The barren wasteland of Banepeak Mountain stretched endlessly, jagged rocks casting long shadows across the cracked earth. Kaelen's eyes scanned the horizon, alert for any movement. Then, in the distance, he saw it: a figure tearing through a cluster of Blazing Serpents with terrifying speed and precision.
Kaelen squinted. The figure wasn't a player—yet it moved with uncanny skill. Each monster was dispatched with minimal effort, limbs and fangs reduced to shards of molten light before they could even strike.
He approached cautiously, Luna hovering close, tail flicking nervously. Even she seemed intrigued by the newcomer's movements.
The figure noticed him almost immediately. His pale gold eyes, sharp and piercing, swept over Kaelen and Luna, lingering briefly on the dragon hatchling. A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
"Well… unexpectedly," the man said, his voice smooth and deliberate, "I find something interesting in this barren place."
Kaelen raised an eyebrow. "Interesting? You mean me?"
The man's gaze stayed calm, unreadable. "Perhaps. But don't be nervous. I am not here to cause trouble—at least not in this territory."
Kaelen tightened his grip on his sword. "Who are you?"
The man inclined his head slightly. "Call me Malak. Passing through."
Luna growled softly, wings flaring. Kaelen nodded, letting her remain alert.
Malak's smirk deepened. "You seem hesitant. No need. You won't be harmed unless… you falter. But I will offer a game: a challenge. One hour. Whoever kills the most monsters earns the right to ask questions. If you lose, you leave this area. That is the wager."
Kaelen glanced at Luna, who chirped softly in acknowledgment. He nodded. "I accept."
Malak's eyes glinted faintly. "Good. Then let the Showdown begin."
Kaelen wasted no time. The first Blazing Serpent he spotted was already preparing to strike. He lunged forward, Divine Charge propelling him into the air. Dragon Slash followed, cutting through its molten scales with surgical precision. Luna's roar echoed across the mountains, unleashing her newly acquired AOE flame attack, reducing the smaller serpents nearby to ash.
Malak moved like liquid shadow, spear flashing with deadly efficiency. He cut through a group of serpents, leaving a trail of destruction that mirrored Kaelen's own path. Each strike, each dodge, each maneuver seemed carefully measured yet impossibly fast.
Kaelen gritted his teeth. He wasn't used to competing against someone this fluid, this calculated. But with Luna by his side, every move became a symphony of destruction. He chased down monsters, closing the distance, unleashing a seamless combination of Judgement Strike, Divine Charge, and Dragon Slash.
Malak's movements were just as precise, slicing through serpents that Kaelen hadn't even spotted. The barren land became a battlefield, the air thick with dust, fire, and molten fragments.
Kaelen felt the thrill of combat surge through him. Every kill, every dodge, every strike was magnified by his Divine Dragon Swordsman powers. He moved with speed, strength, and coordination that felt almost unreal. Luna followed perfectly, synchronizing her attacks with his, their teamwork turning the overwhelming level forty serpents into mere obstacles rather than threats.
Malak's pale gold eyes flicked toward him briefly. "You have skill… and courage. Few would dare follow so closely in Banepeak. Remember—this is not for survival alone, but to test your worth."
Kaelen's jaw tightened. "I won't falter."
He darted forward, Dragon Slash cutting through a massive serpent, followed immediately by Luna's single-target flame strike that incinerated the rest. The scorched earth trembled as the two worked in perfect unison, claiming victory after victory.
Malak's own pace never faltered. He killed with efficiency, each motion a display of deadly grace. But Kaelen felt no fear—only exhilaration. Every strike honed his instincts, every monster defeated reinforced his confidence. The challenge was equal parts terrifying and invigorating.
Hours passed, the sun dipping lower in the sky. Dust hung in the air, molten fragments scattered across the land, and the cries of fallen serpents echoed faintly across the barren plains.
Kaelen stole a glance at Malak. Their numbers were neck-and-neck. Neither had even hesitated. Luna's wings flared as she launched a powerful AOE attack, leveling a cluster of serpents. Kaelen followed with a Divine Charge, striking down the largest serpent in the group.
Malak's expression remained calm, almost amused, as he destroyed his own group of monsters with the same precision. Kaelen could see hints of subtle adjustments in Malak's movements, learning and adapting—but so was he.
Every kill counted. Every second mattered. The barren wasteland became a blur of motion, fire, and molten light. Kaelen realized this wasn't just a test of strength—it was a test of endurance, focus, and strategy.
"Not bad," Malak said over the roar of the battle. "Your coordination with the dragon… impressive. Most would falter under pressure."
Kaelen smirked. "I've had some practice."
Malak tilted his head. "Indeed. But you are still young. Still learning. Still… human. Do not forget that."
Kaelen's eyes narrowed. "I won't forget. Neither will you."
They surged forward, cutting down serpents faster than the eye could follow. Lava cracked beneath their feet, fire scorched the rocks, and the winds carried the echoes of their battle across the desolate peaks.
Luna roared again, her new single-target skill slicing through the largest serpent with explosive force. Kaelen's Judgement Strike followed immediately, cleaving through the next monster. The coordination was seamless, almost flawless.
Malak's gaze flicked toward Kaelen, approving but unreadable. "Keep this pace. Show me what you've earned. Do not falter."
Kaelen gritted his teeth, adrenaline pumping through him. He darted forward, weapons gleaming, Luna gliding beside him. Each monster he felled brought a surge of satisfaction, but also an acute awareness that his opponent was equally relentless.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, shadows stretched across the barren plains. The last few serpents writhed in the fading light, and Kaelen felt his chest heaving with exhaustion and exhilaration.
Malak's movements slowed slightly—not from fatigue, but from the knowledge that the contest was nearing its climax. Kaelen felt the same. Their Showdown had pushed both to the absolute limit, and yet neither had given an inch.
Kaelen finally paused for a moment, Luna landing beside him, wings tucked. Their eyes met—shared understanding and trust.
Malak's pale gold eyes met his. "You have skill… more than I expected. Keep this pace. The hour is not yet done."
Kaelen's lips curved into a small smile. "Then let's finish it."
Together, Kaelen and Luna surged forward one last time, chasing down the remaining serpents as the crimson sun sank below the horizon. Dust and fire swirled around them, and the barren wasteland bore witness to the fiercest, most synchronized battle either had faced yet.
The hour had only just begun, and already Kaelen realized: this was not simply a test of strength—it was the beginning of a rivalry, one that would push him further than he had ever imagined.