Kael took a step forward with his silver eyes narrowed. He raised a hand, gesturing sharply. "Mira. Sera. Take the others and go."
The words cut through the silence like a blade.
Mira blinked. "Hold on. What?"
"No," Sera snapped, shaking her head as she notched another arrow. "Absolutely not. You can't take him on alone."
Kael didn't look back. "I need space and full concentration. If he's half as strong as I think, you'll just get in the way."
Mira's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "We can help."
Kael turned his head slightly. "And if you guys die trying, who saves the others?"
That made them freeze.
His eyes shifted toward the royals who were still shaken and too stunned to speak. "Get them to a safe place. That's an order."
Sera's jaw clenched, a bit vexed at his commanding attitude, but strangely, she couldn't berate him. Mira also looked like she wanted to argue, but in the end, she just bit her lip and nodded.
"Fine," Sera growled. "But if you die, I'm going to bring you back just to kill you again."
Kael gave a crooked grin. "Deal."
Without another word, Mira and Sera led them down the slope of the fractured stone, shadows engulfed them as they went further into the gorge.
Kael was the only one left standing against Lord Arid.
As the others disappeared, the noble's grin faded. There was a silent rage burning beneath the surface as his gaze returned to Kael.
"So... you believe you can stand on your own against me?" His voice was cold and low as he asked.
Kael's stance shifted. He stood light on his feet, his blade held low and ready. "I know I can."
Arid's expression darkened. "Paper tigers like you are the ones I detest the most. All growl and no bite. I hope this is not something you come to regret seconds from now."
Kael let loose a confident smirk. "Don't worry…"
His dagger gleamed as he burst forward in a blur of motion.
"…I won't."
SWOOSH!
Steel met Shadow.
Kael arched his blade low, aiming it at Arid's ribcage—
—Dusk Step—
But in a swirl of black mist, the noble disappeared.
Already anticipating the move, Kael twisted. Predator's Instincts flared in his mind and an unseen force pulled his senses to the left. He ducked.
—Phantom Edge—
A blade coated in pure darkness hissed past his head.
Kael fell to the ground and kicked out. His foot made contact with a solid object, Arid's shin.
The noble stumbled, but only for a second. He held up his hand.
—Shadow Grasp—
His own shadow twisted like a serpent, shooting up Kael's leg and locking around his calf like a shackle.
Kael's eyes widened.
His dagger hummed softly with residual energy as he lunged downward and slashed it into the binding shadow.
The shadow cracked and hissed before dissolving in a cloud of puff.
Kael threw himself backward, spinning to get some distance between them. His eyes scanned the darkness as he landed in a crouch, breathing steadily.
Arid's shadow swirled at his feet as he stood opposite him.
"You're faster than I expected," Arid admitted.
Kael's lips curved. "And you're slower than I expected."
Arid's smile vanished instantly. His next step was faster, sharper, and filled with rage.
Kael surged forward to meet him head-on.
Their blades clashed once again. Sparks went flying. Shadow and steel danced under the pale glow of flickering torchlight above the gorge.
Kael made two parries. He ducked beneath a sweeping arc and countered with a thrust aimed at Arid's throat.
But his attempt was too obvious.
Arid leaned back, letting the blade scrape along his coat with not a scratch.
Kael wasn't finished, though. He made a feint, twisted his frame, and came in low with a stab aimed for the thigh.
Arid took a sidestep, reappearing behind Kael with another Dusk Step.
A shadow blade slashed out.
Kael turned at the last second, throwing up his arm defensively. The blade sliced along his forearm, drawing blood. But he didn't cry out.
Instead, he grinned through gritted teeth.
Adaptive Regeneration kicked in. The wound pulsed, then slowly started to close.
"You heal fast," Arid muttered.
Kael responded by lunging again.
Shadow scraped against steel as their blades collided in midair. Now, Kael's strikes were more instinctive and less reserved.
Night Predator amplified his vision and was able to read the faintest movements of Arid's shoulders, hips, and fingers.
Kael was fluid, quick, and relentless, like water flowing over stone. His blade flicked upward, meeting Arid's shadow slash with a metallic clang that echoed through the gorge.
The impact forced Kael back a step, his heels digging into the cracked earth. Arid pressed forward, sweeping low with a follow-up strike meant to sever the tendon from the bone.
Kael jumped.
The edge of the blade missed by a breath.
He landed in a crouch, grit crunching beneath his boots. Before Arid could recover from his attack, Kael darted in with a tight arc of his dagger, slicing through the air toward the noble's ribs.
Arid blocked the attack, but the force still knocked him sideways.
Kael chased the momentum; each of his steps was sharp and purposeful. He didn't let Arid breathe. A flurry of quick jabs followed without pause—one, two, three—and the fourth forced Arid to duck or risk losing half his jaw.
Still, Kael didn't stop. He spun, the blade flipping in his hand, and then he struck downwards.
Arid barely managed to block the dagger with his own weapon. The two locked together, their faces inches apart, sweat and fury were evident on every line and contour in their faces.
"You're not bad," Arid muttered, his teeth clenched.
Kael's reply came with a low growl. "You talk too much."
He twisted his weapon, trying to break the lock. Arid resisted for a second, then released his hold with a burst of shadow, vanishing from Kael's grip.