CHAPTER 50: END OF VOL 1

Kaelen struck first.

With a sharp inhale and a burst of speed, he closed the distance in a blink, his body pivoting mid-step. His leg snapped out in a brutal, whirling side kick aimed at Neal’s ribs, the motion clean and precise—a practiced move honed through endless battle.

But Neal was no amateur.

He raised his forearm in time, absorbing the blow with a solid block. The impact cracked through the arena like a drumbeat, echoing through the stunned silence of invisible onlookers.

Kaelen’s heel hadn’t even touched the ground when Neal countered.

A sharp snap punch to the solar plexus—lightning fast.

Crack.

The hit folded Kaelen like a paper doll. Air exploded from his lungs as he was hurled backward, limbs flailing mid-air.

But Kaelen wasn’t done.

Twisting like a cat mid-fall, he evaded the solar beams Neal launched after him, the searing streaks of light carving through the ground where he would’ve landed. Each blast missed by inches—too close for comfort.

The moment Kaelen’s feet touched ground, Neal was already there.

A flying knee tore through the space between them like a missile, aimed for Kaelen’s skull.

Kaelen weaved left, slipping just past the bone-shattering strike, then ducked low, springing up with a vicious uppercut toward Neal’s jaw.

Thud!

But it didn’t land.

What he hit wasn’t Neal’s jaw—but his palm.

Neal had caught the punch.

Kaelen’s eyes widened only for a split second.

Because the next second, Neal’s free hand was already firing forward, a brutal straight punch aimed at Kaelen’s chest.

Kaelen ducked under it just in time, the rush of displaced air ruffling his hair like a passing storm.

Kaelen had no time to waste because his berserk skill duration is ticking.

Kaelen dropped low and kicked upward with both feet, slamming into Neal’s torso. The force of the double-legged strike was enough to send Neal stumbling back, releasing his grip.

They separated—both panting, blood trickling down their chins and brows, sweat soaking into their collars.

Neal narrowed his eyes.

Kaelen—he was moving faster. Hitting harder. His strikes were wild, yes, but growing more refined with each exchange. Each second that passed, it felt like Kaelen’s strength was multiplying

Neal muttered, frowning. " What the fuck did he ate?"

Kaelen’s skill sanctified wrath was almost in full effect.

Even with no mana left, even with blood pooling in his boots and pain tightening every breath, Kaelen fought like a man possessed. His eyes gleamed with focus, every heartbeat fueling his power further.

But Neal wasn’t backing down either. He couldn’t afford to.

Kaelen was getting stronger by the second.

And worse—Neal had no idea when that terrifying growth would stop.

So he made a choice and he went all in.

They collided again

Fist met fist. Kick clashed against block. Elbow, spin, knee, palm—the dance of violence surged between them in a flurry of technique and desperation. The ground beneath them cracked with every impact, and the very air trembled from the force of their duel.

Both fighters knew this couldn’t go on forever.

Not for Kaelen whose skill timer was ticking down.

2 minutes...

Not for Neal who couldn’t let Kaelen cross the invisible line into unstoppable.

They kept fighting relentlessly, each blow exchanged with deadly precision. But neither lost sight of Fel and Leon, who lingered at the edge of the battlefield, pretending to be immersed in fighting, waiting like wolves for an opening.

1 minute...

Kaelen ducked under a sweeping hook and countered with a low roundhouse, but Neal pivoted smoothly, evading with a slip of the hips. Their motions blurred—elbow grazes, heel flicks, feints and parries—all tight, explosive. And then—

Their eyes met.

A silent understanding passed between them in that instant.

30 seconds.....

Neal moved first. A twisting shift of his shoulders, a sudden coiling of muscle—then a brutal palm strike slammed into Kaelen’s stomach.

WHUMP.

Air blasted from Kaelen’s lungs as his body folded mid-motion and launched backward, like a cannonball.

25 seconds....

He flew—spinning, arms tucked instinctively to shield his head—straight toward where Fel and Leon waited. The two adversaries braced as Kaelen came hurtling toward them, their weapons half-raised, eyes glinting with cold anticipation.

This was it. Their moment. But then.They felt it.

The temperature around them spiked.

A ring of radiant gold flared beneath their feet—a glowing solar seal etched in light.

"DODGE!"

Fel shouted, panic breaking through his composure.

20 seconds....

But Kaelen wasn’t done yet.

Mid-flight, he twisted his spine like a corkscrew, slowing his spin. His hands shot out like viper strikes, grabbing both Fel and Leon by the collars. With a roar of effort, he pulled them in—locking them in place before they could react.

Their eyes widened in horror.

Then came the light.

15 seconds....

A concentrated beam of solar energy crashed down from above like divine judgment—

SUNSTRIKE

An epic growth type Class skill.

BOOOOM.

It struck the ring dead center, engulfing all three in a blinding explosion.

10 seconds...

When the dust settled, only Kaelen remained half kneeling, scorched and smoking at the edges, his hands trembling from the shock. Fel and Leon were gone, erased from the field in an instant.

Kaelen had survived because his defenses had skyrocketed at this point.

The system had only three main stats: strength, agility and intelligence.

With his skill sanctified wrath giving him speed and strength in exchange for healing had boosted his defenses as well.

6 seconds....

Kaelen rose, his body swaying slightly. Smoke curled from his shoulders. A bruise bloomed dark on his abdomen. Blood trickled from his lip.

He looked up at Neal, breathing hard.

Then, despite everything, the burns, the impact, the pain—a grin tugged at the corner of his lips.

And then—Kaelen smiled.

Just as Neal surged forward with another full-force strike

Kaelen vanished.

Blink

During all this time they were fighting he had recovered just enough mana—barely a sliver. Enough for one last cast.

And he had saved it for a blink.

It was a high risk gamble.

He appeared above Neal.

3....

2....

Upside down, body spiraling like a falling star, Kaelen spun mid-air with everything he had left—every ounce of momentum, rage, and raw power channeled into one final move.

A spinning hammer kick.

Neal looked up.

Too late.

1....

The heel of Kaelen’s boot crashed down like judgment from the heavens.

Boom.

The impact detonated against Neal’s shoulder and neck, sending him crashing into the ground with an earth-shattering thud. Dust exploded outward. The floor cracked. Silence reigned.

Kaelen landed a few feet away, knees nearly buckling, chest heaving.

But he was still standing.

Neal lay sprawled on the ground, dazed, eyes blinking at the sky.

"Fair... enough," he muttered.

Then dissipated into light.

Kaelen looked down at him, the glow fading from his eyes, the last flicker of power draining from his limbs.

He nodded once, solemnly.

[SYSTEM ALERT!]

[SYSTEM ALERT!]

[SYSTEM ALERT!]

[SYSTEM ALERT!]

[SYSTEM ALERT!]

[SYSTEM ALERT!]

[SYSTEM ALERT!]

[MONSTER INVASION!!]

[The Starfall kingdom has fallen]