Battle Order: 

D20 + 1 = 15 (14)

Fighting Spirit: 3 - 2

Attack: The Sword of Taygak (Advantage)

D20 + 11 = 12 (1)

D20 + 11 = 31 (20)

Critical Hit!

Mana: 34 - 31

Ability: Divine Smite

2D6 + 2D3 + 8D6 + 9 = 44 (8)(4)(23)

44 damage!

Attack: The Sword of Taygak (Advantage)

D20 + 11 = 16 (5)

D20 + 11 = 21 (10)

Hit!

Mana: 31 - 28

Ability: Divine Smite

1D6 + 1D3 + 4D6 + 9 = 23 (1)(3)(10)

23 damage!

Onward Soar: 1 - 0

Mana: 28 - 25

Spell: Searing Smite

Attack: The Sword of Taygak (Advantage)

D20 + 11 = 19 (8)

D20 + 11 = 23 (12)

Hit!

Mana: 25 - 22

Ability: Divine Smite

1D6 + 1D3 + 4D6 + 4D6 + 9 = 39 (5)(2)(11)(12)

39 damage!

Attack: The Sword of Taygak (Advantage)

D20 + 11 = 14 (3)

D20 + 11 = 26 (15)

Hit!

Mana: 22 - 19

Ability: Divine Smite

1D6 + 1D3 + 4D6 + 9 = 28 (1)(3)(13)

28 damage!

Mana: 19 - 18

Spell: Shield

Defence: 27 - 32

The clash lasted only moments, with sets of eyes glued to the young half elf and the middle aged Aswadian. 

One was a stranger to their land, almost unheard of. 

The other was the Crimson Blade. 

Perhaps if he had worn his typical armour, one might have expected him to deal with the half elf with ease. Perhaps it was the fact that they were fighting within the temple, with the assumption that they should not aim for one another’s life, and that such a result would be kept secret, which had caused what had occurred to occur. 

Perhaps it was the strange, terrifying power of the half elf which had led to the result.

The Aswadian’s crimson blade, grasped tightly in both hands, shone brightly with the Oathsworn’s will, ready to cut the half elf’s ego and arrogance, explosive holy might ready to burst from the tip of his blade. The clash lasted only a moment, magical steel ringing against magical steel, blade against blade, and blade against shield. 

Then, Kal Zahid stepped back. 

It had been seconds, but his entire body screamed, the sweat pouring down his back, the throbbing deep within his bones, the darkness on the outside of his vision. He stared ahead of himself, his breath deep within his chest, his sword shaking lightly in the air, almost imperceptibly, but all could see it. 

The great chasm between them.

The Crazy Father and the Crimson Blade. 

The last time there had been such a gap between himself and his opponent, Zahid was but a boy, and his opponent had been his mentor, a figure who had carved a name for himself, to go down in the history books forever. Yet, today he stood a man, equal to his mentor at that point in time, perhaps even greater, and yet he was still but a boy, facing against a…

What was the right word for someone like him?

Victory!

Crimson Blade +1000

‘You split it between the big four too, right?’

[Yes.]

‘Damn!’

“In your blade, I saw the honesty of your words,” Kal Zahid said, taking off his helmet to reveal his sweaty face, the surprise on his face evident, but he bowed his head. “I would have struggled to defeat the Fariq of High Garden, but you, I am uncertain I could defeat even if we faced ten times.”

“If we fought ten times, you would win at least once,” Adam assured, removing his own helmet, revealing the contrast between his smile, and the Crimson Blade, who had gone through a marathon within a moment while facing against him. “Although, if I was wielding Thunder’s Triumph, or Seventh Sky, that would probably make it just the once.”

“How are you so powerful?”

Adam smiled wide, reaching up to his amulet, the half elf brushing along the grooves. Adam inhaled deeply, closing his eyes, feeling the tingle of magic from the obsidian. “How am I so strong? I’m a filthy, filthy cheater, who was granted abilities in this world that would make even dragons envious. My relationship to Baktu, Lord Sozain, if I may dare to speak his name in such a fine and wonderful temple, is closer than many might think, and, it is not just he who has blessed me.”

‘If the Divine have taken an interest in him…’ Zahid’s heart filled with ease, for if he was someone the Divine had chosen, then there was no dishonour in being beaten so easily by a man half his age. “It was my honour.”

“The honour was mine,” the half elf stated. “At least you can say this, that you lasted longer against me than even the Fariq of High Garden!”

Though Adam’s laughter was playful and light, a darkness filled within the hearts of the guards, and even the Amira, who understood what it meant for someone like Adam to exist. Indeed, perhaps this Dome of Balance had been the work of Fate?

“To hold such power, not just to defeat a Paragon, but to hold the abilities to… to be able to take the title of High Alchemist, at your age, it is nothing short of a miracle,” Miriam said, her voice calm and neutral, doing her best not to remain shaken by the nightmare known as Adam. 

“Since I paid such a heavy price, I should be at least this powerful, at least this skilled, at least this handsome,” Adam joked, though within his jokes, all could hear the darkness, and for a moment, the half elf winced, thinking of his second life, in which one of the missing Divine had torn him away from. The half elf’s eyes then opened, but he stared at the beautiful garden, so large that it was, right beside the Dome of Balance. ‘It really does feel like Fate…’

“Do you intend to keep your strength a secret?” the Amira asked. 

“I’m not sure,” the half elf admitted. 

“Yes,” Jurot said, finally speaking up for the half elf. 

“If my brother says yes, then yes,” the half elf replied, shrugging his shoulders. “I suppose it’s still a benefit, though…”

“…”

“If certain Fariq still trouble me and my family, I might have to start running a gauntlet of all these Paragons,” the half elf joked, raising his brows towards Jurot, who was uncertain of whether he should feel troubled or excited about Adam’s words. 

Adam had yet to realise the many mistakes he had made, though, in a certain sense, perhaps they weren’t mistakes at all. The Amira’s gaze fell upon him, the young woman deep in thought. He seemed equally as wise as he was a fool, but there was no question of his abilities, for the half elf was a terrifying monster, the same level of threat as a dragon. Except, perhaps, he was more dangerous, since he seemed so active in comparison to those who claimed dominion over the skies, yet slumbered within their lairs. 

However, in that unknown that was Adam, the Amira could see it, a pathway towards something greater, the pathway for her to become Shen, and a bulwark against the factions which would rather see someone else sit upon the throne, for her to remain the Malika, rather than for them to take the title of Malik.

That was, of course, if they could allow Adam to live. 

“Although, if I do something like that, it would be rather troublesome,” Adam admitted, letting out a soft groan. “I’d rather just… stay home and adore my wife and my children. Shouldn’t I have at least ten children before I think about taking my place on the world stage? Shouldn’t I see my children grow up some more, and then before they step into the world, I should do it then? Ah, what am I saying, my children should stay small and cute forever within my arms!”

He certainly couldn’t be allowed to live, the Amira was sure of that, for he was too dangerous to leave alive. Yet, what could she do, when he was seemingly so close to the Iyr? She couldn’t allow them to keep such a figure, but she also couldn’t make a move against him, or the Iyr for that matter.

There was one way she had thought of tying them together, but unfortunately for her, he was already married, and she had no doubt within her mind that the half elf adored his wife far too much to take another, just like another fool of a father she knew. She could have, perhaps, tried to make a move against his wife, but the woman was a Ray of Hope, which, even if she did not remain within the Iyr, the Amira was not so courageous enough to make a play against her. If she was a member of any other religious Order, and to any other of the Major Divine, perhaps she could have thought so, but for someone who worshipped the Mother of Life?

She was off limits. 

“So,” came the voice that was too much trouble, even for Aswadasad. “I hope we’re good enough to do business with?”

Miriam noted the beaming smile of the half elf, who thought that their relationship was settled, for she understood her place, and he understood his. 

‘Business?’ the Amira thought, having almost forgotten what he was doing here. ‘Oh.’

Adam was a simple man, and all the issues everyone had with him, all had simple solutions. 

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Okay, maybe he should have held back just a little...