The dust still lingered in the air as the General's body began to move among the debris.
I remained still.
The new form of the sword still glowed in my hand, pulsing as if it were alive.
But what I saw before me didn't make sense.
The body I had split in half was rebuilding itself.
Slower than before.
Much slower.
Even so… it was happening.
The flesh reconnected.
The bones reorganized.
The dark skin once again covered the destroyed parts.
The General slowly stood up among the broken stones of the fortress.
He took a deep breath.
Like someone who had just come out from underwater.
Then he looked at me.
"That strike… was truly impressive."
My hand tightened around the sword's hilt.
"You should be dead."
He tilted his head slightly.
"I should."
Then he took a few steps forward.
The regeneration continued as he walked.
But now it was much slower.
Almost heavy.
I could see the difference.
"You're reaching your limit," I said.
He stopped.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Not exactly."
My heart started beating faster.
Something in the way he said that put me on alert.
"Then what's happening?"
He raised one of his hands and observed the fingers still rebuilding.
"You destroyed this body."
He said it simply.
Naturally.
As if talking about something trivial.
"But this body is not my real one."
Silence fell over the devastated field.
I felt a chill run down my spine.
"What do you mean?"
He looked straight into my eyes.
"This."
He pointed to himself.
"Is just a copy."
For a few seconds, my mind simply refused that information.
"A… copy?"
He nodded.
"Created with part of my power."
My mind began to piece things together.
The absurd regeneration.
The way he fought without concern.
The seemingly infinite endurance.
Everything made sense now.
"So the real one…"
"Is alive."
He finished the sentence.
"Watching."
My stomach tightened.
"From where?"
He looked up at the dark sky above the forest.
"From very far away."
I remained silent.
My entire body ached.
My energy was practically exhausted.
I had used everything in that sword transformation.
And even so…
That was just a copy.
The General watched my reaction calmly.
"You fought very well."
He said it sincerely.
"For a human."
I took a deep breath.
My body felt heavy.
Each breath felt like pulling fire into my lungs.
Even so, I kept my sword raised.
"If this is a copy…"
He raised an eyebrow.
"Then destroying you is still useful."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Yes."
He slightly opened his arms.
"Because this body still contains a considerable portion of my power."
The regeneration finished.
His body was whole again.
But I could clearly see it.
His energy had decreased.
The copy was weaker now.
The problem was…
So was I.
Much more.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
"You're almost out of energy."
I didn't respond.
He continued.
"Your body is also at its limit."
I took another deep breath.
My heart pounded in my chest.
My vision was beginning to darken at the edges.
But I couldn't retreat now.
If I fell there…
Everything would end.
The forest would fall.
People would die.
Liriel.
Elara.
Vespera.
Rai'kanna.
Lyannis.
I tightened my grip on the sword.
The General watched.
And then spoke again.
"Even so…"
He tilted his head slightly.
"You're still here."
I stepped forward.
"Because I'm not finished yet."
He gave a small smile.
"I like that answer."
The wind passed through the ruins of the fortress.
Carrying the scent of broken stone and torn earth.
The sword in my hand still emitted a soft glow.
But I could clearly feel it.
The energy of the transformation was fading.
My body was becoming heavier and heavier.
If that fight continued much longer…
I would fall first.
The General took a step forward.
Then another.
His presence began to press against the air around us again.
Even as just a copy.
He was still monstrously strong.
He stopped a few meters away.
"I'll be honest."
He said.
"You have already exceeded my expectations."
I kept my gaze steady.
"But that doesn't change the outcome."
He slowly raised his sword.
The black blade reflected the little light that remained on the devastated field.
"You fought to your limit."
He pointed the sword at me.
"Now let's see…"
His magical pressure increased.
"…if you can surpass it."
The ground beneath our feet began to crack again.
The wind around us grew heavier.
My entire body screamed to stop.
But my mind refused.
I raised the sword once more.
Took a deep breath.
And prepared my body to continue.
Because in that moment I knew one thing.
If I fell now…
There would be no second chance.
The General advanced.
And the battle began again.