Kael got to his knees and violently vomited, his stomach twisting from the overwhelming dread that still clung to every cell in his body. His arms shook uncontrollably, his breath shallow and rapid.
"Damn…" he muttered, wiping the blood and bile from his lips. "I tried using Calm Mind… but it didn't work. Not even once. If anything…" he winced, his heart pounding like war drums, "it made things worse."
The fear he had just felt wasn't something a skill could fix. Not when the source of it was a being who stood above gods.
After what felt like hours though it had only been minutes Kael finally managed to pull himself up, legs unsteady beneath him. Then he blinked in surprise.
His wounds… the deep gash on his arm, the split across his brow, the bruises on his ribs…
Gone.
Completely healed.
He frowned, eyes narrowing.
"That bastard…" he whispered. "He must've healed me. Probably doesn't want his 'vessel' dying yet."
Kael looked around the forest. The air was still heavy from the earlier battle, broken trees and scorched earth serving as the only remaining proof.
He exhaled slowly, mind racing.
"By this time… only one person's probably left in the forest and that's..."
A footstep echoed behind him.
Kael froze.
His breath caught.
He slowly turned his head, already knowing who it was.
"yeah," Kael said with a bitter smile, "He's the one."
Stepping through the mist and broken branches was a tall boy with jet black hair and cool, crystalline blue eyes that seemed to cut through the darkness like blades. His presence was different not like the Shadow Lord's but there was still a lethal elegance in the way he moved.
Jin Eldraven.
The Southern Empire's genius. The untouchable prodigy.
He opened his mouth to speak, but.
Before a word could leave his lips, Kael stabbed himself, blade piercing his side and striking a critical point. His form began to dissolve.
"Sorry, Jin," Kael said, chuckling through the pain, "not enough mana left to fight you. I'd rather take second place… than be tortured by you."
Jin's eyes widened in shock and fury, but before he could even lunge forward.
Kael lifted his hand and gave a mocking wave.
And then.
He was gone.
Dissipated by the forest's recall system.
Jin stood alone in the ruins of the battlefield, staring at the space where Kael had stood.
His fists clenched.
"Coward," he muttered.