Dune clashed swords with Omen, their blades colliding with a sharp metallic ring that echoed across the battlefield. Sparks flew as Dune pushed Omen back, but something felt off.
"This guy…" Dune muttered, frowning as he studied Omen. "He's awfully weak…" His strikes lacked force, and his movements were sluggish. Yet, there was an air of unpredictability about him, something that kept Dune on edge.
Omen lunged forward with another attack, and Dune ducked, easily dodging it before stepping in with a counterstrike. But as his blade closed in, the ground beneath his feet cracked unexpectedly, throwing him off balance and causing his strike to miss.
"What the—?" Dune stumbled back, barely able to steady himself before Omen advanced again.
Dune stole a quick glance at the other side of the battlefield. Elijah was fighting against one of the attackers, his green neba glowing brightly with each strike. But something was wrong. *Where's the third one?* Dune thought. He clearly remembered three Zeten rising from the water.
"Elijah! There's one more! Don't let your guard down!" Dune shouted, his voice urgent.
Elijah paused, confused, as he scanned the area. "There's no one here!" he called back.
Before Dune could respond, Elijah was suddenly struck with immense force, his body sent flying across the platform. He hit the building hard, coughing up blood.
"What the hell?" Dune shouted, panic creeping into his voice. He turned to rush toward Elijah, but Omen intercepted him with a kick to the chest, sending him sprawling backward.
From the corner of his eye, Dune saw the attacker fighting Elijah, his body glowing yellow. Dune's heart sank. "No… impossible…" he muttered under his breath.
The yellow glow was unmistakable. It was a Yellow original Neba, and to make things worse, the man seemed to have a creature compatible with it. Dune clenched his fists. "Why is there someone with yellow Neba?"
Suddenly, Nely leapt toward the Yellow Neba user. With her Neba depleted, she channeled her Neba directly to enhance her body. Ezra, Liam, and Atlas followed suit, launching desperate attacks.
But it wasn't enough. Dune gritted his teeth as he watched Ezra take a devastating blow, collapsing unconscious to the ground. Liam was close behind, barely holding his ground. Atlas, already severely injured, was hanging on by a thread.
"Elijah!" Dune shouted, dodging another strike from Omen. "What are you doing? Go fight the guy!"
Elijah staggered to his feet, wiping blood from his mouth. He laughed darkly. "Why should I risk my life, Dune? I could just kill one of your little friends here and end this trial right now."
Dune froze, his eyes wide. "No…"
From across the battlefield, Omen smirked. "I'm in, Elijah. Do it!"
Dune's mind raced as panic set in. If Elijah turned on them now, they were done for. His team was already on the brink of collapse.
"Elijah…" Dune muttered, his voice trembling.
Elijah began walking slowly toward the others, blade drawn. Dune's heart pounded as he struggled against Omen, desperate to stop him. But then, Elijah abruptly spun and dashed forward, stabbing into empty air.
Dune's eyes widened in shock. "What… what is he doing?"
"You were right again, Dune" Suddenly, out of thin air, a figure materialized, a man, his face contorted in pain as Elijah's blade pierced his stomach.
The third attacker.
Elijah grinned as he tightened his grip on the man's neck. "Nice trick," he muttered before snapping the man's neck with a sickening crack and tossing his limp body aside.
[ Zetens 11 / 100 ]
Dune stared in disbelief. "He was… invisible…" he said, realization dawning. "Elijah, you figured it out…"
Omen spat on the ground, irritated. "Good one," he muttered, before charging at Dune again.
Dune thrust his blade forward for a killing blow, the ground beneath him shifted unnaturally, causing him to stumble and miss. "Again?" he swung his sword downward, his hand slipped, the blade veering off course at the last second.
"Something's wrong with you," Dune muttered, glaring at Omen.
Omen only smiled. "Is there?"
Omen chuckled, sidestepping Dune's strike. "Sorry, Dune, but I'm not dying here. I've already seen this play out, and I know my best option."
"What are you talking about?" Dune demanded, frustration boiling over.
Omen suddenly stopped, lowering his sword. He gestured toward the Yellow Neba user. "Let's kill Darius instead," he said calmly.
Dune froze, taken aback. "What?"
Omen's gaze was cold. "That's Darius, son of the Ruler Radar of Sarodenly. Do you really want someone that strong to survive this trial? Let's take him out together, Dune."
Dune hesitated, unsure of Omen's sudden change in allegiance. But as he glanced at the battlefield, he saw the brutal reality, Atlas was near death, Ezra and Liam were unconscious, and Nely and Ned were barely standing. Elijah was the only one holding Darius at bay.
"Fine," Dune said through gritted teeth, turning toward Darius. "But if you're lying to me, Omen…"
Omen smiled, raising his sword. "Trust me, Dune. This is the best choice."
Dune crouched beside Ezra and Liam, his breath sharp and uneven, he shook them awake.
"Get up," He slapped Ezra on the face. "Come on, we're not done yet." Ezra groaned, his eyelids fluttering open. His voice was weak, almost broken. "Dune… I can't… my body—"
"You can," Dune cut him off, his tone firm. He channeled his own neba through Ezra's body. "If we don't fight, we're dead. And that's not an option."
Liam and Ezra gritted their teeth, their bodies shaking as they forced themselves upright. Their faces were pale, their exhausted.
"Now we talking," Ezra rasped, steadying himself. Dune's gaze shifted, his jaw tightening as he turned to Ned, who was slumped against a broken pillar, blood trailing from his nose. He crouched in front of his brother.
"Ned, the only way we kill Darius is with something stronger than his yellow Neba. Your red Zeten is the only chance we've got."
Ned's eyes flickered with defiance and dread. His voice was low, hoarse. "You want me to use Sky Serpent's Breath? I would never expect you to suggest me using it."
"Yes," Dune said, gripping his brother's shoulder. His fingers trembled, just for a moment. "But no more than five percent. You hear me? Anything more, and you might die, I can't lose you brother."
Ned's bloody hand trembling as it wiped at his mouth. Then he nodded. "Fine. But you better get me an opening."
"Wait for my signal," Dune said, rising to his feet. He turned to the others, Elijah, Atlas, everyone who could still stand. "Distract him. Keep Darius occupied until Ned's ready."
We only have one chance