The air around zephyr started crackling violently.
He raised his arm.
“Lightning Core—“
The sky above darkened.
“Thunderstorm Field!”
Lightning began crashing down across the arena.
Bolt after bolt slammed into the ground, blasting craters through stone.
Ashur darted between them seamlessly.
“That’s a pretty nice move you got there!”
Another bolt struck beside him.
“Pretty hard to dodge!”
He extended his fingers towards Zephyr.
“Slash Core—“
His hand flicked downward.
“Razor Rain!”
A storm of tiny slashes erupted towards Zephyr.
They were small, which made them harder to detect.
The slashes carved across Zephyr’s body as he tried to evade them.
Blood sprayed across the arena floor.
Zephyr groaned.
“Bastard..”
“You shrank your slashes, didn’t you?”
Ashur shrugged casually.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Zephyr snorted.
“Sly asshole.”
Lightning struck nearby.
Zephyr grabbed one of the bolts mid descent.
The lightning condensed in his grasp.
He hurled it towards Ashur.
At the same time, his fingers formed a gun shape.
“Lightning Core—“
Essenz Gathered.
“HEARTSTRIKE!”
Two lightning bolts tore toward Ashur simultaneously.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Ashur’s eyes widened slightly.
That’s fast.
Too fast to dodge cleanly.
“Slash Core—“
He swung his arm.
“Cleave!”
The slash sliced both bolts apart.
The lightning dispersed violently.
But in that instant-
Zephyr flashstepped forward.
He grabbed Ashur by the face,
And slammed him headfirst into the floor.
The ground cratered beneath them.
Augh! My head..
Ashur thought as the stone shattered.
Zephyr began raining punches down on him.
Each strike crackled with Lightning.
Ashur raised his arms to block.
But the Lightning surged through his defenses.
His muscles spasmed.
“Thanks for teaching me this application!”
Zephyr shouted between blows.
“It’s pretty handy!”
Ashur grimaced.
“…Yeah. Your welcome.”
As zephyr pulled his fist back for another strike—
Ashur twitched a finger.
A tiny slash sliced across Zephyrs Arm.
The sudden pain broke his rhythm.
That moment was all that he needed.
His leg shot upward.
He kicked Zephyr straight into the sky.
Zephyr rocketed upward hundreds of meters.
Before he could stabilize—
Ashur was suddenly behind him.
Zephyr’s eyes widened.
When did he—
“Slash Core.”
Ashur spread his fingers.
“Dismantling Field.”
The air around them filled with slashes.
Hundreds of them.
They carved across Zephyrs body as he struggled mid air.
Blood streamed down his arms and legs.
Ashur laughed.
“You’re going to bleed out soon!”
But zephyr didn’t retreat.
Lightning surged across his fist.
“Lightning Core—“
He drove the punch straight towards Ashur.
“Thousand Fold Thunder Strike!”
Tens Of Billions of volts exploded outward.
Ashur blocked with both arms.
But the lightning burnt through his flesh.
Skin vaporized and Muscle charred.
His forearms were nearly burnt to the bone.
“Damn you! That hurts!”
They began falling back down toward the arena.
Ashur lunged to grab zephyr mid fall.
Zephyr smacked his arm aside.
He flashstepped downward grabbing Ashur with him.
And Drove him into the ground at speeds of 120 million meters a second.
The impact shook the entire arena.
Ashur screamed in agony.
Zephyr jumped backward immediately.
Ashur lay in the crater for a few seconds.
Is it over..? Zephyr thought.
Then Ashur’s hand twitched.
“Slash Core…”
The air warped violently.
“Cleaving Domain.”
Hundreds of massive slashes erupted outward.
The arena began collapsing.
Most of the nobles had evacuated the arena by this point, only a few and Maurice remained to watch the spectacle.
They were protected by a barrier cast by the servants.
Walls shattered.
Zephyr dodged frantically between the attacks.
Ashur climbed out of the crater slowly.
“Hmph.”
He flexed his ruined arms.
“That lightning attack burnt my forearms nearly to the bones. They’re completely ruined.”
Zephyr wiped blood from his face.
“I promised I’d kill you and I will.”
Ashur swung his arms repeatedly.
More slashes flew toward zephyr.
Then he charged forward.
Zephyr dodged the slashes—
But Ashur’s fist slammed into his chest.
The blow launched him toward the arena wall.
At the same time—
A slash tore across his chest.
Zephyr crashed into the stone.
He barely rolled aside in time as Ashur’s next strike pulverized the wall behind him.
“Lucky bastard.”
Zephyr took the opening and slammed his fist into Ashur’s face.
Lightning detonated across his skull, burning parts of his head.
Ashur blasted backward.
“DAMN YOU!”
Zephyr smirked faintly.
“Payback for earlier.”
Both fighters staggered apart.
Ashur’s face was burnt, his arms charred, and bleeding.
Zephyr was covered head to toe in cuts and bruises.
Blood dripping from dozens of wounds.
They stood there breathing heavily.
Then Ashur straightened.
“I’m done playing games. Let’s end this.”
The Essenz around him began twisting violently.
Zephyr felt the pressure instantly.
What the—what is he doing?
Whatever it is, it can’t be good..
Zephyr rushed forward—
But the Essenz exploded outward.
Ashur’s voice roared across the battlefield.
“TOTALITY!”
His body erupted with overwhelming Essenz pressure.
Zephyr’s eyes widened.
“What the hell did you do?!”
Ashur slowly raised his arm.
Then brought it down.
“ULTIMATE SLASH CORE—SKY SPLITTER.”
