Both of them were breathing heavily now.
Their bodies were covered with wounds. Blood stained the broken ground beneath their feet.
Yet neither of them had fallen.
For a few seconds, they simply stared at each other.
The silence between them was heavy.
Then Asher took a step forward.
His voice was quiet but firm.
"This ends here."
Lord watched him calmly.
"Perhaps."
Another moment of silence passed.
Then—
BOOM!
The ground exploded beneath Asher's feet.
He dashed forward like a streak of red lightning.
Within a second he appeared directly in front of Lord.
His fist shot forward with all his strength.
BAM!
The punch slammed directly into Lord's face.
A powerful shockwave burst outward, sending dust and debris flying in every direction.
Lord slid several meters across the ground.
A thin line of blood ran from his lip.
For a moment he remained still.
Then slowly…
He lifted his head.
Something in his eyes had changed.
The calm was gone.
Only power remained.
"So that's how it is."
Before Asher could react—
Lord moved.
BAM!
His fist smashed into Asher's chest.
The impact sent Asher flying backward through the air.
But Lord didn't stop.
He appeared beside him instantly.
BAM!
Another punch.
BAM!
A kick slammed into Asher's side.
BOOM!
Asher crashed violently into a cluster of massive rocks, shattering them into pieces.
Dust exploded into the sky.
But Lord was already moving again.
His attacks came like a storm.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Each strike carried overwhelming force.
Asher tried to defend himself, raising his arms to block.
But Lord's power had grown even stronger.
A punch hit his face.
Another struck his stomach.
Asher's body shook with the impacts.
His knees nearly buckled.
Blood dripped from his mouth and fell onto the cracked earth.
Lord stopped in front of him.
"You're reaching your limit."
Asher lowered his head.
Every part of his body hurt.
Breathing felt like knives cutting through his lungs.
His vision blurred slightly.
But he didn't fall.
Slowly…
He lifted his head again.
The fire in his eyes was still there.
"…Not yet."
Suddenly, energy exploded from his body.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
"PUSH THE LIMIT!"
Asher launched forward with the last of his strength.
Lord's eyes narrowed slightly.
Asher's fist came forward with everything he had left.
BOOOOOOM!
The punch slammed directly into Lord's stomach.
The air exploded outward from the impact.
Lord's body bent slightly from the force.
For the first time—
He fully absorbed the hit.
Everything became still.
Asher and Lord stood frozen in place.
Their eyes met.
And in that moment—
Something inside Asher broke open.
Darkness.
Suddenly everything around him disappeared.
He was no longer on the battlefield.
He was standing inside endless darkness.
Silence filled the void.
Then the memories began.
Images flashed before his eyes.
His childhood.
Loneliness.
Fear.
The looks people gave him.
Moments of weakness.
Moments when he thought he would lose everything.
The faces of people he had lost.
Blood.
Screams.
Pain.
The darkness whispered around him.
"You were never strong enough."
"You will lose everyone."
"You will always be alone."
Asher fell to one knee.
The darkness tried to swallow him.
Tried to crush him beneath the weight of his past.
But then…
Other voices appeared.
Faint at first.
Then stronger.
Laughter.
Encouragement.
The voices of the people who stood beside him.
His friends.
His allies.
Those who believed in him.
Asher clenched his fist.
"No…"
He slowly stood up.
"I'm not alone."
Light cracked through the darkness.
The shadows shattered around him.
Then—
Asher opened his eyes.
He was back on the battlefield.
Lord was still standing in front of him.
But something inside Asher had changed.
His eyes were calmer now.
Stronger.
"I'm not afraid anymore."
Suddenly he moved again.
BAM!
A punch struck Lord's jaw.
BAM!
Another slammed into his ribs.
BOOM!
The force pushed Lord backward.
But Asher didn't stop.
He kept attacking.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Each strike shook the battlefield.
The wind roared louder.
The ground trembled.
For the first time in the battle—
Lord was forced onto the defensive.
Asher gathered all the strength he had left.
Then delivered one final strike.
BOOOOOOOOM!
The impact blasted Lord across the battlefield.
He crashed violently into a massive wall of rock.
The stone shattered behind him.
Dust rose slowly into the sky.
Silence returned.
Lord slowly slid down the broken rocks, leaning against them.
Blood covered his body now.
His breathing had become heavy.
Several meters away, Asher stood motionless.
He slowly lifted his head and looked up toward the dark sky.
The wind passed over the ruined battlefield.
Then he spoke quietly.
"It's over."
The battlefield fell completely silent.
But deep within that silence…
One question still remained.
Was it truly over?