Commander Vorsk snarled, his sharp teeth bared as he stalked through the endless corridors. Vorsk’s patience had run thin. Every step through the seemingly endless corridors of this place only deepened his frustration. His powerful frame moved with an agitated energy, his armor gleaming under the dim, alien lighting of the facility.

“Dammit…!! How big is this place?” Vorsk growled, his voice echoing in the vast halls. His clawed fist clenched in frustration before slamming into the nearby wall.

Boom!

A deep, reverberating sound rang out, but the wall remained entirely unscathed. Vorsk scowled, his piercing yellow eyes narrowing as he pulled his fist back. “Tch… What kind of material is this?”

The two Elite Chimerians flanking him exchanged a glance, their expressions unreadable behind their battle-worn helmets. Vorsk turned toward them, his frustration boiling over.

“Split up. Find that human and report to me the moment you see him.”

The two Elites saluted with a fist over their chests. “Yes, Commander!” They immediately sprinted in opposite directions, their heavy footfalls fading into the distance.

Unbeknownst to Vorsk, he was being watched.

From the command deck of the Spear of Heaven, Arthur leaned back in the throne, watching the Chimerian commander stomp through the corridors like an angry beast. A smirk crept across his lips as he saw Vorsk punch the wall in frustration.

Arthur chuckled. “Losing your patience already? That’s good.”

His fingers hovered over the holographic interface in front of him. The ship’s map unfolded in front of him, allowing him to pinpoint every life form inside. He zoomed in on Vorsk’s location and calculated his next move.

Arthur knew Vorsk was stronger. He had seen the Chimerian commander’s stats using ‘Analysis’ before. Vorsk wasn’t someone he could take head-on in a contest of raw power and experience. But he wasn’t much worried about it.

“Guardian, lock onto his coordinates and prepare to teleport me nearby.”

[Acknowledged, Commander. Tactical teleportation engaged. Initiating now.]

A bright blue light engulfed Arthur, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished from the command center.

…

Vorsk took a sharp turn around the corner, his heightened senses scanning the surroundings. And there, standing in the middle of the hallway, was Arthur.

The Chimerian commander froze for a second before a deep, guttural laugh erupted from his throat.

“Hah! Finally.” He cracked his knuckles, his claws glinting under the dim light. “I was starting to think you were too much of a coward to show yourself.”

Arthur’s eyes remained calm as he took a step forward, the plasma edges of his sword in his hand humming softly as he activated it. The red energy crackled against the air, casting eerie shadows across the walls.

“You talk too much,” Arthur said flatly. “Let’s get this over with.”

Vorsk grinned, his muscles tensing. “Oh, I will enjoy this.”

Without warning, Vorsk charged, his movements a blur of raw power creating shockwaves with his movements. Arthur barely had a second to react before the Chimerian was on him. He sidestepped at the last second, narrowly avoiding a clawed swipe aimed at his throat.

Clang!

Arthur countered with a swift upward slash, his blade cutting through the air. Vorsk leaned back just in time, the tip of the sword grazing his chest armor and sending a shower of sparks flying.

“Tch.” Vorsk clicked his tongue and lashed out with his leg.

Arthur crossed his arms just in time to block the impact, but the sheer force of the kick sent him skidding backward several meters. His boots scraped against the floor, without leaving any marks.

Vorsk straightened, rolling his shoulders. “You’re quick. I’ll give you that. But you won’t survive past today.”

Arthur smirked. “Let’s test that theory.”

Without another word, he vanished.

Vorsk’s eyes widened. “Teleportation?!”

Arthur reappeared behind him in a flash of blue light, his sword already mid-swing. Vorsk barely managed to twist his body, raising his armored forearm just in time to deflect the blade. The plasma energy scorched his armor, but it didn’t penetrate fully.

“Nice trick.” Vorsk grabbed Arthur’s wrist and hurled him across the hallway. “You must have got something quite useful from this place, but it won’t help you much.”

Arthur twisted in midair, using his thrusters to correct his position before landing in a crouch. He looked up just in time to see Vorsk charging again.

Vorsk lunged at Arthur with terrifying speed, his claws slashing through the air like blades. Arthur barely managed to dodge, feeling the sharp wind of the near-miss against his cheek.

Clang!

Arthur blocked the next strike with his sword, the energy at the edge of the blade hissing against Vorsk’s gauntlet. The impact sent vibrations up Arthur’s arm, but he held firm. Vorsk grinned, pressing down with brute strength, attempting to overpower him.

“Your tricks won’t save you forever, human,” Vorsk sneered.

Arthur smirked. “Good thing I’ve got more than one trick.”

He suddenly put the blade inside his dimensional pocket. With no resistance left, Vorsk stumbled forward slightly, his force no longer met with equal opposition. Seizing the opportunity, Arthur instantly with a mental command took the sword out and drove the blade upward, slicing a deep gash into Vorsk’s left shoulder.

Sizzle!

The Chimerian let out a snarl of pain, his shoulder armor melting and exposing raw, burned flesh underneath. But instead of recoiling, he retaliated instantly.

BAM!

A powerful knee strike slammed into Arthur’s abdomen, lifting him off the ground and sending him flying backward. He crashed against the metallic floor, rolling several meters before flipping back onto his feet. His ribs ached, but even as he felt them crack, his regeneration went into action. Within seconds, the pain faded, and the fractures mended themselves.

Vorsk’s eyes narrowed. He had seen Arthur take direct hits, yet each time, the human seemed… fine.

“You should be struggling by now,” Vorsk growled, flexing his claws. “I know I hit you hard enough to break your bones.”

Arthur rolled his shoulders. “Yeah, that was a good hit. You want me to pretend it hurt?”

Vorsk’s expression darkened.

The battle resumed.

Arthur teleported again, blinking behind Vorsk and going for a decapitating strike. But Vorsk had anticipated it this time, he twisted his body at the last second, grabbed Arthur’s wrist, and slammed him face-first into the ground.

CRASH!

His helmet dented from the impact, and Vorsk didn’t stop. He lifted Arthur up and hurled him across the corridor, sending him skidding across the metallic floor.

Arthur groaned, feeling the bruises forming… but before the pain could even settle, his regeneration kicked in, patching up the damage almost instantly.

Vorsk’s frown deepened as Arthur stood up like nothing had happened.

“That’s not normal,” Vorsk muttered.

Arthur picked up his sword and replied. “I get that a lot.”

Vorsk charged again, this time more aggressively, his movements growing faster and more unpredictable. Arthur met him head-on, their clash sending shockwaves down the corridor.

Slash!

Arthur’s sword cut across Vorsk’s thigh.

BAM!

Vorsk’s fist connected with Arthur’s jaw.

Whoosh!

Arthur dodged a sweeping kick, teleporting behind Vorsk and stabbing his sword forward, only for Vorsk to spin mid-air, catching Arthur’s arm and twisting it violently.

Crack!

Arthur’s forearm snapped at an unnatural angle, but before Vorsk could take advantage, Arthur headbutted him, causing the Chimerian to stumble back. By the time Vorsk looked up, Arthur’s broken arm had already healed.

Vorsk’s breathing grew heavier, his armor scorched in multiple places, cuts lining his arms and legs. Though Arthur had taken more hits, he still stood tall, unscathed.

The realization hit him hard.

“You’re healing… too fast.”

Arthur remained silent, gripping his sword.

Vorsk’s eyes gleamed with a sudden hunger. “So that’s it…! That’s your secret!”

Arthur tilted his head. “What secret?”

Vorsk pointed a clawed finger at him, grinning madly. “Your ability! It’s not natural. You gained it from this place, didn’t you?”

Arthur remained silent, thinking it’s better for him to misunderstand.

Vorsk continued, his voice filled with greed. “If you got this power from this place, then that means it’s something I can take too. I will rip the secret out of you!”

With a furious roar, Vorsk charged, his attacks growing even wilder. Arthur gritted his teeth as he dodged, parried, and countered, but Vorsk no longer cared about his own injuries.

And Arthur knew that made him even more dangerous.

…

The once pristine corridor was now a battlefield. The air was heavy with the scent of blood, mostly Vorsk’s.

Arthur stood a few meters away, his chest rising and falling rapidly, his sword crackling in his grip. His armor was battered, small tears revealing the rapidly healing flesh underneath. He had suffered more hits than he could count, but each time, his regeneration erased the damage within seconds. They have been fighting for more than half an hour without anyone getting an upper hand.

Vorsk, however, was not so lucky.

The Chimerian panted heavily, his once-imposing frame now riddled with wounds. Deep slashes covered his torso and limbs, one of his arms lay severed on the ground, still twitching slightly, and his bat-like wings had been ruthlessly hacked off, leaving jagged stumps on his back. He had bled too much, his dark violet blood pooling beneath him, staining the floor.

And yet, his eyes burned with pure rage.

“You… damn… human!” Vorsk spat, his voice hoarse, his body swaying slightly. He still stood tall, refusing to kneel, but Arthur could see it, he was at his limit.

Arthur exhaled slowly, gripping his sword tightly. “Give up, Vorsk. This fight is over.”

“Over?!” Vorsk barked out a laugh, though it quickly turned into a cough, a thick glob of dark blood splattering against the floor. He wiped his mouth, his sharp teeth bared in a snarl. “I… am a Commander! I don’t know the meaning of surrender!”

Arthur remained silent, observing his enemy. Every movement Vorsk made was slower than before. His body was betraying him, his injuries too severe, and his endurance running dry.

And Arthur wasn’t even very tired.

That was the difference between them. Vorsk was wearing down, but Arthur could still keep going. The outcome of this fight now depended on who could endure more and as the fight dragged on the final outcome became clear.

***

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