The wind blew fiercely, lifting the reddish-brown sand into the air. In this barren land, where even the existence of life seemed doubtful, two men faced each other amidst the desolate rocks.
One of them wore elegant clothing and had long blond hair carelessly tied at the back. The emblem on his arm, carved onto a Celestial card, displayed the number “13” conspicuously.
The man’s name was Rochefort Midia. Though he did not reach the rank of Great Celestial, he was undoubtedly one of the world’s top geniuses.
Opposite him stood a man with jet-black hair cropped short, clad in equally black attire.
His name was Deber Bedet. He, too, was a Celestial. However, his ranking was 62nd, falling slightly short of Rochefort.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes, I am ready to fight you, Thunder Spear Rochefort. What more could I wish for?”
“…Will you keep your promise?”
“Leave it to me. If you die, I will protect your fiancée for the rest of my life. That was the deal, right?”
“That’s correct. And if I win, I will use your Akyada…”
Upon hearing Rochefort’s words, Deber took a bottle from his bag. He showed it to Rochefort before putting it back and hanging his bag on a nearby withered tree branch. Rochefort watched his movements intently.
“If I die, drink it as you please…”
“I will do so.”
“But I have no intention of losing. Strength isn’t everything.”
“I know that too. If possible, I would also like to challenge the rank of Great Celestial.”
“…Hmph. It was wise not to drink with you.”
“Yeah… I might have been swayed by sentiment.”
Deber drew his long sword. The sword, like his clothes, was pitch black. Seeing this, Rochefort readied his spear. The finely decorated spear, known worldwide as the famed spear “Gae Bulg”, bore Rochefort’s name.
Tzzz… Tzzz…
A faint buzzing sound began as lightning magic enveloped the spear. The heat from the plasma gradually turned the spearhead red. This was Rochefort’s renowned technique that earned him the name of Thunder Spear.
On the other hand, wind began to swirl around Deber. Dust devils mixed with reddish-brown sand appeared around him.
“…I’ve heard the rumors about your Night Storm.”
“You won’t be disappointed.”
The two Celestials moved simultaneously.
A battle between Celestials was a rare sight. These men, who had devoted their entire lives to pursuing strength, could never stop. Whether by fate or divine intervention, their paths had crossed, and now their fierce desires were about to clash.
Had they met under different circumstances or at a different time, perhaps they could have pledged eternal friendship as lifelong companions. No, their hearts had already connected.
But the world is often unforgiving. They met, each carrying their own burdens, and now they were about to cross blades.
