Albert raises his brows.
"Hmph?!" he murmurs.
CRAK!
Leon's feet press into the ground, causing it to crack.
SKHWAAHMN!
Leon suddenly charges straight forward at tremendous speed.
Albert lowers his head slightly.
DUK!
He begins walking calmly toward the oncoming Leon.
"I do not know what I should do," he murmurs.
DAK!
He continues moving closer.
"Should I..."
He raises his head once more.
DUK!
Again, he looks at Leon with sincere eyes.
"...stop you?"
His eyes begin to close once more.
DAK!
Albert's pace steadily quickens without pause.
"But how?!"
CRTAK—KTHAAHMNH!
Leon suddenly comes to a halt. Both feet dig deeply into the ground as he draws one arm behind his body. Yet dozens of steps still separate them.
BRAK!
Albert abruptly stops as well. His eyes are now completely closed.
"But I..." he says.
KRTAK—SKHWAASHM!
He suddenly bursts straight forward.
"...have to find Loki and see him," he continues.
His strides rapidly erase the dozens of steps between them until only a few remain—
Albert raises his brows.
SLHAAHMNHHH!
—He immediately lifts his cane sword into the air.
KRRRTKK!
His grip tightens even further around the hilt.
The two face each other directly, both launching swift attacks straight ahead—
KTPAAAAAAAAAHMNH!
Another thunderous air explosion erupts between them.
"His nature and personality..."
Albert sweeps his sword again, drawing it swiftly back after thrusting it straight forward to counter Leon's attack, while Leon deflects Albert's slash.
Both are blown away by the dust rising between them.
CTHAHMN—CTHUHMNH!
They land on the ground once more.
SLASH—SWUSH!
Their feet drag across the surface before finally coming to a stop.
SWANG—SWINGNH!
Albert spins his cane sword.
SKRAAAHSH!
Leon takes a step backward, lowering his body slightly while raising one hand before his chest.
"I truly know..."
KTCAAHMNH—
Leon presses into the ground, cracks spreading beneath his footing.
—CKTAAAAAAAHMNH!
Leon charges instantly.
"...how the outcome..."
KRTHAAMNH—
Albert presses against the ground.
GRTKHAAAAAAHMNH!
He charges as well without hesitation.
"...THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU WILL END!" he shouts.
Both draw their attacks behind their bodies, preparing to strike. There is no time to leap away as the distance vanishes instantly. They swing at one another and—
CKTHAAAAAAAHMNH!
A tremendous air explosion erupts between them, followed by a violent shockwave.
Neither attack lands.
Both immediately prepare to strike again, neither choosing to defend.
Loki, hold on, Albert says inwardly as he tightens his grip on the hilt and swings the sword back into the air.
Wait for me, he repeats silently.
Leon does the same. With nothing but his bare hands, he continues matching the battle evenly.
Albert grits his teeth, furrows his brows, and faces both this battle and what lies ahead with complete seriousness.
CTKHUUUUUUUHMNH!
Another air explosion and its accompanying shockwave detonate between them once again.
Albert furrows his brow.
Do not die, he says inwardly once more.
Both are thrown back again, not far from before. This close-range battle forces them to attack immediately or defend if they are even a moment too slow.
"I know you are dying right now," he says quietly as he draws back his sword once more. His breathing grows heavier.
Leon's breathing becomes increasingly strained as well, yet he continues forcing the battle into an extreme range where both are compelled to exchange attacks without pause.
Both are thrown back once more, not far from where they stood before. The close-range battle demands that they attack again immediately—
"I know you are dying right now. My instincts are never wrong," Albert says quietly as he draws back his sword once more, his breathing becoming increasingly ragged.
—or be forced to defend if they are even a fraction of a second slower.
Leon's breathing grows heavier as well, yet he continues forcing the battle into an extreme range where neither has any choice but to keep exchanging attacks—
PKHAAAAAAAHMNH!
—He surges forward at tremendous speed, instantly closing the distance between them.
"EHEKH!" Albert gasps in shock. He does not expect the brief moment he gains to catch his breath to be so utterly insufficient.
His brows furrow.
Please, God, Albert prays inwardly.
His face is filled with concern for his brother elsewhere. There is no time for shock or hesitation in the situation before him.
KPHAAAAAAAHMNH!
Albert charges as well, forcing himself to prepare either to attack or defend. The distance Leon has already closed leaves only a fleeting moment to react.
Albert moves first.
Leon grimaces and grits his teeth.
Both have already drawn back their attacks, preparing to strike with full force—
CPKTAAAAAAAAHMNH!
—Another violent air explosion erupts directly between them.
KRKTHAAAAHMNHN!
A second blast immediately follows. Twin shockwaves shake the ground, while clouds of dust surge upward and obscure their vision.
CTHAAAAHMNH—CTHUUUUUUMNH!
Leon and Albert plant their feet and launch themselves out of the fully spreading dust cloud.
Hold on, Loki, Albert says inwardly as his body sails through the air.
—Both land once again after being thrown by the violent shockwaves and immediately ready themselves within the dust-shrouded battlefield, fully aware that either one could launch a sudden attack at any moment.
I will not be able to defeat you quickly, Brother.
Albert lowers his head slightly, raises his brows, and stares blankly ahead.
If this continues...
I will... he continues.
Albert cannot devote his full attention to the battle against his brother. This is not a fight that will end quickly, and it will only drag him farther and farther away.
...I will die by your hand, he concludes, raising his head once more and facing straight ahead with both eyes closed.