Lumber was still suspended in midair, his body completely thrown off balance after the previous collision.
Below him lay a shattered field of massive mushrooms—stalks broken, caps split apart, thick clouds of spores drifting through the air.
Almond gave him no time to breathe.
After knocking Gumber to the ground, Almond gripped his great sword with one hand. The muscles beneath his black armor swelled, and with a violent flap of his small wings, his massive body shot forward. The air around him tore apart, compressing into a crushing wave of pressure.
The blade descended.
No wasted movement. No hesitation. No warning.
Lumber gritted his teeth until blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. Twisting his hips midair, he used them as a pivot, both hands tightening around his spear. The tip thrust forward, meeting the descending blade head-on.
BOOM!
Metal clashed against metal. The sound was deep and heavy, yet it roared like thunder. A shockwave exploded in midair, compressing the atmosphere into a visible ring that blasted outward. The ground below trembled as shattered mushroom fragments were hurled upward like hail. Gumber had to plant his spear into the earth and shield his eyes to avoid being swept away.
"Not bad… human."
Amid the raging wind and dust, Almond wore a twisted, mocking smile. His eyes gleamed with warped amusement.
"Shut up!"
Lumber snarled, breathing hard but unwavering.
Almond merely flicked his wrist.
Just a slight motion.
Lumber's balance shattered instantly. A monstrous force bore down on his spear and tore through his arms. His body was flung away like a rag doll in a storm.
Almond raised his blade high.
"Empire Slash…"
His voice descended like judgment itself.
But the ground beneath him suddenly cracked.
CRACK!
The earth split apart.
Gumber stomped hard, every muscle in his body tightening. He launched upward like an arrow released from a drawn bow. His spear thrust diagonally, aiming straight for Almond's exposed side.
"Rage Spear Strike!"
The sound of metal being penetrated rang out sharply. The armor fractured. The spear tip punched through the thick plating and drove deep inside. Hot blood sprayed out, splattering across Gumber's face.
He landed heavily after the strike, knees buckling from the recoil.
In the distance, Lumber had just crashed into a giant mushroom trunk. He rolled to the ground, coughing through the dust before forcing himself upright.
Almond hovered for a brief second.
Then his eyes turned a deep crimson, murderous intent igniting like wildfire.
"Filthy humans…"
His wings stopped beating. His enormous body dropped.
BOOM!
The ground caved into a circular crater. Cracks spread outward like a spiderweb.
"You dare stain my body? Die, you vermin!"
He tightened his grip on the great sword, twisting his shoulder before swinging backward with enough force to rip the wind into a shrill scream.
"Don't forget about me!"
Lumber's voice rang out from afar—calm, yet brimming with killing intent.
He stood firm, feet planted against the fractured earth. One hand pulled the spear back, the other extended forward as if manipulating something unseen. At the spear's tip, dense golden light began to gather, spiraling tighter and tighter—like a miniature sun compressed into form.
"Piercing Spear. Knight Strike!"
The light erupted.
From within it emerged the spirit of an armored knight. Beneath it, a warhorse burned in molten orange flames. The thunder of hooves echoed, each step seeming to crush the ground itself.
The steed charged.
The gale it created forced nearby mushrooms to bend and sway, spores scattering in violent waves.
Almond roared, sweeping his blade horizontally.
The slash tore through space, cleaving the knight in half.
The figure split apart—
Then instantly reformed and continued charging.
"You fat idiot! Knight Strike is just an illusion! Slash it all you want, it won't matter!" Lumber shouted, returning every ounce of mockery Almond had thrown at them earlier.
The knight stomped against the air and leapt high. Its spear pointed downward like divine judgment.
Almond slashed again.
The blade passed through the figure.
Not a drop of blood.
The instant the spear made contact—
The entire illusion shattered into hundreds of lightning bolts.
BOOM!
Thunder detonated inside Almond's body. Lightning surged through his thick armor, scorching it from within. The stench of burning flesh spread as sparks burst in all directions.
His colossal frame blackened in patches. Smoke rose heavily from the cracks in his armor.
Almond collapsed.
The impact split the ground beneath him.
Gumber gasped for breath, hands trembling. Lumber, nearly drained, dragged himself step by step toward his younger brother. His Essence was almost completely depleted—everything had been poured into that final attack.
As he passed by Almond's fallen body—
It moved.
Just slightly.
A charred hand tightened around the great blade.
"BIG BROTHER!"
Gumber's voice rang out in panic.
Too late.
Lumber had just turned his head.
Almond's blade swung upward in a perfectly straight arc, slicing cleanly across Lumber's abdomen.
Blood sprayed into the air like a crimson mist.
Lumber's body was sent flying, spinning several times before crashing violently to the ground, motionless in a widening pool of blood.
Almond stood.
His body was scorched black, armor riddled with holes, smoke still rising from the cracks—but those red eyes still burned fiercely, savage and merciless.
He rolled his neck. Rotated his shoulders. As if merely finishing a warm-up.
Then slowly turned toward Gumber, who had not even managed to stand.
"Foolish… foolish."
Each step he took made the earth tremble.
"You thought that was enough to kill me?"
His voice dropped low, thick with murderous intent.
"Die together with that idiot. Trash."