The two men stood in confrontation, one above and one below. Through the black iron mask, Kayden caught sight of the bloodshot eyes glaring at him, brimming with killing intent.
Sliding back roughly ten meters, Kayden dug his foot into the ground to bring himself to an abrupt stop.
Finally, he stopped.
The surroundings fell into an eerie silence, and all eyes fixed on the ferocious duel unfolding before them.
Firestone remained suspended mid-air, the wind howling violently around him as he leaned on his golden halberd for support. Kayden, still standing firmly on the ground, appeared calm and composed, his demeanor as tranquil as still water. His battered blade clashed against the golden halberd, showing no sign of yielding.
“What a remarkable blade! It can actually withstand a strike from my halberd!” Firestone exclaimed in astonishment.
Kayden smirked and replied, “Why not? After all, my goal is to break your halberd with this very blade.”
Break a golden halberd with a rusty, battered blade? Was he imagining himself in a movie?
“Ha-ha-ha!” Firestone burst into laughter. “What arrogance! Utter ignorance!”
Without wasting another moment, Firestone channeled all his strength into his hands. The halberd surged with power, thrusting toward Kayden’s chest with deadly force. But as Firestone exerted his strength, so did Kayden. The collision of their immense inner forces caused a violent ripple of energy.
Though Kayden couldn’t see Firestone’s face, he could sense the tremor in his opponent’s hands.
Suddenly, Kayden grinned and taunted, “Is that all you’ve got?”
Firestone frowned, taken aback by the remark. Before he could decipher its meaning, Kayden shoved him with tremendous force, sending Firestone’s suspended body hurtling through the air.
“You know nothing of true power!” Kayden declared, his words deliberate and cutting as Firestone flew backward.
Before hitting the ground, Firestone leaped back up, soaring an impressive twenty meters into the air. It was no exaggeration-if he entered an Olympic high jump competition, he’d surely win gold.
When Firestone finally crashed to the ground, the impact sent a thick cloud of dust spiraling into the air. Though disheveled, he clung tightly to his golden halberd.
Kayden, descending from above, came bearing down on Firestone like a collapsing mountain. Firestone’s eyes widened in alarm-if this attack landed, it would be fatal.
With no time to think, Firestone threw himself to the side, narrowly dodging Kayden’s strike.
Kayden’s blade missed its mark, smashing into the ground with a deafening boom. The force of his attack carved a deep fissure into the earth, a gash that stretched ominously forward. The sheer power of the strike was enough to split mountains-such feats were rare in the modern world.
Firestone gasped at the sight of the ravine carved into the ground. Gritting his teeth, he clutched his halberd and pressed forward.
Finally, their weapons clashed head-on. The air filled with the relentless sound of metal on metal as their strikes collided again and again. Their duel was so intense that the onlookers could barely keep up, their eyes darting frantically to follow the action.
Firestone fought with all his might, each strike cautious and deliberate. Every move, whether offensive or defensive, was calculated.
In contrast, Kayden remained composed, his movements relaxed and fluid, exuding an air of effortless confidence.
After dozens of exchanges, Firestone’s attacks began to slow.
With a rallying cry, Firestone raised his halberd and thrust it toward Kayden, the weapon surging forward like a dragon tearing through the heavens.
Just as the halberd neared Kayden, he intercepted it with precision. The sharp clang of metal reverberated as Kayden caught the halberd mid-strike.
Firestone let out a startled grunt, his masked face betraying his shock. No matter how much strength he poured into retrieving the halberd, it refused to budge from Kayden’s iron grip.
Frozen in disbelief, Firestone raised his eyes to meet Kayden’s. The latter’s gaze was calm yet piercing, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.
Their eyes locked, and Kayden spoke coldly, “To fight me like this, I can’t help but wonder what lies beneath your mask.”
With that, Kayden reached out, aiming to rip the mask from Firestone’s face.
Terrified, Firestone stumbled backward, retreating hastily. He abandoned his golden halberd altogether, as though the secret beneath his mask was far more precious than his weapon.
Moments ago, Firestone had clung to the halberd with his life, refusing to let it go even when he was knocked to the ground.
Kayden held the halberd and raised an eyebrow. “Your reaction only makes me more curious about your true face.”
Firestone had always hidden behind his mask. It wasn’t just Kayden who was curious-everyone wondered what he looked like underneath.
Gritting his teeth, Firestone growled, “You… are not worthy to see!”
“Return my halberd!” Firestone shouted, his voice laced with frustration. To be humiliated like this in front of so many disciples was a bitter pill to swallow.
“Return it?” Kayden chuckled, his tone mocking. With a casual toss, he flung the halberd into the air. “Then catch it yourself!”
Firestone instinctively reached for the weapon, but cries from behind him stopped him in his tracks.
“Firestone, stand down!”
The commanding voice came from one of the Grand Lords standing in the crowd. As Firestone hesitated, the golden halberd collided with a formation barrier, producing a resounding boom before crashing to the ground.
The four Grand Lords advanced swiftly, their movements as fast as lightning.
“Enough bloodshed! If you continue this path, you will face divine retribution!” the leading Grand Lord warned sternly.
“Divine retribution?” Kayden stepped forward, his tone filled with disdain. “Do you think I fear divine retribution? Even Hellblazer didn’t scare me. Why should I fear the heavens? If Hellblazer hadn’t slaughtered my Zodiac Generals, do you think I would have crossed paths with them?”
“Do you not understand?” the Grand Lord retorted. “Hellblazer has been the nation’s guardian for over a thousand years. Countless times, when the nation was on the brink of destruction, it was they who saved it. Without Hellblazer, Seclela would have fallen long ago. Do you think your contributions compare to theirs?”
Kayden’s face twitched with anger before he retorted with fiery determination. “Contributions? My Zodiac Generals-each one of them was a hero who bled for this nation! Each one faced death with courage and steel! But Hellblazer slaughtered them without reason, seeking only to control them. Is that what a nation’s guardian should do?”
“Have you not realized? The Nightshade has become a bloodthirsty beast!”
“Kayden,” the Grand Lord said gravely, “whatever they’ve done, Hellblazer remains the nation’s protector. They are not for someone like you to challenge. You may have some skill, but going against them is like an ant trying to topple a tree. It’s futile! Consider this your chance-leave now, and we will forget your massacre of The Nightshade. Do not throw your life away.”
Fixing the elder with a cold glare, Kayden growled, “No one controls me. Not even the heavens!”