Matiane lunged forward, his crimson blade slashing down at Cadogan, who met it with his icy sword. Sparks and frost burst from the collision as their powers clashed.
Matiane shifted instantly, his Neba glowing green. "Green Neba Core: Venomous Fang," he hissed, slashing the air and releasing a cloud of toxic green mist.
Cadogan leapt back, his eyes narrowing. He switched his Neba to orange, his body glowing with fierce heat.
"Wild Beaver," he growled, slamming his foot into the ground and sending a shower of molten earth toward Matiane.
Matiane laughed, twisting in midair. His Neba shifted again, also glowing orange. "Lion's breath," he said, his voice booming as the air around him grew unbearably hot. The intense heat warped the ground, and Cadogan's icy blade began to melt, water dripping from its edge before it collapsed entirely into a pool.
Cadogan gritted his teeth, dropping the hilt of his weapon. Matiane surged forward, grinning wickedly. "No blade? Come Cadogan!"
Cadogan smirked as his Neba turned green, "cheetah steps" his movements suddenly as quick and precise as a serpent. He ducked under Matiane's punch and delivered a swift jab to his side. Matiane countered with a fiery uppercut, the heat singeing Cadogan's icy cloak but not breaking his stride.
They clashed again, fists and feet striking with brutal force. Matiane spun low, aiming a sweeping kick at Cadogan's legs, but Cadogan flipped over him, slamming an elbow into Matiane's back. Matiane recovered instantly, spinning and delivering a backhand blow to Cadogan's jaw.
Both stepped back, breathing heavily, their eyes locked. Their Nebas flickered as they prepared for the next round, equally matched and relentless.
The Red Devil's strikes were relentless, his Neba burning brighter with each blow. Cadogan dodged narrowly, forming shards of ice to deflect Matiane's blade as their movements blurred with speed.
But then, Matiane's demeanor shifted. His lips moved, murmuring words Cadogan couldn't hear clearly. "The whispers," Matiane muttered to himself, his red eyes glowing faintly. "God of war, Lord Atreus, hear me. Grant me your strength. Guide my blade to victory."
Cadogan frowned as he noticed the subtle change in his opponent. "Talking to yourself, Matiane? Praying to someone who won't answer?"
Matiane's grin widened as he parried Cadogan's thrust. "Prayers, Cadogan. To a god who never fails his faithful." His voice lowered, almost reverent. "Atreus, God of War, bless me with your might.
Their fight continued, each strike shaking the ground beneath them. Cadogan switched his Neba rapidly, from green to orange, to blue, every color bringing a new wave of attacks.
*damn it im also almost out of my blue Neba*
Matiane slashed his sword at cadogan which then disappeared mid way… Matiane was now completely out of red Neba.
"Now!" Cadogan saw his moment. Gathering the last reserves of his Neba, he formed a blade from his own blue ice Neba, the weapon gleaming with deadly intent. He lunged, aiming for Matiane's heart.
But Matiane's Neba flared red once more. "It's here." he snarled. Sidestepping at the last second, he caught Cadogan's blade with his bare hand. The ice cut clean through his palm, blood pouring freely, but Matiane didn't flinch.
"How… do you still have Neba?"
In a flash, Matiane gripped Cadogan's arm and drove his fist into Cadogan's chest, his hand piercing through flesh and bone.
The sound of tearing echoed as Cadogan gasped, blood dripping from his mouth. He staggered, clutching the gaping hole in his stomach.
Both fighters froze, their Neba cores flickering faintly. Cadogan fell to his knees, trembling and struggling to stand. Matiane, breathing heavily, wobbled slightly but straightened himself.
"Lord Atreus," Matiane whispered, a faint red glow surrounding him. Power flooded his body once again, unnatural and overwhelming. His wounds closed slowly, 20% of his Neba reignited with blazing intensity.
Cadogan looked up at him, his vision fading. "So… this is how it ends. You couldn't win without cheating, could you?"
Matiane sneered, his blade raised high. "This is the advantage of being God's apostle Cadogan. Call it what you will. But in the war you use everything you have."
"Coward" Cadogan said calmly.
"Tsk" Matiane swung his blade in a clean arc, slicing through Cadogan's chest.
As Cadogan's body collapsed to the ground, Matiane stood over him, blood dripping from his weapon. He looked down at the fallen warrior, his voice low and cold.
"Farewell."
Dune and Atlas ran through the dense forest, their breath ragged as they tried to escape the nightmare behind them. Atlas kept glancing over his shoulder, his face tense.
"Do you think we're far enough?" Dune asked, his voice trembling, though there was a flicker of hope.
Atlas shook his head. "We need to keep going."
But before he could say more, a sharp metallic sound cut through the air. Atlas froze, a look of shock crossing his face. Dune's eyes widened as he saw the blade, a cross-shaped sword glowing with red Neba, piercing through Atlas's chest.
"Atlas!" Dune screamed, rushing forward, but his hands stopped short as red flames erupted from Atlas's wound. Atlas fell to his knees, clutching at the blade as the fire began to consume him. He turned his head to look at Dune, his face etched with pain and disbelief. "Dune… run…"
"No!" Dune shouted, reaching out, but it was too late. The flames engulfed Atlas entirely, leaving nothing but ash scattered by the wind.
The sound of slow, deliberate footsteps broke Dune's shock. Matiane emerged from the shadows, his crimson Neba pulsing ominously, the cross-shaped sword now back in his grasp.
"You…" Dune growled, his voice trembling with fury.
Matiane smirked. "Relax, boy. Your friend isn't dead. He's just… moved on."
Dune clenched his fists. "What do you mean?!"
Matiane rested the sword on his shoulder, tilting his head mockingly. "I sent him to the Trials of Life and Death. A realm only the gods control. If he's strong enough, he might survive. If not, well…" He chuckled. "That's not my problem."
Dune's eyes filled with determination. "Then send me too."
Matiane raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "That's what im going to do anyway, i feel Zeten aura from you, they did say there would only be three zetens.. but now that you're also here..more is better right?"
Matiane stepped closer, a malicious grin spreading across his face. He moved his sword as if preparing to strike.
But as he got closer, Dune's expression twisted with rage. Instead of standing still, he spat in Matiane's face and swung his fist towards in an attempt to punch him.
The punch barely grazed Matiane, but his expression darkened instantly. He wiped his face slowly, his red eyes burning with fury. "You dare?"
Dune glared at him, defiant. "You're nothing but a coward."
"Coward huh?" Matiane chuckled, though his amusement was laced with cold anger. "you just made the worst mistake of your life."
In an instant, Matiane's blade flashed, severing Dune's hands at the wrists. Blood sprayed as Dune gritted his teeth in pain, collapsing to his knees.
Matiane sneered, grabbing Dune by the hair and forcing his face into the dirt. "Eat. Taste the ground you'll be buried under or… apologise and i'll be nicer Dune."
Dune struggled, but Matiane held him down effortlessly, grinding his face into the dirt with cruel force. "I could end you right now," Matiane said, his voice dripping with mockery. "But no… you don't deserve an easy death."
Matiane lifted Dune's battered body, throwing him to the ground like a ragdoll. He delivered a series of brutal kicks to Dune's ribs, each one harder than the last. "Still not ready to apologize, are you?"
Dune coughed, blood dripping from his lips, but his glare remained defiant.
Suddenly Matiane stopped… and covered his ear like he was listening to something…
"i don't have time for this" Matiane sighed, shaking his head. "You really don't know when to quit. But fine, if you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish, after all.. Trials will be much worse than whatever i could do to you."
Matiane regenerated Dune's hands and healed his injuries. He then raised the glowing cross-shaped sword, its red Neba flames flickering ominously. "Time for you to join your friend."
With a cruel smile, Matiane plunged the blade into Dune's heart. The red flames erupted instantly, engulfing Dune. Matiane watched as Dune's body was consumed, leaving nothing behind.