Behind him, Thirteen stood with one of his swords still dripping blood.
"You're too focused on the big attacks," he whispered. "And I only need one precise slash to finish this."
Lucian grinned. Instead of looking hurt, he seemed even more excited.
"You're fast, I'll give you that," he said, the blood on his shoulder instantly evaporating due to the electric heat in his body. "But you still can't kill me."
Lightning began to gather around Lucian, becoming denser until the air vibrated. Small flashes of electricity jumped from one point to another, forming a pattern like a glowing spider web. A low rumble filled the space, as if the sky itself was warning of an impending storm. The dust on the ground began to float, lifted by the increasingly strong energy field, while Lucian's hair stood on end, enveloped by a pulsating aura of electricity.
Thirteen felt the pressure from the energy, but he remained calm. His sharp eyes observed every movement of Lucian, his body relaxed but ready to dart at any moment. His twin swords were held firmly, their tips pointing to the ground, ready to dance in the next fight. He knew that one small mistake could mean defeat, but it wasn't something he worried about.
Lucian lowered his position, then with a speed almost impossible to follow—
"Thunder Dash!"
"Zzzzaaapp!"
His body vanished in a flash of lightning, then suddenly appeared in front of Thirteen with a sword that had been coated in pure electricity.
"Lighting Cleave!"
"Crack!"
Thirteen barely had time to dodge. Lucian's sword slashed straight, and although he managed to tilt his body, the electricity from the attack still hit his arm. A blue flash struck his skin, leaving a black mark that emitted a thin plume of smoke. A piercing heat spread like fire spreading under the skin, causing his muscles to spasm for a moment. His breath caught, but he managed to hold back the sound of pain that almost came out.
"Ssshhhhhh!"
His skin burned, the heat pierced to his nerves. Thirteen gritted his teeth.
'I need to be faster... sharper... deadlier!' he thought.
He took a breath, then his eyes changed. The look in his eyes, which had been cold and calculating, now turned dark and sharp, like a freshly sharpened sword. The shadows around him seemed to close in, forming a kind of dark aura that obscured the shape of his body. The air around him felt colder, in contrast to the heat that was still burning from the wound on his arm.
There was no more smile on his face.
He stepped forward, his body glowing in the shadows.
Lucian raised his sword again, ready to attack. But before he could move, something had happened.
Thirteen had vanished from his sight.
And then...
"Phantom Edge!"
"Sshhtt!" "Clang! Clang! Clang!"
The attacks came from all directions. Not just illusions, not just shadows. Every sword that appeared was real, and Lucian, who could usually read his opponent's movements, now felt like he was facing thousands of attacks at once. The shadows moved with deadly precision, creating an unpredictable attack pattern. The air hissed every time the sword passed, leaving a blurry black trail that slowly evaporated. Lucian spun quickly, trying to block each attack, but the pressure of the attack increased, forcing him to retreat step by step. The sound of clashing metal and roaring lightning thundered like a symphony of chaos, while the ground beneath them shattered into pieces by the uncontrolled energy.
He parried one, two, three... but there were too many!
Then
"Splurr!"
Blood exploded from several parts of his body, small but deep wounds scratched his skin.
Lucian staggered back, his knees slightly wobbly. His breath came in gasps. The drops of blood that fell to the ground hissed like water on a hot pan, instantly evaporating from the remaining electrical energy still surrounding him. The skin around his wounds wrinkled, burned from within by the heat of the lightning that continued to blaze in his veins. Around them, fragments of rock and dust rose slowly, as if gravity no longer applied in this chaotic battlefield.
In front of him, Thirteen stood tall, his swords crossed in front of his chest.
"I told you," he muttered. "I only need one opening."
Lucian hissed, then chuckled. His voice was hoarse, but full of confidence, like a storm that refuses to be extinguished. His injured body shone even brighter, the flow of electricity on his skin glowed brighter, as if the wounds only triggered the anger of the element he controlled. He took one step forward, leaving a bloody footprint that quickly turned black from the energy creeping on the ground.
"I like your style," he said. "But I'm not done yet."
Lightning crackled in the air again.
However, Lucian staggered back a few steps, his palm gripping tightly the hilt of his sword that almost slipped from his grasp. His breath came in gasps as if his lungs were pierced by thorns, each breath shaking his ribs that were probably cracked. His body trembled, not only from the gaping wounds on his shoulder and thigh, but also from the dark energy clinging to his pulse. The bluish-purple flashes that had surrounded his body like a lightning storm now dimmed into erratic flickers, occasionally sparking a faint glow as his blood dripped to the ground. Fresh red liquid continued to ooze from the Phantom Edge, forming a strange spiral pattern as it mixed with the dried blood that had already crusted on the barren ground.
Across the arena, Thirteen bent half-crouched, his right hand gripping a cracked dagger. His breath rumbled like an old engine, his shoulders rising and falling rhythmically, accompanying the heartbeat that pounded to his temples. His left arm gave off the pungent smell of burnt flesh, his skin blistered in a pattern like lightning strikes from the impact of Lightning Cleave earlier. Although he could still clench, every muscle movement felt like stirring live embers in his flesh. His narrowed eyes, half-closed by the smoke of battle, still emitted a cold gleam, his pupils narrowed, focused on watching every flicker of Lucian's movement.
"Ha...hah..." Lucian forced out a hoarse laugh, his reddish teeth clicked in a bitter smile. His hand patted the wound on his stomach in a teasing manner, even though his skin was pale blue. "I guess... cough... I underestimated your speed," he hissed as he spat out a clot of blood that was stuck in his throat. His body bent forward for a moment before he jerked his shoulder back, a shaky but still fiery fighting pose. "But don't think this is already... take a deep breath... enough to bring me down!"