Silence hung in the air. And just when it seemed Malakai might have been mistaken, a figure calmly stepped out from behind the tree, approaching him with composed steps.
'It's that youth.' Malakai recognized him, his gaze narrowing at the lean, white haired boy with an athletic build.
His steps were graceful, not making a single sound. His breathing was so calm and in sync with his body, it made his movement appear refined in every way.
'An Aurelius youth.' And not just any Aurelius. It was the same one Malakai had marked as a potential threat earlier on the platform.
"Forgive me for my actions, Ninth Vein. You seemed to be in deep thought, and I didn't want to interrupt."
The youth stopped a few meters away and bowed slightly. His voice matched his demeanor, calm as a lake.
"What do you want?" Malakai asked, not lowering his guard. Just because he had shown respect didn't mean he didn't plan on fighting.
The Aurelius didn't operate that way. Their clan was filled with warriors who were honorable to the core. They always fought fairly and constantly sought powerful opponents. Their ability to remain calm in every situation was what made them feared and respected.
The youth raised his head and met Malakai's eyes with a tranquil gaze.
"My name is Thalor Dae Aurelius," he said. "Forgive my imprudent words, but I would like to challenge you to a battle."
Outside, where the entire region was watching screens of youths battling darkness creatures, one screen flickered, and locked in.
"Hey look! Sanguine and Aurelius! Sanguine and Aurelius!"
Heads turned, and the instant they spotted the Ninth Vein and one of the Aurelius clan's heirs standing across from each other, the entire place froze for a heartbeat. Then…
"START THE BATTLE ALREADY!"
"I BET ALL MY MONEY ON THE NINTH VEIN!"
Numerous cheers rang out. Instantly, everyone's attention focused on that single screen. It was the first high profile battle of the day, the Ninth Vein versus the third heir of the Aurelius clan.
The Ninth Vein had already shown extraordinary prowess during the hunt. But many couldn't help but subtly lean towards the Aurelius heir.
He was older, and a one-on-one duel was vastly different from fighting darkness creatures, especially grade ones. Those were near mindless. Humans were not.
The excitement was at its peak. They couldn't wait.
Where the Sanguine sovereign and higher ups were seated, silence reigned. Every pair of eyes locked onto the screen showing Malakai and the Aurelius youth.
Back in the forest, as Thalor made his declaration, Malakai's gaze sharpened.
He didn't reply. Instead, he reached for his back and yanked out his scythe, twirling it once. The blade hissed through the air.
Thalor nodded, as though grateful the challenge had been accepted. He reached for his lower back and slowly drew out two curved blades.
Both lowered into their stance, eyes locked on each other.
In that moment, the entire forest went still.
The rustle of leaves, the soothing sound of the wind, everything vanished.
In the entire world, they saw only each other.
They hadn't even clashed yet, and still, Malakai knew, just by looking into his eyes. He was strong.
Still, Malakai's gaze remained steady. He lowered further into his stance. And as though they had both come to the same conclusion, they moved.
A flash, and the distance between them vanished, weapons flying.
Sparks burst in the dark forest as Malakai's scythe collided with Thalor's curved blades. The sharp shnnnk of steel scraping steel echoed throughout the dark woods.
Their eyes locked. In that moment, nothing else existed. The gazes tunneled in on each other.
But in the next second, it became clear who had the upper hand. The ground beneath Malakai cracked as he was pushed back, his body skidding a few inches.
Even while being overpowered, Malakai's thoughts remained eerily calm. He did what he did best, analyze.
'Three nodes. Two in the legs, one in the heart.'
The Aurelius clan's strength lay in their mastery of lung control. After centuries of honing their techniques, they could channel their breath into their entire bodies, enhancing themselves to extraordinary levels. Their breathing was one with their form, every movement taken with grace.
But that wasn't all. Through breath, they enhanced their strength, extended stamina, and amplified their precision. Still, Malakai's focus was on the boy before him.
Two nodes in the legs. One in the heart. He didn't need to think to reach his conclusion.
'He focused on speed.'
Malakai shifted his weight, suddenly redirecting Thalor's momentum to the side.
But Thalor didn't falter. His expression didn't change. He inhaled, power surged through his frame.
With a sharp stomp, he stopped himself, twisted, and spun. His twin blades followed, aiming to cleave Malakai clean in two.
Thalor's pupils constricted. Sharp pain tore through his leg. Before he could register what happened, his world tilted… he was falling.
'A sweeping kick.' Even as he went down, his mind kept processing. How had Malakai predicted his attack?
Regardless, before he hit the ground, his instincts kicked in. His eyes snapped into focus.
Using the momentum from his fall, his body twisted, and he brought one curved blade crashing down toward where he assumed Malakai would be.
But as his gaze darted downward, they froze.
Malakai wasn't there!
Before he could comprehend it, a heavy force slammed into his back, launching him like a cannonball. He was hurtled through the air, rolling across the forest floor.
He twisted midair and skidded to a stop, just before crashing into a tree.
The region watching erupted into wild cheers, voices soaring.
"GET HIM, NINTH VEIN!"
"SHOW THEM WHY THE SANGUINES RULE THE WEST!"
Screams filled the air as the crowd roared with excitement. The atmosphere was electric.
Thalor stood up calmly, dusting the black sand off his clothes. But even as he did, his eyes never left Malakai, who stood at a distance, his cold gaze locked onto him.
"You're strong, Ninth Vein."
Thalor hadn't expected this. He had targeted Malakai solely because he was the son of a genius, one second to none. As a battle maniac, he simply couldn't resist the temptation.
Still… Malakai was strong. Stronger than he had expected.
But there was no way he was going to lose this.
The air around Thalor shifted.
He inhaled deeply, then exhaled. The sharp pain at his back faded into nothing.
He lowered into a stance.
"Brace yourself, Ninth Vein. I'll be attacking with my full force."
Malakai didn't flinch. He dropped into his stance, gripping his scythe tightly just as Thalor's voice rang out.