The battlefield was cloaked in a restless silence, pierced only by the distant hum of energy flaring along the sacred lines Kaleb's forces had drawn. The Holy Crusade against the Neutral Faction was fully underway, banners of gold and white raised high in the light of Kaleb's Tier 8 Affinity. But as they pushed deeper into enemy territory, the air grew colder, denser, almost unnatural.
And then came the shadows. From within the darkness, figures emerged, faceless, smooth-moving soldiers carved from ink and hate. They stepped with eerie synchronization, surrounding the edges of Kaleb's battalion like a noose tightening. "What is this..." murmured Blair Thornecrest, twirling a blood-forged dagger between her fingers.
Her brother George flexed his fists eagerly, already grinning. "Finally. Something fun."
A long shadow spilled across the cracked ground like spilled oil. From it stepped a lone figure, all lean and wrapped in a black trench coat that flared in the breeze. His hair was jet black, his eyes glowing a cold gray. He carried no visible weapon, but the pressure that accompanied him made the air tremble. "Nevin Duskgrave," Kaleb said, his tone even, but with an edge of recognition.
Nevin nodded. "Kaleb. I'm here for a duel. One-on-one. Our soldiers can battle it out, but I want you."
Blair stepped forward, cocking her head, a teasing glint in her crimson eyes. "How rude. You ignored my brother and me."
She pulled back her arm, conjuring a crimson arrow of blood, and flung it at Nevin. The air split. CLANG. The arrow was severed clean in mid-air by a knight dressed in all black, wielding a greatsword nearly as tall as two men. His movements were silent. The arrow fell to the earth in pieces.
Before George could react, a sudden force slammed into his stomach, sending him tumbling back. He landed with a grunt, coughing. "WHY is it always me?!"
Nevin ignored them entirely. "Kaleb."
Kaleb sighed and stepped forward. "You are the definition of persistent. Fine. Let's see what makes you tick."
With no more words, Kaleb lifted his hand and unleashed a blinding wave of light. It roared forward, illuminating the battlefield and vaporizing anything in its path. But Nevin was gone. The shadows around him surged like a storm, enveloping him. When the wave of light reached the shadows, it dissipated into nothing.
Kaleb turned sharply, already preparing a counter. BAM! A punch landed square on his back, launching him forward. He twisted in mid-air, launching another burst of light beneath his feet to stabilize himself. Nevin stood calmly behind where Kaleb had just been, brushing off his sleeve. Meanwhile, the battlefield erupted.
Kaleb's holy warriors charged the shadow soldiers, casting spells of fire, earth, and wind. To their shock, the shadows responded in kind, flames against flames, blades against blades, powers mirrored in terrifying synchronization.
"They can use affinities?!" one soldier cried out.
Back in the duel, Kaleb and Nevin were nothing but flickers of light and shadow, moving too quickly for the untrained eye to follow. Light beams cut across the field, swallowed by darkness. Shadow strikes cracked the ground, disrupted only by radiant counters. Kaleb frowned. He had to end this. He leapt backward, planting his feet with precision. Behind him, radiant limbs of light began to form, extra arms, shaped from his affinity. Each one charged a light wave.
Nevin, sensing something, dashed forward. Kaleb smirked. "Now." The arms fired. Beams of light surged forward, catching Nevin dead-on. The light was pure, focused. A shadow like his had no place under such divine brilliance. His body vanished within the radiance. But Kaleb frowned. BOOM! Nevin reappeared behind him again, this time with blood dripping from his fists. His punch slammed across Kaleb's cheek, spinning him sideways. Another one followed, cracking into Kaleb's ribs.
He stumbled back, breathing heavily. Blood trickled from his nose, and he remembered. His past trauma acted up with full force as he looked at the blood from his nose, he remembered the memories that he kept deeply hidden in his arrogance and pride. The fists that had once beaten him in the halls of the Lionheart estate. The sneers. The food was ripped from his hands. The cries for a mother who was never there to protect him. The uncaring eyes of a father who didn't acknowledge him.
The pain boiled. His eyes lit up with a fury as his pupils dilated. Kaleb locked the fuck in as he let out a guttural roar and charged, light slashes forming blades around his fists. He swung relentlessly, forcing Nevin on the defensive. Nevin grunted, barely blocking the first wave. "You're fighting angry. Sloppy."
"SHUT UP!" Kaleb yelled. Back and forth they went, light and shadow weaving across the battlefield like a painting made of chaos. Nevin was tired of the constant assault as he looked for any opening in his opponent's guard. When he found one, he pounced on it like a leopard. Nevin moved him to punch him in the ribs, but Kaleb used his foot to gather light and hit him with a light wave.
{Outside world}
High above, in the floating arena tower, Professor Blinkaloff, the famed Blindfolded Professor, sat forward, his expression unreadable. "He's using light... creatively. Very creatively."
Another instructor, a mage who looked like he could be blown away by the wind, nodded, "He's shaping it beyond conventional constructs. He understands it on a personal level."
Across the world, viewers in grand halls and modest homes watched the broadcast. Mages of every age leaned in, astonished. Some whispered of light gods. Others speculated that Kaleb was breaking the very foundation of affinity theory.
{Battlefield}
Nevin, as usual, tried the same tactic again as he reappeared behind Kaleb. This, however, Kaleb extended his arms. With his affinity, he gathered a pulse of solidified light beneath his feet. "Light Blink Wave," he muttered. The explosion launched him backward—no, forward. Right into Nevin. The back of Kaleb's skull clashed against Nevin's nose with a sickening CRACK. Nevin reeled back, blood spraying from his face.
Both warriors staggered. Nevin straightened up, wiping his face. Kaleb exhaled slowly, still catching his breath. The bruises, blood, and fatigue showed on them both. They stared at one another. Anger, Respect, Frustration, Admiration flashed in their eyes as they looked into each, then slowly moved together as they kissed in a liplock.
Sike!, just kidding as they saw into each other's eyes. Both of them understood, this wasn't just a standoff, not just of strength, but of upbringing, of will. One was raised in rags while the other was treated like the king. Kaleb raised a hand, light crackling across his fingers. Nevin flexed his fists, shadows curling around his forearms. No words were needed. Round two was coming.