The Ancient Imperial Calendar, Year 1820
Orsman and Ricardo had traveled ten kilometers away from Kislathor to a flat plain.
Curious onlookers wanted to watch them, but Orsman had prohibited all attempts.
The reason was that during the destruction that would ensue, the death of spectators would be inevitable.
Orsman and Ricardo stood side by side as father and son for the last time. Soon, they would become mortal enemies.
Shortly before the death duel with his son was to begin, a memory from the past came to Orsman's mind and slipped from his lips.
"I remember, seventeen years ago, Rodwel Karluk told me something."
Ricardo asked curiously.
"What did he tell you, father?"
Orsman replied.
"He said you possessed great potential and that one day, when you reached your full potential, you would kill me for the Throne."
Upon learning this unknown event, Ricardo showed no reaction.
"So Rodwel was right. And what was your response to Rodwel's warning, father?"
"I told him we've been doing this for a thousand years and will continue to do so. If one day you surpass me, I will accept my fate and take my place on the dusty pages of history."
"That's a very you-like answer, father."
When their final sincere conversation ended, Orsman assumed a stern and serious expression.
"Are you ready?"
Ricardo answered with equal sternness.
"Yes."
A few seconds later, father and son launched their attacks to kill each other. The distance between them closed in the blink of an eye.
Aura-filled swords swung at a celestial speed faster than light, invisible to mortal eyes.
The clash of the two massive Bloodstone swords produced a ringing so intense that mortal ears could not withstand it.
If anyone were watching this duel, their brains would explode and fluid would pour from their ears due to the reverberations of the clashing Aura-filled Bloodstone swords.
"Ghh... What kind of sound is this? If I weren't protecting my ears with my Light Power, my brain would have exploded by now. I wonder if father is in the same situation."
"Ghh... Even with my Light Power protecting me, it still hurts this much. Is Ricardo in the same situation?"
Father and son were unaware: both were experiencing equal difficulty and pain.
The swords continued to swing as if there was no end in sight. Father and son had reached a stalemate.
"This can't go on like this. I must do something and break this cycle."
"I'm sure my son is thinking the same."
Orsman shaped Aura with one hand, creating a second sword, aiming to strike Ricardo.
"Just as I expected."
Ricardo shaped his Aura into a dagger and swiftly hurled it, targeting his father's heart.
"Cunning child."
Orsman dropped the Aura sword, created a shield, and blocked the Aura dagger thrown at him.
"Exactly as I wanted."
Ricardo concentrated his Aura further into his sword and swung it with all his might.
"Ahhhhh!"
Orsman let out a cry of pain for the first time and was thrown back, even shocking himself.
"Ricardo, you truly are a cunning warrior."
Ricardo attacked without giving his father a chance to recover.
"I must not give my father a chance to attack. Now that I have this opportunity, I must corner him as much as possible while I can."
While Orsman deflected Ricardo's attacks, some strikes pierced through his Aura armor.
"No one has been able to pierce my Aura armor since I ascended the throne, my son."
To escape the defense, Orsman used a wind spell to push himself backward and Ricardo forward. He shaped his Aura and hurled it toward Ricardo.
Ricardo created an Aura shield to meet the Aura coming at him in a straight line.
When Orsman's Aura struck Ricardo's shield, Ricardo was thrown back several meters and crashed hard onto the ground.
"That hurt."
He quickly stood up.
"My Aura armor protected my body. I'm not injured."
Orsman charged forward swiftly to take down Ricardo.
Father and son gathered all their remaining Aura into their swords. When they clashed their swords one final time, a massive shockwave threw both of them meters away.
Father and son tumbled hundreds of meters. Both had exhausted their Aura.
Orsman and Ricardo slowly stood up.
Orsman spoke in a proud voice.
"It seems we'll handle the rest with our spells, my son."
Ricardo smiled and nodded.
"It appears so, father."
The War of Swords had ended. Now, the War of Spells had begun.