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Back to Reinhart vs. Velsun.
Reinhart tumbled across the scorched grass, rolling to absorb the impact, but even as he hit the ground, sparks of golden heat chased him. Incandescence hovered in front of Velsun, shifting fluidly—sword, lance, scythe—each form radiating raw sunfire energy, unrelenting, unstoppable.
Velsun's eyes, pure sunlight incarnate, followed Reinhart's every twitch, every breath, every flicker of intent. He didn't rush—he didn't need to. His opponent was already trapped in a storm he couldn't escape.
Reinhart slammed his sword into the earth to steady himself, the god-class blade biting through molten grass, energy still crackling along its edge. His eyes blazed with unyielding resolve.
Reinhart: "I won't lose… Not to you, not like this!"
In an instant, he surged forward, faster than before, sword swinging in a deadly arc that split the air with a roaring hiss. But Velsun's body blurred—light itself bending around him as he activated the full force of Light Mode.
In a heartbeat, Velsun closed the distance, Incandescene forming into a sword midair, molten golden heat coiling along its length.
CLANG!
The two swords met, but it wasn't just metal striking metal—each collision was a supernova in miniature. Sparks flared like exploding stars, heat ripped through the air, and the sheer force of the strikes sent shockwaves rolling across the plains.
The world seemed to blur around them. The speed was too fast for the eyes of any normal being—only the blazing lights of the clashing weapons were visible, flickering in streaks like twin suns colliding.
Veldora staggered back, hands shielding his eyes. "Holy—holy crap… I can barely see them! It's just… light!"
Karlos shook with exhilaration, yelling, "It's like… like the sun itself is fighting! Lord Velsun, you're insane!"
Even Zalario's calm gaze couldn't hide the tension, his wings tensing as he whispered under his breath: "This… is catastrophic-level combat… no, worse than that."
Reinhart gritted his teeth, swinging again and again, forcing Velsun to adapt every microsecond. Yet Velsun moved with an elegance that no human reflex could match—Incandescence bent, twisted, flowed, deflected, and countered all in one perfect motion.
'He's fast… fast beyond prediction,' Reinhart thought, sweat and blood on his brow. 'But he's not just fast—he's everywhere. Before I even think, he's already reacted.'
With a roar, Reinhart shifted his blade, trying to angle a strike to bypass Velsun's defense. The moment the sword came down, Velsun's grin sharpened, and the sword in his hands pulsed with blinding sunlight.
CLANG!
The strike hit, sparks and light erupting into a storm. Reinhart stumbled backward again, panting. Every fiber of his body screamed—every ounce of skill, every ounce of hope, and every ounce of Astral Breaker's power was being countered.
Velsun took a calm step forward, eyes locking onto Reinhart's. "I've been holding back," he said quietly. "You're strong, Reinhart—but this… this is the sun's will."
With a casual flick, Incandescence shifted into a radiant spear, the tip glowing like a molten star. In the next instant, Velsun lunged—speed of light, grace of a dragon, force of a nova. Reinhart tried to block, but the Genesis-grade weapon adapted faster than any human could react.
The spear struck, sending Reinhart crashing into the ground, carving a trench hundreds of meters long. The force lifted dust, shattered earth, and the very air seemed to ripple with the sun's heat.
Veldora staggered, jaw dropped. "He… he's unstoppable… Aniki's literally everywhere!"
Karlos's eyes were wide, hands shaking. "This… this isn't just a fight. It's… AMAZING!"
Zalario folded his arms, voice low and grim. "This is the difference between a True Dragon with a Genesis weapon and a True Hero with a God-class blade. Raw power, adaptability, speed… Reinhart's incredible, but this is beyond him."
Reinhart groaned, pulling himself up. Sweat, blood, and energy crackled along his god-grade sword. His chest heaved as he stared at Velsun—who stood like a living sun, every detail of incandescence glowing and ready to shift at will.
Reinhart (thinking): No matter what I throw at him… he's already two steps ahead. Every strike, every counter… I can't even land a hit that matters. He's… perfect.
Velsun tilted his head, the smirk returning. "Enough play, Reinhart. Let's finish this."
With that, Incandescence expanded into the shape of a sword. He dashed forward, light trailing behind him like a comet, and struck with the full force of a True Dragon and a Genesis weapon.
Reinhart raised his sword, and Astral Breaker ignited in a last desperate attempt—but the power of Incandescence was too much. The God-class blade buckled under the overwhelming might.
With a final explosion of radiant energy, Reinhart was sent flying backward, landing hard but alive. He coughed, panting, and raised a hand weakly, staring at Velsun with a mixture of respect and disbelief.
Reinhart: "…You… really are… incredible."
Velsun stood, chest heaving lightly, Incandescene pulsing gently as if acknowledging its victory.
"Reinhart, are you alright?" I asked, letting Incandescence dissolve back into its default armguard form, the golden glow fading into quiet embers.
On the ground, Reinhart pushed himself up on one elbow, his chest rising and falling sharply. Sweat ran down his brow, his grip still firm on his sword, though his arm trembled.
Reinhart: "Huff… huff… I'm fine, my lord… just… taking a breath…"
From the skies above, three familiar figures descended slowly, floating down with composed ease. Veldora landed first, his arms crossed and his expression surprisingly stern. Zalario followed, sharp-eyed as always, and Karlos trailed behind, his grin tugging at the corners of his lips.
Veldora: "Aniki, that was really reckless. You went too hard on Reinhart. He could have been seriously injured."
I blinked, staring at him, unsure if I'd heard him correctly. Reckless? Veldora, the Storm Dragon, the embodiment of chaos, the very definition of reckless, was… lecturing me?
Inside my head, Mimir chuckled.
Mimir: "Oh, the irony, lad. The storm itself is preaching caution to the sun. Truly, this world never ceases to amuse me."
I muttered back under my breath, "Uh huh…"
Mimir's voice went on, dry and precise, as if delivering an official report.
Mimir: "Observation: this Veldora is not the one you know from canon, as you call it. Personality alignment differs—less of a boisterous fool, more… hm, let's say, refined chaos. He's matured, lad. Likely due to your presence in this world. Causation: you. Effect: he now lectures you on restraint. Congratulations, you've reversed roles."
I pinched the bridge of my nose, half-amused, half-annoyed.
Veldora tapped his foot, still glaring at me. "Don't 'uh huh' me, Aniki. Look at Reinhart! You could've injured him pretty badly. Just because you're a True Dragon doesn't mean everyone else can take your full power head-on."
Reinhart, still breathing hard, raised a hand weakly. "...Don't… blame him, Lord Veldora… I asked for this… and it was an honor…"
Zalario's lips quirked, his tone calm. "Regardless, Reinhart's body is mortal. Even a true hero has limits. I'd suggest… moderation."
Karlos finally chuckled, his eyes gleaming. "Moderation? Please. That was glorious. The earth shook, the skies trembled—this is what it means to see the pinnacle clash. If Reinhart survives it, he'll be stronger for it. If he doesn't… well, he'll have died with one hell of a story."
Mimir sighed in my head.
Mimir: "See, lad? Balance. One dragon scolds you like a nanny, one subordinate lectures you like a strategist, and the last cheers for blood and glory. And there you stand, caught in the middle. Welcome to leadership."
I had a deadpan look. "Sigh... the world is doomed."
But inwardly, a small grin tugged at my lips. Because despite the clash, despite the scorched battlefield, this was exactly what I wanted—companions strong enough to stand at my side, unafraid to speak their truths.