Ascension of the Mortal God

Chapter 9: Breakthrough Under Pressure

Kael barely had time to react as the assassin's fingers crackled with an eerie silver energy. The air around them shifted, growing colder, heavier—charged with an unseen force.

Magic.

Kael had seen it before, but never this close, never wielded with such precision. The woman raised her hand, and the silver energy lashed forward like a serpent, twisting through the air toward him.

Move!

Kael threw himself to the side as the energy struck the ground where he had been standing. The earth split open with a deafening crack, and jagged shards of rock exploded outward. He barely managed to roll out of the way as debris rained down.

His opponent didn't wait. She was already moving, gliding across the battlefield with inhuman speed. Kael brought up his sword just in time to block a strike aimed at his throat. The impact sent a shockwave through his arms, nearly making him drop his weapon.

She pressed forward, her movements smooth, relentless. Every swing of her blade carried deadly precision, and Kael struggled to keep up. His muscles burned, his breathing grew ragged.

She's too fast. Too strong.

Kael had fought powerful opponents before, but this was different. This woman wasn't just skilled—she fought like she had no limits, no hesitation, no fear.

And Kael was starting to realize that against someone like this… his normal tactics weren't enough.

She feinted left, then twisted, her blade slashing toward his ribs. Kael barely dodged, but pain flared as the tip of the blade sliced into his side.

I can't keep this up.

Desperation flared in his chest. He needed an opening—something, anything.

Then he saw it.

For the first time since the fight began, the assassin hesitated. Just for a fraction of a second, her glowing silver eyes flickered.

It was barely noticeable—but for someone like Kael, who had spent his life fighting, it was all he needed.

Now!

Kael feigned a stumble, letting his body slacken just enough to make it look like he was faltering. The assassin took the bait, closing in for the kill.

At the last moment, Kael exploded into motion.

He twisted his body, swinging his sword in a powerful arc. The assassin's eyes widened, caught off guard. She barely managed to dodge, but Kael had expected that.

Instead of completing the swing, he shifted his momentum, bringing his knee up and slamming it into her abdomen.

She gasped—a real, human reaction.

Kael didn't stop. He followed up with a brutal elbow strike to her face, then pivoted, slamming his sword's hilt into her shoulder.

She staggered back, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

Kael steadied his stance, gripping his sword tightly. "You can bleed," he muttered. "That means you can lose."

The assassin wiped the blood from her lips, her silver eyes narrowing.

Then, for the first time, she spoke.

"…Interesting."

Before Kael could react, the silver energy around her flared to life again—brighter, stronger. The wind howled as power radiated from her body, shaking the very ground beneath them.

Kael's grip tightened.

This fight wasn't over.

(To be continued in Chapter 10: Power Beyond Limits!)