Apocalypse Baby

The air split with a high-pitched whine as Malik's flame spiral tore toward Alex like a hellish comet.

But Alex seeing the raging flame didn't flinch.

His hand clenched tight around the hilt of his blade, and a whisper of energy pulsed through his veins, glowing faintly at his palm.

Blue glyphs surged up his arm and he stretched it summoning his barrier—[Aegis Arcane].

WHOOM!

In response a dome of translucent, glowing energy snapped into place around him.

Then he whispered the command:

"Reflect."

BOOOOOOM!!

The spiral of fire slammed into him a heartbeat later, and the entire VIP zone rocked as flames detonated across the marble floor.

BOOM!

Smoke and pressure erupted outward like a volcanic burst. Walls cracked. Stone shattered. And shockwave hurled chunks of debris across the room.

Vess ducked under a barrier of concentrated vines she had formed.

While Sylen's summoned a shadow Knight which took the attack. His cloak whipping violently around him as he narrowed his eye watching the outcome.

For a moment, it looked like Alex had been erased. His silhouette swallowed by flame.

But then—

WHUUUUUMM!!

The flames reversed.

Folded in on themselves.

Then launched back.

Twice as fast.

Twice as fierce.

The explosion surged backward with unnatural force, compacting into a spear of compressed energy that launched straight at Malik.

FWOOM!

The Demon Prince's eyes widened not at the reversal but at the speed of the rebound.

He knew of Alex ability as it was what Grugrim had copied and used to counter him.

Malik, instead of dodging, raised his arm, and with a grunt, caught the rebounded inferno.

The flames licked hungrily at his flesh, but instead of consuming him, they curled inward—funneling back into his body.

His skin glowed red-hot as the heat was absorbed into his core like coal into a furnace.

His feet slid backward along the ground, cracks forming beneath his heels, but he stayed standing, steam hissing from his pores.

Then he roared—teeth bared in a snarl.

"I was right, it was your fault."

Then he drew out of thin air summoning his blade.

A black blade crackling with demonic energy slid free from its scabbard. Its edge bled smoke. Its presence alone made the temperature rise.

Then without another word, Malik lunged.

His speed—monstrous.

A red blur.

But Alex had already seen it.

Foresight flared behind his eyes like a ripple in time.

WHOOSH!

He sidestepped before the attack even started, and Malik's slash tore through the air beside him, missing by inches, carving a groove into the ground floor with raw fire, steel screaming.

Then Malik landed another strike.

And another.

And another.

A flurry of brutal, scorching slashes descended on Alex like a fiery storm. Each one meant to kill. Each one faster than the last.

But Alex ducked, rolled, sidestepped—his movements fluid, minimal, precise.

He ducked beneath the attack, weaved left, spun backward, his eyes always half a second ahead.

His breath calm.

His posture measured.

Then Malik in frustration screamed:

"STOP RUNNING VERMIN!"

Alex grinned, taunting in response and just kept moving, and each dodge made Malik's rage burn hotter.

His strikes lost precision, became erratic, and blade crashed down again but missed.

Malik fury boiled over, and the with a roar, he slammed his sword into the ground and threw both arms wide.

The roared.

"BUUURRRNNNN!!"

WHHHHOOOOOSH!!

Flames erupted from him in a violent surge like a living tempest.

It was not a focused attack, but a purge, bolts of fire shooting out in every direction, wild and unchecked. Dozens of them, each one a meteor streaking through the air.

BOOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

The entire zone was engulfed in flame bolts, and fire streaked across the room in wild arcs, slamming into walls, ripping apart the arena stands.

The attack wasn't just aimed at Alex anymore.

It was everywhere.

Sylen's frowned on seeing this, and he reinforced his summon to be able to tank the hit.

Vess also did the same, a dome of green energy surrounded her, and the flame bolts collided with it like meteors—exploding in bursts of heat.

"Maniac!" Vess growled behind her defense. "He's lost it!"

Alex's expression hardened on seeing Malik crash out.

He was done.

His breath hissed out, white and cold.

His hands opened wide, and the temperature around him plummeted.

Mist rolled across the shattered floor.

Then with a surge of rage, he stomped forward, slamming a palm into the ground.

And shouted using [Cryoforge]

"ENOUGH!"

A chill exploded out from him and the temperature dropped instantly.

CRACK!

A wave of blue light exploded outward, rushing in every direction like a frozen tsunami, and the world responded.

Fire died.

Frost surged.

And ice burst across the battlefield.

Spikes erupted from the floor.

Crystals climbed up shattered columns.

Frost crawled along the walls and froze the remaining flame bolts in mid-air.

And Malik—Even he wasn't spared.

His entire body froze in place, mid-step.

Encased in ice.

Frozen solid.

Then the battlefield fell silent.

Alex exhaled icy fumes

Then—

CRRRAAASSHHH!!

The ice cracked.

Then shattered.

Chunks exploded outward in molten steam, and Malik stepped free, steam rising from his body, aura blazing like a sun made of wrath.

He walked forward, slow and deliberate, steam rising off him with every breath, floor melting under his feet as he stepped forward, his sword dragging behind him, carving a molten line into the stone.

"You think a little frostbite is enough to stop me?" he growled. "I'm going to kill you. And kill you again. And again. And again. And again. Until I'm satisfied."

His voice was low. Unhinged.

His eyes locked on Alex.

Alex didn't back up.

He took a single step forward, matching Malik stride for stride, eyes glowing with a cold fury.

His voice calm.

"If you want something, be powerful enough to take it. Because right now..."

Alex tilted his head.

"You're most certainly not."

That single sentence—

It cut deeper than any blade.

Malik's face twisted into something monstrous, the fire around him flaring violently

And then, he lunged forward, raising his sword high.

"You arrogant piece of..."