The battlefield had become something beyond ruin.
The land was no longer just broken — it was shattered.
Massive cracks stretched across the ground like wounds carved into the earth itself. Mountains of shattered rock surrounded the area where the fight continued. Smoke drifted slowly through the air, carried by a restless wind.
Above them, the sky had darkened.
Thunder rolled faintly in the distance, as if even the heavens were reacting to the collision of their power.
At the center of the devastation stood two figures.
Asher.
And Lord.
The energy radiating from their bodies distorted the air around them.
Asher's crimson hair moved like fire in the wind. His breathing was heavy, but his eyes still burned with determination.
Across from him, Lord stood quietly.
Calm.
Composed.
His posture hadn't changed.
It was as if the destruction around them meant nothing to him.
For several seconds, neither of them moved.
Only the wind spoke.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!
The ground exploded beneath their feet.
Both of them launched forward at the exact same moment.
Their fists collided in the center of the battlefield.
BAM!
A massive shockwave erupted outward.
Dust and debris were blasted away like leaves in a storm. The earth beneath them cracked further, unable to withstand the pressure of their clash.
Asher attacked first.
His punches came fast.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Each strike carried terrifying force.
Lord blocked them with precise movements, redirecting the attacks instead of resisting them directly.
Asher spun suddenly and delivered a powerful kick.
BOOM!
Lord slid several meters backward, his feet carving deep trenches into the broken ground.
But he immediately vanished.
Asher's eyes widened.
A fraction of a second later—
BAM!
Lord's fist slammed into Asher's ribs.
The impact sent Asher flying across the battlefield.
He crashed into a shattered rock formation, destroying it completely.
Dust exploded into the air.
For a moment, silence returned.
Then Asher stepped out of the rubble.
Blood trickled down the side of his face.
But his eyes had not lost their fire.
Lord observed him quietly.
"You continue to stand."
His voice remained calm.
Asher wiped the blood from his mouth.
"I told you."
He straightened his posture.
"I'm not falling."
Lord tilted his head slightly.
"Human will is an interesting phenomenon."
He slowly began walking forward.
"Bones break."
"Muscles tear."
"The body fails."
His gaze locked onto Asher.
"And yet… the will sometimes remains."
Asher stepped forward as well.
"My will…"
Energy flared around his body.
"…is not just mine."
The air trembled.
"They're all behind me."
The ground cracked beneath his foot.
BOOOOM!
Asher launched forward again like a bolt of red lightning.
This time his speed had increased even more.
Lord reacted instantly.
Their fists clashed again.
BAM!
The collision shook the battlefield.
Asher attacked relentlessly.
Punch.
Kick.
Elbow.
Every strike was faster than the last.
Lord blocked most of them, but one punch slipped through.
BAM!
It struck his shoulder.
Lord slid backward slightly.
For the first time in the battle, his eyes narrowed just a little.
Asher noticed it.
"You felt that."
Lord remained silent.
Asher pressed forward.
He leapt into the air and raised both fists.
Then brought them down with incredible force.
BOOOOOOM!
The ground collapsed into a massive crater.
The impact shook the surrounding terrain.
Dust filled the air again.
Moments later, Lord stepped out of the crater.
A thin line of blood had appeared on his cheek.
He touched it lightly.
Then looked at his fingers.
"…Impressive."
Asher stared at him.
Lord wiped the blood away calmly.
"You are finally beginning to understand your power."
Asher shook his head.
"I've always understood it."
Lord looked at him carefully.
"No."
His voice remained steady.
"You've only begun to accept it."
Suddenly, Lord raised his hand.
Dark energy gathered around his fingers.
Small fragments of black light formed in the air around him.
Then more.
And more.
Within seconds, hundreds of floating blades filled the sky.
They hovered silently above the battlefield.
Asher looked upward.
Lord spoke calmly.
"Sometimes victory is not about strength."
The blades began to rotate slowly.
"It is about control."
He lowered his hand.
WHOOSH!
The blades shot downward like a storm of black meteors.
The air screamed as they cut through it.
Asher immediately raised his arms.
"Compression Field!"
Invisible pressure expanded outward.
The air around him grew incredibly dense.
Many of the incoming blades shattered the moment they entered the field.
But some broke through.
Asher dashed forward, weaving between them at incredible speed.
One blade cut across his arm.
Another grazed his leg.
Blood splattered onto the shattered ground.
But he didn't stop.
Within seconds—
He appeared directly in front of Lord.
"Push the Limit!"
Red energy erupted around his fist.
BAM!
The punch struck Lord's chest.
A devastating shockwave blasted outward.
Lord was launched backward across the battlefield.
He flew nearly a hundred meters before crashing into the ground.
A deep trench carved across the earth behind him.
Asher stood breathing heavily.
Energy flickered around his body.
Several seconds passed.
Then Lord slowly stood up again.
His coat was slightly torn now.
Dust covered his shoulders.
But his expression remained calm.
Almost thoughtful.
"…Interesting."
Asher clenched his fists.
Lord continued walking toward him.
"Most people who gain power like yours…"
He looked around the ruined battlefield.
"…lose themselves in it."
His eyes returned to Asher.
"But you remain standing."
Asher spoke quietly.
"I told you."
He tightened his fist.
"I'm not alone."
Lord tilted his head slightly.
"You repeat that often."
Asher nodded.
"Because it's true."
The wind began to grow stronger.
Asher's energy flared again.
"There are people behind me."
"Their hopes."
"Their memories."
"If I fall…"
His voice hardened.
"They disappear too."
For a moment, Lord said nothing.
Then he spoke.
"…Perhaps that is why you are dangerous."
Asher frowned.
"What?"
Lord answered calmly.
"Hope."
His voice echoed across the broken battlefield.
"Hope drives people forward."
"But it also blinds them."
Before Asher could respond—
Lord vanished.
The air distorted.
Then—
BOOOOOM!
His fist slammed into Asher's guard.
The impact blasted Asher backward.
But he flipped mid-air and rushed forward again.
Their clash resumed instantly.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Punches.
Kicks.
Shockwaves.
Energy bursts tore through the battlefield.
The sky roared above them.
The earth trembled beneath them.
Their battle had become something far beyond human combat.
It was like watching two natural disasters collide.
Asher attacked.
Lord countered.
Neither of them slowed.
Finally—
Both of them stopped at the same moment.
They stood several meters apart.
Energy began gathering around their bodies.
The air between them started to vibrate violently.
The wind turned into a roaring storm.
Cracks spread across the ground beneath their feet.
Both of them stepped forward at the same time.
Their powers surged.
The battlefield trembled.
And then—
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Their attacks collided once again.
A massive explosion of energy engulfed the battlefield.
Light swallowed everything.
And the battle between them…
Was still far from over.