The three suns rose above the horizon.
As the Day Race welcomed another morning, the Night Race returned home to rest.
For the citizens of Kallidorra that consist of various races, it was supposed to be just another ordinary day.
Merchants opened their stalls along the white brick paths, displaying fresh fruits, meats and foods. Hunters prepared to enter the forest, while workers headed toward the Kallidorra Forgehold to begin their shifts.
Then...
Everything stopped.
Conversations died instantly as a single figure walked through the streets.
His crimson cape swayed gently behind him, while his long silver-white hair danced with the morning breeze. Emerald-green armor reflected the sunlight, and faint blue Might particles drifted from the massive sword resting across his back.
It was none other than the Commander of the East.
Commander Aeronis.
The entire street froze.
Not out of fear...
But out of respect.
All of sudden Aeronis casually stopped at a nearby fruit stall, picked up a red rectangular fruit, and examined it.
"How much for this one?"
The lizard Faundrakin merchant nearly dropped his basket.
"I-It... one silver coin for five, Commander. They've become a little rare lately."
Aeronis nodded before flicking a single gold coin into the merchant's hand.
"You can keep the change."
He took a bite from the fruit and continued walking as though nothing had happened.
"Th-Thank you, Commander!"
The merchant bowed repeatedly until Aeronis disappeared farther down the street.
Only after he was gone did everyone finally breathe again.
They already knew where he was heading.
There was only one reason why Commander Aeronis ever visited this neighborhood.
It is to test his student Mikael.
Meanwhile, in Kael's backyard...
Kael just finished adjusting the straps of his newly made tactical shirt while trying to put several of his latest inventions on the table into his pockets.
As usual, Liraen and Reyvik were watching him.
Kael stretched both arms overhead before twisting his waist and beginning another series of warm-up movements.
Liraen tilted his head.
"Does that... dancing actually help you, Kael?"
Kael laughed.
"Of course, Ren. You should try it."
"Maybe..."
"HAHAHA!" Nibsken burst into laughter. "Try it, elf! That weird dance actually wakes me up before training."
Kael sighed.
"It's called stretching... not dancing, Goblin"
"...Still looks like dancing to me," Reyvik replied as his wolf ears twitched.
Before anyone could continue...
A strange pressure descended.
Everyone felt it immediately.
Even with his Might Influence completely restrained, Commander Aeronis's presence alone was enough to overwhelm the backyard.
Everyone's head instinctively turned toward the entrance of Kael's backyard which is on the side of his house.
Commander Aeronis had arrived.
Only one person greeted him without hesitation.
"Commander!"
Kael waved cheerfully.
Unlike everyone else, he couldn't feel the invisible pressure surrounding the Commander.
Aeronis smiled and raised a hand.
"Early this time, huh, Mikael?"
"Yes, Commander! Early and ready!"
"Hahaha! That's the spirit."
His gaze shifted toward the others.
"How are you guys doing?"
"We're totally fine, Commander." All of them bowed to Commander Aeronis.
Aeronis nodded.
While Kael instinctively moved forward and offered Commander Aeronis his hand for a handshake, he bowed down and placed his forehead on Aeronis's hand, followed by his other friends.
Even though they always did this whenever they met Aeronis, he was still mesmerized by this kind of respect.
A soft smile appeared on Aeronis's face.
This is one of the reasons I'm grateful to have you as one of my students, Mikael, Aeronis thought.
"Where are your former students?" Liraen suddenly asked, tilting his head up after the hand shake.
"Who? Mayana and DaguGaran?"
Liraen nodded.
"Well since they've already become Realm Protectors. They're out on a mission this week."
Seeing Liraen's slightly worried expression, Aeronis chuckled.
"Don't worry, Ren. They'll be fine."
Liraen finally nodded in relief.
Aeronis turned back toward Kael.
"Alright."
"Our second attempt."
Kael's smile widened.
"Yes, Commander."
Without another word, both of them stepped backward until several meters separated them.
The backyard instantly fell silent.
"As always," Aeronis said, pointing toward the red dragon badge fastened to his emerald chest plate.
"Your objective remains the same."
"Take this badge from me."
"Understood." Kael nodded confidently.
"As always, introduce yourself before we begin."
"Yes, Commander."
Kael straightened his posture.
"My name is Mikael Insa Emir—"
...
Aeronis blinked.
For a brief moment...
The last part of Kael's name sounded as though something had erased it before reaching his ears.
His brows furrowed slightly.
...Strange.
He considered asking about it.
But after a brief pause, he decided against it.
Later...
I'll ask him later.
He pushed the thought aside and raised his ice sword.
"Ready?"
Kael drew a deep breath before smiling.
"Of course, Commander."
The second attempt...
Began.
Both fighters stood several meters apart.
The backyard fell completely silent.
On one side stood Commander Aeronis.
His emerald green armor gleamed beneath the three suns, a crimson cape flowing behind him. The enormous blue longsword remained strapped to his back. He had no intention of using it during this test.
Opposite him stood Kael.
His black tactical shirt was lined with pockets filled with inventions. The improved Hydraulic Electronic Boots rested firmly beneath his feet, while the caged sphere hung at his waist like a shield.
Resting on his back...
Was the Tesseract.
The sword he had slowly begun to trust. Same as Aeronis, Kael also wears his cape on his back, A black cape.
Their capes fluttered in the morning breeze as they stared at one another.
Aeronis narrowed his eyes.
Hmm...
His gaze has changed.
His stance feels steadier than before.
A little confidence has finally appeared.
A good sign...
Show me what humans are capable of, Mikael.
Without another word—
Aeronis extended his hand.
Cold mist gathered around his palm.
Within seconds...
An ice sword formed.
Without hesitation Kael reacted instantly.
SHING!
He drew the Tesseract and gripped it with both hands.
The caged sphere remained at his side.
Slowly Kael lowered his body as he about to jump and in an instant
SWOOSH!
Kael exploded forward.
The improved Hydraulic Electronic Boots launched him across the backyard at an incredible speed.
Aeronis smiled.
"Whoa! What speed you've gained, Mikael!"
KTANG!!
The short black Metal blade met Aeronis ice sword.
The impact echoed across the backyard.
Aeronis didn't move.
Not even an inch.
Kael gritted his teeth, throwing his weight behind the strike.
He's still... not moving...
Aeronis watched calmly.
He didn't learn from last time.
His strength has improved...
But forcing a clash against me isn't the answer.
Suddenly—
CLICK!
Kael's blade separated from the handle.
"Hm?"
Aeronis's eyes widened slightly.
Instead of continuing the clash, Kael suddenly dropped low.
The detached blade remained suspended in front of Aeronis's ice sword.
SWOOSH!
The ice blade passed straight through empty space.
THUD!
Kael landed beneath Aeronis's guard.
Now!
His hand shot toward the red dragon badge from below
Almost—
Almost...
Nothing.
Kael grabbed only air.
His eyes widened.
Where….
He spun around.
Commander Aeronis was already standing several meters away.
That fast?!
"I thought I had it..."
Aeronis laughed.
"Haha! You're just as surprised as I am."
"You've become much faster than before."
"But still"
SWOOSH!
Kael refused to let him finish.
He grabbed the detached blade, attached it back on the handle and lunged forward again.
KTANG!!
Their swords collided once more.
This time...
Kael didn't stay close.
He immediately leaped backward.
He grabbed another short black blade from one of his pockets and it shot toward Aeronis on its own.
KTANG!
Aeronis barely knocked it aside before—
The blade flew back to Kael side
Then...
Click!
One short blade on the handle detached, making two of them floated beside Kael, awaiting his command.
Aeronis smiled.
"Using two now?"
"Well, you need more than that to touch me Mikael!"
SWOOSH!!
Aeronis vanished.
At the same instant—
Both floating blades shot toward him.
KTANG!
KTANG!
The Commander effortlessly deflected each strike before swinging his ice sword toward Kael.
SWOOSH!
Kael reacted instantly.
KTANG!!
He put the handle on his right pockets and raised the caged sphere from his left side with both hands.
The impact shook his entire body.
His boots dug into the ground.
But...
He held.
Instead of being thrown backward like six months ago...
Kael pushed the ice sword away.
Then immediately jumped back, creating distance.
Aeronis raised an eyebrow.
Interesting...
Six months ago, that strike would've sent him flying.
He's improving faster than I expected.
Without warning—
Flames burst into existence above his palm.
Flame Might.
Three blazing fireballs hovered in the air before shooting toward Kael.
SWOOSH!
SWOOSH!
SWOOSH!
Kael eyes widen
It's Fast.
But not fast enough.
He immediately reacted, he threw the caged sphere to his side, grabbed back the handle from his right side and then swung it, cutting three of the fire balls in one slash.
SLAASH!!
All three fireballs split apart before disappearing into the air.
Aeronis blinked.
"Huh?"
"How did you do that?"
Kael smiled proudly.
"This, Commander."
He raised the handle.
Attached on the bottom side of the handle It was a transparent crystal crafted into a blade.
Aeronis stared.
"Is that..."
"A Neutral Element Might Crystal?"
Meanwhile Kael's friend also shocked
"Wait..."
"Isn't that the useless crystal miners always throw away?"
Reyvik's ears twitched.
"Yeah.... that is also the one you and Kael use when you are both sneaking around the Kalidorra Forgehold customer section, right Goblin?" Liraen asked looking at Nibsken.
"Y-Yeah..."
Nibsken nodded slowly.
"That is Might Splitter…. But they aren't supposed to last that attack. That thing usually explodes after absorbing too much Might, especially from Commander ...."
Nibsken black goblin eyes remained fixed on Kael's sword.
"But that one..."
"It still looks brand new…."
"I call it...The Might Splitter." Kael announced holding it up in the air
"The Might Splitter?" Aeronis repeated.
"Isn't that just a Neutral Element Might Crystal?"
"It is,Commander" Kael replied with a grin blinking to Nibsken
"But I modified it."
Liraen blinked.
"You... what?"
Kael tapped the transparent crystal with his finger.
"A normal Neutral Element Might Crystal absorbs Might until it reaches its limit."
"Then it explodes."
Everyone nodded.
"That much was common knowledge for us who work in the underground Level of Kallidorra Forgehold…."
"But this one is different."
"I added a converter inside this handle."
Instead of letting the absorbed Might build up inside the crystal...
"The converter converts the Might energy into electricity and stores it in the battery that is also in this handle."
Everybody still having their time to process
Even Aeronis stared at the sword for a moment.
"Sigh… In simple words, This Neutral Might Crystal ain't gonna explode as always after absorbing huge amount of Might Energy"
Aeronis nodded after hearing the simpler version of his explanation.
"...What a remarkable mind you have, Mikael."
Kael smiled proudly.
"Well…this invention still has a long way to go."
Aeronis slowly lowered his sword.
"Undeniably that's quite Impressive Mikael… But My badge isn't going to end up in your hand if you keep standing that far away."
Kael nodded.
"Yeah…I know that, Commander"
"That's why..."
He once again lowered his stance preparing for a jump.
"I'm coming to take it!"
SWOOSH!!
Kael burst forward once again.
His target wasn't Aeronis himself.
It was the ice sword.
This Ice sword is the only thing that always blocks my way. If I can destroy it...
The badge will be mine.
KTANG!!
Their weapons collided again.
The Might Splitter automatically reacted with the Ice Sword as it was made using Aeronis Ice Might.
But….nothing happened.
His eyes widened.
"Huh?"
The ice blade remained completely intact.
"Why isn't it breaking?!"
Aeronis chuckled.
"Did you really think a single crystal could absorb this much Might?"
With one swing from Aeronis—
KTANG!
Kael was forced backward.
He landed cleanly before quickly checking the battery hidden inside the handle.
His expression changed.
It's...Already full...
The battery isn't just full it also had swollen from the sudden overload.
"I don't understand... Isn't that sword made out of your Might? This Might Splitter should be able to absor—"
"Absorb what, Mikael?...My Ice Might?"
Aeronis chuckled.
"Hahaha... Don't make me laugh….How many times do I have to remind you?"
"I'm the Commander of the East."
"My Might... isn't on the same level as a commoner's Might."
"The reason you were able to absorb my fireballs just now..."
"...is simply because I'm not a Flame Might user."
"What you see just now…It was only a fragment of what Flame Might can truly do."
"But if we're talking about Ice Might..."
Aeronis raised his ice sword.
"...you might be facing one of the greatest Ice Might users in the Eastern Cardinal."
Kael fell silent. He understands how huge the power gap is between them … but he cannot just stay still… He needs to fight back… He needs to prove that he is worth to become a Realm Protector!
And without another word, he detached the Might Splitter from the handle.
He reached into one of his pockets, pulled out the long black blade, and attached it on the handle.
CLICK!
I don't know if I can destroy that Ice Sword...
But I have to try.
After all... this is what my Bilah training was for... right, Tesseract?
Kael glanced at the sword in his hand.
"Alright, Commander..."
"I'm sorry for underestimating you once again."
"This time..."
"I'll be more careful with every decision I make."
"Good. I hope that the long blade is one of those careful decisions." Aeronis points at Kael's long blade using his ice sword."
"Heh...Of course, Commander."
Kael smiled.
He lowered his stance deeper than ever before.
His grip tightened around the Tesseract.
The mechanical joints inside his boots hissed.
PSSSHHH...
Then—
In an instant—
He vanished.
SWOOOSH!!
They collided again.
KTANG!!
KTANG!!
KTANG!!
Steel crashed against ice again and again.
Aeronis fought comfortably with one hand.
While Kael needed both of his hand.
Every clash sent vibrations through Aeronis's arm.
Hmm….He's improving.
Far better than last time...
But...
Still… It's…Not enough...
KTANG!!
The duel continued without either side giving an inch.
Meanwhile...
Kael's mind raced as he leap forward and backward trying to figure out the way of getting that badge....and suddenly he remeber something...
CC Yiell said...
"Create chaos….Make Etherians panic"
I had already tried that strategy against Liraen.
But it failed.
If it couldn't fool a Wind Elf...
How could it possibly work against Commander Aeronis?
Normally...
Kael would've abandoned the idea.
But today...
His inventor's curiosity won.
Hidden inside his tactical shirt...
Three fragile glass cylinders waited patiently.
Filled with his newest invention.
Blinding powder.
If I can take away his vision...
Even for a second...
I might have a chance.
SWOOSH!
Kael jumped backward, creating distance.
His hand slipped into his pocket.
The cool glass cylinder rested between his fingers.
Throwing it won't work.
He'll dodge it.
He needed...
A distraction.
Something impossible to ignore.
As Kael looking around Commander Aeronis
His eyes met the grass that surrounded this backyard, The grass was moving….
The wind flows…
The backyard was wide and open.
Only a single tree stood nearby.
The breeze flowed freely across the field.
Kael quietly watched the direction of the grass.
Too risky...
But if the wind changes...
It'll carry the powder straight toward him….
As Kael was thinking—
SWOOSH!!
Aeronis suddenly appeared in front of him.
"What's wrong, Mikael?"
"You've been thinking for quite a while."
Kael reacted by taking a huge leap behind creating a gap between them and clicked his tongue.
Damn it...
I should've invented a launcher before today.
His grip tightened around the glass cylinder.
No...
This is my only chance.
He glanced at the moving grass one last time.
Come on...
Just a little more...
Blow toward him...
To be continued...