Word count: 2200 words
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The throne room fell into silence, the thick scent of blood hanging in the air as Brain Unglaus and Gazef Stronoff stood facing each other. The clashing of steel moments ago had left scars on the pristine floor, and the bodies of fallen soldiers surrounded them like discarded chess pieces.
The tension was suffocating, everyone holding their breath, knowing that this battle was inevitable.
King Ramposa III, still trembling from the brutal murder of his son, looked on with weary eyes. Climb stood rigid, his hands clenched into fists, unable to intervene.
The princess remained composed, but her grip on Climb's arm had tightened, her mask of fear not betraying any of her true emotions.
Mahito, the only one truly enjoying the moment, grinned in twisted delight, his eyes locked onto the warriors about to engage. Apparently his lord still needed Brain, so if he was losing he will have to intervene. Though he believed Brain would win.
Gazef tightened his grip on Razor Edge, the legendary sword humming with power. His blood dripped onto the floor, but his posture remained firm. Brain, opposite him, wielded his katana with a refined stance, his breath slow and controlled.
"I can't say I did not expect this to happen, but I never thought it would come like this," Gazef said, his voice steady.
Brain nodded. "Neither did I… but I already decided to dedicate my life for someone, my sword is for his will. And if I must fight you, I will give it everything I have."
Gazef smiled faintly. "I would not accept it any other way."
Then...
They moved.
Gazef lunged forward first, using his everything from the get-go.
[SIX FOLD SLASH OF LIGHT!]
Six near-invisible slashes cut through the air at lightning speed, each aiming for a vital point. But Brain, having studied Gazef's techniques for years, anticipated the attack.
[GOD FLASH STEP!]
He blurred out of sight, dodging all but one slash, which grazed his shoulder, drawing blood.
Brain countered instantly.
[Instant Counter!]
[Nail Clipper!]
Brain aimed to sever Gazef's fingers from his sword but Gazef twisted his wrist at the last second, redirecting the attack and retaliating with a brutal downward cleave. Brain barely deflected it with [Flow Acceleration], his arms trembling from the sheer force.
The clash sent out a shockwave, dust kicking up around them.
The two warriors stepped back, both breathing heavily. Neither could afford to make a mistake.
"That sword…" Brain muttered, glancing at Razor Edge. "I can't let it land a clean hit."
Gazef adjusted his stance. "Then try and stop me."
Brain took the offensive this time, regulating his breathing technique which allowed him to boost his speed and explosive power.
[GODSPEED STRIKE!]
Brain's movements accelerated, appearing behind Gazef with his blade already mid-swing. Gazef barely managed to activate [Fortress] in time, blocking the strike but feeling the impact rattle his bones.
He quickly countered with [Rending Blade], an arcing attack aiming for Brain's ribs.
Brain twisted mid-air, avoiding a fatal blow but at the same time swung his sword, earning a gash along Gazef's side.
Blood sprayed across the ground, yet he grinned. "Not bad, you improved a lot."
Brain smirked. "Same to you."
The spectators watched in awe.
Climb, his heart pounding, whispered, "Gazef-dono… you can win, right?"
Mahito chuckled. "Oh, I don't think so. But let's see how long he lasts."
"Please... Dont die Gazef..." The king muttered to himself, no one seemed to hear him.
The princess watched, eyes fixed on the battle, observing every move with quiet interest.
Gazef pressed forward, slashing in rapid succession, forcing Brain on the defensive. Brain deflected each strike with inhuman precision, his katana dancing between Razor Edge's relentless blows. He saw an opening and struck Gazef's thigh with [SONIC BLADE], cutting deep.
Gazef gritted his teeth but did not falter. Instead, he activated his martial arts.
[LIMIT BREAKER - MIND AND BODY!]
[LION HEART!]
His muscles bulged, his speed increased, and his presence became overwhelming. The sheer force of his aura sent a chill down Climb's spine.
The fight had reached a new level.
Brain barely managed to react as Gazef blurred forward aiming straight for his heart. Brain twisted, but not fast enough—Gazef's sword cut a deep wound across his chest, sending him skidding backward.
Brain coughed up blood but remained standing. He exhaled sharply, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them with renewed focus.
"I see," Brain muttered. "Then I'll use it too."
[PERFECT WARRIOR'S SOUL!]
His movements became impossibly fluid, his strikes gaining monstrous speed.
The two warriors clashed again, exchanging dozens of blows per second.
Sparks flew, their weapons becoming a blur. Gazef landed a cut across Brain's ribs. Brain retaliated with a devastating slash to Gazef's shoulder.
Neither backed down.
Then, the moment of decision came.
Gazef overcommitted to a downward strike. Brain saw his chance, taking a deep breath.
[Breathing Technique: Fourth Form, Severing Arc]
He parried the blow and slashed horizontally. The edge of his katana met flesh.
Silence followed.
Gazef stood frozen, his sword slipping from his fingers. A deep, clean cut ran across his torso. Blood gushed out, painting the floor red.
Brain took a step back, panting. "Such a shame, a true warrior shall die…"
Gazef's legs wobbled. He smiled, his vision blurring. "Well fought… Brain… You've… improved."
Brain gave a respectful nod. "I'll remember you forever, Gazef."
Gazef chuckled weakly then fell to his knees.
His strength was fading.
His final words were not to Brain but to the king. "Your Majesty… I'm sorry.... p-please... live on." And with that, Gazef Stronoff, the strongest warrior of the Re-Estize Kingdom, met his end.
The king let out a broken sob. Climb stared in horror, his hands shaking. He considered Gazef to be the epitome of swordsmanship, his mentor... Seeing him die before him was a hard blow.
The princess seemed shocked and sad, tears on the edge of her eyes.
As for Mahito? He simply smiled.
Brain wiped the blood off his blade. "It's done."
Mahito clapped slowly. "Ahh… what a show. Truly spectacular."
The throne room fell into an uneasy silence, the weight of Gazef's death sinking in.
Brain turned to Mahito. "What now?"
Mahito grinned, eyes filled with wicked amusement. "Now? We move to the next step."
Mahito's grin stretched unnaturally wide, his lips curling back to reveal a row of sharp teeth as if his entire face were stretching beyond human limits. The way his head tilted slightly, the way his fingers twitched as if barely containing some violent impulse, it was the visage of a predator toying with his prey, savoring the fear in the air.
The king could feel the weight of those eyes piercing through him, stripping him bare, exposing every ounce of dread he felt at that moment.
Mahito took a step forward, his movements slow, deliberate, and exaggerated. Then, with a sudden burst of energy, he pointed a playful finger at the king, grinning as if they were old friends sharing an inside joke. "You're next."
The words dripped from his lips like venom, and the king's breath hitched. His hands trembled.
"What… what is the meaning of this?!" The king's voice cracked, his fear palpable, but Mahito ignored him entirely. Instead, he turned his gaze to Brain, offering a slow, approving nod.
"Well, well! Our dear Brain-kun passed his test, but," Mahito dragged out the word, savoring the tension in the air, "there's still someone left to prove themselves."
The room tensed as his eyes slid, ever so slowly, toward Climb. The boy stiffened, his heart hammering in his chest. A cold sweat trickled down his neck. He didn't know why, but he already sensed the impending horror before Mahito even spoke.
Climb's breath hitched and his body instinctively stepped back. "M-Me…? What—what do you want from me?!"
"Now, Climb-kun," Mahito said sweetly, his voice dripping with mockery, "If you truly love your princess, if your loyalty is as absolute as you claim, then… kill the king."
A pin could have dropped in the silence that followed. Climb's body went cold, his mind blank. "What?"
The king's eyes widened in sheer disbelief. "What madness is this?!" he bellowed, taking a step back. "Climb, do not listen to him! This is insanity!"
Climb turned to Renner, seeking confirmation that this was some kind of twisted joke. His mind was racing, desperately trying to process the command.
But when he met her gaze, his blood turned to ice.
It was time to stop her act.
Renner's face was aglow. A deep, feverish blush spread across her cheeks, her lips slightly parted. Her eyes half-lidded, burning with ecstasy glowed with pure unfiltered joy.
And then, she smiled.
A slow, dreamy, almost orgasmic smile, sick and twisted beyond anything Climb had ever seen before.
His breath caught in his throat.
The king, too, recoiled as if seeing a monster for the first time. "R-Renner…?"
But she paid him no mind. Instead, she leaned forward, her voice soft and dripping with sickly sweetness. "Climb… what are you waiting for?" Her voice was laced with an almost childlike excitement. "Show me… show me that you can do anything for me."
Climb took a step back, his hands shaking. "Princess… He's your father. How can I—? This… this isn't right."
Renner pouted, a small frown on her lips. "But Climb," she said, her tone gentle yet insidious, "he was never truly my father. Just a king trying to sell me to a noble piece of shit. And I have no need for a king anymore. But you… you are my knight. Aren't you?"
"D-daughter... Renner how could yo-" The betrayal of his daughter weighed heavily on his heart, he has already lost his two son, his most trusted servant, Gazef Stronoff right in front of his eyes, and now his own daughter he has underestimated for so long sold him for this devil, the crown was the price.
"Renner, if you want the crown I can give it to you. Your brother are already dead, Stop this madness, we need not to spill more. We are your family for god's sake!" Ramposa desperatly tried to reason with his daughter.
"Hehe, father. You are a failure. A failure as a man, as a king, as a husband, and as a father. You kept failing again and again and again. On top of that you seem to never learn of your mistake which is ridiculous. You only deserve death. Go Climb, fulfill you duty as my sword." The king could not refute any of what was said, but hearing this come from his 'kind' daughter made it even more heartbreaking.
It appears she was never who he thought she was...
Climb's throat was dry. He turned to the king, whose face was filled with both horror and desperation. "Climb," the king gasped. "Please. You… you are a good man. I raised you like my own. You don't have to do this."
Climb hesitated. Every fiber of his being screamed for him to refuse, to run, to rebel against this insanity. But Renner… she was everything to him.
He had sworn to serve her, to give his life for her, to do anything she asked.
Anything.
Tears welled in his eyes as he slowly drew his sword. "Your Majesty… forgive me."
The king took a step back, horror twisting his features. "Climb—!"
The blade pierced his chest in one clean thrust. The king gasped, his mouth opening in a silent scream. His hands grasped at Climb's arms, weak and trembling. Blood trickled down from his lips as he stared at the boy he had allowed for his daughter.
Climb's vision blurred. His heart was breaking, but he could not stop. His princess had ordered him. This was his duty. His blade twisted, and with a final, gurgling breath, the king collapsed to the floor.
For a moment, there was only silence.
And then, Renner giggled.
It started as a soft, delicate sound, then grew into a full, delighted laugh. She clapped her hands together, a picture of absolute joy. "He... Heheha... HAHAHAAHAH- Oh, Climb!" she exclaimed. "You really will do anything for me!"
Climb dropped to his knees, his hands trembling. He stared at the lifeless body of the man he had once sworn to protect, his mind a whirlwind of agony and devotion, Renner came to calm him with a light hug from behind.
Mahito whistled, clapping mockingly. "Well, that was quite the show!" He turned to Renner, a playful smirk on his face. "Congratulations, Your Majesty~! You're a queen now."
Renner didn't even seem to hear him. She only had eyes for Climb, her sweet knight who had just sealed his fate in blood. Her perfect, loyal dog.
And she had never been happier.
TO BE CONTINUED --->
Hey everyone! Author here.
If you've got an anime character you'd love to see summoned into the story, feel free to drop your suggestions, including which character you'd like to see and what rank you think they deserve. Your input might just shape the next events in the story!
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