Panic flared in Kion's chest, but just as quickly, a strange sense of ease washed over him.
Panic would only overload his mind. If he wanted to survive this, he needed to think clearly.
Time seemed to slow as he watched the massive blade slice through the air, aimed perfectly to lodge between his clavicle and shoulder blade.
A strike that precise and devastating would render his arm useless. The fight would end before it even began.
He couldn't allow that.
CLING!
A rush of air brushed past him as the heavy sword was narrowly deflected to the left, burying itself deep into the dry earth instead of his shoulder.
Meanwhile, Kai was at a loss.
His attack should've landed cleanly. How had Kion managed to deflect it?
Kai had already suspected since that morning that somehow, his brother had gotten stronger—despite years of being unawakened and untrained. He didn't know how, but he knew one thing: no normal person could partially crush his hand like that.
And no normal person could swipe and evade his strike so smoothly.
But that wasn't a problem. There was more than one way to kill a rat.
Kai yanked his sword free from the ground and lunged at Kion again—at least, at where Kion should have been.
Except Kion wasn't there.
HRRAAHHH!
Kai's eyes bulged as air rushed from his lungs. His left side ached sharply as the impact sent him stumbling to the right.
This bastard had kneed him in the gut.
He quickly regained his footing, only to find Kion now pressing the attack. His younger brother lunged forward with unbelievable speed, forcing Kai to parry far earlier than expected.
What had happened was simple: after deflecting Kai's first blow, Kion knew he had to avoid his brother's senses immediately. Kai had already proven how quickly he could close the distance.
When Kai got distracted freeing his weapon, Kion had leapt sideways in a half-pirouette, landing on the opposite side of the older prince.
Kai hadn't seen the maneuver at all, and naturally assumed Kion was still in front of him. After all, few could withstand a blow like his and recover so quickly.
He'd guessed wrong—and was punished with an elbow to the gut that knocked the wind right out of him.
Kion had just landed the first hit of the fight.
The crowd erupted in cheers. They had expected a one-sided affair, but it had quickly turned into a heated, unpredictable clash—a spectacle worth watching.
Kion's follow-up slashes should have landed true, but Kai recovered quickly, parrying every strike despite being in a tight spot.
A brief opening in Kion's offense gave Kai the chance to slash horizontally across his chest, aiming to break the flurry and wound him, but Kion simply hopped back.
For a moment, the two brothers stared each other down, reassessing their opponent.
It was clear—they had both underestimated each other.
Kion had expected brute force, but not the speed Kai possessed.
And Kai… he had witnessed a skill earlier, one Kion suspected was from his Illusionary Sub-Domain. That meant Kai had already learned a skill—while Kion had yet to do so.
To the spectators, it looked like Kion was falling behind. Kai clearly had the advantage.
But the battle was far from over.
A grin spread across Kion's lips—one that unsettled Kai. His brother never smiled.
"What are you smiling about, bastard?" Kai growled.
"Oh, nothing. Can't I smile, brother? Can't I show you how amusing I find our little battle?"
Kai blinked. "Amu—amusing? You find me amusing?!"
"Maybe." Kion's tone was playful, but his eyes watched Kai intently. Earlier today, Kai had riled him up. Now it was Kion's turn.
Kai's face twisted in rage.
"I'll show you amusing!" he roared, vanishing in an instant and reappearing above Kion with his broadsword aimed straight for his skull.
Kion's smirk widened. He'd expected this.
I guess you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
Meanwhile, Sir Alex's eyes went wide in panic. Was the older prince truly about to kill his younger brother? In the commander's own courtyard, under his watch?
Such a sight boded ill for the kingdom. Bloodshed between royal brothers so young could tear the realm apart.
And Kai… Kai was on the verge of making the biggest mistake of his life.
Alex stepped forward to intervene—but he might have been too late. The broadsword was already only inches from Kion's head. One strike would cleave him in two.
Kion, however, had read Kai's intent perfectly. He knew this was a kill strike. Pure, unrestrained…
Bloodlust.
His smirk deepened, and that was when Kai felt it—a dense, suffocating pressure of mana pooling around his younger brother.
[Fire Storm].
Kion's eyes blazed amber as flames surged along the length of his longsword, twisting into a roaring mini-tornado.
A tornado of fire.
It burst from his weapon like the breath of a golden dragon—and came straight for Kai.
The crown prince's eyes widened in shock.
There was no time to dodge, to cancel his strike, or even to activate his phasing skill.
Kion had timed it perfectly.
A guttural scream ripped through the courtyard as the flames engulfed Kai, searing and eating away at his skin.
The force blasted him backward twenty feet, his body spiraling before crashing into a tree.
Had he not already developed some resistance, he would have been reduced to ash.
Now, he lay limp in the grass, wisps of smoke curling from his body.
Silence fell. Even the wind seemed to pause.
Sir Alex stood frozen in shock. How had the younger prince become so strong?
Kion had taken a basic skill—[Fire Blade]—and amplified it into something the scholars had never even conceived.
And Alex, despite himself, felt a flicker of pride.
This fight had proven one thing: there was no true underdog between these brothers.
Yes, Kai had the upper hand in raw strength, but Kion's cunning and adaptability had pushed him just as far.
Alex had always believed their rivalry would be a necessary stage—a crucible that would forge them into powerful allies.
But his pride turned to ice when he saw Kion approach the fallen Kai, dragging his longsword in a menacing trail behind him.
The commander's brow furrowed. He's won. What is he doing?
Then Kion raised his sword, ready to sever Kai's head.
"Stop!" Alex bellowed, but Kion didn't flinch.
Kai was already injured beyond fighting back. There was no honor in killing him now.
The blade began to fall.
"I said [STOP]!"
Kion froze mid-swing, muscles straining against the invisible force that held him. He fought against it desperately—this was his moment. His first chance for revenge.
After all, this scheming dog had gotten him killed in his first life, and was ready to do the same in his second.
Why did Alex have to interfere?
But his rage was nothing compared to the overwhelming [Dominance] of an Epic-grade warrior.
THUD!
The next thing Kion felt was the hilt of a sword as it collided with his temple. His vision suddenly began to blur as his eyes rolled up into his head.
As darkness closed in, a deep, unfamiliar voice whispered inside his mind.
"You must kill."
And everything went black.