The wind crossed the devastated field as I kept my sword raised in front of my body.
That fight had already gone beyond anything I had ever faced before.
Every muscle in my body complained.
My breathing was heavy.
The accumulated wounds burned like fire beneath my skin.
But the General was no longer fighting with the same ease as before.
I could see that now.
His movements were still fast.
His strength was still monstrous.
But the regeneration… it no longer happened at the same speed.
He also had a limit.
And I was pushing him toward that point.
The General watched me in silence.
His gaze was different now.
It was no longer just analysis.
There was recognition there.
"You are persistent," he said.
I let out some of the air trapped in my chest.
"I don't have a choice."
He tilted his head slightly.
"You do. Running away is always an option."
"Not when there are a hundred thousand demons on your side wanting to destroy everything."
He didn't respond.
He simply advanced again.
The strike came from above.
I blocked.
The impact shook my arms.
He immediately turned his body and attacked from the side.
I barely dodged.
My sword answered with a diagonal cut that opened his chest.
Dark blood splashed into the air.
The wound began to close.
But slower than before.
I advanced.
I didn't give him time.
Another cut crossed his leg.
Then another on the shoulder.
He blocked the fourth attack.
The fifth passed through his defense and tore across his back.
The regeneration began again.
But now I could see it clearly.
Slower.
Heavier.
He stepped back a few paces.
Took a deep breath.
For the first time since the start of the battle, his expression changed slightly.
It wasn't fear.
But something close to concern.
I tightened my grip on the sword.
My vision blurred for a moment.
Fatigue was catching up to my body.
I had used almost all my energy.
If that fight continued much longer, I would probably fall first.
I knew that.
He knew that too.
The General raised his sword again.
"Your plan is working," he said.
"But you are also reaching your limit."
I didn't argue.
Because it was true.
He advanced again.
The strikes came like a storm.
I blocked two.
Dodged a third.
The fourth broke through my defense and opened a deep cut on my left side.
Pain exploded through my body.
Even so, I continued.
I turned the sword and attacked.
A wide cut crossed his abdomen.
Then another.
Then another.
I was no longer trying to find perfect points.
I was simply pressing.
Forcing his regeneration to work without stopping.
He blocked one strike.
I attacked again.
And again.
The blade cut his arm.
The regeneration began.
But it took longer.
Much longer.
The General noticed.
I did too.
But at that moment something unexpected happened.
The sword in my hand began to vibrate.
At first it was a light tremor.
Almost imperceptible.
Then it grew stronger.
I glanced quickly at the blade.
A faint light began to emerge along the metal.
Glowing lines appeared like veins of energy running through the entire length of the sword.
The General noticed as well.
He stopped advancing.
Watched the weapon closely.
"So you've reached this point."
I frowned.
"What is happening?"
The voice of the sword echoed in my mind.
Clear.
Firm.
"Your body has reached its limit. Your spirit as well."
The light on the blade intensified.
"But your will continues to advance."
I felt the energy running through my arm.
Climbing through my shoulder.
Spreading across my chest.
"That is why the next form has been released."
The blade shone intensely.
The shape of the sword began to change.
The metal lengthened a few centimeters.
The guard expanded into elegant, luminous lines.
Ancient symbols appeared engraved along the surface of the blade.
The weight of the weapon changed.
But it didn't become harder to control.
On the contrary.
It felt lighter.
More natural.
As if it had always been this way.
The General watched everything in silence.
Then he spoke.
"Interesting."
I raised the new sword.
The energy flowing from it was completely different.
Much denser.
Much more alive.
"First transformation complete," said the sword's voice.
"Use it wisely, Great Hero."
I took a deep breath.
The General gave a small smile.
"Show me."
He advanced.
But this time, I was the one who moved first.
My body shot forward.
Much faster than before.
The sword cut through the air in a wide arc.
The impact was brutal.
The wave of energy exploded forward.
The ground cracked.
Distant trees were torn down by the pressure.
The fortress hall behind the General simply split apart.
The blade cut through his body.
From shoulder to waist.
The impact threw his body against the ruins of the destroyed structure.
Giant stones collapsed.
A cloud of dust rose into the sky.
The entire battlefield fell silent.
I remained still.
Breathing heavily.
The sword still glowing in my hands.
The dust began to settle slowly.
The rubble was scattered everywhere.
And in the center of it…
The General's body lay there.
Split.
Motionless.
I watched for a few seconds.
Without moving.
Without speaking.
The wind passed through the ruins.
Carrying the dust of destruction away.
For a moment, I thought it was over.
But then…
Something moved among the debris.
And a calm voice echoed once more across the devastated field.
"That was an impressive strike."
My entire body tensed.
The pieces of his body began to move.
The flesh began to rebuild.
Much more slowly.
But still…
Regenerating.
The General rose from the rubble.
His body still recomposing.
His gaze fixed on me.
And then he spoke.
"But it's not over yet."