Clang!Clang!Dash!BOOM!
The sound of steel and magic shook the Empire barracks.
Blaze and Arctic Templar had been fighting for what felt like forever. Sparks scattered across the training grounds, frost mist curled around their feet, and the soldiers who had gathered to watch held their breath as two elite warriors clashed again and again.
Blockade and Counter stood off to the side, watching the duel unfold with mixed expressions.
"Sorry about this," Blockade said, sighing. "Arctic really doesn't know how to stop once he gets excited."
"It's not a big deal," Counter replied, arms crossed. "Honestly… I expected this."
Out in the arena, Arctic slashed forward with a fierce cry.
"Is that all you've got?!" he shouted.
Blaze deflected the strike casually, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips."Hah. That was a pretty good warm-up, right?"
He sounded almost… cheerful. It had been a long time since he'd fought someone strong who wasn't a Void monster. Even now, the thrill pushed adrenaline into his veins. His smile was the kind that only appeared when a real battle began.
"You think this is FUN?!" Arctic snapped.
"Kinda," Blaze answered with a teasing shrug.
But behind the smile, his mind was elsewhere.
Ryze must be far enough by now…
He kept fighting, buying her every second she could use to escape.
"Hey Arctic, you should stop," Blockade called. "Word's gonna get out about this fight!"
"Shut up, Blockhead!" Arctic barked. "This isn't over until one of us falls!"
His breath turned to frost as he shifted stances. The air around him grew even colder.
"Oh no," Blockade murmured. "He's going to use that move."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Counter asked.
Arctic ignored both of them and raised his palm toward Blaze. A glowing magic circle burst to life above his hand. The air whirled violently, snow turning sharper, colder — like a razor-edged blizzard.
"Blaze," Counter muttered, "you might want to brace yourself."
Blaze tightened his stance.
Arctic roared:
"ICE STORM VALLEY!"
The temperature plummeted instantly.
The entire barracks exploded into a violent storm of ice and howling wind.Snow battered the training ground like a hurricane, blinding everyone. Soldiers shielded their faces, stumbling back from the freezing shock.
Blockade shouted over the storm, "Arctic, you idiot! That's too dangerous!"
But in the middle of the blizzard…
Blaze didn't move.
He stood steady, sword raised defensively, not a single shiver in his armor. His breath didn't even fog in the air. His focus was absolute.
Arctic stared at him, disbelief cracking through his confidence."What the hell…? Even Blockhead collapses in this cold… how is he still standing?"
Counter shielded his eyes outside the storm. "Wow… Blockade, you really found yourself an insane partner."
Blockade chuckled weakly. "What are the chances? I recruit one lone player after the Great War, and he turns out to be one of the strongest I've ever met."
He watched Blaze through the frost, shaking his head.
"Blaze is even more impressive than I expected. Even for a veteran."
"You're telling me," Counter snorted. "Not surprised he survived the Void."
Arctic grit his teeth. "You think I'm DONE?!"
His sword shone bright, glowing frost-blue. The magic built in the blade surged outward, making the air quake.
Then he dashed forward — faster than before — closing the distance in a blur.
"TAKE THIS!"
He unleashed a powerful overhead strike.
CLANG!
Blaze blocked it effortlessly.
Arctic stared, wide-eyed. "What—?!"
Blaze pushed him back with one hand. "That all you've got?"
A quiet hum grew around Blaze's body. Blue light pulsed from his armor, traveling down his arms and into the sword. The ground beneath him cracked slightly.
Arctic stepped back. "Oh… crap."
Blaze shifted into a striking stance, calm and focused.The aura rising around him was overwhelming.
"MOVE!" Blockade shouted.
Too late.
Blaze swung.
A massive shockwave exploded from the blade.The snowstorm scattered instantly, blasting the frost away.The entire training field shook.
BOOOOM!
Dust billowed across the arena.
Arctic would've taken the full hit —if someone hadn't appeared in front of him.
A single figure caught the blow on his bare hand.
When the dust cleared, Blaze's sword was locked against a glowing barrier formed by a palm.
A sharp voice echoed:
"That was an impressive attack… Sir Blaze."
Blaze's eyes narrowed.He jumped back several meters immediately, instincts flaring.
Blockade gasped. "Commander Vortex?!"
Arctic, still on the ground, stared in shock. "S-Sir?!"
Counter straightened up and saluted with the others. "Commander!"
Vortex lowered his hand, inspecting the faint burn mark that Blaze's strike had left on his glove.
"Captain Counter," he said calmly, "a literal blizzard just erupted inside our barracks. And a fight nearly escalated into a casualty event. You understand why I'm here."
"Yes, sir," Counter replied, head bowed.
Vortex's gaze slid to Blaze — sharp, unreadable.
"And Sir Blaze. I need you to come with me."
Blaze raised an eyebrow. "And if I don't wanna?"
Vortex didn't look amused."It wasn't a question. That was an order."
Counter quietly shook his head at Blaze — a subtle warning.
After a moment of silence… Blaze sheathed his blade.
"Fine."
Vortex turned and began walking away. Blaze followed him without protest, though he didn't look pleased.
Blockade helped Arctic up.
"You good?"
"Yeah… just a scratch," Arctic muttered, brushing snow off his armor. "Who was that guy? I couldn't block that even at full strength."
"Told you already," Counter replied. "SkyRealm veteran. Origin still unknown."
Blockade crossed his arms. "Now I get why he survived the Void."
Counter's expression darkened."Well… I'm not so sure about that."
Both Arctic and Blockade turned to him."What do you mean?"
Counter took a deep breath.
"When we entered the Void… the first person we found alive wasn't Blaze."
"SK the Reaper, right?" Arctic said. "The reports said she fell into the Void along with that Resistance soldier."
"Yes," Counter nodded. "But that's not the whole story."
Blockade frowned. "How so?"
"The mission wasn't surveillance. HQ received a signal from the Void."
"A signal…?"
"SK's vital signs. She was alive. Which should've been impossible — the Void blocks all communication."
Arctic stepped closer. "But you said something was disrupting the signals?"
Counter nodded gravely. "Another presence. Something powerful. Something none of us expected."
Blockade's voice dropped. "An entity…?"
"Yes. That wasn't in the public report. It's classified. Only those on the mission know."
Arctic swallowed. "So that's the creature that injured Blaze?"
Counter nodded slowly. "SK said it was something called a Shard — a creature that can mimic your fighting, your weapon… even your armor."
Blockade's face froze. "An adaptive AI… like the endgame bosses."
"Exactly."
Arctic clenched his fist. "And Blaze fought that thing alone?"
Counter exhaled. "He didn't defeat it. But he survived long enough. One more hit, and… even he might've fallen."
Blockade whistled low. "So that's why he barely flinched at my blizzard."
"And why he blocked your strongest attack like nothing," Counter added.
Arctic grumbled, crossing his arms. "I could've won. He just caught me off guard."
Blockade slapped his shoulder. "You always say that."
Counter laughed. "Of course he does."
But the laughter faded quickly.
Because even they knew—
Blaze's power wasn't normal.His existence didn't make sense.And now Commander Vortex wanted him.
Which meant something even more dangerous was coming.
— End of Chapter 45 —