Zerathos pivots just in time—his figure flickers.
Half Fade.
For a brief instant, his form blurs between existence and shadow, and the lightning-charged spear passes through the afterimage.
Before Oscar could step forward, Zerathos calmly tapped the screen of the watch wrapped around his wrist.
A metallic sound echoed.
Clank.
Two sleek metal casts unfolded and locked around both of his forearms. They were engraved with faint blue circuitry that pulsed softly as they synchronized with his Zyther. A pair of black daggers rested at his waist.
He scrolled through the watch's interface before stopping at a section labeled Defense.
Shield Vest.
He tapped it.
Thin metallic threads extended from the watch, weaving themselves around his upper body before forming a lightweight black vest lined with hexagonal energy nodes.
Oscar narrowed his eyes before extending his hand.
A long silver spear materialized, crackling with violent lightning.
Chris's eyes widened.
"Isn't that the Thunder Spear… one of the relics of the Thunderclad Clan?"
Even Malen looked surprised.
"So he's actually using it…"
Chris folded his arms.
"Someone's taking this seriously."
He paused before muttering under his breath.
"…Well, he should. That guy's strange."
Vex glanced at Zerathos' vest.
"You know that shield vest won't save you in a real battle."
Zerathos shrugged.
"My endurance is pretty good."
The two stepped into position.
Oscar held the spear loosely in one hand while blue lightning gathered in the other.
Across from him…
Zerathos slowly drew both daggers.
"This might be my toughest fight yet…"
He inhaled deeply.
"Let's see how far I can push him."
Oscar moved first.
Without warning, his arm snapped forward.
A bolt of lightning screamed across the arena.
"Shield."
A translucent hexagonal barrier unfolded before Zerathos.
BOOM!
The lightning struck.
The barrier survived—
—for less than a second.
Oscar was already there.
His spear pierced straight through the collapsing shield before slamming into Zerathos, forcing him several meters backward.
The moment the spear closed in again—
Zerathos released one dagger.
Instead of retreating…
He grabbed the spear's shaft.
Lightning erupted along the weapon.
Oscar smiled.
"Got you."
The electricity rushed directly into Zerathos.
Yet…
Nothing happened.
The metal cast covering his forearm glowed brilliantly as countless tiny runes awakened.
The lightning disappeared into the metal.
Oscar clicked his tongue.
"It absorbs lightning…"
Without hesitation, Oscar released the spear.
Blue Zyther exploded around him.
His eyes turned into twin bolts of living lightning.
The arena floor cracked beneath his feet.
"You're wide open!"
With incredible speed, he reclaimed the spear and launched it like a thunderbolt.
The weapon tore through the air.
Zerathos' pupils contracted.
Half Fade
In the same heartbeat, Zerathos reappears at Oscar's flank, both daggers drawn.
His movements are smooth and precise.
One dagger slashes low toward Oscar's thigh while the second drives toward his ribs.
Oscar reacts instantly.
He twists his body, avoiding the first strike, while the shaft of his spear catches the second dagger with a sharp clang.
Before Zerathos could press the attack, Oscar's free hand crackles with lightning.
A burst of electricity erupts at point-blank range.
Zerathos crosses his forearms.
The metal casts absorb part of the lightning, but the remaining force sends him sliding several meters across the training ground.
Smoke rises from the arm guards.
"Tch…"
He flexes his fingers.
"Still works."
Oscar doesn't give him time to recover.
With a quick step, he closes the distance, spear thrusting forward three times in rapid succession.
Zerathos narrowly evades the first.
He deflects the second with his left dagger.
The third grazes the Shield Vest, causing a hexagonal ripple to spread across its surface.
"So that's how it works," Oscar said calmly. "The vest absorbs impacts."
"It does more than that," Zerathos replied with a grin.
He tapped the side of his watch.
The damaged section of the vest shifted, redistributing its remaining defensive energy.
Oscar raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting."
The two circled each other once more.
Neither rushed in this time.
Chris watched with folded arms.
"Zerathos is adapting."
"He was overwhelmed at first," Marik added, "but now he's starting to match Oscar's rhythm."
Vex nodded.
"He's learning during the fight."
Oscar suddenly lunged.
His spear swept horizontally.
Zerathos ducked beneath it, planting a hand on the ground and spinning behind Oscar.
Both daggers flashed toward Oscar's back.
Clang!
Oscar spun just in time, blocking both blades with the shaft of his spear.
The two locked weapons.
For a moment, neither moved.
Lightning crackled against steel.
Oscar smirked.
"You've got good instincts."
Zerathos smiled back.
"I've heard that a lot today."
Oscar suddenly pushed forward.
The force broke the clash, sending Zerathos stumbling back.
Without hesitation, Oscar thrust his palm forward.
A bolt of lightning shot toward Zerathos.
"Shield."
A translucent barrier formed instantly.
The lightning struck it with a loud crack, shattering the shield after only a second.
Before the fragments of light had completely vanished, Oscar was already in front of him.
The butt of the spear struck Zerathos squarely in the chest.
The impact launched him backward.
His Shield Vest absorbed most of the force, but the remaining impact still knocked the wind out of him.
He rolled twice before coming to a stop.
For a few seconds, the training ground fell silent.
Zerathos slowly stood, rubbing the spot where he'd been hit.
"…That hurt."
Oscar rested his spear on his shoulder.
"You rely on your equipment well."
"And you rely on lightning," Zerathos shot back.
A faint chuckle escaped Oscar.
"Fair enough."
The tension between them eased slightly, but neither lowered their guard.
Around them, the others continued watching closely.
What had started as a simple training match had become one of the most interesting spars they'd seen in a long
Half Fade.
For a brief instant, his form blurs between existence and shadow, and the lightning-charged spear passes through the afterimage.
In the same heartbeat, Zerathos reappears at Oscar's flank, both daggers drawn.
His movements are smooth and precise.
One dagger slashes low toward Oscar's thigh while the second drives toward his ribs.
Oscar reacts instantly.
He twists his body, avoiding the first strike, while the shaft of his spear catches the second dagger with a sharp clang.
Before Zerathos could press the attack, Oscar's free hand crackles with lightning.
A burst of electricity erupts at point-blank range.
Zerathos crosses his forearms.
The metal casts absorb part of the lightning, but the remaining force sends him sliding several meters across the training ground.
Smoke rises from the arm guards.
"Tch…"
He flexes his fingers.
"Still works."
Oscar doesn't give him time to recover.
With a quick step, he closes the distance, spear thrusting forward three times in rapid succession.
Zerathos narrowly evades the first.
He deflects the second with his left dagger.
The third grazes the Shield Vest, causing a hexagonal ripple to spread across its surface.
"So that's how it works," Oscar said calmly. "The vest absorbs impacts."
"It does more than that," Zerathos replied with a grin.
He tapped the side of his watch.
The damaged section of the vest shifted, redistributing its remaining defensive energy.
Oscar raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting."
The two circled each other once more.
Neither rushed in this time.
Chris watched with folded arms.
"Zerathos is adapting."
"He was overwhelmed at first," Marik added, "but now he's starting to match Oscar's rhythm."
Vex nodded.
"He's learning during the fight."
Oscar suddenly lunged.
His spear swept horizontally.
Zerathos ducked beneath it, planting a hand on the ground and spinning behind Oscar.
Both daggers flashed toward Oscar's back.
Clang!
Oscar spun just in time, blocking both blades with the shaft of his spear.
The two locked weapons.
For a moment, neither moved.
Lightning crackled against steel.
Oscar smirked.
"You've got good instincts."
Zerathos smiled back.
"I've heard that a lot today."
Oscar suddenly pushed forward.
The force broke the clash, sending Zerathos stumbling back.
Without hesitation, Oscar thrust his palm forward.
A bolt of lightning shot toward Zerathos.
"Shield."
A translucent barrier formed instantly.
The lightning struck it with a loud crack, shattering the shield after only a second.
Before the fragments of light had completely vanished, Oscar was already in front of him.
The butt of the spear struck Zerathos squarely in the chest.
The impact launched him backward.
His Shield Vest absorbed most of the force, but the remaining impact still knocked the wind out of him.
He rolled twice before coming to a stop.
For a few seconds, the training ground fell silent.
Zerathos slowly stood, rubbing the spot where he'd been hit.
"…That hurt."
Oscar rested his spear on his shoulder.
"You rely on your equipment well."
"And you rely on lightning," Zerathos shot back.
A faint chuckle escaped Oscar.
"Fair enough."
The tension between them eased slightly, but neither lowered their guard.
Around them, the others continued watching closely.
What had started as a simple training match had become one of the most interesting spars they'd seen in a long time.