Kaelen's chest heaved as he surveyed the battlefield, scorched earth and molten fragments scattered in all directions. The hour-long Showdown against Malak had reached its final stages, and a sinking realization pressed down on him: Malak was faster. No matter how quick he moved, no matter how perfectly he coordinated with Luna, he couldn't match the sheer fluidity and precision of Malak's attacks.
Kaelen's eyes flicked to Luna. The young dragon, now brimming with newfound strength, hovered beside him, wings slightly agitated but eyes sharp and alert. A thought sparked in Kaelen's mind.
"Luna," he murmured, "follow Malak. Try to steal the kills whenever he's about to finish a monster."
The dragon tilted her head, chirping softly in acknowledgment. Kaelen's lips curved into a faint smirk.
As the next wave of Blazing Serpents slithered into view, Malak moved with lethal grace, his hands slicing through the monsters as if he were dancing. At the last instant, Luna darted in, flames engulfing the nearest serpents before Malak's strikes could claim them.
Kaelen held his breath.
Instead of scowling, Malak laughed—a low, genuine laugh that echoed across the barren mountains. "Clever," he said, eyes glinting. "Using everything within the rules to win. I like this."
Kaelen's grin widened. "Guess you don't mind a little competition, then." Kaelen breathed heavily. Thankfully Malak did not get angry over something like this but he didn't have a choice to come up with something like this as he was slowly losing.
Malak shook his head, amusement clear on his face. "You think that'll be enough to catch me? Don't underestimate me."
With a flourish, Malak extended his hands, and the air shimmered as a domain skill activated. A golden circle of runes expanded around him, pulses of energy radiating outward. The Blazing Serpents within the circle disintegrated instantly, their life extinguished in a brilliant flash. Malak's kill count surged at an alarming rate, and Kaelen couldn't help but let out a frustrated shout.
"Cheater!" he yelled, ducking under a stray blast as Luna screeched in excitement.
Malak's laughter rang out, warm yet taunting. "Cheater? Hardly. Just… efficient. You'll need more than that to keep up."
Kaelen's eyes narrowed. He scanned his inventory, fingers brushing over items he'd collected but never used. Then it clicked. The starter packs—dozens of explosive talismans, D-grade items with deceptively powerful effects when scaled with his attack. They'd never been used, but now, this was the perfect moment.
He pulled out the talismans, his hands moving in a practiced pattern, and hurled them toward a cluster of serpents. Explosions erupted in rapid succession, fire and force tearing through the monsters. The air shook with each detonation.
Malak's eyes flicked toward him, amusement dancing there again. "Using every trick you have… I like it even more."
Kaelen gritted his teeth, moving forward and chaining Divine Charge into Dragon Slash, using his new skills to cut down clusters of monsters in perfect coordination with Luna's attacks. Every explosion, every slash, every coordinated strike added to his kill count.
By the time the hour mark was approaching, Kaelen felt a rush of exhilaration. Luna's powerful flame attacks and single-target strikes synced perfectly with his sword techniques. Together, they had annihilated wave after wave of monsters.
Glancing at the kill counter, Kaelen's eyes widened. 49 kills for him, 40 for Malak. Victory was almost in his grasp. A triumphant grin spread across his face.
"Just a few more…" he muttered, charging toward another Blazing Serpent. Luna followed closely, wings spread wide, flames licking at the edges of the monster.
But Malak was not done.
With a sudden movement, he activated his ultimate skill. The barren wasteland seemed to shiver as the air condensed into a wave of destructive force. Every monster within a massive radius was obliterated in an instant, their molten bodies reduced to cinders. Kaelen's heart sank as he saw Malak's kill count surge past a hundred.
He froze, sword trembling slightly, watching in disbelief.
"You… you wiped them all out?" Kaelen asked, voice low, almost stunned.
Malak's smirk returned, easy and calm. "Of course. Did you think I'd let this be easy for you? You never had chance to begin with"
Kaelen lowered his weapon, shoulders slumping. "I… I was so close."
Malak's tone softened, surprisingly gentle. "Don't be sad. You fought well. You pushed harder than anyone I've faced in a long time. That counts for something."
Kaelen looked up, surprised by the tone. Malak continued, reaching into his pack and producing a weapon that gleamed ominously in the dying sunlight.
"This is for you," he said, handing it over. "An A-tier weapon. Voidblade. A gift for your skill today."
Kaelen's eyes widened as he took the sleek black and purple sword, feeling the immense power coursing through it. Compared to his previous weapon, this was a colossal upgrade—its weight perfect, its sharpness almost supernatural.
"Why… why are you giving me this?" Kaelen asked, still awed by the weapon.
Malak shrugged. "Consider it encouragement. You fought with honor, creativity, and skill. Not everyone deserves this. I've seen enough talent to know it."
Kaelen nodded, feeling both pride and humility. The lesson of the showdown was clear: raw power alone wasn't enough. Strategy, adaptability, and courage mattered just as much.
"Now go ahead, ask any questions you wish to find out"
Still, there were questions Kaelen couldn't suppress. "Malak… the Ghouls Larder. How can I defeat the master there? I need to save someone."
For a moment, Malak's eyes darkened. The playful smirk vanished, replaced with a rare seriousness. He regarded Kaelen with a piercing gaze that seemed to weigh his very soul.
"There is… no way," he said finally, his voice low but steady. "Not yet, anyway. He is not someone you can contend with at this moment."
Kaelen froze, taking in the weight of Malak's words. A chill ran down his spine, the barren wasteland around him suddenly feeling vast and intimidating. He had fought, adapted, and used every trick he had, yet here was someone so powerful that even they admitted doubt.