Meanwhile, Arthur and Karna clashed in a ferocious duel, each instant marked by collisions that reverberated across the battlefield.
There was no pause, no room for hesitation. Both fought with everything they had, fully aware that even the slightest mistake could be fatal. Every strike, every dodge, every block was measured and precise, each one carrying the intent to overpower the other.
The flames of Karna's spear traced incandescent arcs through the air, leaving behind a suffocating trail of heat. Each thrust carried enough power to turn grass into ash and crack the very ground. Yet before the tip could reach Arthur, a golden portal would open, and from within, a weapon — swords, spears, shields — would emerge to deflect the strike or alter its course, even as Arthur counterattacked with treasures from the Gate of Babylon or swung his golden axe.
"Clang!"
The metallic sound rang once, twice, ten times, as if dozens of battles were unfolding at once.
From the Gate of Babylon, weapons poured forth in relentless succession, each with a different purpose: some to block, others to cut, others still to shove Karna off balance and force him to readjust his guard.
Yet the Hero of the Sun did not yield.
His body seemed forged for war. He spun his spear in swift, fluid movements, burning and shattering the treasures hurled at him as though weathering a storm. Heat radiated from him like a miniature sun, each clash making the air itself quiver.
The surroundings mirrored the violence of their struggle. Nearby trees splintered like brittle twigs, boulders crumbled into fragments, and the ground sank beneath their feet, scarred by craters and fissures. Still, neither warrior showed a hint of exhaustion.
Arthur stood firm, a bright grin on his face, his exhilaration plain for all to see.
As for why he didn't simply crush Karna with his overwhelming strength from the start? Nonsense. How could he enjoy the fight if he just smashed every opponent outright?
His eyes tracked Karna's every movement, his feet shifting with flawless precision.
"Yes! Entertain me more, Karna!" he laughed, charging straight at his foe.
Karna surged forward in response, his impenetrable gaze and the flames that wreathed his spear serving as his only reply. And, like Arthur, his lips curled into a smile.
Arthur summoned more portals, releasing two swords at Karna from opposite angles while a shield manifested ahead.
Karna did not falter. The blazing tip of his spear pierced the shield with ease, reducing it to gleaming shards and molten steel. The shaft knocked aside the first sword, while the second was repelled by a kick that burst into a wave of heat.
Arthur seized the opening. He lunged forward head-on, using his body as a weapon. His fist slipped past Karna's guard and crashed into his stomach.
"BAM!"
The impact echoed across the field. Karna skidded back several meters, his feet dragging trenches in the earth until he came to a stop, still holding his spear. Rather than collapse, he rose straighter than before, the flames around him burning even fiercer.
Arthur allowed himself a faint smile at Karna's effortless resistance to his punch.
The air between them seemed to vibrate, heavy as a rope about to snap.
Arthur then raised his hand and drew forth his golden axe once more.
Gripping it firmly, he charged again.
"CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!"
The axe came down with brutal force, while Karna blocked and countered with flawless spearwork. Golden and crimson sparks mingled, illuminating the battlefield in bursts of light and heat.
Arthur did not rely solely on the axe; he mixed his strikes with martial arts techniques — elbows, kicks, knees.
Karna, however, refused to retreat. He spun his spear in fiery circles, fending off both physical blows and the treasures raining around him. His body endured the direct impacts, even as the golden axe split the ground beneath his feet.
For a few moments, it was as if the world had vanished. There were only two heroes: the blazing Sun against resplendent Gold.
It wasn't long before wounds appeared on both Karna and Arthur, but they were shallow and healed almost instantly.
Dozens of portals multiplied around Arthur, aligned in perfect circles.
Karna, in turn, raised his spear, and his flames surged higher, pillars of fire reaching toward the sky.
The battle showed no sign of ending.
On the contrary, with each passing second, the tension only grew sharper.
Their fight became more violent, each movement calculated, each attack carrying the clear intent to force a gap in the other's defenses — yet neither yielded even an inch.
Karna's spear carved flaming lines through the air, the heat warping the very space around it. Each thrust sparked explosions as it clashed against weapons from the Gate of Babylon.
Swords, spears, and axes emerged in rapid succession, forming a golden maelstrom around Arthur.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
The metallic chorus echoed without respite, like war bells tolling as the two exchanged unending blows.
Still, Karna never retreated. His silence was as firm as his flame. He deflected, shattered, and destroyed the treasures as though he had fought against endless storms before.
Arthur, still grinning in excitement, pressed the attack. His eyes traced every detail, measuring the exact distance between them, syncing his breath with the rhythm of battle. He wasn't merely fighting Karna — he was adapting to him, adjusting to his style at an alarming pace.
With a swift, powerful swing, he struck at Karna again with his axe.
Karna raised his spear to block, and the impact thundered across the battlefield:
"BAM!"
The ground beneath them cracked apart, stone fragments scattering in all directions. Karna slid back a few paces but recovered quickly, the smile on his face revealing his enjoyment of the fight.
Karna instantly counterattacked. His spear slashed down in a vertical arc, and Arthur intercepted it, crossing his axe against the flaming weapon. The clash erupted in sparks and waves of heat, casting both warriors in flickering light.
Arthur opened three portals behind him, launching weapons like projectiles that forced Karna to split his defense between the axe and the incoming strikes.
From one portal, a golden chain shot forth like a serpent, aiming to bind his free arm.
Karna reacted instantly: he swept the chain aside with his spear's shaft, spun on his heels, and in a single motion blocked the blade that came from behind.
At that moment, Arthur lunged once more.
With his golden axe, he delivered a lateral strike, exploiting the tiniest gap. The air vibrated from the force, and Karna barely had time to raise his spear diagonally in defense.
"CRASH!"
The impact gouged a crater into the earth, dust and debris scattering around them. The shockwave pushed both back several meters.
Arthur then drew a pair of twin golden blades from the Gate of Babylon and charged once more.
Karna met him head-on, the flames of his spear blazing brighter, as if the battle itself fueled his strength.
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."