VR- BATTLEFIELD
[FINAL ROUND]
The battlefield was eerily silent as Leon took slow, measured steps toward Ryu. His head remained lowered, his hair concealing his expression.
Ryu narrowed his eyes, sensing something different about Leon. There was no surge of wild mana, no erratic lightning arcs—only a chilling calmness.
Deciding to break the silence, Ryu materialized a crimson-red mana sword in his hand, condensed and razor-sharp. With a powerful burst of speed, he launched himself forward, his blade aimed precisely at Leon's neck for a swift decapitation.
But just as the blade was mere inches away, Leon suddenly leaned back, his movements fluid and almost effortless, dodging the strike at the last possible moment.
Ryu's eyes widened slightly, surprised by the last-second evasion. Not hesitating, he twisted his sword mid-slash, redirecting the attack towards Leon's right arm in an attempt to sever it cleanly. However, Leon smoothly sidestepped, avoiding the strike with a grace that seemed almost premeditated. As he did, Ryu caught a glimpse of his face—burns and injuries from the earlier explosion marred his skin, his eyes closed as if in deep concentration and no expression on face.
Then, in an instant, a greatsword made of condensed lightning materialized in Leon's hand. Without hesitation, he swung it toward Ryu's exposed left side. Recognizing the threat, Ryu swiftly stepped back, dodging the strike effortlessly.
However, something was different. The lightning surrounding Leon was not the usual chaotic but controlled, refined.
Ryu raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
Leon suddenly took a step forward and vanished. [Flash Step.] In the blink of an eye, he reappeared behind Ryu, his lightning greatsword poised to strike. Ryu reacted instantly, raising his red mana sword to parry. But at the last moment, Leon twisted his foot, altering the trajectory of his blade toward Ryu's legs.
Realizing the sudden shift, Ryu swiftly stepped back, narrowly avoiding the attack. But Leon did not stop. Instead, he released his grip on the greatsword mid-swing. In an instant, a lightning-forged chain extended from his hand, linking him to the blade. Using the momentum of the abandoned swing, he jerked the chain, altering the attack's path yet again. The maneuver caught Ryu off guard.
Just as the attack was about to land, Ryu activated his movement art—[Flickering Phantom]. In an instant, his figure blurred, reappearing several meters away. As he stabilized, he touched his neck. When he pulled his hand back, crimson stained his fingers.
Blood.
Leon had managed to graze him.
For the first time in battle, Ryu had bled from an attack.
Looking at Leon, Ryu's expression remained unreadable, but for the briefest moment, a cold glint flickered in his eyes. Leon, on the other hand, stood motionless, his lightning chains dissipating as he pulled his greatsword back into his grasp. His eyes remained closed, his face calm and expression less.
Ryu exhaled slowly, then suddenly vanished again, using [Flickering Phantom] to reappear behind Leon. His sword arced down in a lethal slash, aiming for the back of Leon's neck. But just as before, Leon moved before the attack even landed, raising his greatsword in a perfect block, as if anticipating the strike before it even happened.
'Impossible…' Ryu thought. 'Is he predicting my attacks?'
Realizing a direct strike would be countered, Ryu instantly changed tactics. His sword shimmered—[Ghost Fang]. The moment his blade met Leon's, it flickered unnaturally, bypassing the expected clash and cutting through Leon's weapon as though it were paper.
Leon, sensing the shift, abandoned his sword altogether. Instead of resisting the cut, he twisted on his heels and retaliated with a powerful back kick aimed at Ryu's head. Ryu, eyes glowing with telekinesis, attempted to grab Leon's leg mid-attack. But before the force could take effect, Leon again abandoned his movement, using [Flash Step] to retreat several meters away.
As he stabilized, his eyes remained closed, his expression still eerily blank. Then, he tilted his head slightly—just as Ryu's red mana sword thrust toward him from a distance. The blade missed by a mere fraction.
Ryu attacked again, thrusting his sword multiple times with pinpoint precision. Each strike was evaded effortlessly, Leon's movements minimal yet perfect. He twisted and shifted his body fluidly, never wasting a single motion. Ryu's strikes carved the air where Leon's body had just been, never where it currently was.
Growing irritated, Ryu unleashed a powerful slash meant to cleave Leon in half. But Leon, in a breathtaking maneuver, twisted mid-air, dodging the attack while simultaneously conjuring another lightning greatsword.
Using the momentum of his dodge, he brought down the blade with [Stormcall Blade]—a technique that channeled his lightning into the sword, increasing both speed and destructive force.
Unlike privious fight from before this time, the lightning was not wild and rampant. It was controlled, refined—focused purely on maximizing the speed of his strike.
Sensing the overwhelming power behind it, Ryu altered his stance at the last moment. Instead of merely blocking, he reconfigured his previous attack, unleashing [Ghost Fang] once again.
Blood-red mana met thunderous lightning.
BOOM!
The battlefield shook as both blades exploded upon contact. The force sent Ryu and Leon skidding backward, sparks of electricity and embers of red mana scattering between them.
As Ryu came to a stop, his purple eyes flashed, and he raised his hand. Using telekinesis, he hurled debris—both small and massive—toward Leon with frightening velocity.
Leon, who had just stabilized from the previous clash, showed no reaction on his face. Instead, as the debris rushed toward him, he activated [Thunder Rush]—lightning coating his entire body as he dashed forward at breakneck speed. The trail of electricity left in his wake crackled ominously.
He moved like a phantom, tilting his head and shifting his body to narrowly avoid the debris with minimal movement. Even massive boulders that came barreling toward him were sidestepped with precision, his frame weaving through the onslaught with unnatural fluidity.
Ryu's eyes gleamed as Leon approached. Both warriors conjured new mana blades—one red, one thunderous.
Then they clashed.
***
Ryu and Leon moved in a deadly dance, their weapons clashing in bursts of power, their figures mere blurs to any observer.
Ryu's red mana blade slashed forward in a diagonal arc toward Leon's left eye, but Leon tilted his head just enough to evade it while simultaneously countering with a precise thrust of his lightning greatsword. Ryu twisted mid-motion, dodging the attack with an effortless step backward, his thoughts racing.
'Every time I attack… he's already moving to dodge or block. He shouldn't be able to react that fast.'
Leon sidestepped to the right, narrowly avoiding another slash, his sword already shifting into a counterattack. Ryu's eyes narrowed. He could tell—Leon wasn't faster than him. No, Ryu was still vastly superior in speed. And yet, Leon was keeping up, moving as if he already knew where the attacks were coming from.
'It's not just speed… it's something else…'
Ryu vanished in an instant, using Flickering Phantom to reappear behind Leon, his blade mid-swing, aimed for the back of Leon's neck. Yet, as if guided by an unseen force, Leon's sword was already moving to intercept. His face remained calm, his eyes still closed.
'He's moving before his mind even processes the attack,' Ryu realized, his expression darkening as he flickered away, creating distance between them. Then, his lips curled into a smirk. 'Yes… that's it. He's not conscious. His body is moving on its own… a trance-like state.'
To confirm his suspicion, Ryu executed Phantom Step, creating two afterimage illusions of himself attacking from different angles. The first illusion struck, but Leon completely ignored it, the blade passing through him harmlessly. The second, real attack came, and Leon countered with a precise slash, yet once again, he completely disregarded the third illusion, even though it appeared to be another threat.
Ryu stepped back, using Flickering Phantom to appear several meters away. He chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Interesting… Today has been filled with surprises."
*****
Few Minutes Ago: (Leon's POV)
The explosion from Ryu's sword had detonated upon impact, sending Leon flying. His body had taken the full brunt of the blast. His jaw burned, his limbs screamed in agony, and deep wounds marred his flesh. His vision blurred, his consciousness flickering on the edge of oblivion.
A loud doom echoed through the battlefield.
With all his remaining strength, Leon forced his head toward the sound, his body barely responding. Through the haze of smoke, he saw her.
Selena.
The short, blonde -haired and blue eyed girl was hurling toward the ground, her body completely covered in burns. His eyes widened in horror. He tried to call her name, but no sound came. His vocal cords had been shattered by the previous attack.
Then, his gaze shifted again.
Evelyn.
Her shield was broken, her body battered with burns and injuries. She was on her knees, struggling to even move. The sight of her suffering burned into his soul. A deep, unbearable ache spread through his chest. His hands twitched as he desperately willed himself to move. Stand up… He needed to move, to run to them, to save them.
And then—
He saw him.
Ryu.
The man responsible for all of this. Walking toward Evelyn.
No. No. NO.
Leon clenched his fists, his body refusing to respond. His consciousness wavered, darkness creeping at the edges of his vision. But he couldn't let it end like this. He had to protect them. He had to fight. His very soul screamed in defiance as his mind began to fade.
Then, his counsiousness faded. As soon leon got unconscious,a sound rang out in his mind.
DING!
[The God of War, Ares, is impressed by your sincerity and dedication.]
DING!
[The God of War, Ares, has granted you his Authority.]
DING!
[You have obtained the Authority of the God of War: Ares.]
DING!
[ARES' UNSEEN HAND'S.]
(Author note: am i getting copyright if yes, should I change the name)
TO BE CONTINUE...