The battlefield lay silent, a ruined dojo stretching beneath the pale moon. Broken tiles, scattered wood, and drifting dust marked the devastation caused by the earlier fight. The air trembled faintly, as if it sensed what was about to come next.
Yeshwanth stepped forward, wiping dried blood from his cheek. His stance was steady, his expression sharp — calm, but unyielding.
Across from him, Tim Neihdart adjusted his cloak and tightened his gloves. The noble heir's blue eyes held a cold determination, but after Lucia's accusations and Yeshwanth's interference, something else lingered underneath: insecurity and pride, both burning like oil on fire.
Lucia stood between them for a moment, torn, fearful, but helpless as the tension solidified into inevitability.
Tim raised his chin.
"Lucia. Step back. This is between him and me."
Yeshwanth exhaled through his nose.
"Damn right it is."
Lucia hesitated but eventually obeyed, knowing neither would stop now.
A breeze whispered past them, carrying the final silence before a storm.
THE WEAPONS OF TWO WORLDS
Yeshwanth lifted his right hand slowly. A faint, bluish glow began forming around his palm — not mana, not divine power, but something stranger.
His imagination.
The energy condensed, pixel-like shards assembling in mid-air. Then, with a metallic hum, a weapon materialized: a curved dagger with sharp, geometric edges, its blade engraved with numerical runes and formula-like symbols that pulsed with neon light.
Lucia gasped.
"That… what is that weapon?"
Yeshwanth twirled it once, the glow slicing through the air like a digital crescent.
"Excelone Dagger," he said. "Born from my Excel tool. The god said I could shape anything I imagine. So I made the sharpest function in my brain."
Tim clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Imaginary weapons? How pathetic."
But he extended his hand with a practiced gesture. Dark green mana erupted behind him like a vortex. A spectral crocodile — enormous, armored, eyes glowing — burst out with a heavy roar. Its massive jaws opened wide.
Then the creature compressed, contorting, folding, reshaping.
The crocodile's body morphed into a long, serrated blade, its teeth forming the jagged edge, its spine forming the back of the sword. A thick handle wrapped in scaled leather extended into Tim's grasp.
Lucia stepped back, stunned.
"T-Tim… the Clan Beast Summon… and weapon fusion?!"
Tim smirked in pride.
"I call it— Crocord. It pierces bone like wet paper. Compared to this, your imaginary dagger is nothing."
Yeshwanth braced himself, dagger reversed in his grip.
"Then come test your theory."
THE BATTLE BEGINS
The moment the words fell—
BANG!
Tim lunged first. His speed was impressive — noble-level training, perfect form, mana-enhanced muscle. Crocord streaked downward in a violent arc.
Yeshwanth tilted his head left and spun aside.
The ground where he had stood erupted, cracks spider-webbing across the tiles.
"You dodge well for a stray," Tim hissed.
Yeshwanth shot forward, Excelone glowing fiercely. Their blades clashed — Crocord's serrated teeth grinding against the geometric neon blade. Sparks exploded between them.
Tim pushed forward, strength and technique combining into a brutal pressure.
But Yeshwanth wasn't overwhelmed.
He grinned.
"Not bad. But your footwork is stiff."
He twisted, pivoted, and drove his elbow into Tim's ribs.
Tim staggered, breath knocked out. Yeshwanth struck again, slicing with Excelone — but Tim rolled backward and regained balance, spinning Crocord defensively.
"You—" Tim growled. "A low-born escort shouldn't move like that!"
"When someone's trying to kill you every day in my world," Yeshwanth said, "you learn fast."
THE CLASH INTENSIFIES
Tim's aura burst outward.
Yeshwanth's instincts screamed a warning — Tim's noble bloodline awakened, strengthening his body and blade.
Both men dashed forward at the same moment.
CLANG — CLANG — CLANG — CLANG!
Blades met repeatedly in rapid succession. The tempo increased, footsteps echoing, breaths sharp and controlled. Crocord's heavy strikes shook the ground; Excelone carved digital arcs through the air.
Lucia could barely follow their movements.
"Stop… you'll kill each other…"
But neither heard her. Pride and purpose had swallowed them both.
Tim leapt high, landing behind Yeshwanth in a flash, swinging Crocord sideways.
Yeshwanth blocked with Excelone — just barely.
Tim pressed harder.
"You don't belong in our world! You don't have lineage! You don't have mana! So why— WHY CAN YOU STILL STAND AGAINST ME?!"
Yeshwanth's blade trembled under the pressure.
He clenched his teeth.
"Because I fight for my survival. Not validation."
A burst of raw force exploded from Yeshwanth's body as he pushed back.
THE FINAL POWER-UP
Both fighters stepped back, panting.
Tim wiped blood from his lip.
"No more holding back."
He stabbed Crocord into the ground. Mana surged upward — green lightning coiling around the blade and merging into his body. His frame twisted slightly, muscles infused with beast-mana.
A crocodile silhouette flickered behind him, roaring.
Yeshwanth narrowed his eyes.
"Hmph. You power up? Fine."
He closed his eyes briefly.
A soft light flickered behind him — the ability granted by the God of Light.
A faint digital halo formed behind him, Excelone expanding slightly, its runes glowing harder.
Lucia covered her mouth.
"Both of them… they're serious now."
Yeshwanth whispered:
"Excelone — Full Imaginary Output."
Tim growled:
"Crocord — Beast Fang Mode."
Then they both roared.
"AAAAAAAHHHHH!!"
And charged.
THE DECISIVE CLASH
Their weapons met in a blinding explosion.
The force blasted holes in the ground, shattered wooden pillars, and sent shockwaves that cracked the dojo's remaining walls.
Yeshwanth thrust Excelone forward with all his stored imaginary energy.
Tim swung Crocord in a diagonal arc fueled by beast mana.
The impact detonated like a cannon.
BOOOOOOOOM!!
Dust engulfed everything.
Lucia shielded her face from flying debris.
When the smoke slowly cleared…
Yeshwanth and Tim stood back-to-back, both kneeling slightly, blood dripping from cuts across their arms and shoulders.
Excelone's glow had dimmed.
Crocord's blade had fractures.
Both weapons had almost reached their breaking points.
Yeshwanth inhaled sharply.
"You… hit harder than I expected."
Tim coughed, holding his side.
"You too… bastard…"
They both collapsed to one knee at the same time.
A perfect draw.
Lucia rushed to them instantly.
"Stop! Please! You'll die if you go any further!"
She knelt first beside Tim, healing his wounds with basic mana application. Yeshwanth tossed her a small vial.
"Use this. It's his recovery potion."
Lucia blinked. "But— it's your potion. You need it!"
"I'm fine," Yeshwanth said. "Give it to the idiot who wants validation."
Tim clicked his tongue but took the potion, swallowing it reluctantly.
Afterward, Lucia turned to Yeshwanth, applying cloth and gentle mana light along his cuts.
Tim watched them silently… and for the first time, Yeshwanth noticed a flicker of understanding in Tim's eyes.
SOFTENING HEARTS, UNEASY PEACE
Lucia stood up after finishing their first-aid treatment.
Yeshwanth smirked lightly.
"You know, Tim… you fight like someone with no girlfriend."
Tim flinched.
"What—?!"
Yeshwanth jabbed a finger at him.
"Next time, come with your future spouse. Someone has to scold you when you do stupid things."
Both Lucia and Tim's faces turned bright red.
Lucia sputtered, "D-Don't joke like that!"
Tim snapped, "Shut up! Don't think like an idiot!"
Yeshwanth shrugged.
"Just saying."
But underneath their outrage, a faint warmth settled between them. The hostility had thinned. The fight didn't end in hatred — it ended with understanding, frustration, and awkward blushes.
Not enemies.
Not friends.
Something in between.
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES… BUT SHADOWS MOVE
The next morning, after resting and repairing themselves, the three set out toward the next city. The mission required them to travel to the Capital of Commerce — a place where the Business Association, nobles, and adventurers all crossed paths.
Lucia walked ahead with a map.
Tim followed silently, occasionally glancing at Yeshwanth.
Yeshwanth walked with his hands behind his head, the breeze brushing his hair.
For a moment, it finally felt peaceful.
But peace never lasts in a world filled with ambition and mana.
As night fell and the path darkened…
Soft footsteps echoed in the trees.
Three… no, five figures moved silently in the shadows, following them with unwavering focus.
Yeshwanth stopped walking.
Lucia looked back.
"Yeshwanth? What's wrong?"
He narrowed his eyes.
"Don't turn around. Don't panic."
Tim tensed.
Lucia swallowed nervously.
Yeshwanth's grip slowly tightened around Excelone as it re-materialized.
"Looks like someone's been following us… for a while now."
The moonlight dimmed.
The night thickened.
And the unseen threat finally stepped closer.