Lightning trailed from Valefor as it cut through the air and brought Aisha within reach of Aeraza. He readily blocked with the legendary greatsword unsheathed from his back. For minutes they clashed with each other but neither gained headway. Aisha was wary of using her empowered lightning slashes since the demon king was clearly holding back. A single untoward attack invited danger. The calm demeanor of the demonic lord made it clear he had other plans aside from battle. Eventually, the Hero pulled her blade back and held up her empty right hand. With a deliberate motion she sheathed her sword. In a sign of understanding, her opponent did the same.
The two figures stood only a few feet apart in an almost peaceful setting if not for the bloody war occurring at the bottom of the cliff. All of it the fault of a man who returned to the realm in hopes of conquering it. Aisha stood with her arms crossed and studied the demon across from her. It was infuriating that Aeraza stood more openly with an almost friendly demeanor. From afar they looked to be having a conversation but it was a battle in its own right. Though Aisha was sure she was the only one that felt that way.
“That was quite an approach,” Aeraza said. “You have trained your subordinates well for them to willingly sacrifice themselves to push you forward.”
“They’re my friends. And they won’t have trouble dealing with your grunts,” Aisha retorted.
A quizzical look appeared on the demon’s face as he asked, “Why does your kind strive to consider everyone a ‘friend?’ Can they not simply be peons that provide a means to an end?”
Aisha hesitated. Not due to shock from the question but confusion about if she should answer. Would a demon ever understand? Every person on Vethyea experienced strife throughout their lifetime. During those times they crossed others who shared in their plight. The word used to describe them didn’t actually matter. Acquaintances, comrades, even strangers; anyone could help someone through hard times if they wished to. It just so happened that the same people helped Aisha repeatedly. The hardships they faced together made them more than simply friends. But any explanation felt like a lost cause considering the enemy.
“It’s not how we operate,” the Hero replied.
“That is why you will not join me, correct? Because of this incessant need to empower the weaklings around you. Do you not understand how far above them you are?” Aeraza asked. There was a hint of genuine concern in his voice for what he perceived as wasted potential. “Kharim made the same mistake. Gathering pests who hoped to prove something only for them to crumble under the pressure of a powerful opponent. Each one hindered him to the point of losing composure in battle. It’s unbecoming of someone of his stature. Of yours.”
Aisha remained silent. It intrigued her how much obsessed Aeraza was with strength. Not that others could be strong but that they wasted it by helping others. Power seemed meaningless if it wasn’t used to improve the lives of those around her. If not for the needs of Vethyea, Aisha would have remained a guard in Neves. In a truly peaceful world she would have spent her time running a shop with her family. There were a myriad of options to explore if adventuring wasn’t required for peace. Though part of her was thankful to be born in a time where she could help others with her natural abilities. That way others could live a life away from danger.
Aeraza glared at the distracted woman. “Is my conversation boring you, Aisha Ilphelkiir?”
She replied with a shrug. “Honestly? It’s nothing I haven’t heard before. In fact, it confuses me how much you care about weak people. You seem to spend more time thinking about them than I do yet I spend more time helping them. Are you really so angry that they exist in a realm that you’re not even part of?”
“It does when that same realm raises warriors like Kharim. If everyone were put in trials like him… This world would house the greatest army since the dawn of time.”
“So, you’ll kill off anyone who can’t match up to him.”
“It is possible for me to be disproven.” Aeraza elaborated, “During the trials I introduce, individuals may grow in strength. They may overpower my threats. In those cases they will be invited to my ranks.”
“You’re not scared they’ll target you,” Aisha said confidently.
“Why should I be? Simply because they defeat my subordinates does not mean they can match me.”
“Unless they reach Kharim’s strength.”
Aeraza shook his head. “We were quite evenly matched.”
“Until your last battle,” Aisha added. “I’ve seen the records and know how little you were able to do against the full might of the first Hero. All the pain and suffering you put Vethyea through came back to bite you. And you could only get off a few hits.”
Aeraza let out a short hum before recovering his decorum. “Your kind would rewrite all of history if it suited your needs. Kharim may have defeated me but it was by the skin of his teeth. Do you think I would be capable of casting a curse in an overwhelming defeat? Our final confrontation nearly ended both our lives. I was truly shocked to hear he survived upon my return.”
Aisha smirked as she uncrossed her arms. With her left hand hovering Valefor she taunted. “That’s what happens when you have friends to back you up. You simply had no one who wanted to save you.”
A deep, gutteral sigh came from the demon king’s maw as he unsheathed his greatsword. Tilting his torso accommodated it to release from the metal bindings. Gripping it in his right hand, he flipped it forward and planted the blade in the ground in front of him.
“Do not misunderstand my offer that you have repeatedly denied,” he groaned. “You would be standing with the weaklings of this realm if not for the magical sword bequeathed to you. Even still, you are many leagues below Kharim in terms of power. Consider that I have similarly found a tool that matches Valefor.” A constant wave of black ink poured from the demon’s armor as his grip tightened. “You chase after your realm’s Hero in hopes of matching him. I have long surpassed him.”
Much to both fighters' surprise, Aisha rolled her eyes. Not due to overconfidence but rather boredom. The demon king felt far more threatening as an unknown threat. Whatever ideology or plan he had weighed on the mind of adventurers and civilians alike. But it was nothing special when it was stripped down to the core. Aeraza sought power and for a means to demonstrate it. That was why he obsessed over weakness and the need to have an eternal sparring partner.
Lightning audibly crackled around the Hero as she focused on pouring mana into her magical eye. Flashes of purple white electricity darted around her body. Particles of light gathered near her hand and wreathed around Valefor. Shining light burst off the blade as it was pulled free from its sheath.
“You lack the fear I saw in Spirefell. I commend you,” Aeraza said as apathetically as always.
“Shove it.”
“I hope your strength grows to pose any challenge to myself.”
Though he never acknowledged it, the demon king was acutely aware of the exact words to twist others emotions. It was the exact reason he had subordinates like Elmud and Veil. Both of them infuriated him even while holding fear for their lord. Knowing that, it was obvious they could toy with any enemy they faced.
Aisha rushed forward and swung at Aeraza’s chest. He masterfully pulled his weapon from the ground then blocked the attack. Another natural swing from the Hero was blocked. The repeated attacks clashed rhythmically with her opponent’s weapon. It felt obvious to the demon king that he outpaced the swordswoman. Shifting from defense, he stepped forward and swung his large sword in a vertical slice. Aisha exhaled softly as she sidestepped the blade. An instantaneous strike from Valefor collided with Aeraza’s armor and left a thin cut on the pauldron. Swift maneuvers turned the blade and another swing struck squarely into the chainmail on the elbow joint of the demon’s platemail.
“You carry lightning on your blade,” Aeraza muttered. “It is no wonder you have made headway in reaching Kharim’s prowess. He was incapable of elemental magic.”
Aisha ignored the conversation. Focused eyes studied her target’s form and found an opening. This time when she extended her blade it was blocked by the greatsword. As they split apart, Aeraza attacked again. The slow travel speed gave plenty of time to dodge. That was Aisha’s assumption until she felt a sharp pain in her right shoulder. Blood burst out of a sudden wound created by a longsword. Aeraza stepped back and flourished the blade. Ink twirled around it before revealing the shape of a dagger. The demon reversed his grip while simultaneously changing his stance. Using his tail, he propelled himself forward and attempted to stab Aisha. She blocked one strike but another landed. Each blistering attack could only be met with a lightning infused strike of her own.
While Aeraza’s attacks could change in speed, his other movements remained steady. Only certain motions had any speed but they were nothing compared to the Hero’s capabilities. Lightning clung to her heels as she danced between strikes. Some could be cleanly dodged and in turn provided an opening to retaliate. Aisha’s attacks began tearing into the heavy armor of the demon king. Joy was uncomfortably evident on his face even while he attempted to kill Aisha. It wasn’t until they split apart that she knew why.
Aeraza’s dagger changed to a rapier that easily weaved into the Hero’s range. With a flick of the wrist he struck her neck and pulled out a concealed necklace. Hanging on it was half of the Ring of Planes. If not for a few trickles of blood, it would shine as brilliantly as the day it was found.
“The agreement was that we bring our halves,” Aisha spat as she stepped back and stowed the ring. “Where’s yours?”
“The agreement did not dictate we reveal them to each other,” Aeraza replied candidly.
With another lunge he got in close. Aisha held up her sword to block the rapier but miscalculated the necessary strength. Great Sunderer morphed midswing into its original form. The intense weight of the greatsword broke through Aisha’s stance and allowed a deep cut into her arm. She quickly dashed back and examined the wound. Without hesitation she shocked the opening to force it closed. It wasn’t perfect but it’d have to do.
Aeraza wore a stoic, confident glare of aggression. It was obvious he believed himself the more powerful fighter. Aisha agreed. The demon king had more power. But only in terms of physical strength. In terms of magic they were similar and when matters of speed were concerned, Aisha was no match.
She grit her teeth and dashed into her opponent’s range. There was no chance she’d falter in front of him. Even while her body was still recovering she was able to get an attack off. Aeraza confidently put up his guard. Suddenly, Valefor bypassed it and cut a large piece of his armor. An emotion finally broke through the demon’s facade. Shock was evident on his face. Instinct demanded he study the blade. It took only a moment for the experienced warrior to realize what happened.
“You control its trajectory even at unprecedented speeds,” Aeraza said. “My defense will be far less effective. Though my strength-”
“We’re not equals,” Aisha interjected. “I understand what you can do now. There’s no way you can win this.”
It was an exaggeration, plain and simple. Obviously Aeraza could win the fight. But humoring such an idea was ill-advised. The necessity to cement herself in the idea of victory was evident. That was the only way to overcome the monster bearing down on her; on everyone. If she could not defeat Aeraza, the lives behind her were forfeit. With each passing minute the tides of battle shifted. No one knew when the winds would be in their favor. The only guarantee was that they were ever-changing.
Lightning trailed from Valefor as it cut through the air and brought Aisha within reach of Aeraza. He readily blocked with the legendary greatsword unsheathed from his back. For minutes they clashed with each other but neither gained headway. Aisha was wary of using her empowered lightning slashes since the demon king was clearly holding back. A single untoward attack invited danger. The calm demeanor of the demonic lord made it clear he had other plans aside from battle. Eventually, the Hero pulled her blade back and held up her empty right hand. With a deliberate motion she sheathed her sword. In a sign of understanding, her opponent did the same.
The two figures stood only a few feet apart in an almost peaceful setting if not for the bloody war occurring at the bottom of the cliff. All of it the fault of a man who returned to the realm in hopes of conquering it. Aisha stood with her arms crossed and studied the demon across from her. It was infuriating that Aeraza stood more openly with an almost friendly demeanor. From afar they looked to be having a conversation but it was a battle in its own right. Though Aisha was sure she was the only one that felt that way.
“That was quite an approach,” Aeraza said. “You have trained your subordinates well for them to willingly sacrifice themselves to push you forward.”
“They’re my friends. And they won’t have trouble dealing with your grunts,” Aisha retorted.
A quizzical look appeared on the demon’s face as he asked, “Why does your kind strive to consider everyone a ‘friend?’ Can they not simply be peons that provide a means to an end?”
Aisha hesitated. Not due to shock from the question but confusion about if she should answer. Would a demon ever understand? Every person on Vethyea experienced strife throughout their lifetime. During those times they crossed others who shared in their plight. The word used to describe them didn’t actually matter. Acquaintances, comrades, even strangers; anyone could help someone through hard times if they wished to. It just so happened that the same people helped Aisha repeatedly. The hardships they faced together made them more than simply friends. But any explanation felt like a lost cause considering the enemy.
“It’s not how we operate,” the Hero replied.
“That is why you will not join me, correct? Because of this incessant need to empower the weaklings around you. Do you not understand how far above them you are?” Aeraza asked. There was a hint of genuine concern in his voice for what he perceived as wasted potential. “Kharim made the same mistake. Gathering pests who hoped to prove something only for them to crumble under the pressure of a powerful opponent. Each one hindered him to the point of losing composure in battle. It’s unbecoming of someone of his stature. Of yours.”
Aisha remained silent. It intrigued her how much obsessed Aeraza was with strength. Not that others could be strong but that they wasted it by helping others. Power seemed meaningless if it wasn’t used to improve the lives of those around her. If not for the needs of Vethyea, Aisha would have remained a guard in Neves. In a truly peaceful world she would have spent her time running a shop with her family. There were a myriad of options to explore if adventuring wasn’t required for peace. Though part of her was thankful to be born in a time where she could help others with her natural abilities. That way others could live a life away from danger.
Aeraza glared at the distracted woman. “Is my conversation boring you, Aisha Ilphelkiir?”
She replied with a shrug. “Honestly? It’s nothing I haven’t heard before. In fact, it confuses me how much you care about weak people. You seem to spend more time thinking about them than I do yet I spend more time helping them. Are you really so angry that they exist in a realm that you’re not even part of?”
“It does when that same realm raises warriors like Kharim. If everyone were put in trials like him… This world would house the greatest army since the dawn of time.”
“So, you’ll kill off anyone who can’t match up to him.”
“It is possible for me to be disproven.” Aeraza elaborated, “During the trials I introduce, individuals may grow in strength. They may overpower my threats. In those cases they will be invited to my ranks.”
“You’re not scared they’ll target you,” Aisha said confidently.
“Why should I be? Simply because they defeat my subordinates does not mean they can match me.”
“Unless they reach Kharim’s strength.”
Aeraza shook his head. “We were quite evenly matched.”
“Until your last battle,” Aisha added. “I’ve seen the records and know how little you were able to do against the full might of the first Hero. All the pain and suffering you put Vethyea through came back to bite you. And you could only get off a few hits.”
Aeraza let out a short hum before recovering his decorum. “Your kind would rewrite all of history if it suited your needs. Kharim may have defeated me but it was by the skin of his teeth. Do you think I would be capable of casting a curse in an overwhelming defeat? Our final confrontation nearly ended both our lives. I was truly shocked to hear he survived upon my return.”
Aisha smirked as she uncrossed her arms. With her left hand hovering Valefor she taunted. “That’s what happens when you have friends to back you up. You simply had no one who wanted to save you.”
A deep, gutteral sigh came from the demon king’s maw as he unsheathed his greatsword. Tilting his torso accommodated it to release from the metal bindings. Gripping it in his right hand, he flipped it forward and planted the blade in the ground in front of him.
“Do not misunderstand my offer that you have repeatedly denied,” he groaned. “You would be standing with the weaklings of this realm if not for the magical sword bequeathed to you. Even still, you are many leagues below Kharim in terms of power. Consider that I have similarly found a tool that matches Valefor.” A constant wave of black ink poured from the demon’s armor as his grip tightened. “You chase after your realm’s Hero in hopes of matching him. I have long surpassed him.”
Much to both fighters' surprise, Aisha rolled her eyes. Not due to overconfidence but rather boredom. The demon king felt far more threatening as an unknown threat. Whatever ideology or plan he had weighed on the mind of adventurers and civilians alike. But it was nothing special when it was stripped down to the core. Aeraza sought power and for a means to demonstrate it. That was why he obsessed over weakness and the need to have an eternal sparring partner.
Lightning audibly crackled around the Hero as she focused on pouring mana into her magical eye. Flashes of purple white electricity darted around her body. Particles of light gathered near her hand and wreathed around Valefor. Shining light burst off the blade as it was pulled free from its sheath.
“You lack the fear I saw in Spirefell. I commend you,” Aeraza said as apathetically as always.
“Shove it.”
“I hope your strength grows to pose any challenge to myself.”
Though he never acknowledged it, the demon king was acutely aware of the exact words to twist others emotions. It was the exact reason he had subordinates like Elmud and Veil. Both of them infuriated him even while holding fear for their lord. Knowing that, it was obvious they could toy with any enemy they faced.
Aisha rushed forward and swung at Aeraza’s chest. He masterfully pulled his weapon from the ground then blocked the attack. Another natural swing from the Hero was blocked. The repeated attacks clashed rhythmically with her opponent’s weapon. It felt obvious to the demon king that he outpaced the swordswoman. Shifting from defense, he stepped forward and swung his large sword in a vertical slice. Aisha exhaled softly as she sidestepped the blade. An instantaneous strike from Valefor collided with Aeraza’s armor and left a thin cut on the pauldron. Swift maneuvers turned the blade and another swing struck squarely into the chainmail on the elbow joint of the demon’s platemail.
“You carry lightning on your blade,” Aeraza muttered. “It is no wonder you have made headway in reaching Kharim’s prowess. He was incapable of elemental magic.”
Aisha ignored the conversation. Focused eyes studied her target’s form and found an opening. This time when she extended her blade it was blocked by the greatsword. As they split apart, Aeraza attacked again. The slow travel speed gave plenty of time to dodge. That was Aisha’s assumption until she felt a sharp pain in her right shoulder. Blood burst out of a sudden wound created by a longsword. Aeraza stepped back and flourished the blade. Ink twirled around it before revealing the shape of a dagger. The demon reversed his grip while simultaneously changing his stance. Using his tail, he propelled himself forward and attempted to stab Aisha. She blocked one strike but another landed. Each blistering attack could only be met with a lightning infused strike of her own.
While Aeraza’s attacks could change in speed, his other movements remained steady. Only certain motions had any speed but they were nothing compared to the Hero’s capabilities. Lightning clung to her heels as she danced between strikes. Some could be cleanly dodged and in turn provided an opening to retaliate. Aisha’s attacks began tearing into the heavy armor of the demon king. Joy was uncomfortably evident on his face even while he attempted to kill Aisha. It wasn’t until they split apart that she knew why.
Aeraza’s dagger changed to a rapier that easily weaved into the Hero’s range. With a flick of the wrist he struck her neck and pulled out a concealed necklace. Hanging on it was half of the Ring of Planes. If not for a few trickles of blood, it would shine as brilliantly as the day it was found.
“The agreement was that we bring our halves,” Aisha spat as she stepped back and stowed the ring. “Where’s yours?”
“The agreement did not dictate we reveal them to each other,” Aeraza replied candidly.
With another lunge he got in close. Aisha held up her sword to block the rapier but miscalculated the necessary strength. Great Sunderer morphed midswing into its original form. The intense weight of the greatsword broke through Aisha’s stance and allowed a deep cut into her arm. She quickly dashed back and examined the wound. Without hesitation she shocked the opening to force it closed. It wasn’t perfect but it’d have to do.
Aeraza wore a stoic, confident glare of aggression. It was obvious he believed himself the more powerful fighter. Aisha agreed. The demon king had more power. But only in terms of physical strength. In terms of magic they were similar and when matters of speed were concerned, Aisha was no match.
She grit her teeth and dashed into her opponent’s range. There was no chance she’d falter in front of him. Even while her body was still recovering she was able to get an attack off. Aeraza confidently put up his guard. Suddenly, Valefor bypassed it and cut a large piece of his armor. An emotion finally broke through the demon’s facade. Shock was evident on his face. Instinct demanded he study the blade. It took only a moment for the experienced warrior to realize what happened.
“You control its trajectory even at unprecedented speeds,” Aeraza said. “My defense will be far less effective. Though my strength-”
“We’re not equals,” Aisha interjected. “I understand what you can do now. There’s no way you can win this.”
It was an exaggeration, plain and simple. Obviously Aeraza could win the fight. But humoring such an idea was ill-advised. The necessity to cement herself in the idea of victory was evident. That was the only way to overcome the monster bearing down on her; on everyone. If she could not defeat Aeraza, the lives behind her were forfeit. With each passing minute the tides of battle shifted. No one knew when the winds would be in their favor. The only guarantee was that they were ever-changing.
