The heavy silence cracked apart as Wei Jun gripped his massive battle axe tighter, its orange-yellow-obsidian gradient glinting under the dim violet moonlight. Rein Arclight merely smiled, a twisted, almost playful curl on his lips. His black eyes, sharp and empty, were locked onto Wei Jun with childlike fascination.
Without another second's delay, Wei Jun charged, his boots carving deep marks into the rocky ground. The axe in his hands gleamed with a burning aura as he swung it horizontally, a trail of fire streaking behind the blade like a roaring beast.
Clang!
Rein blocked the blow with nothing but a tiny silver needle held between two fingers. His body twisted unnaturally to the side, spine bending at an impossible angle to absorb the force.
Wei Jun's eyes narrowed. No way.
Without giving Rein a moment, he twisted his hips and delivered a vicious upward strike, the axe blade igniting into an intense, swirling flame. Rein lazily tilted his neck back, his vertebrae making sharp popping sounds, the needle once again intercepting the deadly swing with eerie precision.
Wei Jun didn't let up. His Wrath flared — the ground beneath him rumbled. Jagged rocks ripped out from under Rein's feet, sharp like spears, aiming to impale him from every direction.
Rein chuckled.
He bent backward, his body arching so low it was almost parallel to the ground, easily slipping between the flying stones. His hair floated wildly, his black cloak fluttering like wings of a fallen angel.
Wei Jun raised his axe above his head and smashed it downward.
BOOM!
The shockwave cracked the earth. Fire exploded from the impact point, a ring of molten energy bursting outward. Rein blurred out of the way, his body twisting midair like a serpent, spinning gracefully without effort.
Wei Jun inhaled sharply. He's not normal.
Not wasting any time, Wei Jun activated the deeper layers of his Wrath. The terrain around him shifted — the broken rocks molded into two giant stone shields that floated on either side of him, controlled by his Will alone. Small chunks of earth hovered, forming a rotating defense perimeter.
He charged again.
Rein greeted him with an inviting smirk, twirling his needle between two fingers like a toy.
Wei Jun feinted a left swing, only to shift mid-motion and bring his axe crashing from the right. Rein moved — no, flowed — with the attack, bending his right arm in a complete unnatural circle, using the needle to barely redirect the blow.
The force of the redirected attack split the rocky ground behind Rein, a deep scar tearing through the mountain surface.
Wei Jun growled, stepping back and weaving hand signs in the air. The floating stone shields broke apart into dozens of sharp projectiles, which launched toward Rein like a horde of furious bees.
Rein sighed dramatically.
With casual grace, he spun on the tip of his foot, his body rotating at an unnatural speed. The needle danced in his hand, knocking every incoming stone away in a blur of silver light.
A few stones got dangerously close — they grazed his clothes, slicing thin cuts, but Rein never looked worried. If anything, his smile grew wider.
Wei Jun used that small window.
He jumped high into the air, his battle axe above his head, and channeled his Will and Wrath together. The fire around the blade howled like a dragon unleashed. The ground under Rein's feet split into a molten crater.
"RAAAAAAH!" Wei Jun roared.
He brought the axe down.
This was no normal strike — this was World Splitter, one of his most destructive fire techniques.
The entire battlefield lit up in a flash of orange and red.
KA-BOOOOM!
The shockwave flattened everything within a hundred meters. Dust and molten rock surged outward like a tidal wave.
Wei Jun landed heavily, sweat dripping from his brow, breathing hard.
Is it over?
As the smoke slowly cleared...
A silhouette stood.
Rein Arclight.
Untouched.
He had crouched low at the last moment, his body twisted into an inhuman shape — both arms and legs contorted and locked against the ground, forming a bizarre triangle that absorbed the incoming force.
Still holding his single needle.
Wei Jun's heart pounded. He barely had time to react before Rein launched himself forward, his body spinning midair, twisting around gravity itself.
Wei Jun crossed his battle axe in front defensively.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Rapid strikes from the needle rained down — so fast that sparks flew off the battle axe like a violent storm. Wei Jun slid back with every impact, his boots scraping the stone.
Yet Rein wasn't attacking to hurt — he was playing, testing, pushing Wei Jun to his limits.
Wei Jun's Wrath surged again.
The ground beneath both fighters morphed violently — thick, jagged walls of stone rose between them, trying to trap Rein. At the same time, seven giant golems emerged from the ground, their stone bodies towering and armed with razor-sharp arms.
Wei Jun commanded them mentally, and they lunged toward Rein in coordinated strikes.
Rein tilted his head curiously.
Then he blurred — his body coiling through the gaps between the golems' attacks. He bent, flipped, twisted at impossible angles, dodging with ease, his needle flickering out to tap the golems on precise spots.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Wherever he touched, the stone cracked — the golems staggered and crumbled, one by one.
Wei Jun gritted his teeth. His hands glowed hotter. His battle axe became wreathed in roaring flames again. He dashed toward Rein, weaving through the falling debris, swinging his burning axe with monstrous strength.
Rein caught the swing midair — with two fingers, holding the needle.
For a brief second, their powers clashed.
Fire versus cold, unfeeling steel.
Wei Jun roared, pouring more Will into his muscles, pushing harder, trying to crush Rein where he stood.
Rein's body bent back at an unnatural ninety-degree angle, the ground under his feet shattering from the pressure.
But he still smiled. He whispered,
"You're interesting."
With a casual flick, he pushed Wei Jun back, sending him skidding several meters.
Wei Jun's body ached — bruises and small cuts decorated his skin beneath his rocky armor. His breath was rough, but his spirit burned brighter.
He slammed his axe into the ground — summoning a field of erupting lava pillars around Rein.
The mountain shook violently.
Rein didn't dodge this time.
Instead, he let the lava pillars explode around him, walking forward, his skin shimmering with a translucent sheen — almost like an invisible shield.
Wei Jun's eyes widened. Is he... immune?
Rein twirled his needle once.
And then he disappeared.
Wei Jun tightened his grip instinctively.
A whisper brushed his ear from behind — "Too slow."
Wei Jun whirled around with a flaming swing, but Rein merely leaned back, avoiding it by a hair's breadth, his back almost parallel to the ground.
Then he twisted forward, so fast that his knee almost brushed Wei Jun's jaw — but he didn't attack.
He was simply showing how close he could get, without fear.
Wei Jun exhaled sharply. His mind raced.
He's toying with me.
Wrath, Will, Axe — even with everything, Wei Jun couldn't land a clean hit.
But giving up wasn't in his blood.
A sudden surge of determination burned through his veins.
The rocks around him started to shake violently — drawn by his rising Will.
Wei Jun's Earth Wrath bloomed fully — the terrain reshaped itself into a monstrous arena of shifting stones, jagged traps, floating platforms, and unstable ground.
If I can't catch him with speed or strength... then I'll trap him.
Wei Jun moved again, faster than before, throwing a combination of feints and real attacks, his battle axe blazing brighter than ever.
Rein danced through them, needle flickering, body twisting, his expression still that maddening grin.
Then —
Rein vanished.
Wei Jun's instincts screamed. He raised both arms just in time to block — but instead of an attack, he felt a gentle tap on his forehead.
Rein was standing upside down, balancing on one finger atop a floating boulder above him, smiling like a lunatic.
Wei Jun's eye twitched.
Enough.
With a roar, he triggered his ultimate technique — the terrain under Rein's finger collapsed into a vortex of stones and molten lava, aiming to swallow Rein whole.
Rein laughed, genuinely thrilled, even as the vortex consumed him.
Wei Jun panted heavily, watching the chaotic scene.
Is it over...?
The spinning vortex slowed.
From inside the dust... two black eyes gleamed.
Rein Arclight emerged, spinning his needle lazily.
Untouched.
Wei Jun barely had time to register it when Rein, without warning, appeared before him, almost teleporting.
His needle pressed lightly against Wei Jun's throat.
Frozen.
Wei Jun didn't move.
Neither did Rein.
The wind howled through the broken arena around them, carrying dust and ash.
And then, with a playful wink, Rein slowly pulled his needle back and whispered,
"...Shall we continue?"
Wei Jun's chest heaved as he struggled to steady his breathing. His muscles ached, his Wrath flickering weakly now — the stones around him no longer rising at his command, the ground trembling only slightly. His stamina was running thin. Too thin.
He could feel it: the weight in his limbs, the dull pain radiating from deep inside. He had pushed too hard, burned too much.
Across from him, Rein Arclight stood tall. His body was spotless, not a scratch on him. That same crooked smile stretched across his face, his black eyes glimmering with amusement — and something darker.
With a light flick of his wrist, he spun the needle between his fingers.
And then, in the next instant—he moved.
Fast.
Wei Jun's instincts screamed.
Rein's figure blurred, becoming a streak of shadow rushing toward him with impossible speed. The ground cracked under each step, his body twisting unnaturally as he closed the distance, the needle aimed straight at Wei Jun's head — more precisely, his brain.
Wei Jun's body tried to react.
But his muscles were slow.
His Will was thin.
His Wrath, drained.
He couldn't move in time.
This is it...
That thought flashed coldly in Wei Jun's mind.
And in that frozen second, before the fatal strike could land, his life… began to flicker in front of his eyes. Like fragile flames in the dark.
—A small room, dimly lit by the morning sun slipping through the curtains.
A boy, no older than eleven, with messy hair and wide, hopeful eyes, was standing in front of his father.
"Father... can I get the Spider-Man toy? Please? Please?"
His father chuckled softly, ruffling his hair.
"Wait till your birthday, champ."
The boy's eyes sparkled.
And when the day came — his 12th birthday — there it was: a shiny, red-and-blue Spider-Man figure, placed carefully in a small box.
The boy hugged his father tightly.
"I knew you'd get it!"
Laughter echoed.
—A playground, under the bright summer sun.
Five-year-old Wei Jun sat alone on the swing.
Until another boy, about his age, walked up shyly.
"Wanna play?"
Wei Jun looked up, surprised. He nodded quickly, excitement bubbling in his chest.
It was the first time he had made a friend.
Their laughter rang through the park as they chased each other around, oblivious to the world.
—A grand hall, decorated with white petals and golden lights.
Wei Jun stood, dressed sharply, hands trembling slightly as he watched her walk down the aisle.
Her smile was soft, her eyes shimmering with tears of joy.
She was beautiful.
When their hands met, warmth bloomed in his chest.
Their vows were whispered, but their hearts roared.
It was the happiest day of his life.
He remembered thinking: I don't deserve her. But I'll protect her no matter what.
—A small clinic, months ago.
The air smelled faintly of antiseptic.
Wei Jun sat beside his wife, heart pounding.
The doctor smiled gently, handing them the first sonogram.
"Congratulations. You're going to be parents."
His wife covered her mouth, tears spilling.
Wei Jun's vision blurred too.
He touched the picture with shaking fingers —
Life. A new life.
His voice cracked as he whispered,
"I'm going to be a father..."
The memories shattered.
Reality crashed back like an iron hammer.
Wei Jun's eyes snapped open — Rein Arclight was right there now, his needle inches away, poised to strike his skull.
Wei Jun's heart thumped painfully against his ribs.
Just as Rein Arclight's needle was about to pierce into Wei Jun's skull, a sudden violet spark erupted.
The world seemed to freeze in that instant.
Crackling tendrils of violet energy coiled around Rein's outstretched right hand, wrapping tightly like living chains. His black eyes widened in the briefest flicker of surprise—
and then pain struck.
"Tch—!"
A violent surge tore through his nerves. The shock was brutal, raw, as if his entire arm had been grabbed by unseen jaws and ripped apart by sheer force.
With a wet, sickening sound, Rein's right hand was wrenched clean off — torn from his body in an unnatural pull, blood spraying in dark streaks as the severed limb flew back.
Wei Jun, panting and dazed, could only watch in stunned silence as the strike meant to end him was interrupted by something far greater.
Rein staggered back, his mutilated arm twitching, but his face…
Still wore that smile.
Twisted, bloodied, and grinning.
His black gaze shifted sharply to his left.
There — casting a vast shadow over the ground — was a colossal eastern dragon, scales shimmering in deep crimson, its eyes glowing like molten gold. Its long, serpentine body coiled in the air, powerful and ancient, crackling faintly with leftover violet sparks that danced along its horns and whiskers.
Riding atop the dragon's back were two figures.
One was a young boy, small and wide-eyed — gripping the dragon's mane with trembling hands.
The other… taller, still young but older than the first. His sharp, determined gaze locked directly onto Rein Arclight.
Lucas Halt.