Around the barrier, the distant sounds of war had become nothing but echoes.
The evening light slowly slid across the open grooves carved into the ground.
Neither of them advanced.
Kaizer's eyes remained on Alaric.
Measuring.
The sword of light remained steady.
Without trembling.
Without hesitating.
A drop of blood ran down Kaizer's cheek.
Silently.
Falling onto the ground.
Alaric's blue eyes shifted toward the cut.
Then returned to his face.
"I see you still bleed."
A smile slowly appeared at the corner of Kaizer's mouth.
Small.
Dangerous.
His thumb brushed across the cut on his cheek.
Blood stained the tip of his finger.
The wound disappeared as if it had never existed.
"That was nothing."
BOOM—
Both vanished at the same time.
CLANG—
The blades collided at the center of the barrier.
The impact ripped stones from the ground.
Neither tried to overpower the other's strength.
Their wrists turned at the same time.
The sword of light slid along the side of the kriegsmesser.
The crimson blade sank a few inches into the earth.
Alaric stepped out of the center line.
Half a step.
Short.
The sword of light did not aim for the head.
Nor the torso.
The golden tip sought the joint of the right shoulder.
To break the rhythm of the dominant arm.
Kaizer reacted immediately.
The front foot pivoted.
The waist followed.
The kriegsmesser returned before the golden sword completed its path.
CLANG—
The clash knocked the thrust off course.
Alaric did not insist.
He retreated half a step.
Enough to prevent Kaizer from placing the weight of his body onto him.
Kaizer's eyes narrowed.
He saw the retreat.
And advanced.
The ground exploded beneath his feet.
In an instant, Kaizer was already in front of Alaric.
The kriegsmesser traced a short arc.
No wasted space.
No unnecessary movement.
Alaric raised the sword.
CLANG—
The vibration ran through his forearm.
The fingers of his right hand tightened around the hilt by instinct.
The weight of the kriegsmesser was different.
Another exchange at that range would begin compromising his precision.
His feet slid across the earth.
Giving another meter.
Kaizer chased the space.
Without allowing Alaric to rebuild his footing.
Alaric reacted to the advance.
The golden blade lunged from the side.
Seeking to punish the entry.
Kaizer did not retreat.
He merely pulled his shoulder out of the trajectory.
The cut scraped across the armor.
The kriegsmesser answered immediately.
Horizontal.
Fast.
Alaric lowered his center of gravity.
The blade passed above his head.
The wind scattered his golden hair.
But Kaizer did not retreat.
He kept advancing.
The pressure came from his own body.
From the short steps.
From the distance he refused to give back.
Alaric tried to rotate the sword.
Searching for space.
Kaizer did not allow it.
He entered again.
The kriegsmesser appeared diagonally.
Alaric received the blow.
CLANG—
The vibration ran through his forearms.
The golden sword was pushed a few inches downward.
Little.
But enough.
Kaizer entered with it.
His shoulder slammed against Alaric's chest.
His stance buckled for an instant.
Enough to stop the golden sword from returning to center.
The distance vanished.
Kaizer was too close.
There was no room for Alaric to execute a full arc.
But Alaric reacted.
The golden tip shot forward in a short thrust.
Straight toward the throat.
Kaizer tilted his head.
The blade scraped his skin.
A thin line of blood appeared.
But he did not interrupt the movement.
His hand continued guiding the kriegsmesser.
Horizontal.
Accepting the small wound to maintain the pressure.
Alaric turned together with the blow.
The crimson blade cut through empty air.
But the rotational movement did not end there.
His entire body continued the turn.
Using the force of the deflection itself.
Alaric launched himself out of Kaizer's range.
It was not a clean retreat.
It was a forced withdrawal.
Kaizer was already pressing onto his front leg.
Preparing the pursuit.
But at that same instant—
Alaric raised his left hand.
His fingers opened.
"Sól."
Hundreds of golden points ignited above the barrier.
Taking the shape of blades.
Kaizer lifted his eyes.
Alaric's hand came down.
"Regn ljósanna."
The sky split apart.
SHHHHHHHKKKKK—
The blades came all at once.
Kaizer spun the kriegsmesser.
CLANG—
The blade shattered against the steel.
BOOOOOM—
Others struck the ground several meters ahead.
Earth and stones exploded upward.
Kaizer held his position.
While the entire field collapsed around him.
BOOOOOM—
BOOOOOM—
BOOOOOM—
The ground disappeared beneath the explosions.
Grooves opened across the field.
Columns of dust rose in every direction.
The kriegsmesser remained raised.
Kaizer watched the curtain of dust slowly turning around him.
No movement.
No presence.
Only dust.
His eyes narrowed.
BOOM—
Alaric burst through the curtain of dust.
The blade came straight for the neck.
Kaizer turned his wrist.
CLANG—
The impact knocked the trajectory aside.
Alaric slid out of the line.
His back foot pivoted over the ground.
The sword returned.
Straight toward the ribs.
Kaizer pulled back his hip.
The golden tip passed scraping against the armor.
The kriegsmesser answered.
Horizontal.
Alaric raised the sword.
CLANG—
The clash sent stones flying to the sides.
The two remained locked for an instant.
Kaizer rotated the kriegsmesser over the point of contact.
The golden sword left the line.
Taking advantage of the opening, he advanced.
The crimson blade pierced through Alaric's chest.
The body dissolved into golden fragments.
But before the last points of light disappeared—
Alaric appeared again through the dust.
The golden sword came down over Kaizer's head.
CLANG—
The kriegsmesser received the blow.
Alaric twisted his wrists.
The blade slid along the side of the block.
Seeking the forearm.
Kaizer pulled his arm back.
The golden tip passed close against the armor.
The front foot advanced immediately.
The kriegsmesser came with it.
Horizontal.
Alaric retreated half a step.
Enough.
The crimson blade passed before his face.
The golden sword returned.
Short.
Straight for the throat.
Kaizer shifted his chin out of the line.
The tip passed scraping by.
His left hand grabbed Alaric's wrist.
For an instant.
The distance vanished.
The kriegsmesser rose.
Violent.
The strike cut through the torso.
And Alaric dissolved into golden fragments.
Silence returned.
For an instant.
Kaizer remained motionless.
His eyes swept across the curtain of dust.
With a movement of his arm, he spun the kriegsmesser.
WHOOOOOSH—
The pressure scattered the veil of earth.
The field appeared once more.
Several Alarics occupied the entire field around him.
Surrounding him.
A smile slowly appeared on Kaizer's face.
"Interesting..."
The tip of the kriegsmesser lowered a few inches.
"Looks like you learned a new trick, Alaric."
None of the Alarics answered.
The wind crossed through the luminous barrier.
In an instant—
BOOM—
The ground exploded.
Golden blades emerged from every direction.
Kaizer did not retreat.
The kriegsmesser spun.
CLANG—
The first blade was deflected.
The movement itself pushed the attacker into the trajectory of another Alaric.
The two swords collided.
Kaizer had already moved.
BOOM—
His body surged between the two.
The kriegsmesser traced a short arc.
The first Alaric split into golden fragments.
The second disappeared right after.
Another emerged from the right.
The sword sought the ribs.
Kaizer turned his waist.
The blade scraped across the armor.
The kriegsmesser rose immediately.
CLANG—
The swords locked.
For an instant.
Alaric twisted his wrists.
Trying to repeat the same blade control he had used before.
Kaizer answered by advancing.
His shoulder slammed into the man's chest.
The stance broke.
The kriegsmesser pierced through the torso.
Golden fragments scattered through the air.
But the others were already coming.
One from the front.
Two from the flanks.
Another from behind.
Kaizer advanced toward the one in front.
The golden sword came down.
CLANG—
The blow was deflected.
The kriegsmesser slid along the opposing sword.
Horizontal.
The crimson blade cut through the torso.
The figure dissolved into golden fragments.
At the same time—
The Alarics on both flanks advanced together.
One from the left.
Another from the right.
Kaizer turned his waist.
The kriegsmesser intercepted the one on the left.
CLANG—
The swords met.
The Alaric on the right took advantage of the opening.
The golden tip cut across the ribs.
Blood spread across the armor.
But the Alaric on the left kept pressing.
He twisted his wrists.
Trying to slip along the side of the kriegsmesser.
Kaizer answered immediately.
The crimson blade pushed the golden sword out of the line.
And using the pressure of the clash itself, he turned on his axis.
Horizontal.
The strike cut through the chest of the Alaric on the left.
Golden fragments scattered through the air.
At that same instant—
The Alaric on the right returned with a second thrust.
At the same time, the Alaric behind him entered the attack.
The two swords came at once.
Kaizer tilted his body.
The blade of the Alaric behind him pierced through his shoulder.
The dark-red eyes shifted to the side.
No pain.
No impact.
For an instant, Kaizer watched the sword passing through his own armor.
Then his eyes narrowed.
The figure behind him was already beginning to dissolve into light.
But the Alaric on the right did not stop.
The golden tip reached the armor.
A new line of blood appeared.
BOOM—
Kaizer spun on his own axis.
His hand guided the kriegsmesser together with the motion.
CLANG—
The golden sword was thrown upward.
Without interrupting the spin, the crimson blade returned.
Horizontal.
The strike pierced through the chest of the last Alaric.
Golden fragments scattered across the barrier.
Kaizer's smile widened slightly.
Red lightning crackled around his body.
BOOM—
Three Alarics advanced at the same time.
One from the front.
Two from the flanks.
The sword in front came down first.
Kaizer raised the kriegsmesser.
CLANG—
The blades met.
Alaric twisted his wrists.
Trying to slip along the side of the sword.
Kaizer followed.
The pressure was redirected out of the line.
The Alaric in front retreated half a step.
But the Alarics on the flanks were already entering together.
One from the left.
Another from the right.
Kaizer turned his waist.
The kriegsmesser intercepted the one on the left.
CLANG—
The swords clashed.
But the tip from the right reached his side.
Blood spread across the armor.
Without interrupting the movement, Kaizer pushed the sword on the left out of the line.
And answered.
Horizontal.
The crimson blade pierced through the chest of the Alaric on the left.
Golden fragments scattered through the air.
At that same instant—
The Alaric on the right advanced again.
Seeking to widen the opening he had created.
Short.
Straight for the throat.
And taking advantage of the recovered distance, the Alaric in front returned.
Kaizer tilted his head.
The tip from the right passed scraping by.
But in front of him, the other sword reached the side of his neck.
No pain.
No impact.
The figure began dissolving into light.
Kaizer's eyes narrowed.
Once again.
His boot sank into the ground.
BOOM—
He surged toward the Alaric on the right.
CLANG—
The swords met.
Alaric retreated half a step.
Trying to recover distance.
Kaizer did not allow it.
He entered together with him.
His shoulder struck the opponent's chest.
The stance gave way.
The kriegsmesser pierced through the torso.
Golden fragments scattered through the air.
Around Kaizer, the luminous remains of the other two Alarics were still disappearing.
But there was no rest.
BOOM—
Five more Alarics advanced.
The golden swords came from different directions.
One from the front.
Two from the flanks.
Two from behind.
Kaizer remained motionless for an instant.
His eyes swept across the positions around him.
Then he advanced.
Toward the Alaric on the right.
BOOM—
The distance vanished.
CLANG—
The swords collided.
Alaric turned out of the line.
Seeking the angle of the shoulder.
Kaizer followed.
The kriegsmesser rose.
The clash ran through the opponent's arms.
The golden sword returned.
Straight for the eyes.
Kaizer moved his head.
The tip passed close to his face.
The kriegsmesser answered.
Vertical.
The strike pierced through the chest.
Golden fragments scattered through the air.
But the other four did not stop.
One of the Alarics behind him entered first.
Kaizer partially turned.
The kriegsmesser deflected the sword.
CLANG—
At the same time—
One of the flanks reached the armor.
A new line of blood appeared.
Kaizer answered immediately.
Horizontal.
The crimson blade cut through the attacker.
Golden fragments scattered across the field.
The other three kept advancing.
Front.
Left.
Behind.
CLANG—
Kaizer deflected the blow from the front.
The sword from behind came right after.
The kriegsmesser spun.
CLANG—
The third blade scraped across the armor.
Blood spread.
But for the first time, Kaizer was not only watching the strikes.
He was watching the men.
The movements.
The intention.
Then—
one of the Alarics retreated.
Golden fragments appeared beside him.
The light condensed.
Another figure took shape.
Kaizer's smile widened.
"So that's how it is..."
Four Alarics advanced.
Front.
Right.
Left.
Behind.
The sword in front came down first.
Kaizer received the blow.
CLANG—
The one from the right came immediately after.
The kriegsmesser spun.
CLANG—
Both blades were pushed away.
But the dark-red eyes were not on either of them.
They remained fixed on the Alaric to the left.
BOOM—
Kaizer entered the distance.
CLANG—
The swords collided.
Alaric twisted his wrists.
Trying to control the line of the kriegsmesser.
Kaizer answered with pressure.
The golden sword shifted a few inches aside.
The kriegsmesser advanced.
Straight for the chest.
Alaric reacted immediately.
The golden tip returned in a short thrust.
Seeking the armed arm.
The blue eyes narrowed.
His back foot sank into the ground.
Preparing the response.
And in that instant—
CRACK—
A brutal pain exploded through his back.
Kaizer's body stiffened.
For an instant.
His eyes widened.
The golden tip emerged through the armor.
Stained with blood.
The kriegsmesser stopped a few inches from the chest of the Alaric in front of him.
Silence.
Only the sound of blood running down the blade could be heard.
Kaizer's eyes remained locked on the man before him.
Alaric held the gaze.
Soon his body began dissolving.
Golden fragments abandoned the shoulders.
Then the arms.
Then the face.
Until nothing remained.
Kaizer watched the last fragments disappear.
Then he understood.
The smile slowly returned to his face.
Blood ran from the corner of his mouth.
"Interesting..."
The dark-red eyes shifted toward the sword piercing through his chest.
Then toward the figure behind him.
"You really did manage to fool me."