Cardos drew a deep breath, a cold satisfaction curling his lips. His hand moved slowly, as if tracing the lines of destiny itself, before slashing forward.
"Temporal Slash," he whispered, the words almost drowned by the vibrations of energy tearing through the space between them. A dense golden light flowed from his hand, forming a temporal sword that cut at Geld's past, targeting the baby he once had been.
Within the light, time seemed to slow for Geld. He felt the fragile, helpless seconds of his infancy being dragged by Cardos' energy wave. His body trembled, every cell screaming, yet something inside him refused to yield.
"No… I will not vanish… I cannot vanish!" Geld's inner voice echoed, piercing the blinding light. He focused his internal energy, channeling years of training into a solid, cold shield.
Cardos' Temporal Sword struck Geld's shield of existence. A burst of light exploded, temporal reverberations shaking the walls. Flashes of past and present collided in the air—baby Geld screamed, while the adult shadow stood firm, holding back the strike of destiny.
The light swept across, slicing and tearing fragments of Geld's memories, but the layers of his trained existence held firm. His internal energy, forged through years of magical training, reflected part of the temporal wave, sending flashes that forced Cardos to step back.
Geld opened his eyes, staring at Cardos with unwavering resolve. His body still quivered, breath heavy, yet the dense aura of his existence thickened around him. "Every drop of sweat, every pain… it all made me. You cannot erase me!"
Cardos swallowed, slightly taken aback. He had not expected the energy of a human—though now a king and a warrior—could withstand an attack that cut through time itself. He tried to read Geld's flow of existence, but something resisted comprehension: the helpless infant of the past had fused with the adult power that now surpassed space and time.
The temporal sword slashed again, faster, more ferocious. Flashes of light danced wildly, forming shadows of Geld's past life attacking him. Yet each strike hitting Geld's shield was converted into vibrations, holding back destruction and asserting his presence in the present.
Cardos' face paled, his smile fading. He realized this was no longer a mere duel of strength; it was a battle between existence and the decree of fate. He wanted to erase, but Geld's resistance was too strong. Temporal light spread throughout the room, yet Geld's blue-red shield withstood almost all of it, reflecting part of the energy back at Cardos, forcing him to retreat and endure the backlash.
Moments stretched endlessly. Each temporal slash did not merely tear at space—it challenged the psyche of both combatants. Geld felt fear, pressure, yet a blazing courage. He knew that surrender meant not only losing his life, but the erasure of his entire future.
And when Cardos struck for the fourth time, the temporal blade collided with Geld's layers of existence. This time, the explosion was immense, creating a deafening, spiraling wave that shattered debris around them. Yet Geld remained standing. He concentrated all his internal energy, all his training, all the memories that had shaped him since infancy, into a single point of focus.
"This is me… now… and my future!" Geld shouted. His blue-red aura surged, consuming the remaining temporal light and reflecting Cardos' attack toward the ceiling, making the room shake violently. Cardos staggered, his face tightening as he realized something terrifying: Geld was not merely alive—he had become an entity stronger than the very intent to erase him.
The light subsided, leaving dust and lingering sparks in the air. Cardos stared at Geld, eyes wide, trembling slightly, realizing that even though he had cut through the flow of time, Geld's existence remained unshaken.
Geld panted, but his eyes burned with determination. He knew this was only the beginning. This battle was not simply about strength—it was about forging an existence that refuses to vanish, defying a fate dictated by others.