Rudra turned toward me, extending his hand. "And you must be Velsun. It's an honor to meet you… God-King of Solara."
I grasped his hand firmly, smiling. "Nice to meet you too."
Rudra's gaze was steady and respectful. "I really admire you, Velsun. You united two kingdoms under one banner—even if it came with bloodshed. Some sacrifices are necessary, I understand. Solara is far more developed than any other nation in the world… even my Eastern Empire."
I nodded, acknowledging the words. "Thanks for the compliment. And you… training under my elder brother, you must be exceptional. To be chosen as his disciple, and now a True Hero—that's no small feat."
Rudra's expression sharpened slightly, a flicker of pride in his eyes. "Yes… I have ascended as an Awakened Chosen Hero."
I allowed a small, approving smile. "Then how about this—why don't you and Reinhart have a spar?"
All eyes turned toward us, curiosity and tension instantly thickening the air.
I leaned slightly toward Veldanava, voice calm but teasing. "I mean, think about it, elder brother—my general against your disciple. Both true heroes, and under a true dragon… it could be… very interesting."
Veldanava's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, then he chuckled lightly. "Hm… I see your point, Velsun. It would be… informative, at least. But remember, control is key. Let's not turn Solara into a battlefield just yet."
I grinned faintly, already feeling the spark of excitement. "Understood. But I'd like to see just how strong your disciple really is."
Rudra's eyes met Reinhart's across the hall, and for a moment, the air practically crackled. The unspoken challenge had been set.
Karlos, Veldora, and Zalario exchanged glances, a mix of anticipation and amusement on their faces. Even Ramiris, still holding Karna, tilted her head slightly—curious, though wary of what this spar might unleash.
"Rudra, Reinhart… What do you guys think?" I asked, glancing between them.
"I have no objection, my lord," Reinhart replied, his tone calm but steady.
"I have no objection either," Rudra added, giving a nod of affirmation.
Ramiris, holding Karna in her arms, let out a small sigh, bored. "Do you guys always have to fight whenever you meet someone new?"
I chuckled, shrugging. "Hehe… well, yeah. I mean… why not?" I gave her a playful grin, then turned toward Velgrynd.
"And elder sister," I said, cheekily, "don't be too sad if your boyfriend, Rudra, loses, okay?"
Velgrynd's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of annoyance mixed with amusement crossing her face. "Hmph. We'll see about that."
The hall grew tense in anticipation. Everyone shifted slightly, waiting for the clash of two True Heroes under the watchful gaze of a True Dragon. Even little Karna wiggled in Ramiris' arms, sensing the electric energy in the air.
I leaned back slightly, letting a calm smile spread across my face. "Alright then… Let's see what you've got."
Then we all teleported to a barren wasteland—nothing as far as the eye could see, cracked earth stretching into the horizon. This was the same place where I had once slain the Mad Giant King Ashura.
"Alright," I said, scanning the empty land, "this should be perfect for a battle."
Everyone was present: Veldanava, Velzard, Velgrynd, Veldora, Zalario, Karlos, Ramiris with Karna in her arms, Reinhart, Rudra, and myself.
Reinhart and Rudra stepped forward, their eyes locking on each other, the tension between True Heroes palpable.
I formed a barrier of shimmering light around the area, containing any stray energy. "This will keep everyone safe," I explained.
Veldora's eyes lit up, his fists clenched with excitement. "YOSH! This is going to be insane!"
I couldn't help but smirk. Even this more mature version of Veldora still had that spark—the excitement for a real challenge.
Ramiris adjusted Karna in her arms, muttering, "Try not to destroy the land too much, all right?"
Rudra and Reinhart took their stances, the air between them vibrating with power. Even the distant horizon seemed to tense, as if the land itself knew something catastrophic was about to unfold.
I glanced at the others. "Everyone… watch closely. This isn't just a spar. This is a clash of true heroes under the eyes of a true dragon."
Zalario nodded quietly beside me, arms crossed. Karlos, still faking his bravado, peeked around the barrier nervously. Velzard and Velgrynd watched with anticipation, and even Veldanava leaned forward slightly, his calm eyes fixed on the two combatants.
I tightened my grip on the light barrier. "Begin."
The ground trembled as Reinhart and Rudra lunged forward simultaneously, the shockwave of their clash radiating outward.
The barren land quaked as Reinhart and Rudra faced each other. Both drew their god-class swords—Reinhart's Eclipsion glinting silver, Rudra's Divine Sword Star radiating faint holy light. The air around them seemed to bend, charged with the promise of unmatched speed and precision.
I floated slightly above the ground, arms crossed, eyes narrowing. "This… this is going to be incredible."
Veldora grinned, fists clenched. "Finally! True heroes clashing—let's see who's faster!"
Rudra tilted his stance, analyzing Reinhart with a calm gaze. "I see… the general of Solara. Let's see if your skill matches your reputation."
Reinhart's grip tightened. "I don't hold back for anyone. Let's see if your tactics are as sharp as your sword."
With a sudden burst, Rudra lunged, blade flashing like sunlight slicing the horizon. Reinhart countered instantly, spinning Eclipsion in a fluid arc that blocked Rudra's strike. The impact created a shockwave that flattened a stretch of the cracked earth beneath them.
Sparks of divine energy erupted from each sword as they clashed again, faster than the eye could follow. Every strike, every parry was perfectly calculated. This wasn't just raw power—it was skill, foresight, and anticipation.
I noticed Reinhart's tactical mind in play. He adjusted mid-strike, using the terrain, his stance shifting subtly to force Rudra to overextend. Rudra, however, mirrored the same precision—anticipating Reinhart's counters and subtly manipulating the angles of his attacks to probe for openings.
"Lad… observe," Mimir's voice echoed in my mind dryly.
The speed increased. Blades became streaks of silver and light, sparks and miniature explosions marking their every strike. Rudra twisted midair, launching a volley of holy magic shards at Reinhart. Reinhart's Eclipsion met them, deflecting each shard with perfect timing, but the force of magic made him skid back slightly, testing his balance.
"Not bad, Rudra," he muttered, resetting his stance instantly.
Rudra's eyes narrowed, calculating again. With a graceful pivot, he launched a combination strike—sword swings, light-infused slashes, and a sudden burst of holy energy directed in Reinhart's blind spots. Reinhart anticipated most of them, but one strike grazed his armor, leaving a faint scorch.
From the side, Zalario muttered, "This… this is beyond ordinary skill. Both of them are predicting each other's next move almost before it happens."
Karlos, who was still pretending to be nonchalant, was practically vibrating with excitement. "This… this is amazing! Look at them go!"
The battle escalated. Reinhart leapt high, spinning Eclipsion in a radiant circle, slicing through the air so fast it created multiple afterimages. Rudra countered with a flurry of tactical strikes, combining footwork, magic bursts, and subtle feints. Every motion was elegant and precise, almost like watching a deadly dance choreographed by the gods themselves.
I felt the energy from their clash ripple through the barrier. Even though it was designed to protect us, the raw intensity of two True Heroes wielding god-class power was enough to make the light hum in response.
Veldora let out a low whistle.
Ramiris, holding Karna, tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly. "They're fast…'
Mimir's dry voice piped in, almost sardonic. "Lad, do you see it? This is why they're heroes. Precision, foresight, and a fraction of power that still makes most armies look like children's toys."
I nodded slightly, letting my eyes follow every motion. Both Reinhart and Rudra moved so fast that their swords often blurred into lines of silver and light. Sparks rained from their clashes like fireworks, each one leaving scorch marks on the barren earth.
Then, in a sudden moment, Rudra feinted, pulling Reinhart into what seemed like a simple clash. But the next instant, Rudra's sword slashed at a different angle, aiming at Reinhart's side with holy magic-infused speed. Reinhart twisted, barely deflecting it with a counter-spin of Eclipsion, sending a shockwave that lifted dust and small stones high into the sky.
The battlefield became a blur of light, steel, and magic—everywhere at once, yet every movement controlled. Even I had to pay attention to see who would gain the upper hand.
Mimir's dry commentary echoed in my mind. "Lad… it would be foolish to bet on either. Both have the skill, foresight, and reflexes to survive ten lifetimes of combat. One wrong move… and even a god-class blade could cut through everything you hold dear. This is art. And war."
I could only smirk beneath my calm exterior. Two true heroes, both masters of sword, magic, and strategy, were giving a demonstration no one in the world would ever forget.