Hold on, Loki, Albert says inwardly as his body propels itself through the air.
—Both land once more, immediately readying themselves within the dust-shrouded battlefield, aware that either one of them could launch a sudden, swift 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 fully focus on the battle against his brother. It 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 forward with both eyes closed.
Silence persists.
Nothing comes.
Leon and Albert remain within their stances, prepared for whatever comes next—either one could suddenly unleash a high-speed attack.
They continue waiting.
They remain on guard.
Beyond his sight, Albert begins sharpening his senses, focusing every nerve within his body—
"Hmm?"
—Thermoreceptive Sense.
Albert furrows his brow.
"EHMPH?!" he murmurs again.
He detects a sudden change in temperature near his neck. His pores sense the heat radiating from his opponent's body as sweat forms once again. Yet not the slightest trace of killing intent can be felt.
Albert lifts his head toward the blue sky.
Is that truly real, God?! he asks inwardly.
He lowers his head once more.
"Huft."
A short, heavy breath escapes him.
His gaze returns to the dust that is slowly beginning to settle.
"Whatever it is."
HWLAASHH—
A gentle breeze drifts across the battlefield.
—HLUUUUSH!
The swirling dust is gradually swept away, clearing the vision of both Albert and Leon.
Both lower their bodies slightly, maintaining stances suited for either attack or defense.
SWIIING—SWAANGNH!
—Albert spins his cane sword, drawing it behind his body and raising it halfway into the air in a defensive stance.
The gentle wind brushes through his hair, offering a fleeting sense of calm amid the prolonged pressure.
His brows rise.
"Huft."
He exhales once more, lightly.
Leon lowers his head slightly, furrows his brows, and draws one arm behind his body with all five fingers fully extended, raising it halfway into the air as well—an offensive stance.
KRTAAK—KTKAAAKKK!
Muscle and bone shift with audible cracks. Beyond merely adapting and matching Albert, Leon is now completely warmed up and fully prepared for battle.
SKHWAAAAAHMNHNH!
He instantly charges straight forward at tremendous speed.
"—I must..."
In an instant, the distance vanishes, close enough to reach—
CKHAAAAAHMNH!
Leon abruptly stops before Albert, drawing both arms behind his body. Not only his left arm, but his right as well. Both hands, their fingers fully extended, are pulled back as a brutal chain of attacks is about to—
"—allow you to move forward, after this battle has already gone this far."
CKPTAAAAAAAHMNHH—CKPTUUUUUUHMNHH—PKRTHAAAAAAAAHMNHH—PRKTHUUUUUMNH—KRTKSHAAAAAHMNH!
—A relentless series of air explosions erupts as Leon thrusts and retracts both arms simultaneously, unleashing a barrage of consecutive attacks—
"ARGKHH!"
Blood bursts from Albert's mouth. His body is covered in deep, long, and wide wounds caused by the explosions and accompanying slashes—
CTHAM—CTHUMN—CPTKHAAAAAAAHMNH!
—Numerous devastating shockwaves follow, blasting outward with immense force—
SWHAAAAAAAAHMNH!
Albert's body is hurled high into the air. His cane sword slips from his grasp and spins endlessly through the sky. His consciousness begins to fade as the wounds across his body continue tearing deeper.
SLHAAAAAAAHMNH!
Leon is also thrown backward, though he suffers no significant injuries beyond the strain on both of his hands.
However—
Leon lowers his gaze toward the ground and grimaces.
KRKKKK—KRRRRTK—KRRAAAKK!
The earth begins to crack and split apart. The fractures rapidly expand in every direction, spreading throughout the entire area as the ground slowly collapses.
KRAAAAK—KTHAAAAHMNH!
There is no stable footing left.
Leon sways unsteadily.
KCHAM—KTHAMNH—KRTHAAAAAAHMNHH!
The ground and stone pavement alike shatter, collapse, and begin sinking.
Dense clouds of dust surge upward, darkening all visibility.
The spreading cracks finally cease—
KRTPHAAUUUHMNHH!
A thunderous roar echoes from the collapse of the surrounding buildings. Leon continues struggling to maintain his balance. He has no way to evade the destruction or reach an area beyond the collapsing zone.
Albert continues plummeting rapidly downward, his consciousness fading—
"For..." he says with great difficulty.
His voice is low and strained.
"...now."
He will not be able to evade it. The collapsing earth and falling rubble will bury him beneath the destruction.
Leon steadies himself, his gaze fixed sharply upon the ground below. He prepares for a single leap before the collapse ends—a leap that will save him from the sinking earth, shattered stone, and massive chunks of concrete being hurled around him.
The ground and rubble begin sinking more slowly, yet the enormous spiraling cloud of dust continues rising, preventing Leon from knowing exactly when the collapse will stop—
KRPTCHAAAAAAHMNH!
—And the ground finally ceases collapsing altogether.