Flin stood in front of Aiden.
Sensing the intensity of the battle, Aiden increased his energy output.
Flin suddenly rushed towards him, prompting Aiden to fire a power bullet in his direction. Flin dodged, but the bullet struck a nearby tree, causing it to topple over. As Flin hesitated to evade the falling tree, Aiden seized the opportunity, using it as a distraction to land a powerful punch.
Recovering quickly, Flin retaliated by shooting the ground beneath them, creating a cloud of debris to obscure Aiden's vision. However, Aiden swiftly leaped onto a boulder created by Flin's attack, using it as a platform. Both warriors charged at each other once more.
Aiden conjured his sword and vanished into the shadow dimension.
Flin, undeterred, kicked at Aiden's stomach and grabbed his neck—but his hands only gripped empty air. It was merely Aiden's shadow clone. The real Aiden emerged from the shadow dimension, surrounding Flin with ten shadow replicas, each launching power bullets at him. In response, Flin used earth magic to form a defensive barrier.
But Aiden's relentless assault shattered the barrier with a single devastating kick, sending Flin staggering backward.
Gritting his teeth, Flin muttered, "Dark!" in a sinister voice.
Immediately, the environment darkened, enhancing Flin's physical abilities and perception.
"He's using a high-level technique," Aiden realized, his eyes narrowing. "His presence is blending with the surroundings. Using normal senses, I won't be able to detect his movements... Fine. I'll just focus entirely on myself and the seven-meter radius around me. If I can get a hold of this situation, I'll turn from the hunted into the hunter."
Flin lunged forward, attacking from multiple angles. At first, Aiden struggled, barely dodging the rapid strikes. But as the battle continued, he began recognizing the attack patterns, evading with increasing precision.
"I can't let this drag on," Aiden thought. "His punches are powerful, and he feels no pain. He's pushing his body beyond its limits. Shadow, go outside the dark zone and wait for my command."
His shadow obeyed, slipping away undetected.
Meanwhile, Flin was growing stronger by the second. He finally landed a solid punch on Aiden's leg joint, sending pain coursing through his body. Smirking at the success, Flin unleashed a ruthless barrage of attacks, forcing Aiden onto the defensive.
Outside the darkness, Aiden's shadow waited, prepared for his master's signal.
As Flin's relentless assault intensified, Aiden knew he had to act fast. If he allowed this to continue, he would take too much damage.
"Shadow Twin Dragon Sister," Aiden muttered under his breath. "I'll create the inner formation; you focus on the outer. I know I've never attempted this before, but the Twin Dragon should be able to swallow his darkness."
Aiden's shadow carved the dragon sigil into its palm using blood. Aiden mirrored the action, preparing for the next phase.
Flin, now wielding a sword, prepared to stab Aiden—
"Now!" Aiden roared.
A massive water hurricane erupted as Aiden and his shadow activated the technique. The swirling vortex began absorbing Flin's darkness, exposing him to the open battlefield.
Aiden and his shadow poured their energy into the hurricane, shaping it into the form of a Twin Dragon—two-headed, its body composed of wind and water.
Flin, now fully visible, backed away, his expression unreadable. He drew a symbol on his palm, causing the sky to darken. A massive lightning bolt, black as night, crashed down from the heavens, transforming into a colossal serpent—Haietlik.
The wind howled furiously.
Aiden clenched his fists. "Tch... He has an advantage. No matter. Let's see who makes it out of here."
From behind a tree, Fiona watched in silence, her eyes wide with concern.
"Go, Twin Dragon!" Aiden commanded.
Flin responded with his own battle cry, unleashing Haietlik in a devastating charge.
The battlefield exploded into chaos. Both warriors struggled to maintain control over their summoned entities, their energy reserves dwindling rapidly.
"Shadow, can you handle this on your own?" Aiden asked.
"If you wish, I can," his shadow replied.
Aiden nodded. "Very well. If we allow these creatures to battle freely, we'll be completely drained, and this entire area will be destroyed. They're both too powerful."
"So, what's the plan?" the shadow inquired.
Aiden smirked. "Something reckless, of course."
He didn't elaborate. Instead, he handed full control of the Twin Dragon to his shadow. Then, without warning, he sprinted forward.
Flin noticed the movement and attempted to intercept, but Aiden skillfully dodged and leaped onto the Twin Dragon's back.
His shadow directed the dragon straight toward Flin.
Flin reacted instantly, commanding Haietlik to unleash a deadly lightning strike. The black lightning surged toward Aiden and his dragon.
Aiden didn't flinch. Instead, he extended his hand, absorbing the lightning's power.
With a sudden burst of speed, he surged forward—faster than the lightning itself.
The moment he reached Flin, he released the stored energy, redirecting the amplified lightning back at his enemy.
The powerful surge struck Flin and Haietlik simultaneously.
As the energy coursed through Flin's body, Aiden lunged forward, gripping him tightly. Just as the lightning reached its peak, ready to explode, Aiden propelled himself backward, landing safely on the Twin Dragon's back.
Flin, engulfed in the immense energy, let out a final cry before his body disintegrated into thin air.
The battlefield fell silent.
Aiden's shadow collapsed, and the Twin Dragon dissipated into mist.
Aiden, exhausted, barely managed to stand.
Fiona rushed to his side, concern etched on her face. She gently laid him on the ground, cradling his head in her lap.