NOVEL NEXT Chapter 150: Trials [27]
Kai twisted, one dagger deflecting the throwing knives mid-air. The impact stung his arm.
And then—
A shadow lunged from behind.
CLANG!
His daggers caught the strike just in time. Sparks flew. The weight behind the blow sent him skidding back across the dirt, boots dragging, breath tight.
Another one.
He didn't get a second to recover.
The air shifted. Another flicker of movement.
Left!
He ducked, barely, as a blade whistled past his cheek and carved into the trunk behind him. Wood cracked and bark exploded.
[Ghost Steps!]
His body blurred into motion. In the span of a breath, he vanished and reappeared ten feet to the side, crouched, chest heaving.
Two of them.
One stood in front—tall, wiry, dagger twirling idly between gloved fingers. His mask was dark red, eyes narrow, calculating.
The other crouched on a branch above, twin blades reversed in her grip. Her eyes were calm. Cold.
They didn't speak. Neither did he.
They just moved.
The first one dropped from above like a hawk. The other rushed from the front.
Simultaneous.
Kai didn't retreat.
He surged in.
CLANG!
CLANG!!
TINK!
His daggers sparked against theirs in a flurry of steel.
He twisted under the Irven slash, ducked the first Inka's swing, then flipped backward, narrowly avoiding a sweep to his legs.
[Falcon's Sight!]
The world slowed. Every motion burned into clarity, the flick of his wrist, the twitch in his shoulder. Patterns. Angles. Breathing.
He didn't think. He flowed.
Kai lunged low, driving a dagger toward Irven. Blocked.
Inka came from behind again. He rolled, dirt exploding as he hit the ground, and sprang up behind him and then slashed.
Inka's blade met his mid-swing.
The force jolted through his arms.
Twin blades carved in perfect sync.
But so was he.
He parried the next strike, then the nex, until his foot slipped. Just slightly.
A blade bit into his thigh.
He hissed, dropped to a knee—
[Thunderclap!]
He slammed both daggers into the ground. A shockwave of lightning burst outward, blasting both twins back.
Dust and leaves flared up, crackling with static.
He rose, bleeding, panting, eyes sharp.
Inka landed on his feet, shaking off the blow, hair frizzed by electricity.
Irven was already circling again.
[Stealth!]
Shadows coiled at his back, wrapping around his body. His presence dimmed.
They paused for half a second.
Kai was gone.
Then reappeared between them.
His daggers flashed—one going high, the other sweeping low.
CLASH!
CLANG!
CLANG!
Steel screamed. Inka backflipped, Irven tumbled under Kai's slash and rolled behind him. Another pincer.
Kai dropped to his knees, spun, and kicked up dust with his heel.
Irven covered his eyes—
Inka didn't hesitate. His blade whistled toward Kai's throat.
He caught it. With two fingers.
His eyes widened.
He twisted, dragged Inka forward by the arm, and drove his elbow into his gut. He gasped.
ButKai couldn't finish.
Irven slammed into him from behind, and the three of them tumbled into the dirt.
Kai rolled first, stabbed down.
But missed.
Inka caught his wrist mid-strike, trying to twist it.
But he headbutted him.
Irven dove at him again.
Kai kicked off the tree trunk behind him and flipped up—
Only to freeze.
A voice echoed nearby.
"Found them!"
The trees to the east exploded as a group of four contestants charged into view, weapons raised, one of them hurling a massive glowing chain in their direction.
The chain smashed into the ground where they fought. The dirt cratered. Everyone scattered.
The twins vanished into the foliage.
Kai landed in a crouch, chest heaving.
The chain smashed into the ground—
BOOM!
Dirt erupted. Four figures burst into view through the clearing smoke, weapons raised.
Kai didn't even blink.
[Thunderclap!]
Lightning cracked out from beneath him, raw and explosive. The ground shuddered as blue arcs tore through the air.
Their charge faltered, eyes widened from the shock.
But, it was too late.
[Phantom Slash!]
Kai disappeared into a blur.
The first two barely had time to flinch before his daggers whirled past their throats.
They turned into motes, instantly.
The third swung a spear wildly.
Kai ducked beneath it, pivoted, and plunged both daggers into their spine, gone.
The last turned to flee.
Wrong move.
Kai shot forward, lightning flashing under his boots. He spun mid-air, daggers reversed—
SLASH!
The fourth dropped in an instant, dissolving into white sparks like the others.
The smoke cleared.
Only Kai stood in the crater, breath steady, daggers humming with residual electricity.
He lifted his eyes again, and found them.
Irven and Inka.
Still. Watching.
Silent.
He didn't speak.
He bolted towards them.
Blades low, body tilted forward, he turned into black streak of blur.
Inka moved first, slicing through the air like a shadow.
Irven followed, sharp and clean.
Kai blitzed between them, ducking one strike, leaping over another. Sparks burst from steel scraping steel.
[Thunderclap!]
The burst exploded again—slowing them just for a heartbeat.
[Ghost Steps!]
He vanished.
Reappeared behind Inka—
CLANG!
Blocked.
Irven was already there, his blade a hair's breadth from Kai's ribs.
Kai twisted—dagger catching the edge just in time.
Parry. Spin. Step. Strike.
It was a dance—faster than most eyes could follow.
Kai used every inch of space, his steps tight, low, precise. Irven was relentless, never overextending, always circling to flank. Inka struck with brutal timing, sharp, surgical.
But Kai… was faster.
He ducked under a double slash, lightning crackling in his grip—
[Thunderclap!]
Up close.
Point blank.
It flared out in a raw wave—
Inka's guard cracked. Irven stumbled back.
Kai didn't waste a breath.
He dashed between them, slicing Irven's leg open—then spun low, driving a dagger into Inka's thigh.
Blood sprayed, but they didn't go down.
Still fighting.
Still pressing.
Kai's arms screamed. His thigh burned. His lungs clawed for breath.
[Phantom Slash!]
He blinked out of sight—only a shimmer—then—
THUNK!
Both his daggers buried into Irven's back.
White motes scattered into the air.
Kai didn't pause.
He turned mid-motion, locked blades with Inka—pushed forward, slid his boot around to trip him—
Inka tried to roll—
Too late.
SLASH!
A flash of silver across his neck.
Inka froze.
Then—
Both gone.
Only Kai remained.
Breathing hard. Knees buckling.
He dropped to a crouch, sweat dripping from his jaw, arms trembling from overuse. The aftershock of Thunderclap made his fingers twitch.
Meanwhile at the other side...
Serena's breaths came sharp now—short blades flashing in wide arcs as she darted forward.
Corrin deflected them lazily, one hand swinging his crescent blade, the other stuffed into his pocket like this was some kind of training match.
"Come on," he drawled, leaning back to avoid a slice, "you can do better than that."
Serena roared, slashing wildly.
CLANG!
Sparks flew. Her blades scraped past his shoulder, drawing blood.
Corrin grinned at the sting. "Now we're talking."
He twisted, kicked off the ground, flipped over her, and slammed his blade down—forcing her to block with both arms crossed, skidding back from the impact.
The ground cracked beneath her boots.
He didn't press.
Instead, he twirled his crescent blade on his finger, mock-pouting. "Tired already?"
Kai then reached over to side and picked up the blades left by Irven and Inka.
His fingers wrapped around the hilt of one, spinning it once for weight.
Serena lunged again at Corrin.
And just then.
And Kai threw the blade.
THUNK!
The dagger punched into her side cleanly, between her ribs, dead on.
She froze mid-stride, lips parting.
But no sound came. Her blades fell from her grip with a muted clang.
Then—
White motes shimmered from her form, dissolving her into fading light.
Corrin's blade paused just inches from where her head would've been.
He blinked.
Then chuckled, low and amused. "Oi, not fair, pal. That was my kill."
Kai stood now, straightened his back and rolled his shoulder. His body was tired, aching, but he managed a smile.
"She was my first," he said, voice steady.
Corrin snorted, slinging his blade back onto his shoulder.
Then—
Whoosh!
Air twisted overhead, dust kicked.
Seyvr landed from above, boots digging into the dirt.
He was breathing hard, his silver hair plastered to his forehead, and his grin was gone. For once, he looked serious.
Kai and Corrin glanced over.
"Fun's not over yet," he muttered.
Just then—
Clink!
On the elevated stone platform above, Arven settled down with a smirk, polearm resting lazily by his side.
His eyes scanned the field, not worried, not relaxed.
Just… waiting.
Cassian was nearby. His dual blades tightened in his hands, jaw firm, focused.
Rustle!
From the trees to the north, a figure emerged.
Riven, bruised and dusty, but grinning ear to ear like this was his idea of a perfect evening stroll.
His eyes scanned the group. "Well damn. Still alive, huh?"
From the opposite side—
Aria.
She straightened from behind the brush, her Ironfang Panther brushing against her leg, golden eyes gleaming.
Everyone… looked at each other.
Grips tightening on their weapons.
And then, they moved.