Neither Segarus nor Caelum showed any signs of fatigue, but Segarus knew the gap between them even though they were at the same level. Segarus only has his magic to fight against him, while Caelum has his aura, but the sheer might of the aura Caelum wielded was beyond what anyone could comprehend. It was his because of skill with the sword was unparalleled; he had attained enlightenment through the sword, and he was one step away from becoming a deity.
Segarus knew that fact, and he wanted to kill Caelum before that happens.
In order to become a deity, one must pass through the tribulations. The type of tribulations one must go through depends on the individual's karma.
Segarus's smile disappeared; he was starting to feel the pressure of fighting against an unbeatable enemy. He saw Caelum as the wall he needed to break through in order to achieve his own enlightenment and ascend to deity status. Having deep hatred can sometimes cause deviation, leading to death. It was as simple as that. But your life depended on that fact alone.
Caelum's only worry right now was about his family; if they hadn't been present here, he would have gone all out against them. He had been keeping an eye on the ground and fought against Segarus. But it was starting to affect me. He held his sword, Ocuelas, in his right hand. He wanted to finish this before something grave happened.
So he was about to perform his technique, Heaven's Wrath in Blazing Steel.
He raised his hands again, summoning a deep, bright, and searing light. He held the sword with both hands as he pointed at the sky; an orb the size of a head formed at the sword's tip.
As soon as the bright orange radiance orb formed on the sword tip, Segarus felt his heart beat faster. He could sense it; Caelum was performing his sword technique. Down below, the people of the Kaezhlar clan were also aware of the fact.
Jolthar, who had read about it in books, witnessed the first form of Heaven's wrath, performed by the clan's ultimate sword practitioner. He focused all his attention on the patriarch, observing every detail of his movements.
All action ceased on the ground as everyone turned to see above. They could feel it, the pressure building around the area; it wasn't an exaggeration to see that Caelum's sword technique was dominating every single person present in the vicinity; even the ground was starting to shake.
Segarus laughed like a maniac; he quickly brought out a round object from his sleeves, the green lights glowing in turn. He had been summing up his mana to either block it or, if possible, evade it.
In all his years of closeness with Caelum, he knew that Caelum never missed his target, and if he was taking time to unleash his attack, then it was dangerously powerful. Segarus knew he had to act fast to avoid being overwhelmed by Caelum's sword technique.
The razor-sharp currents swirled around Caelum, their edges gleaming like polished steel. Then he swung his sword; it was slow like time had stopped, but in reality, he was moving. Multiple orbs were starting to take shape in front of Caelum, and with a wave of his hand, he drew a circle with his sword, then thrust his Ocuelas towards Segarus.
A sharp cry echoed in the midair like a squeal of a giant beast, followed by a loud bang.
Segarus' mind raced as he watched the orbs of orange light; it was the first form of his attack, and it was devastatingly suppressive.
Jolthar felt a shiver run down his spine witnessing the attack being pushed towards Segarus.
Segarus's body glowed with green light, and in the next few seconds, everything was engulfed in a blinding flash of energy. Nobody could see anything as the infernal radiance struck Seragus.
For a moment, the Kaezhlar clan people thought it was over, even when they couldn't see anything.
As the last remnants of the blinding light faded, the battlefield came into view again, revealing the stark aftermath of Caelum's devastating attack. The air shimmered with residual heat, and the once-vivid skies now carried a murky orange hue. Below, the ground bore the scorch marks of his "Infernal Radiance," the deep craters smoking ominously, a testament to the sheer magnitude of his power.
Caelum hovered in the sky, his gaze fixed on Segarus. His chest heaved as he worked to steady his breathing. Despite the immense power of the attack, it had drained him significantly. His aura, usually a steady and formidable force, was flickering like a dying flame. He gripped Ocuelas tightly, the hilt of his sword warm from the energy it had just unleashed.
From the ground below, the Kaezhlar clan people watched in silence, their faces pale and hopeful. For a brief moment, they dared to believe it was over. Caelum's attack had been overwhelming, a display of power they thought no one could withstand.
But as the dust cleared, their hope was dashed.
Segarus emerged from the dissipating glow, his figure hunched but far from defeated. The green light that had protected him dimmed, and a crumbled artefact fell from his hand, shattering upon hitting the scorched ground below. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, a clear sign that he hadn't emerged unscathed. Yet his bitter laughter cut through the heavy silence like a dagger.
"Even the highest-grade artefacts weren't enough to shield me completely from your power," Segarus said, his voice hoarse but filled with venom. He coughed, spitting more blood onto the ground. "Truly, Caelum, you are a monster. And the more I realize it, the more my hatred for you burns. The more I desire to see you fall."
Caelum's eyes narrowed. He remained silent, his focus unwavering. He knew better than to respond to Segarus's taunts. Instead, he mentally assessed his remaining strength. His attacks were devastating, but they consumed an extraordinary amount of aura. He could already feel the strain weighing on him. If this fight dragged on, he would be at a disadvantage.
Segarus straightened, wiping the blood from his lips with the back of his hand. His green aura flared, though it, too, seemed dimmer than before. Despite his injuries, his determination burned brighter than ever. He raised his hand, summoning a swirling storm of emerald energy that crackled with violent intensity.
"Let's see how long you can keep that monstrous strength of yours," Segarus sneered, his voice tinged with malice.
From the ground, Jolthar watched intently, his gaze darting between the two titans clashing in the sky. He couldn't help but feel the oppressive weight of their power. Even from this distance, the sheer force of their auras made the air feel heavy. He clenched his fists, a mixture of awe and frustration coursing through him. For all his cunning and ambition, this level of power was far beyond his reach.
Segarus launched his attack. The storm of emerald energy spiralled toward Caelum, its trajectory erratic yet impossibly fast. Caelum's eyes flashed as he raised Ocuelas, channeling the remnants of his aura into a defensive maneuver. He drew a complex sigil in the air with his sword, a shimmering barrier forming just in time to intercept the attack.
The collision sent shockwaves rippling through the sky. The barrier cracked under the onslaught, but it held long enough for Caelum to sidestep and counterattack. He thrust Ocuelas forward, releasing a concentrated beam of radiant light that tore through the emerald storm, dispersing it in an instant.
Segarus barely had time to react as the beam closed in on him. He twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the brunt of the attack, but the edge of the beam grazed his shoulder, leaving a searing wound. He hissed in pain but retaliated immediately, conjuring a barrage of green projectiles that rained down on Caelum like a meteor shower.
Caelum weaved through the onslaught with fluid precision, his movements a blend of grace and efficiency. Each dodge was calculated, each counterstrike purposeful. But as the battle wore on, it became clear that both combatants were reaching their limits.
Below, the Kaezhlar clan members could only watch in stunned silence.
Every clash, every explosion of energy, sent tremors through the ground. To them, it was as if gods were waging war above their heads.
Elowen, standing among the survivors, held her children close. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with worry. "How much longer can he keep this up?" she whispered, though no one had an answer.
Their clash continued while the people of Naemarys resumed their attack.
Maena and Lodawg momentarily stopped fighting under the infernal radiance, but they resumed right after. Lodawg was taunting her, "Your brother seems like he has reached yet another level of swordsmanship. Ah, I truly envy you people, so gifted, so talented." There was a sinister joy in his voice, not one bit of fear.
Maena ignored his comments, and she was determined to kill him today.