The two men rushed at each other in the same movement. Their blades clashed with brutal force. The shock sent a wave of vibration through the cold air. Klein felt the pressure in his arms, but he held firm. Julian pressed harder, his face tense with anger. The frost blade crackled against the katana.

He freed his sword with a sharp movement and followed up with a horizontal strike. Klein parried just in time, stepped back and countered with a downward blow. The katana whistled through the air. Julian dodged by crouching, then punched Klein in the stomach. The blow landed. Klein groaned and bent slightly, but he responded with a knee strike to his opponent’s thigh.

Snow flew around them with every movement. Julian spun his sword and launched a series of rapid attacks. Each strike targeted a vital point. Klein blocked, dodged, counterattacked. His body moved with precision. He delivered a circular kick that hit Julian in the shoulder. The latter retreated several meters, sliding on the snow.

Julian wiped the blood from his lip and smiled coldly. He raised his sword above his head. A thick layer of frost covered the blade.

< Art Frostvine : Tempête gelée >

A glacial wind suddenly rose. Thousands of ice crystals swirled around Julian before rushing toward Klein like a swarm of blades. Klein gritted his teeth and raised his katana.

< Art Sundering Eclipse – Deuxième mouvement : Quart Lune >

A dense aura enveloped his blade. He spun it in a wide arc. The energy struck the ice storm. The two forces tore at each other in a deafening noise. Shards of ice and fragments of energy flew in all directions. Some crystals cut Klein’s cheek. A thin line of blood appeared.

Julian gave him no respite. He leaped through the chaos, sword pointed forward. Klein pivoted and struck with a slash. Their blades crossed again. This time, Julian used his power to freeze the ground beneath Klein’s feet. The ice climbed up his boots, trying to lock him in place.

Klein slammed his heel into the ground. His aura exploded downward and shattered the ice. He teleported behind Julian with his Dash and delivered a powerful blow to his back. Julian turned just in time and blocked with his sword, but the impact sent him sliding several meters.

"You have become strong," Julian admitted, catching his breath. "But that changes nothing about what you did."

Klein adjusted his grip on his katana. His face remained calm, but his eyes showed growing irritation. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"I knew nothing about your mother. If it’s true, then I’m sorry. But attacking me like this won’t bring her back."

Julian did not respond with words. He charged again. This time, he used a faster combination. He launched a column of frozen water from the ground, then followed with a mana-charged sword strike. Klein narrowly avoided the water and blocked the sword. The two men spun in a furious exchange. Blow after blow, parry after parry. The sound of metal echoed nonstop.

Julian delivered an upward strike that forced Klein to jump backward. Seizing the opening, Julian punched the ground. A wave of ice spikes erupted in a straight line. Klein avoided them by jumping sideways, but one spike grazed his leg and left a gash.

Blood flowed onto the white snow. Klein touched the wound with his fingertips, then raised his eyes.

"Now you are starting to annoy me."

He disappeared and reappeared right in front of Julian. His aura-charged fist struck Julian in the solar plexus. The blow lifted Julian off the ground and sent him flying into a rock. The stone cracked under the impact. Julian coughed blood, but he got up quickly, his eyes shining with rage.

He ran toward Klein while shouting. His sword traced arcs of frost in the air. Klein responded with a series of rapid strikes. Their blades clashed endlessly. Frozen sparks flew. Each impact sent painful vibrations through their arms.

The fight grew more violent. Julian managed to land an elbow strike to Klein’s jaw. The latter countered with a kick that hit Julian in the ribs. They were both bleeding now. Their breaths were heavy, visible in the cold air.

Klein stepped back a few paces. He raised his katana to eye level, the aura intensifying around the blade.

"Let’s finish this."

Julian planted his feet in the snow and raised his sword above his head. A huge amount of mana concentrated around him. The frost thickened, almost forming armor around his body.

"Yes. Let’s finish this."

The two men prepared to launch their most powerful attack. The air trembled around them. Just as they were about to release their technique, they both sensed a danger approaching very quickly.

They leaped backward at the same time. At the exact spot where they had been standing, several arrows of pure mana embedded deeply into the snow with a sharp sound. The arrows were still vibrating, emitting an intense blue light.

Klein and Julian turned their heads at the same time. Jasper stood a little higher up on the path, his bow drawn and several mana arrows already ready to be fired. His expression was serious.

"I think this has gone on long enough," Jasper said in a firm voice. "If despite everything you insist on doing as you please, I will be forced to stop you by force."

"Tsss..." Julian clicked his tongue in annoyance. He slowly lowered his sword, wiped the blood from his face with the back of his hand. His gaze moved from Jasper to Klein, still filled with anger.

Without adding a word, he turned on his heels. His boots crunched on the snow as he walked away with long strides, leaving behind a trail of frost that melted slowly. Soon, his silhouette disappeared between the snowy rocks.

Klein remained motionless for a moment, his katana still in hand. He was breathing heavily. Blood flowed from his cheek and his leg. He slowly sheathed his weapon and looked at Jasper.

"Thank you...," he said simply.

"I couldn’t let you kill each other here," Jasper replied as he lowered his bow.

The snow continued to fall gently around them. The cold wind carried away the traces of the fight. The crater in the center of the battlefield was still smoking slightly. Klein wiped his face with a slow gesture. The tension in the air gradually decreased, but the hostility between the two former companions remained palpable.

Jasper approached a few steps.

"You should heal that leg before it freezes. And you, Julian... he carries a lot of pain."

Klein nodded without answering right away. He looked in the direction where Julian had gone. Silence returned to the mountain, disturbed only by the distant sound of the wind.