ã€ŠSpellbreakers: Path Beyond Vengeance [Progression Fantasy]ã€‹


 Chapter 1 - Meeting the Master

    During weather that could only be described as a Blizzard, Leonard was carrying his semi-unconscious friend Nathan.

    "Are...We there soon, Leo?" Nathan muttered, visibly out of breath. His body was covered with wounds and his limbs barely hung onto Leonard''s back.

    Leonard turned his head, confidently saying "Of course! It can''t be far, just rest for a while. We will make it to the Master''s place!"

    The snow poured down like an avalanche, making vision almost impossible for Leonard. What he said to Nathan was a lie. All he could do was grin, move his legs and tell Nathan that it would all be okay. Leonard kept walking. He did not know for how long. His thinking was that if he stopped even just for a second, he could not keep walking. His tenacity would be rewarded eventually, right? After what felt like days had passed, the snowstorm calmed down to a more managable downpour. His vision finally allowed him to see a few meters ahead, which made him locate smoke coming out of a small chimney.

    "Nath, we made it, that must be his place!" Leonard shouted excitedly and with shattering teeth.

    Nathan replied with a somewhat loud snore. Seems like he is still asleep. Leonard approached the door of the simple wooden hut, but he could not raise his hand as he was still carrying Nathan and couldn''t muster the motor skills to knock while holding onto him. As such, he slammed his head against the door three times while shouting:

    "Hello - is someone - Home?"

    After a few footsteps could be heard, an old, slim man opened the door. He had a long beard, no hair on top of his head but long, grey hair at the back of it. He looked visibly confused as he asked:

    "Yes, that would be me, but let me ask you a question of my own: Who climbs a mountain during a Blizzard?"

    Just as Leonard wanted to reply, he fell to the floor, making sure to land face first.

    "Please, take care of my Friend Nathan. He fought three Bears on our way here and is wounded."

    "Speak for yourself, you must have massive frostbite! Wait...Three? Anyway, come inside." The old man explained while taking Nathan and carrying him into a bed.

    Leonard smiled through the pain as he looked into the room; the entire building had only one room, with a small nook on the far left reserved for a queen size bed. The wall next to it was lined with bookshelves, filled with what seemed an organized and very well kept collection of literature. Another, smaller wall was reserved for a wardrobe and a big fireplace which seemingly doubled as a cooking top. This was where the smoke presumably came from that Leonard could see before they arrived. He slowly stood up, leaning onto a countertop, as the old man took out a folding chair and put it next to an armchair.

    He had a long look at the two and pondered their appearance. Leonard was a man of about 185cm with purple hair, piercing blue eyes and a very rough demeanour. He was wearing a black and brown fur coat to keep himself warm. To Hammond, Leonard seemed very full of himself, but also confident and proud. His fists had a few scars on them, but they seemed gentle and counterpointed his outgoing, boisterous demeanour.

    Nathan was the polar opposite of that. He was much shorter, maybe 155cm to his name, had wavy, shoulderlong blonde hair, and was wearing the same type of fur coat. On closer inspection, his fists semeed surprisingly battle-hardened, with many scars all over them.

    "Come have a seat and tell me your story. I take it you''re not just here because you enjoy exploring the countryside?"

    The old man sat down in the Armchair as Leonard made his way to the smaller, now unfolded seat. He started boisterously yelling:

    "We came all this way from our home village Principium to learn your teachings, Master! We were told you are a powerful cultivator of Magic and you know how to teach people to defend themselves. We would like to become students of yours!¡±

    A scowl could be seen across the face of the supposed Master. His gaze solely focused on Leonard for several seconds. He stands up, grabs a book from one of his many shelves, sits back down and starts reading it as he says:

    "I am no Master anymore. I don''t teach anyone these days. Do you think this house is a Dojo of some sort? No. I live in solitude atop Prin Pinnacle for a reason, kiddo. I''ll help you survive this snowstorm, but then you and your friend over there will leave. Besides, why should I teach you in the first place?"

    Leonard became visibly frustrated. His eyebrows furrowed as he slammed his hands on his knees and started yelling:

    "My friend Nathan''s parents and my Mother were killed 10 years ago during the conquest of Kazzorak. They tried fighting back and that got them killed... We want to learn what they learned, as they also cultivated magic within themselves and used it in conjunction with martial arts, just as you do! We will absolutely excel, you can be assured."

    "So you just want to connect with your parents and do not have any ulterior motives at all? Right. You did not even tell me your name or ask for my own!" The old Master exclaims, raising his right eyebrow.

    "Why would I need to ask for your name? You must be the famous Master Hammond, the head teacher of the Dojo of the Magical Fist! As for my own name, you are forgiven for not recognizing the brilliance that stands before you. My name echoes far and wide, as my accomplishments shall only pile on! The name is Leonard Aster, and you will remember it!¡±

    After that onslaught of words, Leonard struck a pose, albeit slightly clunkily as his limbs were still frozen from the blizzard. For a second, nobody talked. Only the crackle of the fireplace could be heard, as the old man''s eyes widened. Suddenly, he snapped the book shut, his scowl turning into a laugh:If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    "Hahaha, aren¡¯t you an energetic fellow! Very well. If you two can successfully complete a test then I shall teach you. But if you do, you will follow every bit of training I put you through, no questions asked. Understood?¡±

    ¡°Of course! You will not be disappointed, Nath and I may be young but we will pull our weight just you see!¡± Leonard shouts, as he tries to alternate his pose, but instead sinks into his chair. Hammond stands up, grabs another blanket and puts it over him as he quietly speaks to himself:

    ¡°Aster¡­ You were always full of surprises¡±.

    <hr>

    Golden beams of warmth pierced the glass of the small wooden cottage, angled just in a way that Nathan would be the only one woken up by them.

    ¡°A bed? Why am I sleeping in a bed? Did Leo manage to find Hammond¡¯s house?¡± Nathan thought to himself, while widening his field of view. He rubbed his eyes as he could not believe it; Across the room, Leonard was sleeping within the small wooden house, with a fire keeping the entire room warm and bright.

    Nathan pulled the blanket away, which revealed that his wounds were treated with some sort of ointment and secured with bandages. He stood up, surprised that none of the wounds hindered his movement. As he was looking out of the window, he was shown a beautiful morning atop a fully snowed in forest clearing atop the Prin Pinnacle which they climbed. As he kept looking, he spotted an old man only wearing pants and no shirt or shoes. The man down a huge log of wood onto a chopping block and put his hands together, as if praying or meditating.

    ¡°That must be the master! Did he treat me? No matter, I have to express my gratitude to him and Leonard!¡± Nathan thought to himself, as he hurried outside. He rushed outside, yelling:

    ¡°Are you Master Hammond? Thank you for the help!¡± and bowed his head.

    The old man seemed undeterred, still folding his hands together for a few seconds, when suddenly his right arm in its entirety seemingly disappeared for a split second. Hammond then approached Nathan while smiling:

    ¡°Yes, and you are Nathan. Your friend Leonard told me all about you two, you must thank him later once he wakes up. He gave it his all.¡±

    Nathan looked at him, noticing the immense muscle density for an old man. Hammond walked past him toward the cottage.

    ¡°Of course! Leo is always there for me when I need him most. He¡¯s the best! But...How did you treat my wounds? I was mauled by three different bears!¡±

    His gaze then wandered to the right, as he saw the log that was sitting there suddenly split into sixteen perfectly fireplace sized pieces.

    ¡°Woah, how did you do that?¡± Nathan asked.

    ¡°That was just a little parlor trick I taught myself over the years. Very useful when your job is selling firewood, don¡¯t you think?¡± Hammond said, while turning his head toward Nathan, smiling from ear to ear.

    ¡°Come inside, I want to talk to you and Leonard.¡±

    Nathan did as he was asked, ignoring that he was ignored.

    ¡°Hey Leonard, wake up! Today is the beginning of our training with Master Hammond!¡± He says, as he shakes Leonard¡¯s torso back and forth.

    ¡°Huh, what¡­Nath! You¡¯re up!¡± Leonard yells excitedly, and hugging him.

    ¡°I knew you would take those wounds like a champ!¡± He added while holding him.

    Nathan accepted the embrace, while saying ¡°I only made it because of you. Thanks, you¡¯re the best!¡± he says, as he pushed him away ¡°But wait, that¡¯s beside the point, our training starts now!¡±

    ¡°What!? You¡¯re right, this has to wait. Master, I am ready for our test!¡± Leonard shouts, as midway through his sentence his focus shifts toward the old man. Hammond pulled out four gloves out of his wardrobe, turned toward the two younglings and said ¡°Before we get to our test I¡¯d like you to show me what you can already do. Leonard, you said your parents already showed you the basics, so what is the most impressive magical feat you are capable of doing?¡± He put the gloves next to him, while preparing himself for what comes next.

    ¡°Oh you won¡¯t believe your eyes. Watch this!¡± He said, as he stood up, assumed a wide stance and started proclaiming:

    ¡°I am Leonard Aster, the great and amazing Leonard Aster and this is my pinnacle! Hyah!¡±

    He punches forward, as a torso sized, blue burst of magic can be seen rushing toward Nathan.

    ¡°Come on Leo, don¡¯t do that inside! That could destroy Hammond¡¯s furniture!¡± He responded, while clapping his hands together which completely evaporated the burst of magic that Leonard shot outwards.

    Hammond claps as well: ¡°I did mean for you to go outside as well, but that was great magic control to nullify that Mana Burst without causing it to disperse. Well done, both of you seem to know at least the basics of mana control!¡±

    And with a very firm, seriously raised voice, Hammond exclaims:

    ¡°You pass. I will teach you.¡±

    Leonard excitedly says: ¡°Wait really? I thought we had to go through a test! Explain yourself!¡±

    Hammond chuckles:¡±That was the test. What, did you think you¡¯d have to run up a tree by channeling mana into your legs or something insane like that? I just wanted to make sure that I knew what level you were at, and I was especially surprised at you, young Nathan.¡±

    ¡°What, me?¡± He questioned.

    Hammond turned his focus toward Nathan: ¡°Yes, while output and power are all well and good, control and defense are just as important. But this shall wait until tomorrow. For today, we actually have work to do.¡±

    He gestured Leonard and Nathan to come with him as he headed outside infront of the firewood. The sixteen pieces all fell in a perfect circle from the chopping block.

    ¡°We¡¯re going back to your village and we will sell some firewood.¡± Hammond says, as he points towards multiple stacks of logs and wood.

    ¡°What?!¡± Both of them scream at the same time, completely overwhelmed at the prospect of going back down.

    ¡°We barely made it up here!¡± Leonard screams.

    ¡°So you have done it once. Then you can do it again, but with a handicap this time.¡± Hammond said as he put firewood into a huge basket. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you can carry this thing on your back, that makes it easier!¡±

    ¡°That is not the issue here! What if we get attacked by another bear?¡± Nathan added.

    ¡°Then I hope it will back down when I ask it nicely.¡± He said, laughing at his own words.

    As the two younglings reluctantly packed their baskets full of firewood, a white-hooded figure watched them from atop a snowy tree without being noticed. It blended into its surroundings almost perfectly, watching their every move. "interesting. I found you and you''re taking in new students? I wonder how you¡¯d feel if those weren¡¯t around anymore?¡±

    It chuckled to itself, as it vanished while only a small amount of snow fell from one of the branches as the only evidence that it was ever there.

 Chapter 2 - Crack It Like An Egg

    The sun hung low in the sky as Hammond, Leonard, and Nathan trudged up the snowy path back to the cabin. The once-pristine firewood baskets on their backs now carried the marks of a long day¡ªscuffs, scratches, and a few splinters. Leonard stumbled into the cabin first, dropping his basket with an exaggerated groan.

    ¡°Why do people need so much firewood, anyway?¡± he muttered, flopping into the nearest chair.

    Nathan followed, slightly less dramatic but equally drained. He placed his basket by the door, rolled his shoulders, and sighed. ¡°I can¡¯t believe we carried all that down and made it back up in one piece.¡±

    Hammond, on the other hand, looked as energetic as ever. He closed the door behind them, dusted the snow off his coat, and clapped his hands together. ¡°Good work, boys! Now, on to the next task.¡±

    Leonard¡¯s head snapped up, his face etched with disbelief. ¡°Next task? We just walked miles with literal trees on our backs. Can¡¯t we rest for a bit?¡±

    ¡°Nope,¡± Hammond replied cheerfully. ¡°It¡¯s time to begin your training.¡±

    Nathan frowned, wiping sweat from his brow. ¡°Training? But we¡¯ve barely had time to¡ª¡±

    Hammond interrupted, his tone calm but firm. ¡°The path of the Spellbreaker doesn¡¯t wait for you to be comfortable. If you want to wield real power, you¡¯ll need discipline. Now, both of you, sit down.¡±

    Reluctantly, Leonard and Nathan settled onto the wooden floor, crossing their legs. Hammond stood before them, his hands clasped behind his back, his expression shifting to something more serious.

    ¡°We¡¯re starting with the foundation of Spellbreaking,¡± Hammond began. ¡°The first pillar: cultivating magical energy.¡±

    Leonard groaned loudly, tilting his head back. ¡°We know this already! You find the mana flow in your body, focus on it, and all that. Can¡¯t we just skip to the good part? I want to do more than throw magical bursts around, you know!¡±

    Hammond arched an eyebrow at him. ¡°The basics are what keep you alive, Leonard. Also, throwing your pure, magical bursts around isn''t exactly what I had in mind, barely any Arcanist nor Spellbreaker would ever do that. Raw Mana is unstable! No, without a strong foundation, the more advanced techniques will crumble. Now, stop complaining and concentrate.¡±

    Nathan shot Leonard a look that said, Just do what he says, and then closed his eyes. Leonard sighed dramatically but followed suit, muttering under his breath.

    ¡°Good,¡± Hammond said, pacing in front of them. ¡°Focus on your breathing. Feel the mana flow circulating in your body. It starts in your core, moves through your limbs, and ends in your heart. Let it settle there¡ªsteady and strong.¡±

    The room grew quiet except for the crackling of the fire in the hearth. Nathan¡¯s brow furrowed as he concentrated, his breaths slow and even. Leonard, meanwhile, twitched occasionally, clearly struggling to sit still. After a few minutes, Leonard finally settled down and began quietly focusing.

    Hammond then spoke softly: ¡°Good. You look like you¡¯ve got the basics down. Now, as you keep channeling, follow me outside.¡±

    The sun had already given way to a crescent moon while the three of them were inside the cabin. The air outside was much colder, causing Leonard and Nathan to lose focus almost immediately. Hammond gestured to a spot a few steps away from the door.

    ¡°Weather cannot and shall not disrupt your channeling. Sit down.¡±

    ¡°I-In the snow?¡± Nathan stammered.

    ¡°Yes. In the snow. Now stop talking and sit down again.¡±

    Leonard let out an annoyed grunt, visibly struggling more than Nathan, but he sat down. Nathan followed quietly, shivering slightly as his crossed legs touched the freezing ground.

    ¡°Sit like this for a while. I will come back,¡± Hammond said, turning and heading back inside the cabin.

    Nathan and Leonard didn¡¯t exchange a single word, doing their best to maintain focus. The flow of time seemed to blur. All that felt real was the rhythmic circulation of magical energy and the steady cadence of their breaths.

    Just when it felt like they might lose themselves in the exercise, Hammond reappeared.

    ¡°Now, release it. One at a time, send one of those bursts of your mana toward me. Nathan, you go first.¡±

    Nathan opened his eyes, his expression focused. He raised his hand, channeling the energy he¡¯d gathered. A moment later, a pulse of shimmering magic shot forward, crackling with fiery intensity. It was sizable, enough to rattle the air around them, but it stopped just short of Hammond, dissipating into a harmless flicker.

    Hammond nodded, his expression neutral, looking as if he noticed something with Nathan''s attempt.

    ¡°Good effort,¡± Hammond said aloud. ¡°Leonard, you¡¯re up.¡±

    Leonard smirked, eager to show off. He stood and raised both hands, channeling his mana. Unlike Nathan, he didn¡¯t hesitate. A massive burst of energy erupted from his fists, veering slightly to the right as it barreled toward Hammond. The old master deflected it with ease, but the blast didn¡¯t stop¡ªit grazed the corner of the cabin, splintering a bit of wood and sending a cascade of snow from the roof.

    ¡°Leonard!¡± Hammond shouted, glaring at the damage. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize you liked the snow so much¡ªyou must want to sleep without a roof tonight!¡±

    Leonard winced, scratching the back of his head. ¡°Uh, sorry, Master Hammond. It just... got away from me.¡±

    Hammond sighed, his annoyance melting into a playful grin. ¡°You¡¯ve got power, I¡¯ll give you that. But power without control is like a wild goosehorse¡ªit¡¯ll run you into the ground if you¡¯re not careful. As I said, raw Mana is incredibly hard to aim. But if you can aim it, you can do so much more."

    Nathan couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at Leonard¡¯s expense, earning him a glare that quickly turned into a laugh from Leonard as well after which he turned to Hammond. "You say this as if no one would ever think of using raw mana. Is it that unusual?"

    Hammond nodded. "It is. Few people ever get the idea to do so, and instead opt to use artifacts to channel mana through. But one thing at a time." Hammond continued, his tone turning serious again. ¡°You need to practice channeling your mana every day. That means during your chores, your training, and even when you¡¯re chopping firewood tomorrow. The more you do it, the stronger and more stable your magic will become.¡±

    ¡°Wait,¡± Leonard said, his voice tinged with disbelief. ¡°You want us to channel mana while chopping wood? Isn¡¯t that a little... taxing?¡±

    Hammond smirked. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s incredibly stressful on your body. But what do you think is more taxing¡ªsplitting logs or fighting enemies who want to kill you?¡±

    The surroundings fell silent as the weight of his words sank in. Nathan looked down, his expression thoughtful. Leonard opening his mouth, clearly wanting to argue but finding no good retort.

    ¡°Exactly,¡± Hammond said. ¡°Stop complaining and start channeling. You¡¯ll thank me when you¡¯re able to cast spells without breaking a sweat.¡±

    He grabbed and lit a torch from inside, then walked over to the damaged corner of the cabin, inspecting it with a sigh. ¡°For now, clean up this mess. Consider it a lesson in responsibility. Nathan, light the way for Leonard to repair it.¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    ¡°During the night? Can¡¯t this wait until tomorrow?¡± Leonard protested.

    Hammond¡¯s glare said more than any words ever could.

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll go inside and grab a hammer.¡±

    As the boys repaired the damage, Hammond watched with a small smile.

    They have a long way to go, but they¡¯re making progress. Slowly but surely, they¡¯re beginning to understand what it means to be Spellbreakers.

    The morning sun peeked over the snowy forest canopy, casting long shadows across the clearing. Leonard was already up, leaning against a tree, lazily tossing a rock between his hands. Nathan sat cross-legged nearby, his face buried in a thick manual on spell dynamics.

    "You¡¯re gonna burn a hole in that book," Leonard quipped.

    Nathan glanced up, frowning. "Hammond says knowing the theory is just as important as practice. We¡¯ve only been training with Hammond for a few weeks now, we still have so much to learn!"

    Leonard rolled his eyes. "Yeah, but it¡¯s not like some enemy is gonna stop mid-fight so you can quote from chapter six."

    "Depends on the enemy," came Hammond¡¯s voice from behind them. The boys turned to see their mentor strolling into the clearing, a dog-eared paperback tucked under one arm.

    "What¡¯s that?" Leonard asked, pointing to the book.

    "Nothing you¡¯d care about," Hammond said, slipping it into his coat pocket. "Just a riveting tale of love, betrayal, and mistaken identities."

    Nathan stifled a laugh while Leonard groaned. "Are you reading Romantic comedies while we train? You¡¯re impossible, old man."

    Hammond smirked as he shouldered a backpack. "And you¡¯re going to continue training now. Let''s move."

    The trio made their way to the training ground, a wide-open clearing bordered by dense trees, with a circle of moss-covered rocks marking its perimeter. ¡°Step aside, boys,¡± Hammond instructed, his tone casual but commanding.

    As they moved back, Hammond raised his hand. A powerful gust of wind erupted, swirling snow out of the circle in a spiraling rush. The displaced frost gathered neatly in a mound, leaving the ground beneath clear and untouched. Not a single flake landed on the trio.

    With the area cleared, Hammond approached an old stone pedestal that had been hidden beneath the snow. He set down two broken staves¡ªa blue one and a red one. Both pieces faintly shimmered, their fractured surfaces pulsing with a soft, magical glow.

    "These...aren¡¯t just broken junk, are they?"

    "Good eye," Hammond said, clapping Leonard on the shoulder. "These are artifacts. Or at least, what¡¯s left of them. Each of you will get one today. Consider it your introduction to real power."

    Nathan¡¯s expression turned apprehensive. "Aren¡¯t we, uh, supposed to train more first before we start using anything like that?"

    ¡°No, I think you two have trained more than enough to get to this point. But there¡¯s something important we need to handle first,¡± Hammond said, his tone unusually serious.

    He reached into his pack and pulled out two pairs of gauntlets. They gleamed even in the faint light, golden scales covering their surface with thin, faintly glowing blue lines etched across them. A ring with four small indentations sat where the gloves would rest against the wrists.

    ¡°These,¡± Hammond said, holding them up, ¡°will decide your future. Today, you¡¯ll make the choice whether or not you want to become Spellbreakers.¡±

    Leonard frowned, crossing his arms. ¡°We¡¯ve trained all this time for that, and now you say it¡¯s up to us? Are you messing with us, old man?¡±

    Hammond shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m deadly serious. These are Spellbreaker Gloves. They¡¯re the reason our school of martial and magical arts exists. With them, you¡¯ll be able to do something Kazzorak has feared for generations. But once you put them on, there¡¯s no going back.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, no going back?¡± Nathan asked, his voice a mix of curiosity and unease.

    Hammond let out a long breath, his eyes glinting with a weight the boys hadn¡¯t seen before. ¡°The gloves fuse with your very essence. Once equipped, they can never be removed. You¡¯ll lose the sense of touch in your hands, but you¡¯ll gain abilities that surpass anything you¡¯ve experienced. That gust of wind I conjured earlier? I couldn¡¯t have done it without these.¡±

    Nathan hesitated, his gaze flickering to the gloves. ¡°I... I don¡¯t know about this.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve already made my peace with doing whatever it takes,¡± Leonard declared, stepping forward. ¡°Let¡¯s get into it.¡± He grabbed a pair of gloves, fidgeting around with them before having a closer look.

    They felt heavy in his hands at first, and far too large. But as he slid them on, the gauntlets began to shrink and adjust, molding to fit perfectly. Then came the pain¡ªlike dozens of tiny needles stabbing his palms and fingers all at once. Leonard winced, but it was over in seconds. A faint glow surged through the blue lines on the gloves, and suddenly, they felt natural¡ªlike an extension of his body. He started looking at them even more, noticing a ring around the place where his wrist used to be visible, and tried moving it. It span around in a circle, with four small indentations spread across it.

    Leonard flexed his fingers, inspecting the golden sheen. ¡°Not bad. They actually look kind of cool,¡± he muttered, trying to sound casual.

    Nathan watched, his apprehension clear. But after a moment, he reached for the other pair, his hands trembling slightly. The gloves were massive compared to his slender fingers, but just like with Leonard, they shrank and adjusted the moment he put them on. The same sharp, stinging pain hit Nathan, and he let out a soft gasp before it passed. The blue lines glowed, and the gloves settled into place.

    Hammond smiled, his voice filled with pride. ¡°You¡¯ve just taken a massive step, boys. And for that, you deserve to know what being a Spellbreaker truly means. Today, you¡¯ll find out why we bear that name.¡±

    Leonard grinned, clenching his gauntleted fists. ¡°So, we¡¯re finally going to do something cool, huh?¡±

    Hammond smirked. ¡°You¡¯ve trained enough not to blow yourselves up. Mostly. And besides...¡± He gestured toward the table with the broken staves. ¡°Experience is the best teacher. Now, let¡¯s get started.¡±

    Leonard stepped forward, his eyes scanning the assortment. The left sceptre caught his attention; a jagged piece of icy blue crystal that used to be part of a staff. It hummed faintly when he picked it up, sending a chill up his arm even through his gauntlets.

    "What¡¯s this one called?" he asked, turning to Hammond.

    "That," Hammond said, his tone more serious now, "is Motionless. It¡¯s the leftovers of a wand that used to freeze entire rivers. Now? It¡¯ll give you the power to call up icicles with a good punch to a surface. Perfect for someone who likes to throw their weight around."

    Leonard grinned. "I like it."

    Nathan hesitated before stepping forward. He reached for the second remains, clearly jagged and with several pointy ends. Deep red veins ran through it, as if it pulsed with the essence of fire itself. The moment his fingers brushed it, warmth surged through him.

    "And this?" he asked quietly.

    "Eclipse," Hammond said, nodding approvingly. "Once belonged to a battle mage who could incinerate entire fields with a flick of his wrist. For you, it¡¯ll let you create fireballs by punching. Are you ready, Nathan?¡±

    Nathan nodded, clutching the shard tightly.

    "Now," Hammond said, clapping his hands together, "let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got.

    Leonard, break it.

    Leonard blinked. "Break it? But this thing¡¯s¡ª"

    "¡ªIncredibly rare and massive, almost seemingly indestructible?" Hammond interrupted, smirking. "Yes, if you don¡¯t know how. That¡¯s what your Spellbreaker gloves are for. You¡¯re not just smashing the artifact¡ªyou¡¯re absorbing its magic, making it yours. Whereas others would use artifacts to channel mana into, altering its state and then unleashing it in unique ways based on the artifact, us Spellbreakers are walking libraries copying the work of the original author, so to speak."

    Nathan turned the remains of Eclipse over in his hands, doubt flickering in his eyes. "What if I mess it up?"

    "You won¡¯t," Hammond said confidently. "That is what your training prepared you for. Just focus on the shard, channel your intent, and crack it like an egg. But you¡¯ve got to want it¡ªno half-measures."

    Leonard grinned, already holding Motionless in his gloved hand. "All right, like an egg. Easy!"

    He tightened his grip, focusing his thoughts on the shard. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a faint hum began to emanate from the artifact, growing louder as a chill spread through his glove. With a triumphant shout, Leonard squeezed, and the shard shattered in a burst of frost, its fragments dissolving into glowing energy that seeped into his glove.

    Nathan watched in awe. "That...was awesome."

    "Your turn," Hammond said, gesturing to Eclipse.

    Nathan hesitated, then held the staff close. His brow furrowed in concentration, and the artifact began to glow faintly. Unlike Leonard¡¯s explosive display, Nathan¡¯s absorption was slower, more controlled. The shard cracked, then dissolved in a swirl of fiery energy that sank into his glove.

    "Not bad," Hammond said, nodding. "Nathan, your control was great. Leonard, you¡¯ve got power, but you¡¯re still relying too much on brute force. Absorption can backfire if done too hastily, make sure to temper your excitement when performing it."

    "Yeah, yeah," Leonard muttered, though he couldn¡¯t hide his grin.

    Leonard looked down at his glove, flexing his fingers as the warmth lingered. For the first time, he felt something other than his fake bravado¡ªa gentle feeling of genuine confidence.

 Chapter 3 - Warlords and Wizard Towers

    The forest clearing was quiet as Hammond set his book aside, watching Nathan and Leonard catch their breath from another grueling training session. The light of the setting sun filtered through the trees, casting long shadows across the grass.

    Leonard, ever the loud one, wiped sweat from his brow and pointed a triumphant finger at Nathan. ¡°You saw that? Perfect aim! Icicles pierced straight through that dummy¡¯s heart!¡±

    Nathan, seated on one of the mossy rocks on the training ground, let a small smile wander through his face ¡°They were decent, for sure!¡±

    "Decent? Decent?! Come on, Nathan, give me some credit!" Leonard barked a laugh, sitting heavily on the ground beside his friend as he spins the outer ring of his Gauntlet, looking at the four indentations spread symmetrically in a circle around it, as if something was missing.

    ¡°We¡¯re still training, how can we be anything but just decent?¡± Nathan exclaimed, with a raised eyebrow.

    Leonard sighed. ¡°You¡¯re right¡­ You saw what Hammond could do with the flick of his wrist. Meanwhile we have been training with our absorbed artifacts for a whole month and all we have to show for it is a decent aim."

    ¡°You two done moping around? Good. Because we have something more important to discuss.¡± Hammond leaned against a nearby tree, his arms crossed. "You¡¯ve been training hard, and it¡¯s paying off, trust me. But it¡¯s time we talked about why all of this matters¡ªwhy you matter."

    Leonard and Nathan exchanged a glance, the air around them thick with tension. They knew why they fought¡ªor at least they thought they did.

    "Kazzorak," Hammond began, his voice steady, "isn¡¯t just our enemy. It¡¯s a nation built on power and fear. You know that better than most. It¡¯s the reason your parents are gone. The reason you¡¯ve lived your lives in subjugation. Everything you¡¯ve suffered, everything you¡¯ve lost¡ªit all traces back to Kazzorak¡¯s conquest of our Nation of Baharor."

    Nathan¡¯s fists clenched at his sides, his expression tightening. Leonard sat up straighter, his jaw set.

    "We know what they¡¯ve done," Leonard said, his voice quieter than usual.

    "But what you don¡¯t know," Hammond continued, "is how they¡¯ve managed to maintain control. Kazzorak isn¡¯t just some faceless entity. Its strength lies in its leaders¡ªits warlords. They¡¯re the ones enforcing its will, spreading fear and destruction. They¡¯re the ones who need to be stopped."

    Nathan¡¯s face paled slightly. "Warlords? What kind of people are we talking about?"

    Hammond¡¯s gaze darkened. "Each one is a master of their craft, wielding powers that make them seem more like forces of nature than humans. They¡¯ve crushed armies, destroyed cities, and left nothing but ashes in their wake. They¡¯re not just leaders and powerful arcanists ¡ª they¡¯re legends. And they don¡¯t fall easily."

    Leonard leaned forward, his fists clenched. "Good. Let them try to crush us. We¡¯ll take them down. Every single one of them."

    Nathan, however, couldn¡¯t hide his unease. "But...how? If they¡¯re that powerful...how do we stand a chance?"

    "You¡¯ve already taken the first steps," Hammond said. "You¡¯ve absorbed your artifacts, mastered their powers. You¡¯ve trained harder than most ever will. But to win, you¡¯ll need more than just strength. You¡¯ll need strategy, trust, and the will to keep fighting even when the odds are against you. Let me tell you about the one Warden that I know about: Azrael.¡±

    Hammond straightened, his tone growing even more serious. "They call her the Warden of Gravity, and trust me, she earns the name. She¡¯s a force of nature wrapped in human skin, bending weight and motion to her will.

    One flick of her hand can slam you to the ground like a fallen star or launch you into the sky like a ragdoll. Her artifact Featherweight is the source of her terrifying strength, and it makes her a nightmare to face head-on. If you¡¯re thinking of a one-on-one fight, forget it¡ªyou¡¯ll lose before you can even throw a punch. And as if this wasn¡¯t bad enough, apparently her artifact is not unique"

    Nathan swallowed hard, the fear in his eyes unmistakable. "She sounds...unstoppable."

    "She¡¯s not," Hammond said firmly. "But she is dangerous. Underestimate her, and you¡¯re dead. Face her unprepared, and you¡¯re dead. That¡¯s why we¡¯re training. And that¡¯s also why we¡¯re doing a little detour before fighting her."

    Leonard¡¯s voice cut through the tension. "We¡¯ll take her down. Together. Just like always."

    Hammond nodded. "That¡¯s the attitude. But remember, this is just the beginning. Azrael is only the first. There are others¡ªeach one as dangerous as the last. They¡¯re the backbone of Kazzorak¡¯s power. If we take them out, we weaken the entire nation."

    "But why do we fight her first?" Nathan asked.

    Hammond tilted his head towards him. "There are two reasons. The first is that we have information on her. This helps in coming up with a plan. The second is that on our way to her, we can gather something they took from us. Something that will serve us quite well I feel like. First, we¡¯ll need some allies. And I know just who.¡±

    Nathan looked down, his thoughts racing. He muttered quietly: ¡°The idea of fighting someone like a Warlord¡ªsomeone who could control the very ground beneath our feet¡ªis¡­ Terrifying.¡±

    Leonard noticed his friend¡¯s tension and nudged him with his elbow. "Hey. Don¡¯t overthink it. We¡¯ve got this."

    Nathan gave a weak smile but didn¡¯t respond.

    As the sun dipped below the horizon, the trio sat around the fire inside of the cabin. Hammond flipped through his book of romantic comedies, occasionally chuckling at a line, while Leonard and Nathan remained lost in their thoughts.

    "You¡¯re quiet," Leonard said, breaking the silence.

    Nathan hesitated. "I¡¯m just...thinking about what Hammond said. About the warlords. About Azrael. It¡¯s a lot to take in."

    Leonard leaned back, staring into the fire. "Yeah, it is. But we¡¯ll figure it out. We always do. And then we¡¯ll get back at them."The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Nathan glanced at him. "You¡¯re not scared? Not even a little?"

    Leonard¡¯s grin faltered for a moment before returning. "Of course I¡¯m scared. But fear doesn¡¯t get to decide what I do. You and me, Nathan¡ªwe¡¯ve got something no Kazzorakian monster can take away. We¡¯ve got each other. That¡¯s enough for me."

    Nathan¡¯s lips twitched into a small smile. "You always know what to say, don¡¯t you?"

    "Part of my charm," Leonard replied with a wink.

    Hammond looked up from his book, his voice cutting through the moment. "If you¡¯re done with your heart-to-heart, get some rest. Tomorrow, we train harder. Azrael won¡¯t wait for you to be ready."

    Leonard shot him a thumbs-up. "Got it, Master Hammond. Tomorrow, we crush it."

    Nathan nodded, his resolve hardening. "Tomorrow," he echoed.

    And as the fire crackled softly, Hammond laid down in his bed as the two younglings walked to their bedrolls, pulled their blankets over their bodies and tried to catch some sleep.

    <hr>

    The sun had barely risen, casting a pale light over the small cabin where Leonard and Nathan had spent the night. The scent of fresh pine mixed with the morning dew hung in the air as birds began to sing their songs outside. Inside, the fire in the hearth was still crackling, though it was starting to dwindle.

    Hammond stood at the door, his long coat hanging loosely around his shoulders. ¡°Boys,¡± he called, his voice gentle yet firm, ¡°get up. It¡¯s time to work.¡±

    Leonard groaned from his bedroll, pulling the blanket over his head. Nathan, always the more disciplined of the two, was already sitting up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

    ¡°Today, I¡¯ll be off to sell some firewood in town,¡± Hammond continued, organizing his things by the door. ¡°That¡¯ll bring in a bit of coin. While I¡¯m away, I want you two to head to the ancient magical tower in the forest. There¡¯s no shortage of stories about that place, and it¡¯s about time you two got some real experience. I¡¯m assigning this mission to you.¡±

    Leonard perked up immediately, his earlier fatigue forgotten. ¡°A tower? Is it like one of those wizard towers, full of weird stuff? Sounds like a fun day to me!¡±

    Nathan raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is it safe? You said it was ¡®magical¡¯... What exactly does that mean?¡±

    Hammond smiled, ruffling Nathan¡¯s hair. ¡°Safe? Well, in a sense. It''s abandoned and mostly forgotten by the people around here, but that doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s harmless. There might be some old traps or magical constructs lingering in there. But I trust you two to handle yourselves.¡±

    Leonard grinned. ¡°Come on, Nathan. What¡¯s the worst that could happen?¡±

    Nathan, ever the cautious one, glanced at the door and the deep forest beyond. ¡°Just... Let us be careful, okay? I don¡¯t like the sound of old magical traps.¡±

    Hammond chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re both good at keeping your wits about you, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯ve packed you both a little extra food and water, just in case. The tower is about a half-day¡¯s walk from here, but I¡¯ll be back by evening to hear what you¡¯ve found. Use your heads, and remember¡ªstay focused on the mission. Don¡¯t go looking for trouble unless you know you can handle it.¡±

    With a final nod, Hammond left, his footsteps fading into the distance as he made his way to town.

    Leonard and Nathan exchanged a look, a mix of excitement and apprehension in their eyes. After a moment, Leonard gave a confident thumbs-up.

    ¡°Well, no time like the present, right?¡±

    Nathan sighed but stood up. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s get moving, then.¡±

    The walk through the forest was calm, the birds chirping overhead and the occasional rustle of animals in the underbrush the only sounds breaking the morning silence. It was peaceful, but Nathan couldn''t shake the unease in his chest. Even though Master Hammond said the tower wasn¡¯t dangerous, the unknown always had a way of putting him on edge.

    Leonard, on the other hand, seemed unaffected by the surroundings. He was walking ahead, burying his teeth into a piece of bread, grinning as if they were on some kind of adventure.

    ¡°Bet you I¡¯ll be the first one to find anything cool,¡± Leonard called back to Nathan, his voice full of bravado.

    ¡°Just don¡¯t go getting yourself into trouble,¡± Nathan muttered, tightening his grip on the strap of his bag. He had a feeling today was going to be more challenging than it seemed.

    After a few hours of walking, they reached the outskirts of the tower. It loomed ahead, old and crumbling but still standing tall. Vines and moss grew up the sides, giving it an eerie, forgotten look. The entrance was wide open, the heavy wooden doors long since rotted away.

    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Leonard said, eyes wide with excitement. ¡°I wonder what kind of magical stuff is in there. Maybe we¡¯ll find a cool artifact!¡±

    Nathan, though still wary, nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s just be cautious.¡±

    As they approached the entrance, they heard a faint noise¡ªlike stone scraping against stone. Leonard held up a hand, signaling for Nathan to stop. The air felt different here, heavier, as if something were watching them.

    A rocky mess in front of the tower suddenly started turning into a different shape all on its own¡ªa golem, its stone body cracked and covered in vines. Its eyes flickered with a weak, blue light, and its steps were sluggish, as if the magic that powered it had long since begun to fade. The golem raised its heavy, stone arm and took a slow step toward them, its footfalls heavy and echoing.

    ¡°What is that?¡± Leonard yelled?

    ¡°It¡¯s a golem,¡± Nathan answered confidently - ¡°I read about them, they are artificial constructs used to guard important places.¡±

    The golem made a mechanical groan and took another step, its arm raised to strike. But before it could even make a move, Leonard slammed his fist into the ground, sending a shockwave through the earth. Ice erupted from the ground, shooting up to encase the golem¡¯s legs in thick layers of frost.

    Nathan watched in mild disbelief as the golem struggled, its frozen limbs locking up. Leonard¡¯s smile grew wider as he followed up with a series of swift punches, each one sending shards of ice flying, until the golem¡¯s torso cracked and crumbled to the ground.

    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Nathan asked, eyeing the remains. ¡°That thing was a joke.¡±

    Leonard kicked the frozen rubble. ¡°Yeah, well, it was probably out here for too long. Still, pretty cool that we didn¡¯t have to deal with anything worse.¡±

    Nathan shook his head but couldn¡¯t suppress a grin. ¡°At least you had fun with it I guess¡±

    They turned toward the entrance of the tower again, but just as they were about to step inside, a metallic rattle tore through the quiet like a crack of thunder. Nathan barely had time to turn before a gleaming chain, tipped with a serrated blade, shot out from the treeline. It coiled around his torso with alarming speed, pinning his arms to his sides.

    ¡°What¡ª!?¡± he gasped, struggling against the unyielding grip of the chain.

    ¡°Gotcha,¡± came a voice from the shadows, smug and dripping with malice.

    The chain yanked violently, pulling Nathan off his feet. He hit the ground hard, snow spraying up around him, while being dragged around the snow in a circle. A figure stepped into view, cloaked in white, slightly blending into the landscape. His hood was pushed back to reveal short, jet-black hair and a sharp grin. His eyes shined like amber and pierced his white outfit.

    Nathan gritted his teeth, fighting against the chain as it tightened around him. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡±

    The man gave the chain a sharp tug, dragging Nathan closer before slamming him into a nearby tree. The impact knocked the air out of Nathan¡¯s lungs, and he slumped to the ground, dazed and groaning in pain.

    ¡°Name¡¯s Zeke,¡± the man said, stepping closer and raising a hand. The chain obeyed his command like a loyal hound, retracting slightly before coiling around Nathan¡¯s legs, binding him further. ¡°Warrior of Kazzorak, proud Arcanist and Explorer of ancient ruins. This tower and its secrets belong to us, Baharonian scum.¡±

    ¡°You¡ª!¡± Nathan growled, his voice weak but defiant.

    Zeke chuckled darkly. ¡°Relax. I¡¯ll finish you off soon enough. But first, let¡¯s see how your little friend fares.¡± He turned his gaze toward Leonard, who stood just a few feet away, fists clenched and body trembling¡ªnot with fear, but with fury.

    Zeke tilted his head, his grin widening as he gestured toward Leonard.

    Leonard¡¯s knuckles cracked as he stepped forward, his voice low and brimming with anger. ¡°You¡¯re gonna regret waking up today, pal.¡±

 Chapter 4 - Imprisoned!

    The air crackled with tension as Leonard stared down the white-hooded figure standing in front of him. Zeke''s chain rattled ominously, the bladed ends glinting under the pale sunlight filtering through the dense forest. Nathan laid crumpled against a tree, groaning faintly but otherwise unmoving.

    ¡°I told you¡± Zeke sneered, his voice dripping with mockery ¡°that this tower belongs to Kazzorak. You think you can just waltz into a magical tower that Kazzorak can explore, just like that? Know your place!¡±

    Leonard clenched his fists, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn''t let this man walk away after what he¡¯d done to Nathan. ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are or where you¡¯re from,¡± Leonard growled. ¡°You¡¯re going to regret this.¡±

    Zeke¡¯s grin widened as the chain in his hand began to glow faintly, the runes along its length sparking to life. ¡°Oh, I¡¯d love to see you try.¡±

    The fight was brutal from the start. Zeke''s chains lashed out with blinding speed, forcing Leonard to dodge and deflect with his fists. His movements were clumsy compared to Zeke''s precision, and each misstep left him vulnerable. A chain whipped around his leg, yanking him off balance and slamming him into the ground. The impact drove the air from his lungs, but Leonard gritted his teeth and forced himself back to his feet.

    ¡°You managed to dodge a little, not bad.¡± Zeke said, circling him like a predator. ¡±But you''re still just a pup pretending to be a wolf."

    Leonard charged forward, feinting to the right before slamming his fist into Zeke''s side. The blow landed with a satisfying thud, forcing a grunt from Zeke. Leonard didn''t let up, delivering a series of rapid strikes that pushed his opponent back.

    As he stepped backwards, Zeke attached one of his chains to a tree, pulling himself up onto a sturdy branch as he looked down. He swung his chain in a wide arc from above, the blade grazing Leonard¡¯s arm and leaving a shallow cut. Blood trickled down, but Leonard barely registered the pain as he slammed his fist into the ground. Icicles started forming underneath the branch, but Zeke saw them coming and dodged. The frost pierced the tree right where Zeke was just a second ago.

    While jumping backwards, he launched another chain, while screaming ¡°Shine bright, Imprisoned!¡± which caught Leonards arms and upper body entirely. Zeke landed, and pulled Leonard up toward the branch, making him slam into it and breaking the branch as well as the tip of the icicle that Leonard formed just a second ago. Splinters and frozen fragments went flying as Leonard let out a hurling scream of pain. He landed further ahead in the snow.

    ¡°You¡¯re persistent, I¡¯ll give you that,¡± Zeke said, advancing. ¡°But persistence doesn¡¯t mean much when you¡¯re outmatched.¡±

    Leonard struggled to his feet, his body screaming in protest. His breathing was ragged, his muscles burning, but he refused to back down. ¡°You talk too much,¡± he spat, flying forward while throwing another punch. It connected with Zeke''s jaw, snapping his head to the side.

    Zeke snarled, his composure finally cracking. ¡°Enough of this.¡± The chains lashed out again, wrapping around Leonard''s torso and pinning his arms to his sides once again. Zeke yanked him forward, raising the blade of a free chain for a finishing strike.

    Before the blade could descend, a sudden gust of wind roared through the clearing, sending leaves and snow spiraling into the air. Zeke stumbled, releasing his hold on Leonard as he turned toward the source. Hammond emerged from the trees, his expression grim.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Hammond said, his voice calm but laced with authority. ¡°You¡¯ve done well to survive this long, Leonard. Let me handle this.¡±

    Zeke barely had time to react before Hammond moved. In a blur, the older man closed the distance between them, delivering a kick to Zeke''s chest that sent him airborne. A second later, Hammond raised his hand, conjuring a powerful gust of wind that hurled Zeke far into the distance as he screamed ¡°Begone!¡±

    Nathan groaned as he stood up, his eyes fluttering open. Leonard limped over to help him to his feet, both of them battered but alive. Hammond glanced at them, his expression softening. ¡°You two have been through the wringer, haven¡¯t you? I¡¯m glad you made it.¡±

    The three of them turned toward the tower. Inside, they found little more than dust and cobwebs. A few broken shelves lined the walls, and a single table stood in the center, barren save for a piece of parchment. Hammond read it quickly before shaking his head.

    ¡°Nothing. The arcanist who lived here must¡¯ve taken everything of value when he left.¡± He looked at the boys. ¡°Honestly, I didn¡¯t expect to find anything here. This was supposed to be a controlled exercise with the golem, but I¡¯d say you got something much more valuable instead.¡±

    Nathan raised an eyebrow. ¡°And that is?¡±

    ¡°Experience,¡± Hammond said, clapping them on the shoulders. ¡°That was just an explorer, powerful adventurers of Kazzorak on the lookout for Artifacts and other useful resources for their country - and as such far from the strongest they have. You got a taste of what¡¯s out there, and it¡¯s better you learn now than when it¡¯s too late.¡±

    <hr>

    Far below the mountain, Zeke groaned as he pulled himself from the snowbank he had crashed into. His body ached from the impact, but his pride stung even more. Muttering a string of curses, he pulled out a glowing crystal and activated it.

    The image of a massive, green creature appeared within the crystal, his face twisted in annoyance. ¡°Zeke,¡± it growled. ¡°What do you have to report?¡±

    Zeke hesitated. ¡°I¡­ encountered resistance. Two younglings and a Spellbreaker. I wasn¡¯t able to retrieve any artifacts, lord Apollyon.¡±

    Apollyon¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°You fled.¡±

    Zeke swallowed hard. ¡°One of them was a master. I couldn¡¯t¡ª¡±

    ¡°Enough!¡± Apollyon snapped. ¡°Your failure is unacceptable. Your father would be so ashamed if he were here. You¡¯re demoted to footsoldier. Report to Azrael¡¯s command. Perhaps an army as puny as hers can find some use for you.¡±

    Zeke clenched his fists, his face burning with shame and anger. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± he said through gritted teeth.

    As the crystal dimmed, Zeke glared up at the mountain. ¡°This isn¡¯t over,¡± he muttered. ¡°Not by a long shot.¡±

    <hr>

    The soft crunch of snow underfoot marked the passing days on the mountain. Two weeks had come and gone since the encounter with Zeke, and while Nathan and Leonard still bore faint reminders of the fight in their minds, their bodies had almost fully recovered.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    Leonard examined the faint scar on his forearm as Hammond applied a fresh coat of shimmering ointment to Nathan¡¯s bruised shoulder. The boy winced slightly but offered no complaints.

    "Is this... Spellbreaking too?" Leonard asked, holding up a small jar of the thick greenish paste.

    Hammond chuckled, shaking his head. "Not even close. This is just medicine¡ªsimple stuff, really. Snowpitcher plants grow all over the mountain. You just pluck a few leaves, crush them into mush, and spread it over the wound. Most injuries heal faster with it."

    Nathan looked at the jar skeptically. "If it''s so simple, why doesn''t everyone use it?"

    ¡°Not everyone lives near Snowpitchers, and a Kazzorakian would never ask Bahronians for scientific help, now would they?¡± Hammond replied. ¡°Now quit fussing. You¡¯re fine, right?¡±

    Nathan nodded, and Hammond stood, brushing snow from his hands. ¡°Good. Because starting today, we¡¯re taking back Principium.¡±

    Both boys froze, Leonard holding the jar mid-air, and Nathan¡¯s eyes widening.

    "Wait, you mean... now?" Leonard asked.

    Hammond folded his arms, his expression unusually serious. "Yes, now. I¡¯ve given you time to recover, and you¡¯ve had your first taste of combat. But I won¡¯t force you into something you¡¯re not ready for. So I¡¯ll ask one last time¡ªare you prepared to start a fight you can¡¯t back out of?¡±

    Leonard stood abruptly, his jaw set. ¡°We¡¯re in too deep to quit now. If we back out, no one else is going to fight for our home.¡±

    Nathan hesitated, his gaze drifting to the cabin¡¯s wooden floor. Then, with a deep breath, he looked up at Hammond and nodded. "We¡¯re ready."

    A satisfied grin spread across Hammond¡¯s face. ¡°Good. Because we¡¯re not just going to free Principium¡ªwe¡¯re starting a civil war against Kazzorak¡¯s forces.¡±

    Both boys blinked, momentarily stunned by the magnitude of Hammond¡¯s statement.

    ¡°Civil war?¡± Nathan echoed.

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Hammond said, his voice low and deliberate. ¡°And we¡¯re going to need allies. Principium isn¡¯t just a village¡ªit¡¯s where some of my old comrades are being held. Most importantly, Darmas and his group of magitech engineers. With them, we¡¯ll have the resources and technology to rally the resistance properly. Freeing them is our first step.¡±

    Leonard smirked, rolling his shoulders. ¡°Guess that means we¡¯re about to crash a party.¡±

    <hr>

    The prisoner tower loomed over the center of Principium, its dark stone contrasting the otherwise colorful and bright buildings of the village. Inside, Zeke stood in a dimly lit chamber, activating a blue crystal with magic. The faint image of a woman wearing a feathery headpiece flickered above it, her sharp features etched with a mixture of annoyance and impatience.

    ¡°Ah Zeke¡­I have been informed of your repositioning. You will defend this tower,¡± she ordered, her voice crisp and commanding. ¡°The local guards will assist you, but it¡¯s your responsibility to ensure none of the prisoners escape.¡±

    Zeke scowled, gripping the crystal tighter. ¡°You¡¯re wasting my talents, Commander. I can do so much more than babysit a bunch of prisoners.¡±

    Azrael¡¯s gaze hardened. ¡°Do you think I should¡¯ve expelled you for your failure? Or perhaps dealt with you more... harshly? ¡±

    The sharpness in her tone made Zeke flinch. He straightened, bowing his head slightly. ¡°No, Commander. I¡¯m grateful for your... mercy.¡±

    Azrael¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile. ¡°Consider this a kindness: I have a hunch your opponents will return. And when they do, maybe even someone like you can redeem themself. ¡±

    The faint flicker of ambition returned to Zeke¡¯s eyes. His free hand rested on the bandages wrapped around his torso, a constant reminder of his previous defeat. ¡°If they show up, I¡¯ll deal with them.¡±

    ¡°Good. Make sure to keep an eye on the two guards at the front, they¡¯re far from competent. I hope a prior adventurer like you can do better, even if he was demoted once,¡± Azrael replied sharply. ¡°Because failure this time will leave no room for redemption. ¡±

    The crystal dimmed as the connection severed, leaving Zeke alone in the chamber.

    He turned toward the tower¡¯s arched window, gazing out at the streets of Principium below.

    The city was buzzing with activity, but it was far from the humble Baharonian village it once was. Zeke stood at the edge of the town square, letting his eyes wander over the bustling blacksmiths, their forges glowing in the early morning frost, and the rows of magitech workshops humming with life. The air smelled of iron and ash, and faint arcs of blue light sparked as engineers worked tirelessly on their creations.

    It was a far cry from the primitive farming community it had been years ago. Now, under Kazzorak¡¯s guidance, it had become a hub of progress¡ªa testament to what Baharor could achieve when it embraced innovation.

    ¡°This is what Baharor was always meant to be,¡± Zeke muttered to himself, pride swelling in his chest. ¡°Not a backwater wasteland, but a force of creation and power.¡±

    He continued his climb of the tower, his boots marching on the darkened cobblestones. The imposing structure loomed high above the rest of the town, its blackened stone walls a stark contrast to the bright colors that made up most of the rooftops.

    He reached the highest cell, a chamber lit dimly by a single magitech lantern. The room was sparse, its walls lined with thick iron bars and reinforced with glowing runes. Inside sat a hulking figure.

    Darmas.

    The man was as large and imposing as Zeke remembered. His burly frame was barely contained by his tattered tunic, and his long, unruly hair framed a face dominated by a thick beard. He sat with his back to the wall, arms folded over his chest, his expression unreadable.

    ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t the great Darmas,¡± Zeke sneered, leaning casually against the bars. ¡°I heard you were brilliant, but I expected someone a little less¡­ barbaric.¡±

    Darmas didn¡¯t look up. ¡°And I expected someone with less bark and more bite,¡± he replied, his voice deep and laced with sarcasm.

    Zeke¡¯s grin faltered for a moment before he scoffed. ¡°Cute. Too bad you won¡¯t get to play the hero. This country should¡¯ve listened to Kazzorak. Instead, you chose to resist, to cling to outdated traditions and weakness. And look where that got you¡ªrotting in a cell.¡±

    He turned his attention to the other prisoners in the chamber. Most were silent, their faces gaunt and resigned, but one figure caught his eye.

    She sat in the corner, her head tilted slightly as if she were observing him without bothering to meet his gaze directly. Her dark hair framed her face in soft waves, contrasting with her sharp, piercing blue eyes that seemed to hold a quiet intensity. Her flowy, mage-like robes¡ªworn and faded from her imprisonment¡ªstill carried an air of elegance, the gold accents on the fabric hinting at a once-proud status.

    ¡°And what about you?¡± Zeke asked, his tone shifting to something more mocking. ¡°Sitting here like a ghost. Did you think you¡¯d change the world too? Heard from the guards that you''re a quippy one. Baharonians should never learn the ways of the Arcanist, you know that?¡±

    The woman didn¡¯t respond, her lips curving into a faint, knowing smile. "Wanna see how well Baharonians can use Artifacts, new guy?" she said snappily. A different, blond woman added: "It only took the last guard one week before he stopped talking to Leyra. You can''t kill us, but we won''t talk. Annoying, isn''t it? We''re unarmed, but you''re powerless."

    He shook his head and turned back to Darmas. ¡°Like talking to a bunch of dreamers and children that can''t have the toy they want. No amount of resistance will ever change the fact that Kazzorak is the future. The world belongs to progress, and you lot are just relics of the past.¡±

    Darmas finally stirred, shifting his weight and fixing Zeke with a sharp, confident gaze. ¡°Progress, huh?¡± He smirked. ¡°If all this is Kazzorak''s idea of progress, maybe the past wasn¡¯t so bad.¡±

    Zeke growled, his fist clenching around the bars. ¡°Keep talking, scum. You all will crack eventually, and you will tell us all about those other resistance members and their locations.¡±

    Darmas simply shrugged, leaning back against the wall. ¡°If you say so.¡±

    Zeke turned sharply, his coat flaring behind him as he descended the staircase. The tension in the cell lingered in the air, but Darmas¡¯s faint smirk remained while the woman that was called Leyra by her peers sat in the corner as she watched Zeke¡¯s retreat with her enigmatic smile. "I knew not saying anything would work well for this one, I ticked him off quite a bit" she said, keeping her smile on her face. "He did seem tenacious all things considered. I''ll give him a month."

 Chapter 5 - Principium Prison

    The crisp mountain air grew warmer as Hammond, Leonard, and Nathan finally entered the village of Principium at the brim of Prin Peak. It was a place that had once been simple¡ªa humble farming village nestled in the shadow of the towering peaks. A place they loved to call home. Now, the quaintness seemed marked by the unmistakable signs of Kazzorak¡¯s influence. Strange machines hummed in the distance, faint sparks of blue magic lighting up the sky above the busy streets.

    The sharp scent of metal, oil and arcane forgery lingered in the air, mixing with the earthy smells of the village. The big river that ran through the city that was once a pristine, dark blue color had turned muddy and dirty. The bridge leading over it was not a quaint, wooden one anymore, but rather reinforced with steel plates and bolts. It wasn¡¯t the same place Leonard and Nathan had known as children, but it was still home.

    They walked in silence through the narrow streets, their boots crunching over the frozen snow as they made their way deeper into the village. At first, no one seemed to take notice of them. The villagers went about their business, many of them toiling away in the workshops or walking between the stalls in the marketplace. But as they passed by, the crowd¡¯s energy shifted subtly. Heads turned. Conversations quieted. The presence of the three Spellbreakers, their gloves shimmering faintly with runes of power, had not gone unnoticed.

    The tension in the air was palpable. They could see the fear behind the curious gazes. People began to shuffle nervously, looking around as if deciding whether to stay or to flee. It was subtle at first, a glance here and a movement there, but soon enough, the villagers began to move quickly. They ducked into their houses, pulling shutters closed, and the street grew eerily silent.

    Leonard glanced around, his eyes narrowing. "What¡¯s going on? It feels like everyone¡¯s scared of us."

    Hammond chuckled softly, his voice carrying a reassuring calmness. "Don¡¯t worry. They¡¯re just normal folk, trying to keep their heads down. They don¡¯t want trouble. The sight of Spellbreakers, especially with the mark of Kazzorak¡¯s forces hanging over them, can be enough to make anyone nervous."

    Nathan eyed the villagers warily, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his sword. "Are we really causing that much of a stir? Just for showing up?"

    Hammond gave a knowing smile. "They¡¯ve seen the change happening in their town, Nathan. The Kazzorakian regime has brought fear and uncertainty.¡±

    Nathan shifted uncomfortably, his fingers tightening around the fabric of his coat. "But why are they acting like this? We¡¯re here to help, aren¡¯t we?."

    Hammond''s expression softened slightly as he looked around, seeing how the villagers began to duck into their houses, pulling shutters down and avoiding eye contact. "Yes, they¡¯re just afraid," he said, his voice calm. "People know something¡¯s about to happen here, but they don¡¯t want to get caught up in the middle of it. Fear has a way of making even the most innocent seem dangerous."

    The tower rose ahead of them, a massive structure that stood out against the bright landscape. Its blackened stone walls loomed ominously above them, casting long shadows. Two guards stood at the base, looking like sentries in the distance. As they neared the tower, the guards'' eyes locked onto the trio.

    "Stop!" one of the guards shouted, clad in iron armor while raising his hand and brandishing a spear. "This tower is off-limits. Turn back now."

    Hammond motioned for Leonard and Nathan to step back as he stepped forward. His calm demeanor never wavered as he faced the guards. "We¡¯re here to see Darmas. We have business with him."

    The guard¡¯s eyes narrowed. "Don¡¯t think we¡¯ll just let you walk in and see the prisoners. I¡¯m not stupid, pal." He glanced at his companion, and the two guards took a step forward, blocking the path even more obviously than before.

    Leonard crossed his arms, his gloved fingers curling slightly. "We¡¯re not asking," he muttered, stepping forward.

    Hammond raised a hand to stop him. "Patience," he murmured. "We don¡¯t need to make enemies of these men."

    Nathan, standing behind Leonard, clenched his jaw. He was clearly unsettled by the tension. Leonard was annoyed, ready to show the two guards who they are dealing with but he knew deep down that Hammond was right. They needed to focus on their goal, not unnecessary conflict.

    With a sigh, Hammond turned back to the guards, giving them a warm smile. "My friends here are a bit eager," he said, his tone easy and nonchalant. "But we¡¯re not looking for a fight. Just let us through, we will grab our friends and we won¡¯t cause any trouble."

    The guard didn¡¯t seem convinced. He tightened his grip on his spear, his stance defensive. "This tower is under the control of Kazzorak¡¯s forces. You¡¯re not going anywhere, not you nor those two kids you brought along. Now scram!"

    Leonard¡¯s patience snapped. He threw a quick glance at Hammond, and without waiting for approval, he surged forward, fist raised. As his gloved hand connected with the ground, the power of Motionless surged through his body. Ice shot up from the ground in jagged spikes, rapidly encasing the guard''s feet. The sudden burst of cold left the guard frozen in place.

    Nathan followed suit. He stepped to the side, closing the distance to the second guard. A flick of his wrist sent a fireball erupting from his hand, striking the guard in the chest. The fireball didn¡¯t cause serious harm, but it sent the guard stumbling back, disoriented and panicked. He crashed to the ground, unable to regain his footing as the flames dissipated.

    The fight was over in seconds.

    Hammond glanced at both guards, now incapacitated but alive. He gave a small nod, indicating that they had done their job well. ¡°I wanted to try one more time, but you know what? They didn¡¯t seem much for talking anyway." he said, moving past them with a wave of his hand. "See you on the way out, gentlemen."

    They continued their ascent up the tower, the stairs creaking beneath their feet as they climbed higher. The air grew colder the higher they went, the temperature dropping as they moved away from the warmth of the village. They finally reached the top floor, where a large, open room awaited them.

    In the center of the room stood Zeke, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. His body bore the marks of their previous encounter¡ªcuts and bruises that had yet to fully heal. He met their gaze as they entered, his lips curling into a grin.

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    ¡°So that¡¯s what that commotion was about¡­I knew you¡¯d come,¡± Zeke said, his voice low and confident. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again. You see, last time we didn¡¯t exactly get to exchange pleasantries. My name is Zeke Fygar, and if things go my way today, you won¡¯t need to remember, as it¡¯s the last thing you¡¯ll ever learn¡±.

    Leonard¡¯s eyes immediately went to the fresh injuries on Zeke¡¯s body ."Looks like you¡¯re still healing from last time," he said, his tone almost mockingly sympathetic. ¡°I¡¯m Leonard, the greatest Spellbreaker this world will ever see! And this is my friend Nathan, you know. The one you ambushed like a coward?¡±

    Hammond stepped forward, keeping a careful eye on the situation ¡°Enough of this meaningless exchange. Give us the key and we will be on our way.¡±

    Zeke¡¯s grin deepend as he snapped his fingers. HIs chains came to life, curling and snapping through the air. ¡°Afraid to lose your pups, mister wolf?¡±

    Hammond sighed as he looked at the bandages on Zeke¡¯s body. ¡°Very well. Leonard, I am certain you will take him on and win this time. Show me the efforts of your training.¡± Leonard punched his left palm, grasping it as cold magic surrounds his closed fist. ¡°Today you¡¯ll see that your previous attack was nothing but a fluke, we¡¯re Hammond¡¯s priced students after all! The great Leonard shall face you head on!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for this,¡± Zeke said, his voice dripping with malice. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you¡¯ve recovered fully since we met, punk.¡±

    Leonard stepped forward, cracking his knuckles through the Spellbreaker gloves. A faint glow emanated from them, the lingering energy of Motionless humming softly as he clenched his fists.

    ¡°You¡¯re about to find out,¡± Leonard shot back, his voice steady but fiery. He spread his feet into a fighting stance, his muscles tense with anticipation.

    With a flick of Zeke¡¯s wrist, one of his chains lashed out, its bladed end slicing through the air toward Leonard¡¯s chest. Leonard barely had time to react, ducking just as the chain whipped past him, leaving a faint whistle in its wake. The blade embedded itself in the stone floor behind him, cracking the surface.

    ¡°You¡¯re faster than last time,¡± Zeke sneered. ¡°But not fast enough.¡±

    Leonard didn¡¯t bother with a retort. He did not feel faster, but rather had the feeling that Zeke was slower. Instead of replying, Leonard took a wide stance, slamming his fist into the ground with a roar. The power of Motionless surged through his body and into the stone, and a line of jagged icicles erupted from the ground, racing toward Zeke.

    Zeke leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the icy spikes, but Leonard was already on the move. He darted around the icicles, closing the distance between them. His right fist glowed as he aimed a punch at Zeke¡¯s ribs, forcing him to block with one of his chains. The chain wrapped around Leonard¡¯s wrist, and Zeke yanked hard, pulling Leonard off balance.

    ¡°You¡¯ll have to do better than that!¡± Zeke taunted as he swung his second chain in a wide arc.

    Leonard gritted his teeth and twisted his body, using the momentum to pull free of the chain. He ducked under the incoming attack while tilting his head, feeling the sharp edge of the blade graze his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. The sting fueled his determination.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Leonard growled, wiping the blood from his face with his sleeve. ¡°Let¡¯s turn down the heat.¡±

    He slammed his fist into the ground again, but this time he spun his knuckle around as it arrived on the ground. The resulting icicles shot in a curve, forcing Zeke to jump back toward the wall. Leonard followed up with a feint, pretending to go for another ground strike. When Zeke prepared to dodge, Leonard shifted his weight and leapt forward as he swung his fist upward, aiming for Zeke¡¯s torso who tried to look for icicles on the ground.

    The punch connected, and Zeke staggered back, coughing as the air was knocked from his lungs. Using the short stun, Leonard slammed the ground with both of his fists. Two icicles shot out from the ground, forming around Zeke¡¯s arms and legs, only revealing his torso and head.

    ¡°This is for hurting Nathan!¡± Leonard yells as he surged forward, slamming his fist into Zeke¡¯s gut. The impact echoed in the room, forcing a choked gasp from Zeke¡¯s lips. ¡°And this is for enslaving Baharor!¡± Before Zeke could recover, Leonard struck again¡ªthis time a left hook to his side, followed by an uppercut to his jaw.

    As Zeke felt the impact, he mustered the last of his strength: ¡°A¡­licia¡­¡± but to no avail; Leonard had knocked him unconscious. The victor stepped away, breathing a deep sigh of relief.

    Hammond also seemed relieved. ¡°I did not take you for someone who¡¯d show this much restraint. Great job, kid. You took him out, and despite your anger showed mercy. You did great today¡±. Hammond looked around the room and saw a bunch of runed shackles hanging on the wall, next to their keys. He grabbed one of them, broke the ice that Leonard created with two quick flicks of his wrists, and shackled Zeke.

    "That should hold him for now," Hammond said with a satisfied look.

    Nathan approached, eyeing Zeke warily. "Couldn¡¯t you have used his chain artifact for this? Shouldn¡¯t we break it now?"

    Hammond shook his head as he coiled the chains into a neat small bundle and put it away into his backpack. "No. I have a feeling they might come in handy later."

    With that, they took the key from Zeke, who was now entirely defeated and unmoving. Hammond put Zeke on his left shoulder to carry him and led the way, unlocking the door to the next floor with the other hand.

    They reached the final cell, where the prisoners were held. As the door opened, the prisoners looked up in surprise. Among them were Darmas and a woman with a hood over her head, who locked eyes with Nathan.

    Nathan froze. It was Leyra¡ªhis childhood friend.

    She lowered her hood, smiled warmly and rushed toward him, her arms open. "Nathan!" she exclaimed, pulling him into a tight hug. "I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re okay."

    Nathan pulled away slightly. "Leyra, I¡ª" He hesitated, unsure how to explain everything and confused as that was what he wanted to say.

    "How did you end up here?" she asked, worry lacing her voice.

    Nathan glanced at Hammond, then back at her. "I wanted to learn to properly cultivate magic, just like my father did. So Leonard and I sought out a master... and we found Hammond."

    Leyra blinked in surprise. "Hammond? The old Spellbreaker?" She turned to Hammond, her eyes wide. "I thought nobody practiced that style of magic anymore. I also heard you stopped teaching!"

    Hammond gave a small, amused smile. "You¡¯re not wrong. But I¡¯ve changed my mind, and they¡¯re learning quickly."

    Leonard grinned and stepped forward, arms crossed. "The name¡¯s Leonard, and this is my friend Nathan! We¡¯re the new generation of Spellbreakers! We¡¯re gonna bring the art back to its full glory. Pleasure to meet you all!"

    Leyra raised an eyebrow at Leonard¡¯s boastfulness but couldn¡¯t help but look impressed. "I¡¯m Leyra. And is that so? You¡¯ve got a lot of confidence, that''s for sure. How many artifacts have you absorbed?¡±

    ¡°Haha, it¡¯s not the amount that counts but the way you use it!¡± Leonard said, as he freed the rest of the inmates and flexed his muscles. The remaining men were seemingly impressed and clapped, Nathan as well as Hammond chuckled as Leyra rolled her eyes.

    While she did not outwardly approve of Leonard¡¯s boasting, the admiration in her eyes toward her saviours couldn¡¯t be missed. "I¡¯m glad you¡¯re here," she said toward the trio. "I can¡¯t believe we¡¯re finally free."

    Darmas stood, a knowing smile on his face as he exchanged a heavy but earnest handshake with Hammond. "It¡¯s good to see you. And I see that you¡¯ve brought some new faces."

    "Ready to fight your oppressors?" Hammond asked, his voice steady and calm.

    Darmas simply grinned. "Why do you think we¡¯re chained up in the first place?"

 Chapter 6 - The Fastest Route to Avisia

    The basement of the tower was dimly lit, its air thick with dust. Leonard, Nathan, Leyra, Darmas, Hammond, and the rest of the magitechnicians were busily gathering their supplies. Hammond, who had been carrying Zeke on his shoulder all this time, sat him down on a chair next to desk and started to search the room.

    Racks of tools, food supplies, and strange contraptions lined the walls, with tables lined messily with more of the same. His eyes landed on a marble-sized orb resting among the assortment of artifacts and weapons scattered across the table. A female technician with wavy, blonde hair and a single streak protruding from her forehead grabbed some of the tools that were clearly meant for maintenance and a white overcoat from the walls, smiling to herself.

    Darmas nodded toward her: ¡°Good Sahra, grab everything that could even vaguely help,¡± as he reached for something resembling a small, compact crossbow. Its frame was sleek but unadorned, more practical than decorative. Nathan watched curiously as Darmas slung it over his shoulder.

    ¡°What kind of Artifact is that?¡± Nathan asked, leaning closer to examine it.

    Darmas chuckled and waved a dismissive hand. ¡°It¡¯s the kind where you pull a trigger, and a hole appears in someone. Simple, effective, no magic needed.¡±

    Leonard laughed hesitantly, as he was about to ask the same thing.

    Nathan¡¯s cheeks flushed, and he mumbled, ¡°Oh¡­No offense, I was just trying to learn.¡±

    Darmas took some more bolts from one of the racks. ¡°None taken. We¡¯re not Arcanists¡ªwell, most of us aren¡¯t. My boys and I know how to make this stuff, not use it like you folks.¡±

    "If you do want to learn something Nathan," Hammond said, "pay attention to this." With practiced ease, he twisted the outer ring on his Spellbreaker gauntlet until it clicked audibly and instead of a green orb, an empty indentation was visible on top of his wrist. He then turned his attention to the unconscious prisoner, Zeke, whom he''d been dragging along. Grabbing Zeke¡¯s head, Hammond pried open his mouth and casually slipped the marble inside. ¡°Enjoy your meal,¡± he said dryly.

    Still holding Zeke''s head steady with his left hand, Hammond channeled a surge of magical energy through him. A flash of light engulfed the prisoner, and when it faded, Zeke was gone¡ªreduced to nothing but the marble that now sat glowing faintly in Hammond¡¯s palm. Leonard looked at the entire ordeal very intently, while also spinning the ring around his glove''s wrist in circles.

    ¡°Portable prisons,¡± Sahra explained, holding up a finger as if giving a lecture as Hammond was holding the orb up for everyone to see. ¡°They are quite expensive to make and they only last for a few weeks before your inmate enjoys regaining their freedom but they save you the trouble of lugging prisoners around. They can still hear you, but they can¡¯t move or do anything. No need to feed them either!¡±

    Hammond agreed and pocketed the small orb. ¡°Lucky we found one here¡ªI was getting tired of carrying this hothead everywhere.¡±

    Nathan and Leonard were visibly impressed, but didn¡¯t have much time as they heard a high pitched noise which came from Leyra.

    She had spotted her staff leaning against the wall. Her eyes lit up as she grabbed it, holding it close. ¡°Don¡¯t speak for all of us, Darmas! I know how to use Artifacts. This is Soft Ether,. I¡¯m so glad to have you back, so glad!¡± she said, hugging the staff as if it were an old friend. She then grabbed an amulet, looking at it just as fondly, after which she put it onto her neck.

    Hammond, standing near the exit, spoke up. ¡°We¡¯re heading to Avisia next. Do any of you know a fast route?¡±

    Leonard puffed up his chest before anyone else had the chance to speak. ¡°I¡¯ve got just the path. It¡¯ll cut hours off our journey.¡±

    Hammond raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is it the direct route along the official roads?¡±

    ¡°Nope,¡± Leonard replied with a smug grin.

    Hammond¡¯s face broke into a smile. ¡°Good. Then we can take it without being attacked by Kazzorakians at least. Lead the way.¡±

    Leonard beamed. ¡°Gladly. Stick with me, and we¡¯ll be there in no time.¡±

    Nathan gave him a thumbs-up. ¡°Sounds good.¡± Leyra nodded her agreement, and some of the magitechnicians murmured approval as they shouldered their packs and weapons.

    Hammond exclaimed ¡°Very well. Let us head to the city of flight, Avisia!¡± as they left the tower past the two guards who they previously defeated. They let them pass, visibly sweating and saluting the now much larger group than before.

    While reaching sunlight for the first time in what felt like hundreds of years, Darmas wasted no time and walked fast to catch up to Leonard who was leading the way. ¡°You¡¯re a bold one, I¡¯ll give you that. But tell me, do you even know why Kazzorak took over Baharor in the first place?¡±

    Leonard and Nathan exchanged a glance. Leonard shrugged. ¡°Not really. They¡¯re evil? They wanted power?¡±

    Leyra chimed in. ¡°I¡¯ve heard bits and pieces, but never the full story. I¡¯d love to know, too.¡±

    Hammond, now walking slightly behind them, pulled a small book from his coat. The cover showed an exaggeratedly cheerful couple holding hands against a dramatic sunset. ¡°Darmas, would you do the honors while we walk? I¡¯ve got some reading to do.¡±

    Darmas smirked and nodded. ¡°Alright, gather ¡®round, kids.¡±

    The group entered the forest, the dense canopy above letting only sparse beams of sunlight filter through. Leaves rustled in the gentle breeze as Darmas began.

    <hr>

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.¡°It started with Kazzorak¡¯s Warchief, Gabriel. A tall, muscular figure without hair but with a massive beard. He was clad in a white and golden toga as he came to Baharor ten years ago, along with three of his warlords. The first was a hulking green brute, taller and broader than any man I¡¯ve ever seen wearing the same colors. The second was a woman, angular and slender, but with a presence that could chill your bones despite her flowing, sun-colored dress. The third was¡­ strange. A man in a similar garment to that of Gabriel, entirely covered up who barely seemed human, just a vague shape of average height under the cloth. Their appearance definitely wanted to seem ¡®divine¡¯, with a golden symbol of a sun on their backs.

    Gabriel met with King Jinn and the council. He spoke highly of the relationship between our nations. Kazzorak provided Artifacts and technology that improved Baharor¡¯s military, and in return, we exported our craftsmanship. Baharor had the finest magitechnicians, manasmiths, and artisans. Together, we were thriving.¡±

    Leonard scoffed. ¡°Doesn¡¯t sound so bad. Where did it go wrong?¡±

    Darmas continued. ¡°Gabriel claimed Baharor wasn¡¯t pulling its weight. While Kazzorak prepared for an inevitable grand-scale war, we¡­ enjoyed the peace their protection afforded us. Gabriel demanded that we match their efforts, ramp up production, and start building for war.¡±

    Leyra frowned. ¡°But Baharor isn¡¯t a nation of warmongers. Why would our King ever agree to something like that?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s precisely it, he didn¡¯t. King Jinn told Gabriel that Baharor wouldn¡¯t prepare for some nebulous war that ¡®might¡¯ happen. Unless Kazzorak had proof, we¡¯d keep exporting as normal but wouldn¡¯t jump into an arms race.¡±

    Nathan, walking beside Leonard, listened intently. His fists clenched as Darmas spoke.

    ¡°This is when Gabriel probably got what he wanted. He said we weren¡¯t listening. ¡®War is coming,¡¯. ¡®One way or another.¡¯ The meeting ended in tension, and the next day¡­ The council chamber was buried under rubble. King Jinn, the council, everyone was gone. Gabriel declared war on Baharor, claiming we betrayed them on the same day we had to bury our entire upper political body. That¡¯s what most of us were told at least¡±

    Leyra¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°So that¡¯s why they attacked?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Darmas said grimly. ¡°With their superior weapons and our technology, they swept through Baharor like wildfire. Cities held on for a few meager days whereas villages like Principium... Well, you know the rest.¡±

    Nathan¡¯s voice was quiet but firm. ¡°They took my family with fire, leaving nothing but ashes and memories.¡± He looked at his Spellbreaker gloves, faint flickers of flame escaping his fists while clenching them softly and closing his eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t think I want anyone to know how that feels, not even someone like them.¡±

    Leyra glanced at Nathan, surprised by his intensity. Leonard, noticing the shift in mood, slapped Nathan¡¯s back with a grin. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t dwell on it. We¡¯re gonna show them how to do this the right way!¡±

    Nathan tried to smile, but it was faint, forced.

    ¡°Kazzorak got what they wanted: a war that was over in a flash, and a subservient Baharor. Well, that''s all I''ve been told. Not like I was there, not really into politcs myself.¡± Darmas looked Leyra as he continued. "Now we produce weapons and even Arcanists for their cause. Although they¡¯d never train them outside of their own country¡¯s walls.

    Leyra¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°And what about that other war this...Gabriel talked about?¡±

    Hammond¡¯s voice cut in, dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Have you seen another war in the last ten years? They just needed an excuse to justify their conquest.¡±

    Leyra shook her head in disbelief. ¡°They¡¯d kill so many and destroy our peace just for¡­¡±

    ¡°An expansion of their territory,¡± Nathan interjected, his voice colder than before. ¡°They sound ruthless¡­ And Invincible.¡±

    Leyra placed a comforting hand on Nathan¡¯s shoulder, but he seemed lost in thought.

    As they walked, the forest grew denser. The light ahead narrowed into a small, glowing patch. Leonard¡¯s voice broke the silence.

    ¡°They sound awful, but that¡¯s all they are! Listen up, folks! Kazzorak took over Baharor because we were unprepared. But now? We¡¯ll take down their warlords one by one, steal their Artifacts, find allies, and then¡­!¡±

    Leonard broke into a sprint, disappearing into the glowing light ahead. The rest of the group hurried after him. When they emerged, they found themselves on a cliffside overlooking Avisia. The city sprawled below, larger than Principium,

    Leonard stood at the edge of the cliff, pointing beyond Avisia, toward the distant horizon. ¡°Then we¡¯ll take the fight to Gabriel and take back our country!¡±

    The magitechnicians erupted into cheers, their voices echoing through the forest. Hammond and Darmas, standing with arms crossed, exchanged knowing smiles.

    ¡°You¡¯ve found an interesting one,¡± Darmas said.

    Hammond chuckled. ¡°Two, to be precise.¡± His eyes drifted to Nathan, whose fear had transformed into quiet determination. Nearby, Leyra watched Leonard, her gaze lingering with a mix of fascination and admiration.

    Nathan noticed her expression and smirked. ¡°He¡¯s great, isn¡¯t he?¡±

    Leyra turned, startled. ¡°Where did that come from?¡± A faint blush crept up her cheeks.

    Nathan smiled softly. ¡°Whenever I¡¯m afraid or unsure, Leonard knows what to do. He might seem loud and brash, but he¡¯s someone I respect more than anyone.¡± He paused, exhaling deeply. ¡°Thanks for reminding me. I¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    ¡°I barely did anything, it¡¯s fine. Thank you two for saving us. I had lost all hope that I¡¯d ever leave that cell, the only thing keeping me sane was mocking the prison guards but that also quickly became boring.¡±

    Nathan jogged forward to catch up with Leonard, who now led the group¡¯s loose formation. Leyra watched him go, then glanced back at Leonard, a faint smile on her lips.

    ¡°Oh,¡± she muttered. ¡°Yes, that. That¡¯s a good quality.¡±

    With renewed determination, the group descended toward Avisia.

    Nathan¡¯s first impression of Avisia was its sheer difference from Principium. It wasn¡¯t a sprawling metropolis, but it was unmistakably a city, with a presence and weight that dwarfed their small village. The streets below were a patchwork of stone and dirt, with the former steadily taking over. It gave the city a rough, uneven look, as if it couldn¡¯t decide whether to embrace progress or cling to its rustic origins.

    The buildings themselves were sturdier, their wooden frames reinforced with metal plates and rivets, giving the impression of armor rather than mere architecture. Smokestacks jutted from many of the homes and workshops, belching thin trails of smoke into the air. The sheer size of these chimneys seemed comical at first, but their purpose was clear: these were not simple dwellings¡ªthey were crafting hubs, likely producing Artifacts, weaponry or assorted magitech components.

    But what truly caught Nathan¡¯s eye were the airships. Two enormous vessels hovered above the city, tethered to its largest structure by thick, taut ropes. They looked like nautical ships from a bygone era, complete with wooden hulls and decorative railings. Yet, they didn¡¯t sail on water but hung in the sky, suspended by glowing cyan circles of magical runes floating above and behind them. These runes pulsed faintly, their light steady and unwavering, a testament to Kazzorak¡¯s mastery of magitech. The sight filled Nathan with a mix of awe and unease.

    Hammond looked at Nathan and noticed his gaze focusing on the flying machines. ¡°So, do you know why we¡¯re here everyone?¡±

    Nathan looked up at Hammond, without a reply ready to be spoken.

    ¡°We''re going for a romantic cruise through the skies.¡±

 Chapter 7 - Avisia Aerotech Assembly

    The towering silhouette of the building loomed ahead, with a sign saying "Avisia Aerotech Assembly" sitting above the entrance. Its sleek metal exterior gleamed faintly in the fading light. Leonard whistled, craning his neck to take it all in. Two massive airships rested in docked positions, their frames casting long shadows over the complex.

    "Haven''t had a shadow this big cast on me before. You picked an interesting location, old man!"

    ¡°That¡¯s where we¡¯re headed,¡± Darmas said, gesturing toward the floating ships connected to the top building with some wooden docks. ¡°Get ready, folks. This won¡¯t be as easy as a stroll through Principium.¡±

    Hammond grunted. ¡°We¡¯re not looking to leave a bigger mess than we need to.¡±

    Darmas smirked, his confidence unshaken. ¡°We¡¯ve got this. Let us technicians handle the guards at the door.¡±

    As they approached the entrance, Darmas stopped to confer with the magitechnicians. He spoke in hushed tones, gesturing toward the guards stationed at the heavy iron gates. The technicians nodded, adjusting the straps on their crossbows and gear.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Darmas said, turning back to the group with a grin. ¡°The plan¡¯s set. Let¡¯s go, men! We can¡¯t let the Spellbreakers do all the work, after all.¡±

    Two guards stood at attention by the doors, clad in the familiar uniform of Azrael¡¯s forces. Their spears gleamed in the dim light, and their eyes narrowed as the group drew closer. The mention of the word ¡°Spellbreaker¡± didn¡¯t escape their notice.

    ¡°Which one of you is the Breaker?!¡± one of the guards barked, leveling his spear toward Darmas.

    Darmas raised his hands in mock surrender, looking at his hands with a sly smile on his face. ¡°You two seeing any gloves?¡± he asked, his tone almost playful. The magitechnicians moved into a half-circle formation, walking from behind Darmas, as if appearing out of nowhere. Their crossbows were now drawn and aimed at the guards.

    ¡°We¡¯d like to go inside,¡± A lanky, red haired technician with a cross-shaped scar on his right cheek continued smoothly. ¡°That alright with you?¡±

    The guards stood their ground, undeterred. ¡°If we were afraid of a mere threat, we¡¯d never have joined Azrael¡¯s army!¡± one of them snapped.

    Leyra stepped forward into the half circle past Darmas, her staff glowing faintly as she channeled her energy. The air around her grew heavy with static, and the clouds overhead darkened ominously. ¡°Oh, really? Not easily threatened? Wanna put that to the test?¡± she challenged, her voice crackling like the lightning gathering around her staff as her eyes lost their pupils and became a bright white mass.

    Moments later, the group stood inside the massive building.

    ¡°I¡¯m impressed at how persuasive you can be, Leyra,¡± Leonard said with a grin.

    Leyra smirked, twirling her staff lightly. ¡°I do like to get what I want. Thank you for noticing.¡±

    Nathan, however, frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t think that one technician needed to knock them out with a chop to the neck after that, though. They seemed docile.¡±

    The red head chuckled, unbothered by the remark. ¡°Just makin¡¯ sure they don¡¯t get any funny ideas,¡± he said, flexing his hand as if to emphasize his point.

    ¡°I did tell Finn to do that, but I also didn¡¯t expect the young miss lightning over here to leave such an impression. Thought a little more convincing would be necessary¡­ Oh well, we¡¯re inside.¡±

    The interior of the Avisia Aerotech Assembly was nothing short of breathtaking. Leonard had expected a multi-story structure, but most of the space was a single, cavernous hall. Towering scaffolds and assembly rigs stretched up toward the ceiling, where massive airship frames and hulls were being constructed. The hum of metal being shaped and molded echoed faintly, though much of the noise had died down¡ªlikely due to workers fleeing at the first sign of trouble. The walls were lined with blueprints of airships and smaller aircraft to be built, all of various shapes and sizes.

    ¡°This place is huge,¡± Leonard muttered, his eyes wide as he took in the sheer scale of the operation. Nathan stepped forward a little more than Leonard, joining in his awe.

    A single elevator stood in the back of the hall, its small, cage-like structure looking almost out of place amidst the industrial sprawl. As they made their way toward it, Leonard noticed two figures still working on one of the airship hulls. Unlike the rest of the workers, who had clearly abandoned their posts, these two seemed entirely focused on their task.

    One of them, a towering man easily three meters tall, wearing a white shirt and black, thick pants did take notice of them in-between tasks. His curvy brown hair was disrupted by a single gray streak and added to his calm demeanour which formed a stark contrast to his enormous build. He pocketed a small wand he¡¯d been using which would probably be more like a small staff for an average sized Arcanist and turned to face the group. His blue eyes, guarded by rimless glasses, locked onto Nathan, and a deep, rumbling voice made its appearance known.

    ¡°Elevator¡¯s for employees only,¡± the giant said. ¡°You aren¡¯t employees.¡±

    Without warning, he charged at Nathan, his massive fist swinging in a wide arc. Nathan reacted instinctively, catching the giant¡¯s fist in both hands. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, but Nathan held firm.

    ¡°I¡¯m not looking into engineering right now, thank you very much,¡± Nathan quipped, his voice steady despite the strain. With a swift motion, he shifted his weight and swung the giant over his shoulder, sending him crashing into the hull of another airship.

    The second figure, a slender woman with sharp features and a focused expression, let out an exasperated scream as she palmed her face: ¡°Bordo! Could you ever stop annoying me? I was almost finished with this part!¡± She stomped over and kicked the giant, who groaned in response. Her brown hair resembled a chaotic explosion, perfectly matching her voice¡ªrash and unhinged. She wore a dirty white tank top paired with pants sporting more pockets than anyone could possibly need. Several of them were in use however, sporting all sorts of tools from wrenches to drills.

    ¡°Sorry ¡®bout that, Aerin,¡± Bordo muttered, rubbing the back of his head. ¡°We got company.¡±

    Aerin turned her attention to Nathan, her eyes narrowing. ¡°You... You disturbed my perfect workflow. Do you know how much effort it takes to get into the zone? Get over here. I¡¯m gonna wallop you with my mallet!¡±

    She cast a spell while reaching into one of her many pockets, pulling out an enormous hammer. The mallet''s head opened and closed with a hiss of steam every time she squeezed the trigger embedded in its handle. Without hesitation, she charged at Nathan, who braced himself to block the incoming assault.

    Before the clash could erupt, Hammond intervened. A powerful gust of wind burst from his outstretched hand, sending Aerin skidding back several feet. Though she struggled against the force, she quickly regained her footing, her glare fixed on Hammond. The hammer in her grasp emitted a series of mechanical sounds¡ªticking, creaking, and finally a faint whistle¡ªfollowed by another puff of steam escaping its joints.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t the time for a fair fight,¡± Hammond said sharply. ¡°If we stay here too long, we¡¯ll just attract more attention. Leyra and I will hold them off with the magitechnicians. Darmas, Nathan, Leonard¡ªyou three head to one of the airships and get it ready to launch.¡±

    Finn raised an eyebrow. ¡°Darmas may be our leader but do you really think he can prep an airship on his own?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Hammond replied. ¡°but I also don¡¯t think these are the only ones who will put up a fight. We¡¯ll join them as soon as we can, hopefully Darmas will have inspected what we¡¯re working with once we arrive. Now go!¡±

    Leonard nodded, gripping the strap of his Spellbreaker glove. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s move. Darmas, I¡¯ll lead the way.¡±

    Nathan glanced back at Leyra, who was already summoning a storm of lightning around her staff. She caught his gaze and offered a quick, reassuring smile before turning back to face their opponents.

    ¡°Stay safe,¡± Nathan said quietly, then followed Leonard and Darmas toward the airship. Behind them, the clash of magic and metal echoed through the assembly hall as the fight began in earnest.

    The elevator doors slid shut with a quiet ding, and almost immediately, the platform shot upward, smooth as silk but startlingly fast. Leonard stumbled slightly, grabbing the railing for balance. Nathan¡¯s eyes widened in alarm as his stomach dropped from the sudden acceleration.

    ¡°What madman thought it was a good idea to make this thing move so fast and play soft jazz at the same time?¡± Nathan grumbled, his fingers clutching the railing tightly.

    Darmas leaned back against the wall, entirely unbothered. A lazy smile spread across his face as he hummed along to the mellow bossa nova melody. ¡°What can I say? The tune¡¯s catchy. I wouldn¡¯t mind knowing the artist¡ªthis could go on my personal playlist.¡±

    The thirty-second ride felt like an eternity to Nathan, whose nerves didn¡¯t settle even as the music hit its most relaxing notes. When the elevator finally stopped, inertia caused all three of them to momentarily lurch forward, almost jumping from the abrupt halt. The doors slid open, revealing the top floor.

    The room stretched out in front of them, with three-quarters enclosed by steel walls and the remaining portion a vast, open gap leading directly to the docks. The two airships they¡¯d seen earlier loomed outside, illuminated by the faint glow of industrial lights.

    ¡°To the right,¡± Darmas muttered, gesturing to the only door on the level.

    The door creaked open slowly, revealing a figure stepping out, yawning loudly and rubbing the sleep from their eyes. A small stack of papers tumbled from their grip to the floor as they stretched, unfazed by the arrival of intruders.

    The man¡ªor rather, the lanky figure¡ªlooked utterly disheveled. His yellow shirt hung loosely from his thin frame, and his oversized black pants, held up by two mismatched belts and covered in multiple different sized chains, all of which swayed with his movements. His messy black hair fell over his eyes, giving him a perpetually tired look.

    ¡°Silent alarm is such a drag,¡± he muttered, his voice tinged with exasperation. ¡°You guys really had to make me stop pretending to work.¡±

    Leonard stepped forward, puffing out his chest as he pointed at the figure. ¡°Listen up, buddy! We¡¯re Leonard and Nathan, proud Spellbreakers trained by the legendary Master Hammond himself! We¡¯re here to commandeer one of your airships for our mission, so do yourself a favor and surrender now¡ªunless you want us to wipe the floor with you.¡± He spun the outer ring of his gauntlet in a circle, until stopping it suddenly, blue magical swirls emerging from the glove - all of which he did to threaten the man.

    The lanky man blinked, his expression deadpan as he processed Leonard¡¯s declaration. ¡°Barry¡¯s my name,¡± he said with a tired intonation. ¡°Look, I can¡¯t be bothered to deal with you, but if I just let you go, Azrael¡¯s gonna flip. Maybe throw me in jail for treason. You know how it is.¡± He waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just¡­leave? I¡¯ve got a ton of work to finish, work that I can''t be bothered to complete in the first placeand honestly? You guys seem like a hassle.¡±

    Darmas chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯ve seen some odd ones in my time, but you might take the cake. Boys, get ready¡ªthis one¡¯s not gonna sit still for long.¡±

    Barry let out an exaggerated sigh and rolled his eyes as he put his hands into his top pockets. ¡°Fine, but don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you.¡± In the blink of an eye, he was gone¡ªa blur of motion that zipped past Leonard, Nathan, and Darmas. Before they could react, Barry had doubled back, landing precise kicks to each of them and sending them sprawling to the ground.

    ¡°Alright, that should be enough, right?¡± Barry asked, brushing dust off his shirt. ¡°You¡¯re surrendering now? Or do you need another view of Invisible before you leave me alone?¡±

    Nathan groaned, pushing himself up on one elbow. ¡°This guy¡¯s crazy fast. What the hell?¡±

    Leonard clenched his fist, his jaw tightening in frustration. ¡°It¡¯s gotta be some kind of artifact. Whatever¡¯s giving him that speed, I¡¯ll figure it out¡ªand then I¡¯ll wipe that smug look off his face.¡±

    They both rushed at Barry, taking turns attacking him. Leonard swung wide punches while Nathan unleashed fireballs, but Barry dodged every move with infuriating ease, still pocketing his hands. ¡°You two are so out of sync,¡± Barry commented, sidestepping another blow as he landed a kick that was invisible to the eyes of Leonard and Nathan both. ¡°It¡¯s almost embarrassing.¡±

    Darmas shook his head, strolling over to the two boys, who were once again sprawled on the floor. ¡°He¡¯s not wrong, you know. You¡¯re getting in each other¡¯s way. You guys need to stop treating this like two one on one fights, Hammond told you: No time for honor. Team up. I¡¯ll distract him. You two figure out how to hit him together.¡±

    Taking a step forward, Darmas raised his crossbow and fired a volley of bolts at Barry, each one aimed just off-center to force him to move. "I knew you''d be a great dancer, great moves! He taunted.

    Barry darted around the bolts with ease, yawning as he moved. Meanwhile, Nathan began launching fireballs in quick succession, creating a pattern that left only one narrow path open for Barry to dodge through.

    Leonard bided his time, crouching low as he placed a hand on the ground. ¡°Gotcha,¡± he muttered before slamming his fist into the floor with a triumphant shout. A forest of icicles erupted, each one aimed to corner Barry. The speedster managed to avoid most of them¡ªexcept one, which grazed his cheek.

    Barry slowed down, touching the thin cut with a look of genuine annoyance. ¡°Great. Now I¡¯ve gotta file an injury report. More paperwork! You¡¯re really making my day worse, you know that?¡±

    But Leonard¡¯s sharp eyes caught something. Every time Barry sped up, the mismatched belts around his waist glowed faintly. A grin spread across his face. ¡°So that¡¯s your trick, huh? Nathan, look at his belts!¡±

    Nathan¡¯s eyes darted toward his hip while Barry¡¯s frustration boiled over as he charged at Leonard with reckless abandon, his belts glowing brightly in two different colors. ¡°Alright, no more games! You¡¯re going down!¡±

    Leonard braced himself, with Barry rushing toward him feet forward but Nathan intercepted, landing a solid punch to Barry¡¯s side. Just as the punch connected, all of them could hear a loud boom as the ground trembled and light shot up from below. Darmas chuckled. "Sounds like we''re not the only ones still fighting" as the speedster stumbled, clearly unaccustomed to taking direct hits and confused by the light that came from underneath. Leonard seized the opportunity, delivering a powerful blow to Barry¡¯s other side.

    ¡°Time to end this, Nathan!¡± Leonard shouted, summoning his magic. In perfect sync, he and Nathan unleashed a combined burst of raw magical energy, the shockwave sending Barry hurdling away and singing the floor.

    As Barry groaned, sprawled and defeated, Leonard put his knuckle toward Nathan, who responded by bumping his fist. Darmas walked over, inspecting the glowing belts. ¡°Good job, boys. These¡¯ll come in handy for you two I reckon.¡±

    Leonard and Nathan each took a belt, crushing them in their hands as the artifacts fused with their gloves. ¡°That guy won''t wake up any time soon,¡± Leonard said, already feeling the new power coursing through him.

    Nathan ducked into the room Barry had emerged from. It was an unremarkable office, cluttered with papers and tools. ¡°Nothing useful here I think,¡± he called out, as he spotted a bronze nameplate, saying "Barry Nevermore, Middle Management of Avisia Aerotech Assembly. ¡°Wait¡ªwas this guy seriously the boss of this whole operation?¡±

    Darmas replied while tying up Barry with a rope:¡±More like the manager. Didn¡¯t really seem like he was very motivated though. Doubted he''d know anything of value once I heard him talk.¡±

    Before they could linger, the distant hum of the elevator caught their attention. The three of them turned, tense and ready, as the platform began its descent.

    ¡°Think it¡¯s Leyra and Hammond?¡± Leonard asked, his voice low.

    ¡°Let¡¯s hope so¡± Nathan replied.

    The elevator continued to descend, its destination uncertain. The three men exchanged a glance, bracing for whoever¡ªor whatever¡ªwould come up.

 Chapter 8 - The Rock Giant and the Mallet Mistress

    The metallic clang of battle filled the bottom floor of the facility. Lightning bolts crackled and exploded against the steel walls as Leyra darted back, narrowly avoiding the massive figure pursuing her. Bordo¡¯s burly frame moved like an unstoppable freight train, shrugging off the blasts of electricity Leyra hurled at him. Her chest heaved as she dodged another swing of his hammer-like fists, the faint hum of her wind artifact, Distant Dreamer, pulsing against her neck.

    ¡°Thanks for the help, Dreamer,¡± she muttered, clutching the small crystal pendant hanging from her necklace. ¡°Don¡¯t let me down now.¡±

    Finn and the Magitechnicians stood to the side, aiming their various ranged weapons and firing synchronized bolts and bullets at Bordo. The shots glanced off his hardened body, leaving no mark. Bordo barely registered the attacks, his focus locked on Leyra as he barreled forward like a living boulder.

    Finn and Sahra cursed under their breath, watching the man tank every shot as Finn spoke up. ¡°It¡¯s like we can¡¯t pierce him. Is he made of rock or something?¡±

    Leyra clenched her teeth, frustration flashing in her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but he¡¯s not giving me a chance to figure it out!¡± She leaped backward, twisting midair as her artifact propelled her further out of reach. Lightning surged in her hands towards her opponent, but every blast only seemed to bounce harmlessly off Bordo¡¯s body.

    Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Hammond faced off against Aerin. The older Spellbreaker moved with a calm precision that belied his age, effortlessly gliding away from her aggressive swings.

    ¡°Stay still, for crying out loud!¡± Aerin growled, her hammer smashing into the ground where Hammond had been a second earlier. The impact left a dent in the floor, but Hammond remained unscathed, using controlled bursts of wind magic to keep her at bay while moving with them all at the same time.

    ¡°Why would I do that? You¡¯ve got terrible aim,¡± Hammond quipped, smirking as another gust sent her stumbling back.

    Aerin¡¯s frustration boiled over as she steadied herself, gripping her hammer tightly. Her patience snapped after Hammond sent her flying for the fifth time. ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± she yelled, her voice echoing through the room. Raising the hammer as if it were a rifle, she pulled a hidden trigger on the opposite end. The weapon unfolded, glowing ominously as it began to hum with energy.

    Hammond¡¯s expression shifted, the humor leaving his face. ¡°Well, now you¡¯ve got my attention,¡± he murmured, bracing himself and summoning a gust of wind in front of him.

    ¡°Begone, you geezer!¡± Aerin screamed, firing a massive chunk of charged scrap metal. The projectile tore through Hammond¡¯s wind barrier with ease, slamming into his stomach. The force sent him hurtling across the room and into the wall with a thunderous crash.

    Leyra¡¯s eyes widened in horror as Hammond crumpled to the ground. ¡°Hammond, no!¡± she cried, but her alarm was cut short as Bordo lunged toward her.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have time to worry about him,¡± Bordo growled, catching her midair and tossing her into the same wall Hammond had hit. She slumped to the ground, coughing as the wind was knocked from her lungs.

    Bordo turned toward Finn, Sahra and the Magitechnicians, his shadow looming over them. Finn took a shaky step back, raising his hands defensively. ¡°Hey, I think we got off on the wrong foot. Maybe we can talk this out?¡± Sahra joins him, putting her obviously ineffective boltslinger to the side.

    Aerin laughed, turning toward Gordo ¡°Well done, just finish the rest of them so we can finally get back to work. I still know exactly what part I was at! If this fight goes on much longer I might forget, and trust me, you will be the one to hurt for that, you big burly meathead!¡±

    Gordo cracked his knuckles, while looking Finn dead in the eyes. ¡°You heard my colleague. Sorry guys, just business.¡±

    During this exchange, Hammond spat out blood, forcing himself to sit up as Leyra crawled over to him. ¡°Master Hammond, are you alright?¡± she asked, her voice laced with worry.

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen better days,¡± The old man replied, wiping his mouth. ¡°but I¡¯m far from done. I can see you¡¯re in trouble, isn¡¯t that right?¡±

    Leyra glanced at Bordo, who was now advancing on Finn and his team, and Aerin, who was walking toward them with her hammer slung over her shoulder. ¡°I can¡¯t hurt Bordo at all¡ªit¡¯s like his body¡¯s made of stone or something.¡±

    Hammond let out a weak chuckle, pushing himself to his feet. ¡°Stone, huh. Well, my opponent surprised me with her unique weapon. Maybe it¡¯s time we switch dancing partners for a second, don¡¯t you agree?¡±

    Leyra nodded and got into position as Hammond unleashed a gust of wind that propelled him forward at awe inspiring speed. He shot past Aerin, who looked startled as he ignored her completely.

    ¡°Don¡¯t ignore me!¡± she yelled, but Hammond didn¡¯t slow down.

    Hammond stopped to the side of Bordo just as he raised his fist to strike Finn. Hammond intercepted, slamming his palm into Bordo¡¯s side. The burly man slid backwards, exhaling more than at any point during this encounter - the first sign of vulnerability he¡¯d shown all fight.

    Aerin scowled, her gaze focusing on the Master. ¡°We are fighting you long-haired geezer, get back here this instant!¡± she screamed, readying her hammer¡¯s rifle mode once again. ¡°He¡¯s busy, can¡¯t you tell?¡± Leyra replied, who had used the confusion to charge up a massive sphere of crackling lightning above her head.

    Leyra¡¯s voice rang out, clear and defiant. ¡°Hope you¡¯ve got insurance, lady!¡± She shouted, leaping into the air and using her staff like a baseball bat, shooting the massive amount of energy toward Aerin.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    Her eyes widened in panic as she scrambled to search through her magical pockets for a solution. But before she could find what she needed, the lightning sphere crashed into her with an ear-splitting boom.

    The blast sent Aerin flying, her skin blackened from the intense electricity. Her hair curled into perfect spirals, and she dropped to her knees before collapsing to the ground, unconscious.

    ¡°I knew it, that hammer wasn¡¯t an artifact, it was just a scientific weapon. That may have been a bit of a gamble but it worked out!¡± Leyra exhaled, clearly taken aback by the fight and started hugging her staff Soft Ether. ¡°Thank you for your teachings, master Zaldimar¡±.

    Hammond stood face-to-face with Bordo, who cracked his knuckles, his massive fists trembling with restrained power. ¡°Thought I was fightin¡¯ the girl, then I was fightin¡¯ these third rate engineers. Now I¡¯m fightin¡¯ you, geezer?¡± Bordo rumbled, his eyes narrowing at the older man.

    ¡°Excuse us for disappointing you thus far,¡± Hammond replied, his tone light but his stance unyielding. ¡°From now, you¡¯ll have to make do with this old man. How about a little game?¡±

    Bordo raised an eyebrow. ¡°A game?¡±

    ¡°Yes, a game. Simple rules,¡± Hammond said, clasping his hands behind his back. ¡°Hit me as hard as you can. That¡¯s all there is to it.¡±

    Bordo grinned, flexing his biceps. ¡°You asked for it, old man.¡±

    He powered up as much as he could, his right arm visibly clenching and mana flowing through it. He swung with all his might, his fist connecting squarely with Hammond¡¯s chest. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the room, scattering loose sheets of metal and kicking up a gust of wind. But Hammond didn¡¯t budge an inch, his body glowing faintly with concentrated magical energy.

    ¡°Not bad,¡± Hammond said with a calm smile. ¡°I knew when your colleague called you meathead you¡¯d agree to something this simple. Ready?¡±

    Bordo stumbled backward, confusion flashing across his face. ¡°Wait a minute¡ªwhat do you mean, ready? I didn¡¯t agree¡ª¡±

    Before he could finish, Hammond struck. His fist slammed into Bordo¡¯s stomach with a force that seemed to bypass the man¡¯s hardened exterior. Bordo¡¯s eyes bulged as he staggered, the glow from his glasses flickering. In stark contrast, Hammond¡¯s attack left no shockwave. It was precise, and used just enough power to knock him out.

    ¡°Ah, so that¡¯s your artifact,¡± Hammond mused, plucking the glasses from Bordo¡¯s face as the giant collapsed to the ground. ¡°Glasses that harden your body. Interesting. The boys¡¯ll like this.¡±

    Leyra stumbled over, still recovering from her own fight. She froze when Hammond turned toward Aerin¡¯s unconscious form.

    ¡°Leyra, could you check if she¡¯s wearing anything under her pants?¡± Hammond asked casually.

    Leyra¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°WHAT?! You perverted old man, how could you¡ª¡±

    Finn chimed in, equally horrified. ¡°Yeah, seriously, that¡¯s messed up!¡±

    Hammond sighed, exasperated. ¡°That¡¯s why I want you to check! I¡¯m not a pervert. I just want to see if she has an artifact I''ve been looking for.

    Leyra hesitated, then cautiously approached Aerin. ¡°Oh, you mean those magical pockets? Let me check.¡± She took a peek and sighed in relief. ¡°She¡¯s wearing full leggings underneath. You¡¯re safe, geezer. But no funny movements, alright?¡±

    ¡°Excellent,¡± Hammond said, reaching down and carefully touching just a corner of her pant leg, absorbing the artifact into his Spellbreaker gloves. He immediately ignored everyone around, reached into one of the magical pockets, pulling out a small blue portal. ¡°Perfect! Now I can take what is most important to me to the ends of this world.¡± He cheered, pulling out the book he had been reading and putting it beyond the rift in space. ¡°This is officially the best artifact ever! When we reach the next town I just have to splurge a little and buy the latest chapters.¡±

    Leyra groaned, shaking her head. ¡°You¡¯re impossible.¡±

    Hammond collected himself, tucking the glasses into the portal. ¡°Ahem. Let¡¯s join Darmas and the others upstairs, shall we?¡±

    Still muttering under her breath, Leyra followed him and the Magitechnicians into the elevator, ready to regroup with their team.

    <hr>

    The group of three stood near the now-dormant elevator, a mixture of relief and exhaustion evident on their faces. Leyra was the first to break the silence, stepping forward with a grin that softened the sharp lines of her features. "Glad to see you three are still alive," she said, her tone light but with an undercurrent of genuine concern.

    Leonard crossed his arms and smirked, puffing out his chest. "Of course we are! I¡¯d never kick the bucket in some unspectacular place like this."

    Leyra chuckled, her smile turning playful. "Of course, because you¡¯re the ''mighty Leonard,'' destined to bring peace to Baharor, isn¡¯t that right?"

    Leonard didn¡¯t catch the mockery in her tone and nodded seriously. "Exactly!"

    The group burst into laughter, the tension from their recent battles dissolving in the moment. Darmas joined in with a low chuckle, his massive frame shaking slightly as he opened his backpack and started rummaging through it. "Alright, folks, fun¡¯s over. Time to get to work. Let¡¯s take the right airship. Looks more recently finished. Finn, make sure the mana crystal¡¯s set up properly. Sahra, grab a few technicians and get the power running. I¡¯ll figure out how to steer this thing."

    Nathan hesitated, his brow furrowing as he asked reluctantly, "Try? Do you even know what you¡¯re doing?"

    Finn, already tossing a wrench into the air and catching it with practiced ease, grinned. "We used to work on ships. An airship these days is pretty much the same thing. Probably."

    As the group began to disperse to their tasks, Sahra¡¯s gaze fell on Barry¡¯s lanky form still sprawled on the floor. Her eyes darted left and right before she knelt and carefully unbuckled his oversized watch, slipping it onto her wrist. She turned it over, examining the intricate gears and cogs with a gleam of fascination. "A clock for your wrist? Why did I never think of this?" she muttered to herself before Darmas¡¯s gruff voice cut through her thoughts.

    "Sahra! Stop gawking and get to work!"

    She snapped upright and dashed toward the airship, already calling out instructions to the nearby magitechnicians.

    Meanwhile, Hammond approached Leonard and Nathan, a mischievous glint in his eye as he opened a portal and reached inside. With a dramatic flourish, he pulled out¡­ a brightly-colored romance novel.

    "Another one of your books, old man?" Leonard groaned, visibly unimpressed. "I told you, I¡¯m not interested."

    Hammond raised an eyebrow, looking almost offended. "Ah, I reckon these portals are intent-controlled. Let me focus on the artifact instead." He stashed the book back into the portal and retrieved a large pair of glasses. "Now these," he said, holding them up, "are an artifact. The big burly guy we fought used these to turn his skin as hard as rock."

    Nathan¡¯s eyes widened, and Leonard¡¯s competitive grin spread across his face.

    "I know how we¡¯ll decide who gets them," Leonard declared, punching his open palm. "Let¡¯s have a sparring match, Nathan!"

 Chapter 9 - A Place We Can Call Home Again

    Nathan groaned, his hand flying to his bruised back and the various other wounds across his body. "A sparring match? Right now? Are you serious?"

    Hammond laughed, waving his hand dismissively of the idea. "Not immediately. Get some rest first. Then you two can have your training session. A good idea overall, as a Spellbreaker needs to remain sharp, but breaks are just as, if not more important."

    Nathan and Leonard agreed to Hammond¡¯s teachings as Leyra approached, tilting her head curiously. "And where exactly are we supposed to rest?"

    Before anyone could answer, Sahra re emerged from the airship, her face smudged with grease and her overalls covered in oil stains. She unequipped some goggles that she clearly found somewhere inside the airship, glanced at the elaborate watch on her wrist, turning a small knob to activate a series of spinning gears. "No problem! We should be ready to go in like¡­ five minutes," she said with a self-satisfied grin.

    Leyra blinked, astonished. "You got the ship ready that fast? I thought this would take hours!"

    "Not to brag," Sahra began, clearly about to brag, "but all of us were top-of-the-line Magitechnicians back in Principium. Finn was right; this thing¡¯s basically just a big boat. One of the Boost Rune circles keeps us up, and by exponentially increasing its power output relative to the propulsion rune, we ensure that aviation is easily achieved. It¡¯s simple, really!"

    Leonard¡¯s face twisted in confusion. "By doing what now?"

    Hammond chuckled. "I believe she¡¯s saying that we can fly. Like an airship should?"

    "Oh. Right. Obviously," Leonard said, quickly straightening up. "I¡¯ll leave all of that to you guys."

    "Of course," Sahra said smugly, crossing her arms. "You can come aboard already. There¡¯s more than enough space for all of us. If anything, this thing¡¯s oversized for our small group."

    The group began boarding the airship, their footsteps echoing on the metal ramp. Hammond lingered for a moment, placing a hand on Leonard and Nathan¡¯s shoulders as they climbed. "You two did spectacularly today. I¡¯m very proud of you."

    Nathan¡¯s face lit up with a rare full on smile, while Leonard puffed out his chest. "Of course! We¡¯re your prized students, after all, aren¡¯t we?"

    Leyra walked beside them, her expression softening as she took in the moment. "I already noticed while we were imprisoned together," she said, glancing back toward the Magitechnicians who were filing into the airship. "But those Magitechnicians are something else. Their talk was much more than just empty words."

    As the group settled into the airship, a sense of relief washed over them. ¡°Finally, a place we can call home again.¡± Nathan quietly said to himself.

    Leonard agreed. ¡°Yeah, and it¡¯s not just some place. It needs a name, and I got just the right one.¡±

    Leyra, surprised and unsettled, spoke up:¡±Don¡¯t call it ¡®Super Destroyer¡¯ or something stupid like that, I won¡¯t accept it!¡±

    Leonard seemed upset at the notion. ¡°Not to fret, Leyra. I will get the perfect name. Let''s see¡± He said, as they arrived on the bridge of the floating ship. Leonard looked around: A huge half circle of windows allowed sight of 180 degrees around them, while golden metal and wooden floors gave the room a certain sense of grace. ¡°I''ve got it. Folks, this airship shall carry the fine name Principessa!¡±

    Darmas thought about it for a second, as Finn intervened happily: ¡°Yeah, I love it!¡± Darmas, looking at Finn, then nodded while closing his eyes. ¡°I like it, too.¡± Sahra on the other hand said ¡°Isn¡¯t that a little short? I had hoped for something more elaborate. But oh well, as long as everyone¡¯s happy with it I don¡¯t mind a compromise!¡±

    Leyra, seemingly surprised, let her gaze wander towards Leonard who was standing proud at the approval of the group. ¡°I apologize, that name is great! Let us make sure to treat our princess right, everyone!¡±

    The entire crew cheered, some of them standing next to them while others could only be heard echoing as their heads were stuck inside small crevices to get the ship up and running.

    ¡°Then it is settled - Principessa¡¯s supplies should last for another one or two days I reckon, so tomorrow we ought to gather food and water. Hope you¡¯re all fine with hunting!¡± Hammond exclaims.

    Darmas, standing infront of the steering wheel while looking at the bridge¡¯s many levers and buttons, speaks up: ¡°Sure, I could go for a barbecue instead of stale bread. Hey Sahra, how long until we can start?¡±

    Sahra, her head stuck in a crevice underneath the bridge¡¯s controls, connected a cable to another as suddenly blue light flowed through the massive ball of cords. ¡°Like, 3 seconds! Just need to inject some mana to jumpstart it.¡±

    Finn smiled. ¡°Great, I checked the Manacrystal before and it¡¯s properly set up. Let¡¯s get this thing moving!¡± And with the pull of a lever to the back of the room, the entire aircraft began moving forwards. Slowly at first, until Darmas pushed another lever slowly, which made it increase its speed more and more, until they began flying through the sky like a cruiseship through calm water.

    Sahra started talking into a microphone, which reinforced her voice across the entire aircraft in a coarse way: ¡°Welcome aboard the Principessa, this is your Aeronautic Technician Sahra speaking. If you look to your left, you can see us leaving Avisia behind as some guards angrily shout at us. If you look to your right, you can see us leaving the forest behind and might be able to spot Prin Peaks which we will fly over.

    Nathan, holding his hands over his ears because of the volume, asked: ¡±Fly over? What¡¯s behind the mountain, anyway?¡±

    ¡°A good question, young Breaker! The Silex desert behind it should have plenty of food on its border, sporting exotic creatures that make for fantastic meals! The close-by towns should also be accepting of our travels, usually being situated close to oases. We will arrive in about one day, so please get some rest in one of the cabins if you can, the Magitechnicians will ensure you get there safe and sound!¡±

    Finn intervened, ¡°That does include you, missy. We¡¯ll work in shifts I assume? Only really need three people up here at a time for such a simple route.¡±

    Darmas nodded, gesturing out of the door of the Bridge toward Sahra and Finn, who walked off. ¡°It¡¯s fine Finn. Me and two of the others will handle the first, everyone else can rest up like Sahra said. Once we get some supplies we''ll head to a contact in Glarea. Town should be fine with us using an Airship, them mostly being rebels and allies of them."

    Sahra sighed in relief as she rushed out the door: ¡°Neat, I¡¯ll look if this thing¡¯s got a comfortable bathtub, I could really use one after all of this!¡±

    Two more plain looking Magitechnicians nodded, seemingly not the biggest fans of the distribution of shifts but agreeing to it nonetheless.

    Nathan looked at Darmas, confused by the prospect. "There is a village that would aid us? Shouldn''t Kazzorak prevent something like that?"

    One of the Magitechnicians manning the ship with curly brown hair hidden away in part by a hat and wearing blue and brown overalls replied. "Not really, the town''s too far out for them to care. They don''t really provide anything, no weapons, no machines, no magitech. At least it seems that way from the outside".

    Leonard smiled, happy about the words of the curly haired man. "Maybe we can recruit some of them, I bet they''ll join us once they see what we''ve got!" The sun slowly settled down as the day neared its end. Leonard, Leyra and Nathan walked through the corridors of Principessa as they discovered a room with two beds. ¡°Perfect, this will be our sleeping quarter, Nath!¡±

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    Leyra clasped her staff, and spoke to them: ¡°Alright, have a good night you two. I¡¯m looking forward to your sparring match tomorrow!¡±

    Leonard threw her a smile and a thumbs up, as Nathan replied ¡°You, too. See you tomorrow!¡± as they went into their cabin. Leyra walked past it, presumably doing the same.

    Hammond went a different way. Following a staircase, he discovered a prison room. ¡°Perfect¡± he said, as he reached into his pocket and threw the portable prison into the closed bars and threw a magical blast at it.

    With a blue explosion of mist, Zeke appeared in the cell, still beaten up and without the shackles that encased his hands before, but seemingly alive ¡ª and very angry.

    ¡°Welcome aboard your new cabin. You only saw prison cells from the outside, so¡­ How do you like to be behind bars for once?¡± Hammond told him.

    ¡°Did you just get me out of your portable prison to mock me? I have nothing to say to you, Baharor scum.¡± Zeke replies, spitting to the right on the ground.

    ¡°Oh, but I believe you do.¡± A female voice said. Leyra emerged down the stairs toward the cell, to the surprise of Hammond. ¡°What are you doing here, Leyra?¡±

    ¡°Two things, really. For one, I just wanted to look around the place and get a feel for the airship. It¡¯s so spacious! Sahra was right, we¡¯re criminally understaffed.¡± She smiled, then

    turning her gaze toward Zeke as her positive expression changed, becoming much more serious, ¡°But I also figured you¡¯d put Zeke somewhere. I have something to ask him. Where is Zaldimar?¡±

    As she asked this, Leyra closed the door behind her, making sure no one gets to hear what is going to be said next.

    <hr>

    Night gave way to dawn as the airship cruised smoothly toward Prin Peak, the towering mountain now visible on the horizon. Inside the massive vessel, Nathan, Leonard and Hammond stood in awe of the sparring hall they had stumbled into. It was like a miniature colosseum¡ªa rectangular room with high walls, elevated seating, and a central ring perfect for combat.

    "This place is insane," Nathan muttered, turning in circles to take it all in.

    Leonard smirked, arms crossed. "Sahra wasn¡¯t kidding when she said this thing had plenty of room. A ship this size could hold an army."

    Nathan let out a low whistle and turned to face his friend. "You¡¯re serious about this sparring match, aren¡¯t you?"

    Leonard cracked his knuckles, the sound echoing through the empty space. "Dead serious. Give it everything you¡¯ve got, Nathan. Hold nothing back."

    Nathan hesitated before nodding. "Alright. I¡¯ll try my best."

    Hammond clapped his hands, signaling the start of the match. "Let¡¯s see what you boys have learned!"

    The two dashed at each other, fists raised, and the fight began in earnest.

    Moments later, Leyra and Sahra entered the sparring hall, both pausing to watch as Nathan and Leonard exchanged blows at lightning speed.

    "You¡¯re not a fighter," Leyra said, glancing at Sahra. "Why¡¯d you want to watch?"

    Sahra grinned. "I used to go to Arcanist tournaments for fun. Watching fights like this was my favorite hobby. I¡¯m glad I can get some entertainment on this trip."

    The two women took seats next to Hammond in the front row, just as Leonard dodged Nathan¡¯s gut punch and countered with a flurry of his own strikes. Their gloves glowed faintly with energy, flashing brighter whenever they increased the speed or power of their attacks.

    Sahra leaned forward, captivated. "This is incredible. I¡¯ve never seen Spellbreakers in action before. How¡¯s it different from Arcanist combat?"

    Hammond chuckled, stroking his beard. "Well, Arcanists rely almost entirely on their artifacts. They¡¯re usually ranged fighters or wield small, precise tools for trickery. Spellbreakers, on the other hand, strengthen both body and mind. We don¡¯t master a single artifact like an Arcanist does¡ªwe absorb their power, becoming more versatile and stronger with time."

    In the ring, Leonard suddenly dashed backward, slamming his fist into the ground. A cluster of icy spikes erupted between him and Nathan, forcing the latter to adjust. Nathan leapt onto the spikes, using them as a springboard to close the distance, and hurled a volley of fireballs. Leonard countered with a burst of blue energy, dispersing the flames.

    "Spellbreakers grow stronger by absorbing more artifacts," Hammond continued. "Meanwhile, most Arcanists are limited by the number of powerful artifacts they can carry. That¡¯s why Kazzorak fears Spellbreaking¡ªit disrupts their entire way of waging war."

    Leyra crossed her arms. "Still, Arcanists aren¡¯t weak. It¡¯s just a different kind of magic."

    "True," Hammond agreed, but Leonard interrupted from the ring.

    "Yeah, but if I broke your staff, it¡¯s over immediately!" Leonard grinned as he launched a heavy kick toward Nathan, sending him flying across the ring. ¡°Not that I¡¯d do that, why would I weaken our forces? I haven¡¯t seen you fight yet, but I assume you¡¯re passable.¡±

    Leyra¡¯s eyes narrowed. "Passable, is that right? Maybe you and I should fight for those glasses instead, Leonard. Let¡¯s see if you can even get close to my staff!"

    Nathan, recovering his stance, frowned. "Uh, are we just ignoring me now?"

    Leonard turned to Leyra, his cocky grin widening. "Fine. If I beat Nathan, you¡¯re next!"

    Before he could finish, Nathan took advantage of his distraction, dashed towards Leonard and landed a powerful blow to his ribs, knocking the wind out of him.

    "Focus, Leonard," Nathan said firmly, stepping back to let his opponent recover. "And don¡¯t worry¡ªI¡¯ll give you a fair shot at the glasses, too, Leyra."

    Hammond turned to her, saying ¡°You three are right, I wasn¡¯t including everyone. Very well, let¡¯s move on!¡±

    The match continued, the two exchanging punches and blocks in a furious dance. Leyra and Sahra watched in fascination. Hammond, observing the fight with a satisfied smile, leaned back in his seat. "They¡¯ve come so far in such a short time. But I think I know who takes this one."

    As if on cue, Leonard caught Nathan¡¯s leg with an icy chain spell, freezing him in place. With a triumphant yell, he tackled Nathan to the ground, pinning him. Leonard raised his fist for the final blow but stopped inches from Nathan¡¯s face, panting heavily.

    "I win, Nathan," he said between breaths.

    Nathan groaned but managed a smile. "Good fight, Leo. You got me."

    Leonard stood and offered his hand, pulling Nathan to his feet. He turned to Leyra, pointing a finger of his still glowing gauntlet at her. "Your turn, Miss Arcanist!"

    Leyra smirked and gracefully leapt out of her seat to the opposite side of the arena, her staff glowing faintly with magic as well as her necklace guiding her with a calm but powerful breeze. "Ready when you are."

    Nathan and Sahra settled into their seats, Nathan nursing his sore arm. "Think Leonard has a chance?" Sahra asked.

    Nathan shook his head. "He¡¯s tough, but Leyra¡¯s fresh, and I assume she¡¯s got range on him¡­¡± As he said that, he spotted small crackles of lightning emitting from her staff and remembered that at one point in his fight against Barry, he heard a loud explosion. His eyes widened, saying ¡°Wait¡­That wasn¡¯t Hammond, was it? I¡¯ve only ever seen him use wind magic. If that¡¯s the case, then the winner is clearly¡ª¡±

    Hammond raised his hand, and yelled "Begin!", interrupting Nathan¡¯s muttering.

    Leonard dashed forward, using the speed boost from the artifact Invisible. Leyra countered with a gust of wind, propelling herself forward as she swung her staff in a wide arc. The lightning-infused blow connected with Leonard¡¯s face effortlessly, sending him flying across the arena. He hit the ground hard, his skin blackened by the shock and his hair standing on end.

    Leyra twirled her staff, the glow fading as she walked away, winking at him. "You can keep the glasses, Mister Breaker."

    Hammond chuckled as he walked over to Leonard, who groaned and sat up. "Want to absorb the artifact now, or are you calling it a day?"

    Leonard waved him off, not able to say aloud what he thought: The only thing I want right now is a bath and a break, honestly.