As the two faced each other, weapons drawn, the air seemed to thicken, heavy with the energy they radiated.
It was as if the world itself was bracing for the destruction about to unfold.
In an instant, their movements blurred, too fast for the human eye to follow.
Each clash of their blades sent sparks flying, filling the air with a deafening sound that echoed across the plains.
Every strike created shockwaves that rippled through the ground, making the earth tremble like an earthquake.
Jagged blade marks tore across the battlefield, carving deep scars into the land.
Renard's sword glowed with a cold, blue light, cutting through the air with precise, clean strikes.
Each swing was swift, but every time his blade met the Barbarian King's, the force of the collision sent vibrations up his arm.
On the other side, the Barbarian King's enormous sword pulsed with a fiery red glow, wild and untamed, just like him.
Each swing was powerful, leaving deep fissures in the ground as the earth groaned beneath his feet.
The ground buckled and cracked with every impact. Dust and debris flew everywhere, swirling in chaotic patterns as the land broke apart beneath their strength.
Despite the intensity of the battle, neither seemed to gain the upper hand. They were evenly matched, locked in a fierce struggle.
With a roar, the Barbarian King swung his sword downward with all his might, aiming to split Renard in two.
The force of the blow cracked the earth, creating a wide chasm. But Renard moved swiftly, sidestepping the attack in a blur before countering with a horizontal slash aimed at the Barbarian King's side.
His blade left a glowing trail in the air, but the Barbarian King twisted just in time, blocking the strike with a loud clang.
"You're fast, Sword King," the Barbarian King boomed, a grin spreading across his face even amid battle. "it seems you haven't gone rusty."
Renard smirked, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "You're not bad yourself."
Their blades clashed again, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.
The force of their collision flattened everything nearby—trees in the distance toppled as the land cracked under the intensity.
Dust and debris filled the sky, darkening the sun, as if even nature recoiled from the sheer power of their battle.
Both fighters moved with incredible speed, darting across the battlefield, leaving trails of destruction behind them.
Blades flashed, sparks flew, and the ground split beneath them. Despite the fierce exchanges, neither showed any sign of slowing down.
The Barbarian King let out a booming laugh. "Is that all, Renard? Show me the strength of the Sword King!"
Renard's smirk remained.
He lunged forward, his sword glowing with a blue aura, and swung upward in a swift strike.
The Barbarian King countered with a heavy swing of his own, their blades meeting with a clash that sent both sliding back across the fractured earth.
"Same to you," Renard said calmly, regaining his footing.
Though neither had gained the upper hand, their power had completely reshaped the battlefield.
The once vast plains were now a shattered wasteland, torn apart by their blades. The ground trembled under their feet, but both warriors stood firm, locked in a fierce battle.
Their eyes met, each knowing the other wouldn't back down.
"Let's finish this," the Barbarian King growled, gripping his great sword tighter as its red glow intensified.
The Barbarian King's voice echoed across the battlefield, filled with both challenge and excitement.
The real Renard was nowhere to be seen, hidden among the endless reflections.
Frustration boiled over as the Barbarian King swung his great sword again and again, cutting through endless illusions.
Each time his blade connected with what seemed to be Renard, the image shattered like glass, only to reform elsewhere.
His blood-infused domain pulsed angrily, but it couldn't break through the sea of mirages.
"Face me like a warrior!" the Barbarian King bellowed, swinging wildly. "Don't hide like a turtle!"
His taunt was met with silence.
The illusions of Renard remained calm, unaffected by the Barbarian King's outbursts.
Everywhere he looked, Renard smirked at him, serene and unbothered.
With a frustrated roar, the Barbarian King unleashed a wave of blood-red energy, obliterating dozens of illusions in one powerful strike.
But no matter how many reflections he destroyed, Renard's domain remained intact.
It was clear that the battle had reached a stalemate—Renard's [Myriad Mirage] was a perfect defense against the Barbarian King's brutal [Blood Incarnate]
Without a way to strike at his true opponent, the Barbarian King's raw power was useless.
Each time the Barbarian king tried to advance, Renard's illusions distorted his sense of direction, forcing him back.
His powerful strikes were wasted on shadows, and he knew that if this continued, it would only end in defeat.
Renard, meanwhile, stood at a distance, watching the Barbarian King's struggle through the layers of illusion.
His sword hung casually at his side. He hadn't made a single offensive move since activating his domain, and it was clear he didn't need to.
Finally, with a roar of frustration and defeat, the Barbarian King raised his hands.
"I give up!" he shouted, his voice filled with reluctant acceptance.
As if responding to his surrender, the crimson world of blood began to dissolve, slowly fading into mist.
The pools of blood vanished, the suffocating atmosphere lifted, and the battlefield returned to its scarred, devastated state.
The Barbarian King stood with his hands raised, his great sword still clutched tightly in his grip, though its crimson glow had dimmed.
With a loud crack, Renard's domain shattered like a broken mirror, the illusions fading to reveal the real Renard standing calmly a few paces away, completely unharmed.
"You damn turtle," the Barbarian King muttered, his voice a mix of irritation and unwillingness.
Renard smirked, brushing a bit of dust from his shoulder.
"A win's a win," he said coolly. "That makes five."
"This doesn't count!" the Barbarian King growled, his fists clenched in frustration. "You hid the whole time!"
"But you surrendered," Renard replied with a shrug. "By the rules of a duel, that's a win."
The Barbarian King gritted his teeth, glaring at Renard, though there was no true anger in his eyes—just the burning desire for a rematch.
With a guttural roar, he threw his head back, shouting into the sky.
The roar echoed across the wasteland, but as it faded, both men finally took in the aftermath of their battle.
The once vast, untouched plains were now a wasteland of destruction.
Massive craters and deep fissures scarred the earth as far as the eye could see. There was no sign of life left—only the two of them standing amidst the devastation, the result of their huge clash.