blood Dimension," he said with a smirk. "You've just sealed your fate. This is my world. I control everything here, and you? You're just a guest waiting to die."
Cadogan didn't waste time with words. He dashed forward, slashing at Matiane with all his might. But before his blade could reach its target, blood spikes erupted from the ground, forcing him to jump back.
The spikes twisted and formed into monstrous shapes, huge golems made entirely of hardened blood. Their glowing red eyes locked onto Cadogan as they charged at him.
Cadogan swung his sword, cutting through the first golem, then the second. But for every one he destroyed, more rose in their place. The creatures attacked relentlessly, their sharp limbs and crushing fists coming at him from all sides.
Above him, Matiane laughed. "You can't win here, Cadogan. Every drop of blood in this dimension is mine to control. You're nothing but my prey now."
Cadogan fought back fiercely, his blade slicing through another wave of golems. He dodged and countered their attacks, his breathing heavy but steady.
Matiane raised his hand, and the blood around him swirled into a massive spear. The weapon glowed with deadly energy as he hurled it toward Cadogan.
Cadogan dodged, the spear missing him by a hair's breadth. But as soon as it passed, it twisted in midair and came after him again.
"Tch," Cadogan muttered. He turned to face the spear, swinging his sword to cut it in half. His blade connected, splitting the spear into two pieces.
But instead of disappearing, the two halves shot toward him, slashing into his shoulders. Blood poured from the wounds as Cadogan stumbled back, gritting his teeth against the pain.
Matiane landed on the ground, walking toward him with a sinister grin. "Getting tired already?" he taunted, his sword glowing red.
Cadogan steadied himself, ignoring the pain. He raised his sword and met Matiane's gaze head-on.
Matiane stepped toward Cadogan, his red Neba flickering like a raging fire as his blade hung at his side. His thoughts churned as he observed his opponent. *So, his Zeten core is Leviathan. That much is obvious after the attack earlier. But he hasn't used his original ability yet.* His crimson eyes narrowed slightly. *His core is Blue… and if he hasn't revealed his true power, there must be a reason. He's hiding something. I can't let my guard down.*
A dark grin spread across Matiane's face as he raised his sword, clashing with Cadogan's in a flurry of sparks. "No matter how long this drags on," Matiane muttered between strikes, "at the end, I'll have those boys in my grasp. They're not going anywhere. This fight is just a distraction."
Cadogan's breathing grew heavier, his strikes becoming more labored as the fight continued. He wasn't just fighting Matiane, blood spikes erupted from the ground beneath his feet and fell from the crimson sky above, forcing him to dodge constantly. Blood-forged creatures, monstrous and relentless, spawned around him, attacking from all angles. Every move he made had to be calculated, and every step was a gamble.
Despite the onslaught, Cadogan gritted his teeth and charged forward, gathering his Neba into his fist. He swung his sword at Matiane, who blocked it with ease, the clash of their weapons sending shockwaves through the blood-soaked air. But Cadogan wasn't done.
Without hesitation, he dashed forward again. Blood blades shot up from the ground, stabbing into his arms and legs. He ignored the searing pain, his focus solely on Matiane. As he brought his sword down in a heavy arc, aiming for Matiane's head, his eyes flashed a brilliant blue.
Matiane, expecting another predictable strike, raised his blade to block, but Cadogan ducked at the last second. With his free hand, now glowing with a blue Neba, he drove his fist into Matiane's chest. The impact was devastating, launching Matiane like a cannonball into the wall of the blood dimension.
Matiane crashed into the wall with a sickening crack, coughing up blood. But before Cadogan could follow up, streams of blood from the dimension itself flowed into Matiane, healing his wounds instantly.
"You still don't get it, do you?" Matiane sneered, rising to his feet. "I'm immortal here, Cadogan. This dimension is my creation, my domain. No matter how many times you hit me, I'll keep coming back."
Cadogan tsked, his frustration mounting. He tightened his grip on his sword, but his exhaustion was starting to show.
Matiane tilted his head slightly, his grin widening. "You're good, Cadogan. I'll give you that. But I wonder…" He paused, his voice turning cold and sharp. "What do you think happens when I deactivate this ability?"
Cadogan's eyes widened in realization. "You wouldn't—"
"Oh, I would," Matiane interrupted, his tone dripping with malice. He placed a hand on the wall of the dimension, his grin never fading. "Deactivation."
The crimson world began to collapse inward at an alarming speed. The ground, sky, and walls of the blood dimension folded in on themselves, shrinking and crushing everything within. Cadogan could feel the overwhelming pressure as the dimension tightened around him, threatening to crush him completely.
A massive explosion of blood erupted, painting the battlefield in a rain of crimson. Matiane stepped out of the collapsing dimension, his sword resting on his shoulder as he looked back at the destruction. "You fought well, Cadogan," he said with mock respect. He turned his gaze toward the direction where Dune and Atlas had fled.
But then, a sudden chill ran down his spine.
Matiane spun around, his red eyes wide. Before he could react, Cadogan's blade was already slicing through the air. The edge connected with his neck, and blood sprayed from the deep wound. Matiane staggered backward, clutching his neck as his blood-red Neba surged to heal it.
"How… how are you alive?!" Matiane spat, his voice filled with disbelief as the gash on his neck sealed shut.
Cadogan stood a few feet away, his body a horrifying sight. Half of his flesh had been stripped away, exposing bone, sinew, and muscle. His ribcage was visible, and even his skull was partially exposed. But as Matiane watched in horror, Cadogan's body began to regenerate.
Ice crept across his wounds, forming new skin, muscles, and organs. His skull was covered in a fresh layer of flesh, his brain freezing and reforming in perfect detail. His eye reappeared, growing into place as though time itself had reversed.
Finally, Cadogan stood fully healed, his body covered in a shimmering, icy white cloak. His sword glinted coldly in his hand as frost clung to the ground around him. He stepped forward, his movements deliberate and calm, his gaze piercing.
"Blue Neba Core: Unkillable Demon of the Frozen Lake," he said, his voice low and icy, each word cutting like a blade.
Matiane grinned despite himself, though unease flickered in his eyes. "So… your true ability is absolute regeneration. How unlucky for me."
Cadogan said nothing, his cold expression unchanging. Inwardly, his thoughts raced. *I can only use absolute regeneration once. It's my last resort, meant for when my body is completely destroyed. But even without it, as long as I have Neba, I can repair my wounds. My body isn't flesh anymore. It's ice. And as long as I have Neba, I'll keep coming back.*
Matiane tightened his grip on his sword, his red Neba flaring brighter. "Well then," he muttered, forcing a grin. "Let's see if that regeneration of yours can keep up."
Cadogan raised his blade, his icy cloak dancing around him. Frost formed on his sword, spreading outward as the air grew colder. He locked eyes with Matiane, his voice steady and freezing.