Saland stood before Beckbosbal, their gazes locked in an intense stare, a silent prelude to the storm about to break. In the blink of an eye, both warriors shifted, adopting stances that spoke of coiled power and imminent violence. Then, Saland's voice cut through the tense air, a command and an incantation all in one: "admin mode instal elf dive admin mode!"
The very air around Saland shimmered, then exploded into a vibrant azure. His "admin mode instal" had taken hold, manifesting as a colossal aura of pure, cerulean energy that billowed around him like a living storm cloud. Behind his back, from the heart of this radiant energy, countless rays of azure light shot forth, weaving and coalescing until they formed two majestic wings, crackling with power. His sword, already formidable, elongated and broadened, the steel taking on a deeper sheen, and upon its surface, glowing characters materialized, spelling out the single word: "EXSTAR." Finally, intricate lines of azure energy snaked across his entire body, a living circuit of immense power.
Across from him, Beckbosbal remained unmoving for a heartbeat, his grip tightening on the haft of his brutal axe. Then, with a primal surge, he too lunged forward. It was as if a coiled spring had been released, both figures blurring into streaks of motion. Their weapons met in a cataclysmic impact, a deafening clang that echoed through the virtual space, accompanied by a shockwave that rippled outwards, distorting the very air. They sprang back, momentarily separated by the force of their collision, only to immediately launch into a dizzying flurry of slashes, each strike a near-invisible arc of lethal intent.
"EXSTAR SHOT!" Saland's voice boomed, and from the tip of his empowered blade, a lance of pure azure energy shot forth, aimed squarely at Beckbosbal. But the glitch was ready. A malevolent crimson aura erupted around him, a shield of raw power that met the azure beam head-on. With a guttural snarl, Beckbosbal swung his axe, cleaving the energy lance in two, and in the same motion, attempted to bring his weapon down upon Saland. Yet, with impossible speed, Saland vanished, reappearing in the space directly behind Beckbosbal, his sword already poised for a strike. Beckbosbal reacted with lightning reflexes, whirling around, but Saland, with a precision born of skill and power, thrust the tip of his blade into the glitch's stomach. Even as Beckbosbal staggered, he retaliated, his own axe leaving a crimson trail as it slashed diagonally across Saland's chest. Both warriors recoiled, creating distance once more, their eyes locked, each silently dissecting the other's capabilities.
Saland's hand instinctively went to the gash on his chest, a dark stain blooming on his armor. He knew the nature of glitch-wounds; they resisted conventional healing, a lingering corruption within the code itself. But not impossible, a stubborn part of him insisted. Beckbosbal's voice, laced with a chilling certainty, shattered that fragile hope. "Don't even think about healing that so easily. My singularity… it's Fury. Every blow I take, every wound I receive, only makes me stronger. And these injuries I inflict? They cling, unyielding, until my Fury subsides."
A cold resolve hardened Saland's gaze. "Then all I need to do is eliminate you before that happens!" He exploded forward, a blur of azure light, his sword aimed for a decisive strike. But Beckbosbal met his attack, the crimson of his aura flaring as his axe intercepted the blow. A confident, unsettling smile stretched across the glitch's face. The crimson aura around him intensified, pulsing with raw power. Beckbosbal sidestepped Saland's blade, his axe now aimed at the elf's neck. But Saland was already moving, teleporting in a flash of azure light to the space above Beckbosbal. "EXSTAR RAIN OF LIGHT!" he roared, his sword pointing skyward. Instantly, a torrential downpour of azure energy beams rained down upon Beckbosbal.
The glitch moved with astonishing agility, a crimson blur against the azure onslaught, making desperate dashes to evade the relentless energy. With a furious bellow, he hurled his axe, the weapon spinning through the air at an unbelievable velocity, striking Saland's right shoulder with brutal force and embedding itself deep within his flesh. Saland didn't even flinch. "EXSTAR STARDUST!" he declared, unleashing a horizontal slash so swift it tore through the air, leaving behind a shimmering arc of light. Where the light touched, miniature explosions bloomed, a cascade of stellar brilliance that slammed into Beckbosbal. The glitch staggered, but even as he reeled, he lunged, his fist connecting with a sickening crunch against Saland's nose. Blood sprayed, a crimson fan against the azure light. But Saland, ignoring the pain, swung the flat of his blade, a brutal counter that sent Beckbosbal stumbling back, clutching at the embedded axe in Saland's shoulder, tearing it free in a spray of blood and digital gore. A searing pain shot through Saland, but Beckbosbal pressed his advantage, raising his axe for a finishing blow. "EXSTAR SLASH!" Saland roared, unleashing a concentrated wave of azure energy that slammed into Beckbosbal's chest.
Both combatants were gasping for breath, their bodies battered and bruised. Blood trickled from Saland's nose, his shoulder throbbed with agony, and the gash on his chest burned like fire, yet he stood firm, his grip unwavering on his sword. Beckbosbal, though visibly damaged, radiated an increasingly potent crimson aura, and the energy slash that had struck him was already beginning to knit back together, pixel by pixel.
With a shared, unspoken understanding, they surged towards each other once more, a blur of clashing steel and raw energy. The impact of their weapons sent another shockwave rippling through the virtual arena, and they dissolved into a whirlwind of impossibly fast strikes, each parry and riposte a testament to their honed skills. Suddenly, Saland unleashed a focused beam of azure energy, but Beckbosbal sidestepped it with practiced ease, immediately following up with a sweeping axe strike. But Saland was no longer fighting on instinct alone. He moved with a newfound speed, a series of rapid teleports that painted streaks of azure light around Beckbosbal, attempting to exploit any opening in the glitch's defenses. He managed to land a glancing blow, a thin line of light appearing on Beckbosbal's arm. Yet, the glitch remained unyielding, retaliating with a brutal strike from the shaft of his axe, followed by a desperate downward swing. Saland managed to intercept the blow with his sword, but Beckbosbal channeled his crimson energy into his weapon, the axe vibrating with power, shattering Saland's parry. The glitch pressed his advantage, his axe arcing towards Saland's exposed side. In a desperate move, Saland teleported again, a blinding flash of azure, and managed to score a deep gash along Beckbosbal's flank. They separated once more, locked in a furious exchange of rapid blows. But Saland felt it – the oppressive weight of Beckbosbal's aura was reaching its zenith.
With a guttural roar, Beckbosbal unleashed a wide, sweeping arc of crimson energy, forcing Saland to retreat. "This… this is the first time I've been pushed this far! I'm about to reach my full one hundred percent!" Beckbosbal bellowed, his form radiating an almost unbearable heat. Saland's breath hitched in his throat. His wounds screamed in protest, but beneath the pain, he felt a surge, a wellspring of azure power rising within him. Suddenly, Beckbosbal launched another crimson energy slash, a direct hit aimed at Saland's chest. The elf raised his sword to parry, but in that same instant, Beckbosbal moved with impossible speed, appearing behind Saland and scoring a deep, agonizing gash across his back. Saland reacted instantly, spinning around, but Beckbosbal was already upon him, unleashing a relentless barrage of axe strikes, each infused with searing crimson energy. Saland struggled to deflect the onslaught, his movements growing sluggish under the relentless assault. A brutal punch to the stomach sent him reeling backward, his breath knocked from his lungs. His injuries were severe, threatening to overwhelm him, yet the azure power within him continued to build. Beckbosbal pressed his attack, his axe descending in a swift, deadly arc, but Saland, with a surge of adrenaline, managed to parry the blow.
Then, it happened. Saland's azure aura erupted, an incandescent wave of pure energy that washed over the battlefield. His azure eyes blazed with an inner light, and upon his forehead, a third eye snapped open, a swirling vortex of pure foresight! Beckbosbal stumbled backward, his crimson aura flickering in disbelief. "That… that's the survival instinct… pushing him to one hundred and twenty percent?!" he gasped. The one hundred and twenty percent. A legendary threshold, achievable only in the face of absolute annihilation, a desperate surge that unlocked dormant potential, amplifying every facet of an individual's power. Saland had unlocked the eye of foresight before, a tactical advantage that had saved him countless times. But the one hundred and twenty percent… that was uncharted territory.
Saland settled into a new stance, his movements fluid and precise, the air around him crackling with raw power. "I don't understand the reason for this surge," he stated, his voice resonating with newfound strength, "but if it means I can defeat you… I will use every last ounce of it!" He moved then, a blur of azure light so fast that Beckbosbal could only perceive a multitude of shimmering lines tracing his path. Saland's attack was instantaneous, a swift, precise strike that Beckbosbal had no time to counter. A pained roar ripped from the glitch's throat as the blow landed, and a violent explosion of crimson aura erupted around him. He desperately tried to track Saland's movements, but the elf was a phantom, shifting and striking with impossible speed. Suddenly, Saland reappeared directly in front of the glitch, his sword aimed for the kill. Beckbosbal reacted on pure instinct, raising his double-bladed axe to parry. But Saland, guided by the all-seeing eye, saw ten seconds into the future. He adjusted his strike mid-swing, his blade slipping past Beckbosbal's parry and piercing his chest. The glitch teleported backward, his crimson aura flickering erratically. "I… I never expected to be outmatched at my full power… but now… now I'll show you my absolute maximum!"
Beckbosbal took a deep breath, and the crimson aura around him swelled, condensing and solidifying until his double-bladed axe pulsed with malevolent energy. Saland mirrored his stance, his own azure aura burning with an almost celestial intensity, preparing to unleash his ultimate attack. They moved as one, two streaks of light hurtling towards each other. But Saland was faster, his speed now exceeding Beckbosbal's by a significant margin. The glitch swung his double-bladed axe, unleashing a devastating wave of crimson energy, but Saland, with a final burst of speed, sliced through the energy wave and appeared directly behind Beckbosbal. "You… you didn't even…" Beckbosbal began, but the words died in his throat. Before he could finish, countless lines of brilliant golden light erupted across his body, tearing through his armor, his flesh, and finally, the very core of his being.
Saland stood amidst the fading echoes of power, his chest heaving, his body aching, but victorious. The four glitch defenders of the system bug had finally fallen.