Chương 58: Gate of disaster (12)
The battlefield stretched wide under the ominous glow of a setting sun, the earth scarred from countless battles fought to survive in this unforgiving land. Ade, the stoic blacksmith and leader of the Ọmọlọgbó Clan, stood across from Étienne, the sharp-tongued leader of the Valoise. Their uneasy alliance had been forged out of necessity, but the disdain between them was as clear as the air crackling with tension.
Ade's people, descendants of earth's strength, prized resilience and directness. The Ọmọlọgbó Clan built their lives with their hands, crafting tools and weapons, wielding the very earth itself as both shield and sword. Ade embodied this spirit, his massive hammer a testament to his raw, unyielding power. He saw the Valoise as overly refined schemers, all words and little substance, a people who would rather talk circles than wield a weapon themselves.
Étienne, on the other hand, came from a lineage that revered elegance, intellect, and precision. The Valoise Clan's mastery of wind magic and strategy had earned them respect and fear, but their aristocratic demeanor grated on Ade. To Étienne, Ade was a brute—unrefined, overly stubborn, and unwilling to adapt to the changing tides of battle. Their differences, magnified by their respective leadership roles, had kept them at odds, even as they faced a shared threat.
This disdain had only deepened over the weeks they'd been forced to work together. Ade's straightforward approach clashed with Étienne's calculated strategies, their arguments frequent and heated. But as the sun dipped below the horizon, the screech of an approaching threat silenced their latest quarrel.
***
Five winged tigers descended, their fiery eyes glowing in the dim light. Each creature was massive, their wings spreading wide as their roars reverberated through the air, causing both men to flinch. The beasts exuded a deadly combination of fire and sound, their claws burning with intense heat.
Étienne's sharp gaze assessed the situation instantly. "SSS+ rank," he muttered. "Five of them."
Ade snorted, gripping his hammer. "Doesn't matter. They bleed, don't they?"
Étienne shook his head, his patience already fraying. "It matters if we bleed first, Ade."
"Keep your advice. I don't need it," Ade growled, stepping forward to face the two tigers circling him.
Étienne didn't respond, his focus shifting to the two beasts that darted toward him, leaving the fifth hovering ominously above the battlefield.
***
Ade planted his feet firmly, activating Earthquake. The ground trembled under his command, forcing the two tigers to stumble mid-charge. Seizing the opening, Ade swung his hammer, enhanced by his earth magic. The weapon connected with a resounding crack, sending one tiger crashing into a pit he'd created moments before.
The second tiger was more agile, leaping into the air and raining fireballs down on him. Ade summoned a wall of earth, shielding himself from the searing heat. With a roar, he manipulated the terrain, causing jagged spikes to erupt from the ground beneath the beast. It evaded, its fiery claws slashing through the air, but Ade was relentless.
Étienne, meanwhile, faced his opponents with calculated precision. Activating Wind Cloak, he became a blur, his speed amplified to an almost inhuman degree. As one tiger lunged, Étienne's rapier flicked like a silver streak, carving a deep gash across its side. The second tiger attempted a flank, its roar unleashing a paralyzing shockwave, but Étienne countered with Vacuum Blades, slicing through the sound wave and forcing the creature to retreat.
"Too slow," Étienne muttered, leaping into the air. He used Wind Manipulation to create a vortex, dragging the wounded tiger toward him. With a decisive strike, he ended its life.
The other tiger roared in fury, its fiery claws igniting as it took to the skies. Étienne followed, the wind bending to his will as he flew after it. Their clash lit up the sky, a dance of fire and wind that ended with Étienne delivering the killing blow.
***
Ade had dispatched his first tiger, crushing its skull with a thunderous blow, but the second was proving more challenging. It remained airborne, launching a relentless barrage of fireballs. Forced into a defensive position, Ade encased himself in a suit of rock, enduring the onslaught.
When the tiger finally swooped low, Ade unleashed his ultimate ability, Earthen Titan, transforming into a seven-meter giant of stone. His massive form loomed over the beast as he slammed his fists down, crushing it into the earth. The creature's fiery roar was snuffed out as it crumpled beneath the weight of his attack.
But the transformation drained him, his titan form crumbling as he fell to his knees, gasping for breath.
The fifth tiger, watching the battle unfold, chose that moment to strike. Its roar froze Ade in place for a second too long as it descended, claws igniting with lethal intent. Étienne, fresh from his victory, saw the danger.
"Get down!" Étienne shouted, his voice cutting through Ade's exhaustion.
The last tiger was larger and more ferocious than the others. Its roar sent shockwaves that paralyzed both men momentarily. Étienne recovered first, using Wind Manipulation to create a barrier that deflected the beast's fiery claws.
Tunde, mustering the last of his strength, forced himself to stand. "Étienne," he called, his voice rough but determined. "Let's finish this together."
The two men moved in tandem, their differences momentarily set aside. Ade summoned earth spikes to pin the tiger's wings, grounding it as Étienne darted in with blinding speed. His rapier flashed, carving deep wounds into the creature's side.
Étienne nodded, his aristocratic facade cracking into a grim smile. "Try to keep up."
The two launched their attack in tandem. Tunde summoned earthen spikes to pin the tiger's wings, grounding it. Étienne darted in, his rapier slicing through the air with deadly precision. The beast roared, a wave of sound knocking them both back.
As the tiger lunged for Étienne, Tunde stomped the ground, creating a fissure that swallowed the creature's hind legs. It thrashed, its fiery claws raking the air.
Étienne seized the opening, leaping onto the tiger's back. He plunged his rapier into its spine, twisting the blade as the winds around him intensified. "Stay down!" he shouted, the vortex crushing the tiger's remaining strength.
The beast collapsed with a final, guttural growl.
The battlefield fell silent, the only sounds their labored breathing. Ade dropped to the ground, leaning on his hammer for support. Étienne sheathed his rapier, his aristocratic composure returning as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
Ade broke the silence first. "I still don't trust you, Valoise."
Étienne smirked, his pale blue eyes gleaming with amusement. "I'd be concerned if you did."
"But…" Ade hesitated, his tone begrudging. "You fight well. For someone who talks so much."
Étienne chuckled, inclining his head. "And you're as unyielding as the earth itself. Perhaps we make a better team than I thought."
Ade let out a deep, rumbling laugh. "If we survive this, I'll teach you how to drink like a real man."
"And I'll teach you to stop grunting through every conversation," Étienne replied, his tone light but sincere.
For the first time, their mutual disdain gave way to a grudging respect, forged in the crucible of battle. Though their clans were worlds apart, the leaders had found common ground—in blood, sweat, and the shared goal of survival.
Quà tặng
-- Nhận quà Tình trạng nguồn điện hàng tuần
-- Xếp hạng
Quyền lực 
-- Đá
Quyền lực