The supreme commander of Omi's army watched the fight with a careful gaze, his eyes registering every detail.
"He's not finished yet," Boise said with a faint, approving nod.
Gor was breathing heavily under his armor. His face glistened with sweat as he focused on the man before him.
The clash of steel had become a symphony of power, a rhythm of chaos and control. Gor's muscles burned, his breath came in ragged gasps, but his spirit remained unbroken. His father was not going to go all out, but he had to create an opening—one he would not waste.
With a surge of energy, Gor planted his foot and spun, his dark blade carving through the air with deadly precision. Bale shifted, sidestepping just enough to avoid the edge, but the air itself seemed to ripple from the sheer force of the strike. The ground beneath them cracked, the force of the missed attack sending out a shockwave that pushed dust and debris outward.
Bale countered with a lightning-quick thrust, the Lightless sword moving so fast that only the shimmer of its eerie glow marked its path. Gor barely had time to react, raising his blade just in time to parry. The impact was very heavy for Gor's child muscles, and sent tremors up his arm, his fingers nearly losing their grip, but he held on, gritting his teeth as he pushed back.
The moment their blades disengaged, Bale advanced. His movements were precise, methodical, like a craftsman sculpting his masterpiece. Follow-up strikes followed in barrages. Each strike was delivered with purpose, forcing Gor into a desperate defense. Left, right, downward slash—Bale's relentless offensive was overwhelming, pushing Gor to his absolute limit.
But Gor had not come this far to falter now.
Just as another blow descended, Gor twisted his body to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike. Using the momentum, he lunged low, bringing his sword in a sweeping arc aimed at Bale's legs. But Bale leapt effortlessly, flipping mid-air, his cloak billowing behind him as he landed with the grace of a seasoned warrior.
The moment his feet touched the ground, Gor acted.
His sword pulsed with dark energy as he brought it downward, slamming it into the ground.
In that moment, without taking a step to steady and ready himself, he performed the first sword; Great slash.
Black tendrils of energy erupted, racing toward Bale with terrifying speed. The crowd gasped as the dark power surged, threatening to engulf everything in its path.
Bale's eyes narrowed. With a single motion, he swung the Lightless sword downward, unleashing a wave of energy that cleaved through Gor's attack. The two forces collided in an explosion of power, sending both combatants skidding backward, and dust rising in thick plumes around them.
Then came the moment Gor had been waiting for.
As the dust obscured vision, Gor focused every ounce of his remaining energy into his sword. The dark flames within the blade roared to life, crackling like a caged beast unleashed. With a final roar, he swung forward, sending the inferno hurtling toward Bale. A move even Bale had not expected.
The firestorm rushed forward, twisting and turning as if alive. The force of it was immense, enough to make even the seasoned warriors in the crowd take a step back. It swallowed Bale's form whole, the arena bathed in its unholy glow.
A deafening silence followed.
As the flames settled, all eyes turned to the spot where Bale had stood. The ground was scorched, molten cracks running through the stone. The air itself shimmered from the heat.
And yet, as the smoke cleared, Bale remained standing, unharmed.
His sword was raised before him, its radiance untouched by the darkness that had sought to consume him. He had not moved, had not countered. He had simply withstood the attack, proving once again the chasm of strength that still lay between father and son.
Gor's chest heaved. His armor, pulsing with spent energy, dimmed as the runes that once blazed with power flickered and faded, as if they had run out of juice. Gor's body ached. He had given it everything.
Zira broke the stunned silence. "I can't believe he was not hurt by that." She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "Sometimes I forget Bale himself is a monster."
The other generals nodded in quiet agreement, their gazes locked on the man who had just shrugged off a strike that could have decimated lesser warriors.
The captain and her men were frozen in disbelief. The sheer magnitude of Gor's attack was something they could not fathom surviving themselves. If they had been standing in Bale's place, there would have been nothing left of them.
Gor clicked his tongue, his grip on his sword loosening. He knew this was the end. No, he had never expected to win. He just wanted to see where he stood, and the answer was clear.
With a sigh, he unsummoned his blade. The darkness receded, vanishing into nothingness. Without another word, he turned away, his back to his father as he walked toward the edge of the arena.
Bale watched his son for a moment, an unreadable expression on his face. Then, he too released his grip on his sword. The Lightless blade faded into the void, its eerie glow disappearing like mist in the wind. A faint smile touched his lips as he turned and walked in the opposite direction.
And just like that, the duel was over.