Chapter 59: Lightning Vs Darkness

Facing Noah's provocation Aid didn't respond, he calmed down before aiming him free right hand at Noah and chanted.

''Lightning Fist!"

Aid's fist, propelled by the power of his Lightning Fist, seemed to crackle with electricity as it hurtled towards Noah. The speed was astonishing, leaving a faint blue trail in its wake. Yet, Noah remained unfazed. His Mana's Armor, a defsive technique he acquired rectly, shimmered faintly as it absorbed the brunt of the attack.

Bang!

A low boom resonated through the air as the lightning fist collided with the invisible barrier. The force was ough to push Noah back a few steps, his feet scraping slightly against the g. Despite the impact, the Mana's Armor held firm, leaving Noah unharmed.

A momtary surprise flickered across Aid's eyes. He hadn't expected his signature attack, known for its devastating speed and piercing power, to be so easily countered. Yet, he quickly recovered, a determined glint returning to his gaze.

"Interesting," Noah said, a hint of amusemt in his voice. "So, you have awaked another elemt? Lightning. Not a bad trick."

Aid didn't reply. Instead, he launched into a series of hand movemts, weaving intricate patterns in the air. The air a him crackled with rewed ergy, and a small ball of pure lightning materialized betwe his outstretched palm.

Aid's yell of "Condse and bloom! Lightning Sphere!" tore through the air, the vibrant blue orb crackling with raw power as it hurtled towards Noah. The playful glint in Noah's eyes had vanished, replaced by a steely determination. With a swift movemt, he raised his sword, the blue aura a it intsifying as he channeled his own power.

Boom!

The g shuddered as the sphere collided with the earth just before Noah. A blinding flash erupted, momtarily eclipsing the sce in its brilliance. Instead of the expected explosion, the sphere fractured, its ergy cleaved in two by the precise swing of Noah's blade.

One half arced past him harmlessly, the other detonating with a thunderous crack against the nearby rock face, sding a shower of sparks and debris raining down.

Capitalizing on the distraction, Aid, a blur of motion, emerged from the smoke. His fist, crackling with pott electricity, arced towards Noah's unsuspecting back.

However, he wasn't as caught off guard as Aid had hoped. Noah, ssing the movemt through his Presce Detection, had already pivoted, his blue aura flaring outwards to form a shimmering shield.

A deafing clang resonated through the air as Aid's sword met the barrier. The force of the impact jolted up his arm, momtarily contorting his face in a grimace. Though surprised by the sudd assault, Noah held his g, the blue shield flickering momtarily but ultimately holding firm.

As the smoke slowly cleared, revealing two figures locked in a tse stand-off, the silce that descded was thick with unspok words.

Suddly they moved in unison their weapons raised high.

Clangs! Clangs!

Sparks flew as their blades met in a clash of metal and blue light. Aid, fuelled by a desperate need to land a blow, unleashed a flurry of lightning bolts, each crackling through the air with deadly precision.

He couldn't see Noah, but he felt him. A presce radiating a deadly aura materialized in front of him, impossibly fast. Before Aid could react, a fist, imbued with Noah's fury and full strgth, slammed into his stomach.

Bang !

The impact stealing the air from his lungs.

''Gah!"

He crumpled to his knees, a strangled cry escaping his lips as he vomited a torrt of blood.

Distantly, he heard a muffled grunt and the sicking clang of metal on flesh. His vision blurred, the darkness swimming with swirling lights. A single thought echoed in his mind: Gareth.

Through the haze, he saw a faint blue glow – Noah's sword, embedded in a large form lying motionless several meters away. The realization hit him like a physical blow. Gareth had tried to interve, and now...

A guttural laugh ripped through the darkness, devoid of mirth, filled with a chilling inhumanity. Aid felt a heavy boot connect with his back, driving him face-first into the unforgiving g. He tasted dirt and blood, gasping for breath that wouldn't come. He was helpless, utterly defeated.

"Seems like underestimating your oppont isn't the best strategy, is it, Aid?" Noah's voice, cold and emotionless, echoed in the darkness.

Aid coughed, blood dribbling down his chin. He wanted to retort, to fight back, but his body refused to obey. He was a brok toy, discarded and forgott in the aftermath of a brutal game.

The darkness remained, a suffocating presce mirroring the suffocating despair that threated to consume him. As his consciousness faded, the chilling image of Noah's laughter flickered in the void, a haunting reminder of his utter defeat. He thought this time he had prepared best, he could win, to sure his victory he increased his level like crazy.

He ev awaked a second elemt, he brought Gareth with him just in case, everything was to win this rematch but alas he still failed with all the preparation he did. He couldn't understand, with his backg, his talt, he must be the winner? He must have everything, glory and her and yet Noah kept getting in his way? Just why?

Aid kept wondering why he always lose to Noah? Is this his destiny? To always be second? No, he doesn't believe it. Maybe it was because he hasn't worked harder? Yes it had to be.

He needs to work hard and stop underestimating Noah, treating like an equal.

Having come to this realization, Aid op his mouth and with difficulty said.

''Cough! It's my defeat this time. Cough! Next time I.. I will surely crush you.'' He took out his smart bracelet and tossed it to the side, his body was veloped by blue light before vanishing.

Noah canceled the Night of Death and light came back. He picked up the smart bracelet before moving toward Gareth and retrieved his smart bracelet as well, sding him out. He stood alone in the plain, bathing in sunlight before his body suddly fall to the g with a thud.

''Sure, I'll be waiting.''

He was too exhausted and his body hurts all over, he swallowed back the blood threating to come out. Aid was strong, much stronger than anticipated and despite losing in such a fashion, his will didn't crumble, for the first time Noah felt respect towards Aid.