The hatchet cut through the air, spinning violently as shadows clung to its blade like a living shroud. Zerath's eyes flicked to it instantly. He was not expecting an attack like this.

"Hmph."

He twisted his wrist. The wind shifted. The air around the flying hatchet suddenly thickened, resistance slamming into it from all sides. Its speed dropped sharply. But not enough.

The shadow tightened. The hatchet curved midair, ignoring normal trajectory, slipping through the turbulent wind like a fish through water.

Zerath clicked his tongue and stepped aside. The blade grazed past his ribs, slicing flesh and drawing a thin line of dark blood before burying itself deep into a burning tree behind him.

"Tch."

At the same moment, Amon acted. Zerath's focus moved away from Amon. The wind prison loosened significantly. The shadows around Amon's body exploded outward.

The wind prison shuddered. Amon roared, muscles screaming as he forced his body downward. The shadow layer around him thickened, absorbing part of the pressure.

With a sharp crack, the wind prison collapsed. Amon slammed into the ground on one knee, coughing hard, blood dripping onto the ash-covered earth.

Before Zerath could close the distance, Amon slammed his palm forward.

[Eclipse Bolt]

The black sphere shot out, tearing through the burning air. Zerath swung his sword horizontally. A spinning wall of wind formed in front of him. The Eclipse Bolt smashed into it.

BOOOOOM!

Darkness and wind collided violently, detonating outward. Trees were uprooted. Flames were blown apart in all directions. The shockwave sent both of them skidding backward.

Zerath dug his boots into the ground, sliding several meters before stopping. His arm trembled slightly.

Amon was thrown harder. He rolled across the dirt, his shoulder smashing into a rock. Pain shot through his arm, but he forced himself up again. Their eyes met through the smoke and fire. Zerath grinned.

"Good. Very good."

He spread his arms wide. The wind screamed.

The entire forest seemed to lean toward him. Flames bent sideways. Ash spiraled upward into the sky, forming a massive rotating vortex above the battlefield.

Zerath pointed his sword at Amon.

[Storm Rend]

The vortex compressed. Then released.

Dozens of wind blades shot downward like falling guillotines. Amon's pupils shrank. Amon raised his sword with both hands. Darkness covered the blade like black ink.

Amon swung his sword. Upward, horizontal, vertical, diagonal.

He slashed one after another with all his might. Mana enforced his body to its absolute limits. His blade parried each wind blade.

Each impact sent pain racing through Amon's body. The shadow covering him cracked, dissolved, and reformed.

One blade slipped through. It tore across Amon's side. Blood sprayed. Amon staggered, nearly collapsing, but he stayed standing through sheer will.

He breathed heavily. 'If this continues… I'll die.'

Zerath walked forward through the storm as if it didn't touch him.

"You're resisting well," he said casually. "But you're burning out. I can do this all night."

Amon wiped blood from his mouth and laughed weakly.

"Good," he said. "Because… so can I."

The shadows around him changed. They stopped writhing wildly. They sank, flattened, and spread. The firelight dimmed around Amon's feet as darkness swallowed the ground.

Zerath narrowed his eyes.

"Oh?"

Amon stepped forward.

Each step deepened the shadow beneath him, stretching unnaturally far despite the flames.

"My shadow…" Amon said quietly, his voice steady despite the pain. "It's not just for grabbing."

The shadow surged upward behind him, forming a tall, looming shape. Vague and formless, but heavy with pressure.

[Gloom Mirage]

Zerath felt it. A chill ran down his spine.

"Tch. So that's it."

He raised his sword again, wind roaring even louder. He spun on his feet.

"Then let's finish this!"

Both of them moved at the same time.

Zerath's sword slashed through the shadowy figure. It was just a shadow clone. A mirage meant to take his attention. The shadowy form dissolved.

His eyes widened. He instantly turned back, but Amon was already in front of him. Bending slightly, Amon's sword moved in a horizontal slash.

[Umbral Veil Sword Art: First Form – Crescent of Dusk]

A sharp, wide, dark energy crescent-shaped slash shot toward Zerath. It was too close. He was unable to avoid it. He controlled the wind as it exploded forward.

The dark arc met it and cut through the wind.

Splash!

A slash appeared across his chest. It was not too deep, as the full force of the attack was weakened by the wind.

Blood splattered.

"Ahhhh!"

The demon screamed in pain. He was not wearing any armor, so the injury was severe. He regained his balance, then struck his sword at Amon.

This time, it was Amon who was smiling. Seeing the cut and blood spilling from Zerath's body delighted him.

His blood boiled with excitement. He felt a deep desire to kill Zerath. For what he had done to Harvey, to Mira, and to Amon himself.

He would not let this bastard live. Amon tightened his grip on his sword and parried the incoming blade.

Clang!

Clang!

"Hehehe~" Amon laughed as they exchanged strikes.

"Hahaha! You are fighting well. But this won't be enough to kill me." Zerath's body began to be covered in blazing wind.

The burning fire around them grew fiercer. Sweat dripped down their bodies. Their skin burned from time to time due to the nearby flames.

Yet, at that moment, both men stared at each other with wide smiles. Not caring about their surroundings.

Zerath raised his hand above his head and brought it down. The blade was sharpened by wind, gleaming with dark blue energy.

But Amon only smirked. Zerath sensed danger. He changed the trajectory of his sword and swung to his left.

Something was coming toward him, tearing through the air. It was Amon's hatchet, covered in shadow.

Meanwhile, Amon's sword, gleaming with darkness, thrust toward Zerath's ribcage. Zerath was aware of it. Mana-formed wind around his body exploded outward.

"Tch!" Amon was pushed back several steps. At that moment, Zerath slashed at the incoming hatchet.

Clang!

The hatchet's direction changed. But Amon commanded it back toward himself. The hatchet landed in his left hand. They stared at each other with wide grins.

Both kicked off the ground, dashing toward each other. The forest howled as captain and prisoner clashed once more. Storm and darkness tearing into each other, neither willing to yield, neither willing to fall.

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