Chapter 21: Wind and Shadows
Yassin stood impassively, his eyes scanning for any sign of his adversary. From nothingness, a knife materialized, hurtling toward him with terrifying speed from the right. Yassin summoned his power over the air element, causing the blade to pass through him as if he were transparent.
Multiple knives appeared suspended in the air from nowhere, but Yassin merely employed his powers to avoid and counter them. He then raised his hand toward one of the flying blades, unleashing a powerful air wave that struck Nadir, sending him flying through the air until he crashed against a tree. Nadir's body became visible after the violent impact. He struggled to his feet, his body aching intensely from the collision, and said with overwhelming rage:
"So simple techniques won't work on you?! I'll make you regret this!"
Nadir vanished once more, slipping between the trees, using them as cover. He began circling among the trees, now employing his heavy weapons. He opened fire on Yassin from between the trees, but Yassin evaded the shots and sent powerful air currents toward the trees, slicing them into pieces with wind pressure as sharp as a sword. It seemed Nadir remained unharmed, as he resumed firing from another direction.
Suddenly, the gunfire ceased. Some thought Yassin had killed him or that Nadir had run out of ammunition.
Yassin stood with heightened senses, waiting for any movement from his opponent to counter it. He was surprised by a powerful punch to his head that knocked him to the ground, leaving everything spinning relentlessly from the impact. Nadir appeared, holding his gun aimed at Yassin's head, saying with cold determination:
"Surrender or I'll blow your head off."
Without warning, violent winds erupted from Yassin's body, hurling Nadir away and slamming him brutally to the ground. He quickly stood despite the excruciating pain throughout his body, only to find Yassin back on his feet. Nadir disappeared again, contemplating how to defeat Yassin.
Nadir charged toward Yassin attempting to strike him again, but his punches passed through Yassin's body. Yassin stood disoriented, unable to determine the source of the strikes and punches, though he used his power to let them pass through him harmlessly. Nadir continued kicking and punching relentlessly, feeling he was making no progress whatsoever. Suddenly, Yassin released a gust of wind with his hand in the wrong direction, allowing Nadir to punch and successfully hit him. Nadir immediately deduced that Yassin couldn't attack while in gaseous state, and to attack he had to return to material form. He continued his assault in the same pattern, but Yassin retreated until he stood before the weapons crates, using air to lift more than twenty swords and knives into the air. Nadir felt terror and ran quickly away, while Yassin hurled swords and knives randomly across the arena hoping to hit his target. Nadir nearly got hit several times, barely avoiding the blades. He stood panting, his body trembling, scarcely believing he had survived such an attack.
Yassin approached the water stream near the weapons crates, placing his hand close to the water. The water began to vibrate and ripple, then suddenly rose into the air above Yassin's head. He felt his body nearly tearing apart from the water's weight as he quickly directed it toward the arena to flood it. The water surged forward, covering the entire arena. Nadir was surprised by this and ran toward the forest, but the water moved faster than him, colliding with his body. He realized the water level was minimal, barely reaching his knees, and had no effect on him whatsoever. Nadir laughed inwardly at this ridiculous, useless attack.
The spectators were puzzled by what happened. Jean asked Noor in bewilderment:
"I didn't know he could control water too!"
"Neither did I. It seems he hasn't mastered water control as I can see. Perhaps he managed to lift the water using wind. I don't know if that's possible or not! Maybe he controls multiple elements of nature!"
Yassin collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, feeling his energy completely drained. Nadir rushed toward him to strike while the iron was hot, seizing this opportunity to finish him off. Yassin heard Nadir's footsteps violently splashing through the water and approaching him, realizing he had fallen into the trap. He waited for Nadir to come closer until the sound was near, then sprang quickly to his feet. Seeing Nadir's footprints disturbing the water, he pinpointed his location and directed his hand toward him. Nadir stopped abruptly and tried changing direction, but the winds struck his body forcefully, sending him flying through the air and crashing into the water.
Yassin soared with his body, which had become like a small storm moving rapidly toward where Nadir had fallen. He seemed to dissolve into the air, carried by the winds, until he reached Nadir and saw him trying to stand while water dripped from him, revealing his transparent body and position to all observers. Yassin rushed around him and delivered a punch to his face, knocking him down again. Nadir stood once more, only to receive a slap of wind that sent him flying and falling into the water again. Nadir realized he would be defeated if things continued this way; he attempted to stand while protecting his body with his hands, only to receive another punch that forced him back several steps, followed by another wind-charged blow that knocked him to the ground. When he stood this time, he saw Yassin raising his hand, and watched as water gathered around his own body, rising and surrounding him. He understood what Yassin intended to do, saying to himself in terror:
"He wants to drown me!"
He struggled fiercely and relentlessly, but the water surrounded him more and more, restricting his movement, until it rose to his head. Nadir took a deep breath and held it as the water completely enveloped his body. He desperately called upon all his being, violently shaking his body, but his opponent, who possessed not an ounce of emotion, paid no attention to his actions. The air began to run out, his lungs begging for oxygen, and he felt the intense pressure of water on his body as if bound by an iron cage. He was in a pitiful state, feeling the world darkening around him, knowing this was his end. Suddenly, everything turned to darkness.