Crucible Aeternum: Ascending through Skill Trees

Verglas' words shocked his subordinates. For as long as they knew him, Verglas had been the most courageous of knights. He was always the one who stood on the frontlines, fighting the most difficult battles. He was known as the Bastion Knight, the one who shielded the people, the one who waits for a new dawn.

But here he was, pleading another man to leave. It was obvious that Verglas did not want to fight. Whether out of fear or something else, they did not know. But Verglas' words were clear, his intent was clear. And Galeon understood that there was nothing else he could do in this situation. He spoke out once more, this time his voice lacked any emotion or familiarity whatsoever.

"I heard a woman's voice earlier. Analysis shows a 93% match with the songstress, Sairen. Target found. Retrieval operation commencing. Stand aside, Verglas."

To Verglas, it was like a stinging mockery that he did not expect to hear from Galeon. Verglas and Galeon, these two had an unusual friendship built on mutual respect. They had worked together on several commissions and damn were they good partners.

Galeon was not very sociable, with very few even knowing his real name. Verglas was among the few who were close enough to know. And it was because he knew him that Verglas really did not want to fight Galeon. His subordinates were correct, all of them. He did not want to fight Galeon because he was afraid of him and also because he was trustworthy friend.

"Galeon, please! Just leave! Forget what you saw here! Nothing here will affect you! I'm just try-!"

Before he could even finish his words, Verglas was hit by a tremendous force that pushed him down to the ground. He crashed loudly, his head forming a small crater as his vision spun momentarily. It was too fast. He did not even have time to react even when he saw it coming.

He quickly stood back up and found Galeon was already by the entrance of the central tent where he heard the voice of the songstress, Sairen. Verglas could not believe what happened. It has been a year or several months since they last worked together on a commission. But back then, Galeon was no where near this fast. He could not understand how this was possible.

He pulled out his sword from the sheath tied to his waist. And using his ability, Prismana coated it with a dark metallic colour that greatly increased its heft, but to him, it weighed the same. He immediately dashed forward, lifting his sword high before swinging it down in a swift but well-timed execution.

The attack was not meant to directly hit Galeon, but to push him away from the tent. He could not let him get close to Sairen because he would not be able to fight Galeon properly otherwise. He still did not want to fight him which was why he only pushed him away, but if Galeon continued, then there really was no other choice.

Galeon immediately dashed away from the downward swing of Verglas' sword. The increased weight it had crushed the ground, sending dirt and rocks flying everywhere. The tent nearly collapsed from the tremor.

A distance away, Galeon watched silently as Verglas now stood between him and the tent. The sword was glowing with a dark metallic light that he had seen before. Verglas' ability increases the mass and weight of something through Prismana. He often used it on his sword and the shield he had yet to bring out making him one of the best warriors out there as the increased weight never affected him.

He could be swinging a ten tonne sword and to him it would be like waving around a simple stick. His shield becomes as sturdy and heavy as a city wall and he would just be carrying it around as though he could not even feel it. Galeon honestly did not want to fight Verglas either. Both knew how troublesome an opponent they were, but circumstances forced them to fight.

In the lull of battle, the entrance to tent parted as Sairen stepped out. Her eyes filled with anxiety as she stared at Verglas and the soldiers warily. When she found Galeon, her eyes shone with hope. She knew who this man was. The Dancing Blade was a well-known figure in Melchior, but people seldom see him. Sairen herself was meeting him for the first time and the only reason she knew it was him was because the Governor had once told him about his appearance, or rather, his suit.

"Dancing Blade, please take me away from here! I want to go back home!"

Galeon nodded toward Sairen who was now being surrounded by the soldiers. They did not seem to be restraining her, but rather were protecting her. They brought farther away from Verglas and Galeon who were still watching each other, waiting for either of them to move.

"What are you doing here, Verglas? Why did you kidnap this girl?"

"Kindap? Is that what you think we're doing? Well, let me correct your misconception. We didn't kidnap her. We're taking her back home."

Galeon noted Verglas tone. There was a subtle urgency in his voice that reminded Galeon of the reason he was hurrying. He did not know if Verglas knew about it, but there was definitely something bad that will happen soon. And he did not want to be here when it comes. Liquid crystal flowed down his arms as he grasped in his hands two swords.

"I'm in a hurry, Verglas. So we'll have to end this quick. Besides, her home is in Melchior."

As he spoke those last words, Galeon vanished in a sudden brilliant flash of light that blinded everyone present. Verglas quickly swung his sword around him, making sure that Galeon could not come close to him while his vision was recovering. However, the moment his vision cleared, he did not find Galeon near him.

He turned around to find the soldiers surrounding Sairen had huge injuries. Some had lost their arms. Others were bleeding from their chests. Galeon had already incapacitated them and carried Sairen with one arm. And just as he was about to leave, a tremor split the ground under him, forcing him to jump to the side.

He looked over and found Verglas whose eyes were bloodshot with rage. He did not know whether his subordinates were still alive, but the fact that Galeon even attacked them when they were supposed to be fighting each other was a great dishonour to him.

"Galeon, I didn't know you were such a coward! Fight me properly! Why drag in those weaker than you?!"

"Are you stupid? We're enemies. Do you expect me to spare them just because we had one or two exchanges? This isn't a duel, Verglas. You're not a knight."

Despite being friends, Galeon always found Verglas' strict discipline and rigidity annoying. He liked to play the role of an honourable knight in a world where honour was a luxury. He never commented on it, but now he no longer cared. As he said, they were enemies. Besides, he did not outright kill the soldiers. He did not need to.

Galeon dashed out of the encampment, his wings once more beginning to flap behind him. Verglas, however, became even more livid upon hearing his last words. The dark metallic glow of his Prismana began coating his body like armour as he bellowed out, his voice resounding in this area of the forest.

"You think I'm not a knight?! Then let me introduce myself properly! I am Verglas, the Bastion Knight! A proud member of the Weltsritter! A proud protector of this world!"

Galeon zipped through the air while carrying a pale and frightened Sairen. He heard Verglas' words, his introduction. He wondered what the Weltsritter was. This was another organisation that he has never of before. Why were they appearing now? And what did he mean by taking Sairen home?

Before Galeon's thoughts could reach any further, something incredibly heavy crashed down in front of him, sending him and Sairen flying to a nearby tree. He cushioned Sairen who would undoubtedly be greatly injured if not dead if she was to hit the tree. The impact knocked the breath out his lungs for a brief moment, but in battle, every moment was precious.

Similar to what Galeon did earlier, Verglas dashed forward before Galeon could recover. He reached out with his empty left hand coated in dark metallic light, grasping Galeon's head and dragging him away from Sairen.

Verglas threw Galeon to an opposite tree with great momentum, but Galeon had already recovered. Liquid crystal flowed across the surface of his suit before he hit the tree, reducing the impact. Then both he and Verglas shot toward each other. One coated in dark metallic Prismana, the other shining with a resplendent white light.

Their clash resulted in an explosive wave that was somehow contained within a small area, preventing it from reaching Sairen who was retreating farther into the distance. She could not even think of the beasts roaming the forest, not that she needed to since the beasts were also staying far away from this battle.

When the aftermath of the clash ended, Verglas and Galeon had already created some distance between them. Both looked injured. Some parts of Verglas' body had been scorched from the intense heat of Galeon's light. And Galeon himself had broken one of his arms and some of his ribs. However, the difference between them was obvious.

Despite his injuries, Galeon still stood tall. Beneath his suit, his injuries were already healing at a visible speed.