The perpetual warmth of the collapsing star bathed the fields of Stella in a heavy, golden glow, turning the endless crops into a sea of swaying light. In the distance, the pristine white wings of roaming Pegasus caught the sweeping winds of the valley, while closer, the massive Surnshine shifted its weight. Its heavy paws made a rhythmic thumping against the cosmic soil as it searched for a ray of light to lie down and bask in, its thick, cloud-like fur rippling as its feathered wings draped over its sides.
Between the giant beast and the golden crops, the girl and Nivk stood frozen—a sharp contrast to the quiet beauty around them. The scent of freshly turned cosmic soil was suddenly cut by the sharp whistle of air as the girl's posture shifted.
The young girl's punch ripped through the air at incredible speed, her fist aimed directly at Nivk's chest. In an instant, Nivk yanked at his hilt from his side—no visible blade attached.Suddenly, as his fingers clasped and gripped along the hilt, Nivk's arm simply vanished. For a terrifying heartbeat, his solid limb and skin turned into a ghostly, translucent silhouette, like a shape made of frosted glass.
Next, a violent, white-hot pulse erupted from the center of his chest, sending a surge of light charging down the hollow limb. A web of golden veins ignited like jagged lightning, surfacing through the translucent sleeve and tethering directly to the hilt.
As the energy flooded the hilt, a unique form of spirit imbued light began to knit together from the base of the hilt, by a foot and a half in length. It wove itself into a solid, tangible blade—a heavy spine of obsidian and gold tipped with a razor-sharp, bone-white edge.With the connection locked, Nivk's tangible limb snapped back into vision. His solid tan skin reappeared in a blink, burying the ghostly image once more, though the golden veins remained visibly flared and bright beneath the surface, vibrating with a hum as they fed the blade's massive weight.
As the girl's punch met Nivk's hilt, the impact cracked the space between them, scattering shimmering shards of light that traveled within the golden winds. With seamless precision, Nivk whipped out his left leg and swept it towards her, catching her by the ankle and knocking her off balance. Then, with an immediate and graceful, swift swing, His light-infused blade slashed—not at her, but just close enough. Leaving behind a shimmering white-gold after-image that trailed his movement like a lingering scar of light.
The golden crops of Stella swaying all around them began to glow, to shimmer, almost singing with a hum of energy before a large burst of light ruptured the ground beneath the girl's feet. The blast sent her howling into the sky, her eyes widened as she tumbled mid-air .And yet, she still grinned.
The Pegasus she had been riding earlier swooped beneath her, catching her just before she could crash back into the ground. She barely wasted a moment's breath, as the winged steed pulled into a violent, tight-lipped loop, swinging upward and over until they were completely inverted against the glow of the collapsing star. She had already begun leveraging herself and feet against the steed's saddle, pouncing off and using the momentum to launch herself again, this time from a different angle.
As she fell, descending toward Nivk like a comet, her right arm reached forward with fingers splayed. The grin she bore earlier only grew wider, her dark hair whipping violently against the lashing golden winds.
Nivk reacted instantly. He slashed the humming, spirit-imbued blade again, the effort causing his golden veins to pulse. The strike sent a razor-thin, curved beam of golden light at her, leaving a wake of shimmering flakes and after-images in its path.
But the girl was ready. Mid-fall, she arched her back, adjusting her form, reverse-limboing around the lethal curve of light as it hissed harmlessly beneath her. Before the beam could even dissipate, she was on him. Her hand clamped onto the collar of Nivk's elite armor, her feet finding purchase on the cosmic soil. In one fluid blur, she shifted into a cartwheel motion, using his own weight against him as she slammed Nivk over her shoulder and into the ground.A thunderous boom shattered the peace of Stella as the impact rippled through the golden fields.
Nivk's back hit the ground with the force of a falling star, sending a shockwave that tore through the farmland. The cosmic soil gave way, the ground splitting and caving in until the floor collapsed into a dark underground tunnel. A cloud of crystallized dust shards erupted into the air, thick and shimmering, leaving only the two silhouettes visible within the haze.
The girl rose first, her chest heaving. Golden beads of liquid, like molten sweat, glistened along her forehead.
"You don't seem like an elite soldier, sure you aren't a poozer?"
She muttered, rolling her shoulders.
Underneath her skin, a web of golden veins began to vibrate and hum. Her light was dimmer than Nivk's, a steady, rhythmic glow rather than his violent flare. But as the veins thrummed, the minor scrapes on her arms knit themselves shut instantly. The golden liquid on her forehead didn't drip; it simply dissipated, sinking back into her body, reclaiming the spent energy.
"I mean, my Dodma is a real Elite,"
She added, her eyes flashing with a mix of pride and mockery.
"I've seen those same moves without the user performing as if their light was dampened. My Dodma would've ended this fight before we even hit the ground."
Nivk groaned, pushing himself up. Seeing the blade was useless in such close quarters, he let the spirit energy dissipate like mist, leaving him holding only the empty hilt. He slid it back to his side, latching it onto his hip with a metallic click as he squared his shoulders.
"Yeah, well. You're far from most flicker-faced Decapremais. Wait.... what's your Dodma's name?"
The girl wiped her brow, scoffing.
"Jevohan Robinstar."
Nivk's eyes narrowed. His expression dropped into a shocked stare. This girl's dad was the Cowboy of the clouds himself?