Clang!Boom!Swoosh!
It had gone on like that all day.
Swords flashed, spells cracked, metal rang against metal. Every soldier in the Empire's barracks wanted the same thing — a chance to spar with a SkyRealm veteran.
From the sidelines, I'd already lost count of how many matches Blaze had fought. Ten? Twenty? Maybe more. Each opponent stronger than the last, each knocked flat the same way.
He didn't even look tired. Just bored.
I leaned against a crate and sighed. How does he still have energy?
"Hey, Ryze. What are you doing over there?" Blaze called.
"What— nothing!" I shouted back.
He grinned mid-fight. "You don't look too interested in watching me."
"You're unbelievable!" I muttered. He was literally fighting while carrying on a conversation. Who does that?
Before I could finish the thought, he moved. A single step, a blue arc of light—and his sparring partner hit the ground, disarmed in one strike.
"Impressive, Sir Blaze!" Counter called from the sideline, clapping.
I crossed my arms. "Is that really all you've got? None of you can even scratch him!"
A few soldiers glared at me. "Why, you—!"
"Calm down, everyone!" Counter said quickly, though Blaze was already laughing at the corner.
Then suddenly, the laughter died.The air shifted—cold, sharp enough to bite through armor.
"What the… why is it freezing?" I asked, rubbing my arms.
Counter's expression hardened. "Ah. It's them. They're back."
"Them?" I echoed.
I turned toward the gate just as it opened. Two figures stepped through.The first was massive, carrying two tower-shields larger than most doors. The second was tall, wrapped in frost-lined armor, a pale sword on his back. His breath misted in the air.
"The big one's Blockade," Counter said quietly. "The other's Arctic Templar. SkyRealm players."
"Wait—SkyRealm?!" My stomach dropped. Every SkyRealm player I'd met so far had been terrifyingly strong. This can't be good.
"You should lay low," Counter murmured. "They'll probably leave soon."
"Yeah, great idea." I ducked behind a stack of supply crates and peeked through a crack in the wood.
Blaze spotted me instantly. He gave me that same teasing smile, like don't panic, before turning back toward the newcomers.
"Ah, Counter! Finally found you," Arctic Templar said, his voice cool as his aura."Been a while," Blockade added, raising a hand in greeting.
"Yeah, it has," Counter replied. "How'd the mission go?"
Arctic snorted, tossing a bag heavy with gems onto a bench. "You call that a mission? More like treasure hunting."
"So you actually succeeded," Counter said with a laugh. "Nice."
Arctic rolled his eyes. "Don't start. Commander Frostbyte sent us to run errands again."
"Sounds fun," Counter said.
"Fun? Guarding an outpost in the middle of nowhere?" Arctic snapped. "That's your idea of fun?"
"Kind of my kind," Counter answered, smirking.
"Still the same old CounterKiller," Blockade chuckled. "If you'd stayed in SkyRealm after the Collapse, we could've kept adventuring like the old days."
"That was a long time ago," Counter said. "You know me — I'm more of a shooter guy."
"Same old you," Blockade laughed.
Their talk was easy, almost friendly — until Arctic's eyes shifted. He'd noticed the quiet man leaning against the wall.
"Hey, who's that?" Arctic asked. "New recruit?"
"I don't think he's new," Blockade murmured.
Counter turned. "That's Sir Blaze. SkyRealm veteran."
Both men froze.
"A veteran?" Blockade said slowly. "Never heard that name before."
Arctic's gaze sharpened. "Wait — Blaze? The one who survived the Void expedition? The report was real?"
Counter nodded. "Yeah. I led that mission myself. He's the reason anyone came back."
That changed everything. The two walked straight toward Blaze.
"Sir Blaze," Blockade said, bowing slightly. "An honor to meet you."
Arctic crossed his arms, studying him. "So what's a veteran like you doing in a place like this?"
Blaze shrugged. "Just curing my boredom."
"Hah! Still chasing adventure, huh?" Blockade grinned.
"Pretty much," Blaze said, smiling faintly.
But while they spoke, I felt a chill run down my spine. Arctic's head tilted slightly. His eyes moved—not toward Blaze, but toward me.
"Hey, Blockhead," he said quietly. "You sense that?"
"Hmm?" Blockade followed his gaze.
He pointed toward the crates. "There's something hiding over there."
No way. How could they possibly sense me? I'd barely breathed since they walked in. Are all SkyRealm players this ridiculous?
They started moving closer. My heart thudded. Blaze's expression didn't change, but I caught the quick flick of his eyes—subtle, warning. Stay down.
Just before they reached me, he stepped forward, blocking their path.
"Uh… Sir Blaze?" Blockade asked. "You're in the way."
"Sorry," Blaze said calmly. "Can't let you through."
Arctic frowned. "Enough formalities. Move."
"I said no."
Arctic's hand went to his sword. "You'd better step aside before I make you."
"Hey—stop it," Blockade said, grabbing his arm. "You're overreacting."
"Quiet, Blockhead." Arctic's eyes blazed icy blue. "Let's see if the great veteran still has any fight left in him."
Blaze's smirk returned. "You can try."
He drew his own blade — the familiar sapphire glow cutting through the air.Two auras flared. The temperature dropped.
And then they moved.
Clang!Clang!
The collision echoed through the entire training hall. Sparks and frost exploded at every hit.
Arctic was fast — faster than SK — his sword a streak of silver light, his ice magic coating the ground in frost. Blaze parried each strike with almost lazy precision, his blue blade humming through the cold.
Watching from my hiding spot, I could barely breathe. So this is what real SkyRealm elites look like.
Arctic twisted, blades flashing, launching shards of ice like bullets. Blaze deflected them all, his sword slicing through the frozen mist.
"I'll admit," Blaze said, stepping aside as another slash whistled past him, "you're pretty good."
"You think I'm done?" Arctic growled. His aura flared again, mist swirling around him.
Counter shouted from the sidelines, "Hey, calm down! This is a spar, not a deathmatch!"
Neither of them listened.
Their swords met again—faster, harder. The floor cracked under their feet.
From my corner, the pressure alone made it hard to breathe. Should I run? Stay?
Arctic was relentless, each swing colder and heavier than the last.But Blaze… he was calm. Calculated. Even playful.
Then, for a brief heartbeat, something changed. Blaze's grip shifted, his stance low, his eyes flicked—not at Arctic, but toward me.
"Wait," I whispered. "He's—"
He moved.
A flash of blue. A single strike that split the air. Arctic jumped back just in time, frost scattering like shattered glass.
The slash missed him — but it hit the wall beside me, blasting a hole straight through.
Dust rained down.
That wasn't an attack.That was an opening.
He's helping me escape.
I froze for half a second, then understood. From the start — bringing me here, removing my restraints, telling me to follow — it was all to get me out quietly.
Now or never.
I took one last look at him. Blaze stood between Arctic and Blockade, calm and unshaken, his blue sword glowing like a beacon. He caught my eye and gave the faintest smile — the same one he always wore when things got dangerous.
Then he turned back to his opponents.
I slipped through the hole, heart pounding, and vanished into the corridor beyond.
Behind me, the clash of steel rang out again, echoing through the Empire's walls.
Clang. Clash. Boom.
And I ran—knowing Blaze was fighting not to win,but to give me a chance to be free.
— End of Chapter 44 —