Nate took a deep breath, the air heavy in his lungs as his eyes locked onto the system screen. A five-minute timer ticked down—each second slow and unforgiving. One strike. Just one. If he failed, his body would bear the brutal cost of overusing his power.
“Shall we do this?” Tenkan’s voice cut through the thick silence. His sword was pointed straight at Nate, stance unshaken, eyes sharp with focus.
“Yeah. The sooner, the better,” Nate answered, shifting into position as the weight of the moment settled on his shoulders.
Their eyes met. No words were needed—only resolve. Then, without warning, they moved.
In the blink of an eye, they vanished—only to reappear mid-air, swords clashing in a single, decisive strike. The force of their movements cracked the air around them. This was it.
The moment that would decide everything.
---
Eden’s eyes struggled to keep up. The speed was unreal—beyond comprehension. All he saw was a blur, followed by silence. Nate now stood behind Tenkan, both facing opposite directions, swords extended in mirrored poses.
A breath passed.
Then blood burst from Tenkan’s chest.
He staggered forward and crashed to the ground. Shock filled his wide eyes. A thin line of blood streaked Nate’s cheek—a sign that Tenkan’s blade had landed too.
But it was clear.
Nate had won.
---
Tenkan collapsed, the earth cold beneath him. His vision spun, his thoughts scattered.
So this is what true power feels like… he thought, closing his eyes briefly. They were right. Nate… he’s something else.
Nate watched the timer on his system screen hit zero.
> Mana depleted. All abilities locked for 48 hours.
His power was gone. For two full days, he would be defenseless. Just because he’d won.
Every muscle in his body screamed in agony as he forced himself forward. He knelt beside Tenkan, who stared at the sky, a faint, tired smile lingering on his lips.
“I’ve lost…” Tenkan murmured. “What’s your command? Am I going back to jail?”
Nate didn’t answer right away. He let the silence linger, letting the breeze brush across his sweat-drenched face.
“Before I go back,” Tenkan added, his voice barely above a whisper, “tell me something. How do you know her real name? She only ever used—”
“ The name Elena, right?” Nate interrupted, the corner of his mouth twitching with a half-smile.
Tenkan’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Before he could say more, Eden stepped forward, appearing like a gust of wind.
“You know Elena?” Eden asked, his voice tense with confusion and curiosity.
“Not exactly,” Nate replied, his tone steady. “But if she still uses that name in this world, then… yeah. It’s her.”
Tenkan’s suspicion flared again. “Then how do you know her real name? And more importantly… how do you know the name Jaden? Who are you?”
Nate closed his eyes for a moment, exhaling. The truth tasted bitter.
“I don’t even know myself anymore,” he said softly.
Tenkan stared at him, clearly searching for something deeper, but Nate offered no further explanation.
With a sigh, Tenkan slumped further into the grass. “Well… if you don’t have any real answers for me, you might as well take me back to my cell.”
Nate raised an eyebrow. “What cell?”
“The one I came from,” Tenkan said flatly.
Nate chuckled, shaking his head. “Oh, you mean the place you abandoned after kicking our asses and deciding we weren’t worth your time?”
Eden smirked, his voice light with irony. “Yeah, you were way too strong. There was nothing we could’ve done.”
Tenkan looked at them both, stunned, trying to make sense of what they were saying.
Nate placed a hand on his shoulder, his tone serious and sincere. “Listen. My goal was always to pull you out of the darkness in your heart. And now that I’ve done that, my command is simple: Go live your life however you want.”
Tenkan’s eyes shimmered, but he blinked quickly, hiding the emotion. “Why? Why would you do this for me when you barely even know me?”
Nate scratched the back of his head, a crooked grin forming. “Did you forget already? I told you—if I didn’t bring you back to the light, Leona would be pissed at me.”
Tenkan turned his head away, failing to hide the tears that now slid freely down his cheek. “You’re an idiot.”
Nate gasped in mock offense, clutching his chest. “That’s the thanks I get for saving your ass from darkness?!”
Eden remained quiet, his gaze fixed on Tenkan with a strange softness in his eyes.
“…Tenkan,” Eden finally said.
“No... not Tenkan,” the young man replied softly. “Jaden.”
Eden’s voice echoed.
“Jaden.”
The name brought a shift in the air. Jaden lifted his head, a smile forming on his face—one Eden hadn’t seen in years. The smile of the man who once stood by his side. Despite everything, that warmth still lingered.
“And Eden,” Jaden added, his voice low but warm, “I bet my sister would be proud of you. You’ve grown into someone strong… and you’ve made a great friend.”
Eden scoffed. “If you’re talking about this creep over here, I just met him today.”
Nate scowled. “Seriously?”
Jaden chuckled lightly. “But the way he fought for you… you’d swear you’ve been friends your whole life.”
Before more could be said, the sound of approaching footsteps interrupted the moment. Leaves rustled, twigs snapped under the weight of armored boots.
“It’s time,” Nate murmured, turning toward the noise.
Jaden stepped back, one final glance shared between them.
“Nate… thank you.”
Jaden smirked. “The next time we meet… we’ll fight for the sake of our bonds. And this time… I won’t lose.”
“Is that so?” Nate returned the smirk. “Funny, because I know I won’t lose either.”
Jaden nodded once, his expression distant but calm, before turning and disappearing into the woods.
Eden stood still, a tightness gripping his chest.
“…Goodbye, my dear friend,” he whispered.
“…Yeah. Same.” A tear slipped down his cheek, but he wiped it away before anyone could notice.
Jaden vanished into the shadows.
---
Athena
Back in the ruined arena, Athena sat amid the destruction, chewing thoughtfully. The food before her tasted… surprisingly good. Judging by its texture and flavor, it must have come from that ogre. She wasn’t about to complain. For the first time since the battle began, energy trickled back into her limbs.
She almost wanted to keep the ogre as a personal chef.
Footsteps echoed in the distance. A group of armored knights marched into the arena, kneeling before Owen and her.
“Sir Holy Knight. Lady Athena,” one of them said respectfully. “The King summons you.”
Athena sighed.
Of course. Here we go again.
---
Royal Palace – Throne Room
The hall was as grand as ever. High ceilings, golden banners, regal silence. Athena’s parents sat upon their thrones with the weight of royalty.
Owen stepped forward and knelt with calm dignity.
“Owen, my boy,” the King said, rising. “You’ve grown quite a bit over the years.”
“Rise, my son,” he continued.
Owen stood and bowed. “Greetings, Aunt. Uncle.”
The Queen wasted no time. “You know why we summoned you.”
“I do,” Owen replied steadily.
“Then why did you do it?” the King asked, his voice calm but heavy with judgment.
“It all happened so fast,” Owen admitted. “But when I saw the opportunity to stand with my cousin, I took it. I never meant any disrespect.” He lowered to one knee again. “If I’ve done wrong, I ask your forgiveness.”
“It’s not about right or wrong,” the King sighed. “It’s about the fact that you alone cannot protect your cousin.”
“But I won’t be alone,” Owen said firmly. “We have an ally—a warrior like no other. Someone whose strength and potential are unlike anything we’ve seen.”
The King raised an eyebrow. “And who might that be?”
Owen’s smirk deepened. “A man our age. A warrior who reveals something new with every passing day.”
He turned to face the window, the wind pulling at the curtains.
“That man is…”
---
Scene shift.
Nate and Eden stood at the edge of the forest, the wind brushing through their hair.
Owen’s voice echoed.
“NATE WILLIAMS.”
--
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