Wind vs Fire

‘Are you ready to die, Dara?’ Saphire asked, slowly swinging her sword before her, baring her fangs. Dara gulped. He inhaled deeply, his chest rising, and let out a powerful war cry as he exhaled. His pulse slowed. Sweat dried. His skin hardened further. Determination soared.

‘Are you ready to die, Saphire?’

‘Hahaha! Humans are truly funny. If you had more time and trained harder, I’m sure you could’ve reached my level one day. Sadly, that day will never come!’ She launched forward — fast, graceful, as though the wind carried her. Dara met her in kind, carving the ground as he leapt. He thrust one arm; Saphire swung her blade. Claaanng! The impact shattered trees and split the earth. Fist and sword clashed over and over. Neither yielded. But after the hundredth exchange, Saphire pushed Dara back — and the first cracks appeared on his diamond skin.

Still, he pressed on, shaking the earth beneath him. (Dara: I must keep her busy!)

‘If you keep going like this, you just might make it,’ Saphire said. ‘I mean — keeping me busy. But is that truly your wish? Is that how you want it to end? I’m not pushing you to a foolish death… but what is it you crave most, right now? Answer! Tell me for your eyes are the eyes of a warrior! Or was I just mistaken?’

A grin spread across Dara’s face. He parried the next slash with his head — blood streamed from the wound, glowing faintly, and within it, diamonds shimmered.

‘I want to defeat you!’ His punch shot forward — faster, stronger than any before. Baaam! The blow launched Saphire through the air. Yet she laughed.

‘That’s it!’ Twisting mid-air, she hovered, suspended in the sky. The tornados circling them drew closer, destroying everything in their wake. ‘The darkborn whose power you carry, Dara — he was an old friend of mine. I don’t despise you for using his strength. You were trying to survive. But now, if you face me using his body and power, then wield also his mind — and his will. The wind is my friend. The storm is my family. Here, in the sky, I reign. Let the storm judge you. Wrath of the Tempest!’

The storms surged toward Dara, transforming mid-flight into giant foxes. Saphire’s wicked energy merged with the wind — the storms turned black, their tips glowing with violet light.

‘Damn!’ Dara muttered. But he wasn’t done — not yet. He knelt, touched the ground, closed his eyes… and dove deep into his inner silence.

‘I see… He was truly a strong warrior.’ He rose. The earth beneath him turned to diamond, rising around him like a fortress. Dara clenched his fist — the diamond slabs cracked, reshaping into glowing swords.

‘My diamonds shall shatter the earth and break the sky. Gemstone Apocalypse!’

The blades surged toward the foxes — impact changed the very landscape. Amid the blinding light, Dara lunged. Saphire’s eyes, overwhelmed by the glow, shut briefly — but her instincts never dulled. She wreathed her sword in black wind; it began glowing violet. With a burst of wind, she shot forward.

Dara’s fist charged with all his remaining power. They clashed. Saphire struck first — her blade sliced off Dara’s right shoulder. He spat blood… but punched back. His fist tore a hole in her abdomen — not massive, but deep enough to wound.

Both still stood. Dara prepared to strike again — but Saphire severed his remaining arm. He had only his head left — and used it to headbutt her into the ground.

Baaam! Dara landed hard, gasping for air. Blood pooled beneath him. Saphire rose slowly, her wound cloaked in wicked energy — already beginning to heal.

‘You did well,’ she said. As Dara's vision faded, flames engulfed the sky — a sea of fire that burned away the clouds and scorched the earth. (Saphire: That energy… another celestial being!)

A column of fire blasted the earth, landing just meters from Dara — yet he felt no fear. He felt peace. Not the painful burning, but the warm of a hugging mother. From the fire stepped Seraphina. As she emerged, the flames vanished. She caught Dara as he fell, lowering him gently to the ground.

‘You fought well, soldier. Rest now. I’ll take care of the rest.’ She stood and faced Saphire.

‘What’s a brightborn doing here — and one of your rank?’

‘I’m here to stop you. And the rest.’

‘I see… so, the resistance. You serve the princess, then. Then tell me, do you happen to have seen our prince, by chance?’

‘No. But when he comes, I’m sure he’ll take care of everything.’

‘Hahaha. That damn traitor? If he shows up, I’ll kill him myself!’

‘For that, you’d have to live. And I don’t see a future where that happens. I am Seraphina, one of the Ten Dragon Monarchs. Let’s have a fair fight.’

Saphire’s wound had mostly healed. (Saphire: The Ten Dragon Monarchs… I see. I might die today.)

‘I am Saphire, the Ten-Tailed Fox. Let’s have a fair match!’

The ground below wouldn’t survive what was coming.