Kaelen let out a slow breath as the overwhelming draconic aura surrounding him gradually receded. The immense pressure that had blanketed the courtyard faded into nothingness, and the white scales, horns, wings, and tail of his Origin Dragon embodiment dissolved into particles of light before disappearing completely.
The ground, once warped by gravity itself, finally returned to normal.
He flexed his fingers, feeling the incredible power now resting quietly within him instead of overflowing uncontrollably.
Footsteps approached.
Kaelven walked over with his hands tucked into his pockets before stopping beside him with an easy grin.
"Congrats on your breakthrough, bro. I can feel the gravity around you."
Kaelen smiled.
"Yeah."
Not far away, Gene had already fallen asleep beneath a large tree, completely unfazed by everything that had happened. His breathing was slow and peaceful, looking as though the coming war was the furthest thing from his mind.
Nearby, Jess and Faith sat together, quietly talking amongst themselves while enjoying the cool breeze.
Inside the house, a completely different atmosphere filled the living room.
John, Tessandra, Alzwalt, and Britanya sat around the table.
Britanya folded her arms before breaking the silence.
"So… y'all are not worried about the impending war?"
John calmly lifted his cup and took a sip of tea before answering.
"Not at all."
Alzwalt leaned comfortably in his chair.
"Nope."
Tessandra smiled softly.
"Let's not talk about these guys. I'm more worried about how the destruction will turn out."
John placed his teacup back onto the table.
"At most half of Kael'Ar could be destroyed in the process, but that's not something to worry about because it won't be destroyed completely."
His calm voice never wavered.
"The destruction can also be reversed. All that matters is that we survive."
Britanya looked toward the window.
"Still… it's their first war."
Her expression became thoughtful.
"Will they survive as the person they were… or become a new person entirely?"
For the first time, Alzwalt's playful demeanor disappeared.
His expression became serious.
"It's no doubt that war can change those who are new to it… especially one of this caliber."
His eyes drifted toward the heroes outside.
"But a true warrior knows what he's fighting for and what he's protecting."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"I don't think they will lose sight of their path."
He continued looking through the window.
"Let's just see what happens."
John answered almost immediately.
"They won't."
His tone carried absolute certainty.
"They wouldn't be selected for this war if they did."
Before another word could be spoken an enormous presence swept across existence.
It was so immense that even the air inside the room seemed to become heavier.
Britanya instinctively stood.
Tessandra's eyes widened as she turned toward the sky outside. She could feel it.
Something unimaginably powerful was approaching Planet Kael'Ar.
John remained seated.
Without the slightest hint of panic, he moved his chair beside Tessandra and looked through the window.
"It's them…"
His ocean blue eyes remained fixed on the heavens.
"They are getting closer by the second."
Outside…Kimotsu slowly walked toward Kaelen and Kaelven.
He stopped a few steps away before looking directly at Kaelven.
"Remember when I asked you for a spar?"
Kaelven smiled immediately.
"Yeah."
Kimotsu rested his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"How about right now?"
Kaelven's grin widened.
"Kaelen, you're the ref."
Kaelen nodded.
"Sure."
Without another word, Kimotsu and Kaelven walked into a wide clearing a short distance from the house.
The wind gently swept across the open field.
Kimotsu unsheathed his sword with a smooth metallic ring.
Kaelven drew his own blade, the steel gleaming beneath the afternoon sun.
Watching from nearby, Faith sighed before shaking her head.
"That's all they're good for… fighting."
Jess chuckled quietly beside her.
Under the shade of the tree, Gene continued sleeping peacefully, completely unaware that another duel was about to begin.
The clearing fell silent.
Kimotsu slowly raised his blade.
"Circuit Embodiment—Futsunushi, The Sword God."
The instant the words left his mouth, his hair turned a radiant white.
His eyes glowed with the same brilliant light.
The heavens answered.
BOOM!!
A bolt of lightning crashed down from the sky, striking Kimotsu's blade.
White lightning danced wildly around the sword, crackling across the ground beneath his feet.
He lifted his glowing eyes toward Kaelven.
Kaelven smiled.
"From the get-go?"
He adjusted his grip on his sword.
"Alright… say less."
He took one step forward.
"Double Count Release."
A blazing number materialized above his right hand.
4,000,000,000 DC
Power erupted from his body.
His short black hair rapidly grew long, flowing behind him as an overwhelming aura spread throughout the clearing.
Silence fell over the battlefield.
Kaelen looked between the two swordsmen.
After a brief pause, he raised one hand.
"Begin."
The very instant the word left his mouth both warriors vanished.
The distance between them disappeared in an instant.
CLANG!!
Their swords collided head-on, sending brilliant sparks flying in every direction as a deafening shockwave exploded across the clearing.