Chapter 202 The Bridge



Eagle was watching what was going on, from Squad Alpha he was the only agent here, as there were many problems all over the city that needed outside intervention.

'Agent Eagle, in case of danger can you disarm any of them?' A voice came through the earpiece.

Eagle paused, then said, 'I don't know. Though I have quite a bit of information about Zayne Fellen and Elein Ferger, I've never seen them fight. The video we have is just a drop in the ocean, I'll act on the situation."

'Copy that.'

In an instant, a multitude of spotlights cast their light on the burning bridge. Some chose to single out Elein, and some chose to concentrate on Zayne, but because of the total number, they were both clearly visible.

Elein looked around. She chose this place as she would be able to use all her skills here, at worst she would destroy a bridge that was already seriously damaged.

"Agh... This is all rather annoying..." Zayne growled, as his gaze fell on the helicopters hovering above him.

Dozens of reporters with serious faces stood behind the massive cameras that filmed everything that was happening, most of them broadcasting live. 

Zayne's mind was in a strange state. He was in complete control of his body as well as his thoughts, but he also had desires that he could resist but absolutely did not want.

'I wish there was some way I could get rid of them... Well, I guess I should start first. She's not going to risk making the first move, right?'

Zayne took a deep breath, leaned his body forward, and touched the ground with his claws.

'He's coming!' Elein's pupils narrowed as Zayne's silhouette blurred.

Crackle. Crackle. Crackle.

With a hail of sparks that flew from his claws cutting through the top layer of concrete, Zayne approached Elein quickly. His sharp fangs were ready to sink into her soft skin, as well as his claws.

The wind currents swirling around the katana became more active, wanting to break free right now and protect its owner.

'The first attack is the most important. I know this better than anyone and that's why I'm never wrong!' Elein turned her wrists sharply, bringing her katana down on Zayne at a strange angle, wanting to split him in two diagonally.

Zayne's eyes went wide with trepidation at the realization of what was about to happen. It gave Elein a satisfied grin, the windblade almost reaching its target.

Then, Zayne's gaze changed, becoming sly with a slight but dangerous smirk, strange, not at all like Zayne's, as if someone else had done it.

Whoooooooooooooosh.

In a heartbeat, Zayne arched at an unusual angle that would have broken a normal person's spine in several places, as the back of his head nearly touched the ground.

Though not perfect, he repeated what Karin had done during their fight, and to Elein it was a great surprise.

'What the hell...?' The only thought flashed through Elein's mind as she watched her attack go right over Zayne, though it should have seriously wounded him.

Crackle. Crackle. Crackle.

Heading forward, the windblade cut through several burning cars without resistance, plunging into the depths of the bridge and leaving a wide gap in the middle of the road.

"Not bad, but I was lucky enough to fight a crazier girl than you before you." Zayne smirked as his claws came down on Elein.

'Shit!

Elein reacted late, the failed attack was a big blow to her, so for a while she was confused, and Zayne took advantage of it.

The katana was raised in defense, but it was too late as Zayne's claws sank into Elein's flesh, ripping her white robe, and leaving long cuts in her skin which gushed blood.

Whooooooooooooooosh.

Zayne jumped back, wary of the sharp katana blade aimed at his neck.

'Good job... I see you like it too...' An eerie voice echoed in Zayne's head, but to him, it was something friendly as from a loyal ally, 'Go on... She's already panicked, we just need to enjoy the fight and the blood.'

A scarlet drop fell into Zayne's mouth from the tip of his claw, and a slight glint appeared in his eyes that quickly faded. 

He didn't know what had happened, but the bloody aura around him grew slightly denser, showing that he was going in the right direction.

Elein abruptly took a few jumps back as she had cold sweat running down her forehead. Her eyes trembled, and the more she looked at Zayne, the worse her situation became. She began to fear, and her confidence was slowly fading.

'Calm down.' A measured and serious voice appeared in Elein's head. 

It startled her badly as she got goosebumps.

'If you continue at this pace, you will lose in the next two or three attacks. If that young man goes mad, he'll literally eat you up. I don't think that's the fate you want at all.'

Elein gulped since she realized that the voice in her head was right. At the same moment, Zayne began walking toward her, relaxed as if a predator had cornered its prey.

'Fuck! I have to break the distance!' Elein was about to leap aside.

'Stay where you are!' The voice said sternly, and Elein obeyed, 'Whether you're puzzled or scared, you mustn't forget the most important thing.'

'Agh...?' Elein did not understand what the voice was saying.

'Concentration!" the voice exclaimed, "Take a deep breath and remember what your grandfather taught you!

Elein's eyes went wide, 'What... How does this voice know about this... Whatever, the only thing that matters is that he's right!

Despite the clear threat from Zayne, Elein closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

When she opened her eyes again they shone brightly like pure emeralds, with complete calm and sharpness.

"Hah, things only get more interesting, right?" Zayne grinned widely as the scarlet wings opened behind him.

He was about to rush forward, but suddenly Elein pointed her katana at him and turned into a shadow, disappearing from his sight.

"Holy shit..." Standing in the distance, Luke muttered as he watched perhaps the fastest and deadliest attack he'd ever seen in his life.

Elein was like a free-flowing, yet swift, wind rushing through Zayne, cleaving dozens of meters of space with her deadly weapon.

Zayne despite his instincts couldn't comprehend anything, he didn't even have time to blink when Elein was behind him with a bloody blade.

Crackling.

Then, Zayne's left side exploded with blood, as if he had just been shot with a large-caliber rifle with enormous piercing power.

"Argh!!!"

Zayne fell to his knees, one hand holding himself from falling, the other trying to stop the bleeding.

Waves of pain spread throughout his body, but it wasn't that that affected him the most, it was that Elein had outdone him in what he was better at.

'Hell... How am I supposed to fight her now...' Zayne thought as streams of blood gushed from his mouth.

Elein took a few steps forward, then turned around with a hard stare at Zayne.

The wind currents were still with her, giving her strength, but they were much less. The floodlights illuminated her, there were far more of them than on Zayne, as if showing the winner of their skirmish.

Drip.

Streams of blood flowed from the corners of Elein's mouth, but she paid it no attention. The powerful attack required some sacrifice.

'Good job. Keep up the good work, you still have one skill that you haven't used.' The voice sounded calm, 'I know you don't want to kill him, but in case of danger you'll have to decide to do it.'

Elein nodded silently. She could find out whose voice it was later, now she had one single task: to win, to do what she had always done throughout her life.

At this time, thousands of people were watching the breaking news, almost all the channels were broadcasting Zayne and Elein's fight live, and people couldn't take their eyes off the screens.

"Unbelievable!" exclaimed one channel host, "Looks like Elein Ferger came close to winning. She may not be as famous in Falle Fate as Zayne Fellen, but everyone knows about her amazing katana skills!"

There were similar statements on other media, almost all of which believed Elein's would win except for the Platinum Post.

'Damn, that's some serious damage...' The voice in Zayne's head became depressed, 'We need to get stronger if you want to win.

"SHUT UP!!!" Zayne growled furiously as his voice echoed for hundreds of yards around, deafening anyone who heard it.

'I need something different... Force and speed are useless against her...' Zayne muttered inwardly, then he whispered, "Go away... You can't help me this time, I need a different approach."

Strangely enough, the voice did not resist, and Zayne's appearance quickly returned to normal as well as his eyes.

Zayne closed his eyes, and fragments of all the fights he'd been through or seen began flashing through his mind, looking for the strongest one, the one he could learn something from.

Enar's silhouette appeared first.

'No... I don't need destruction... Turning everything here into ice won't accomplish anything, I need skill...' Zayne inwardly muttered as he saw Gael's silhouette among the darkness.