Chương 104: Chapter 102: The Duel of Two Kings

The collision between the Dharma Dragonblade and Fimbul shattered the silence of the battlefield. BOOOOOOM!! A ring of golden fire and absolute ice erupted in every direction. Mountains cracked. Clouds vanished. The earth beneath the arena split apart for dozens of kilometers. The millions of soldiers watching from outside the barrier instinctively stepped backward. This wasn't a duel between kings anymore. It was a clash between two forces capable of reshaping continents.

Rayan slid across the frozen ground before planting the Dharma Dragonblade into the earth. Golden flames erupted beneath his feet, melting the ice surrounding him. Across the battlefield... Caelum remained motionless. Only the sleeves of his white cloak fluttered in the freezing wind. A faint smile appeared on his face.

"You stopped my first strike." Rayan smiled back.

"You haven't seen my best one." Without another word— Both disappeared. BOOM! The battlefield echoed with shockwaves as their swords met hundreds of times in mere seconds. To ordinary soldiers... They had become invisible. Only flashes of gold and blue light remained. Each collision sent storms across the kingdom. Every strike split another mountain. Every parry created another earthquake. Cassian watched with wide eyes.

"... I can't even follow them." Michael folded his arms.

"They're no longer fighting with speed."

"They're fighting with instinct." Atlas nodded.

"They've entered the Realm Beyond Thought." Inside the arena... Time itself felt slower. Rayan blocked another slash before countering with a blazing upward strike. Dragon King's Ascension! A golden dragon burst from his sword, roaring toward Caelum. Instead of dodging... The Emperor calmly extended one hand.

"Ice Dominion." The dragon froze instantly. Not gradually. Instantly. The magnificent construct became a crystal statue before shattering into countless glittering fragments. Rayan's eyes widened.

"He froze Astra itself..." Caelum appeared directly before him.

"You rely too much on overwhelming power." His sword flashed. Slash! A line of crimson appeared across Rayan's shoulder. The first blood of the duel. Outside the barrier... The soldiers gasped. King Dasrath clenched the balcony railing. Lyra instinctively stepped forward before Atlas gently stopped her.

"The duel must continue." Rayan looked at the blood running down his arm. Instead of anger... He smiled.

"So this is what a true emperor feels like." Caelum nodded.

"And now..."

"You'll understand why no one has defeated me." The Emperor slowly lifted Fimbul toward the heavens. The sky darkened. Snow began falling. Then more. Then endlessly. Within seconds... The arena transformed into a frozen wasteland. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. WORLD SYSTEM Divine Domain Activated Eternal Winter Effects: - Temperature approaches absolute zero. - Enemy Astra consumption increased by 500%. - Ice constructs regenerate endlessly.

- Frost Emperor receives continuous Astra regeneration. Golden flames around Rayan weakened. His breathing became visible. His movements slowed. Cassian cursed under his breath.

"He's losing..." Atlas remained calm.

"No."

"He's learning." Caelum charged again. His sword became a blur. Rayan blocked. Another strike. Another. Another. Each impact pushed him farther backward. His boots carved deep trenches across the frozen battlefield. Finally— CRASH!! Rayan smashed into a glacier hundreds of meters away. The entire arena fell silent. Caelum pointed Fimbul toward him.

"Surrender."

"You still have people waiting for you."

"If you die..."

"So does their hope." Snow continued falling. Rayan remained kneeling. His breathing was heavy. His Astra was nearly exhausted. For several seconds... No one moved. Then... A quiet laugh escaped Rayan. It slowly grew louder. Until he was laughing openly. Caelum frowned.

"What is so amusing?" Rayan stood. He wiped the blood from his lips.

"I finally understand."

"Understand what?" Rayan looked toward the frightened faces beyond the barrier. His father. Cassian. Lyra. The people of Ayanor. Then he looked back at Caelum.

"I've been fighting..."

"... to protect everyone." He lowered the Dharma Dragonblade.

"But you..."

"... have been fighting alone." Silence. For the first time since the duel began... Caelum's expression changed. A flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes. Rayan continued.

"You carry the burden of the world by yourself."

"You think becoming humanity's tyrant is the only way to save it." The Emperor remained silent.

"You aren't my enemy." Rayan's voice softened.

"You're just another king..."

"... who was never allowed to rely on anyone else." Outside the barrier... Kael slowly smiled.

"He sees it..."

"The same thing he saw in me." Atlas quietly closed his eyes.

"The true strength of the Last Dharma King..."

"... isn't defeating people."

"It's understanding them." For the first time in centuries... The snow around Caelum began to weaken. The Eternal Winter Domain flickered. Not because his Astra had diminished. But because... His conviction had been shaken. Far beyond the heavens... The Author watched silently. Then, for the first time... It turned another page. The next chapter of the story had begun changing on its own. To Be Continue....