Era of Players: Death God
Chapter 59 - 59: Lightning Vs Darkness

Facing Noah's provocation Aiden didn't respond, he calmed down before aiming him free right hand at Noah and chanted.

''Lightning Fist!"

Aiden's fist, propelled by the power of his Lightning Fist, seemed to crackle with electricity as it hurtled towards Noah. The speed was astonishing, leaving a faint blue trail in its wake. Yet, Noah remained unfazed. His Mana's Armor, a defensive technique he acquired recently, shimmered faintly as it absorbed the brunt of the attack.

Bang!

A low boom resonated through the air as the lightning fist collided with the invisible barrier. The force was enough to push Noah back a few steps, his feet scraping slightly against the ground. Despite the impact, the Mana's Armor held firm, leaving Noah unharmed.

A momentary surprise flickered across Aiden's eyes. He hadn't expected his signature attack, known for its devastating speed and piercing power, to be so easily countered. Yet, he quickly recovered, a determined glint returning to his gaze.

"Interesting," Noah said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "So, you have awakened another element? Lightning. Not a bad trick."

Aiden didn't reply. Instead, he launched into a series of hand movements, weaving intricate patterns in the air. The air around him crackled with renewed energy, and a small ball of pure lightning materialized between his outstretched palm.

Aiden's yell of "Condense and bloom! Lightning Sphere!" tore through the air, the vibrant blue orb crackling with raw power as it hurtled towards Noah. The playful glint in Noah's eyes had vanished, replaced by a steely determination. With a swift movement, he raised his sword, the blue aura around it intensifying as he channeled his own power.

Boom!

The ground shuddered as the sphere collided with the earth just before Noah. A blinding flash erupted, momentarily eclipsing the scene in its brilliance. Instead of the expected explosion, the sphere fractured, its energy cleaved in two by the precise swing of Noah's blade.

One half arced past him harmlessly, the other detonating with a thunderous crack against the nearby rock face, sending a shower of sparks and debris raining down.

Capitalizing on the distraction, Aiden, a blur of motion, emerged from the smoke. His fist, crackling with potent electricity, arced towards Noah's unsuspecting back.

However, he wasn't as caught off guard as Aiden had hoped. Noah, sensing the movement through his Presence Detection, had already pivoted, his blue aura flaring outwards to form a shimmering shield.

A deafening clang resonated through the air as Aiden's sword met the barrier. The force of the impact jolted up his arm, momentarily contorting his face in a grimace. Though surprised by the sudden assault, Noah held his ground, the blue shield flickering momentarily but ultimately holding firm.

As the smoke slowly cleared, revealing two figures locked in a tense stand-off, the silence that descended was thick with unspoken words.

Suddenly they moved in unison their weapons raised high.

Clangs! Clangs!

Sparks flew as their blades met in a clash of metal and blue light. Aiden, fuelled by a desperate need to land a blow, unleashed a flurry of lightning bolts, each crackling through the air with deadly precision.

Boom! Boom!

Noah, however, moved with an almost supernatural agility. He weaved and parried with minimal motions, his sword a blur of controlled defense. It was a whirlwind of offense and defense, a dance of lightning and steel.

Frustration etched itself onto Aiden's face. Every bolt he fired seemed to find an opening only to be met with Noah's lightning-fast reflexes. The air crackled with a desperate energy, the smell of ozone heavy under the oppressive silence.

Suddenly, Noah saw his chance. As Aiden launched another desperate bolt, Noah countered. With a precise flick of his wrist, he deflected the lightning downward, sending it scorching a furrow into the ground just in front of Aiden's feet. The unexpected maneuver caught Aiden off guard momentarily, creating a split-second opening.

Seizing this opportunity, Noah lunged forward with blinding speed. His blue-aura-coated blade aimed for Aiden's chest, its edge humming with contained power. Aiden, adrenaline surging through him, reacted instinctively. He threw himself back, barely avoiding the deadly strike. The blade sang as it sliced through the air a hair's breadth from his chest, leaving a burning sensation in its wake.

Aiden scrambled to his feet, his chest heaving with exertion. He realized brute force wasn't working. He needed a new strategy, a way to bypass Noah's incredible agility. He glanced at the scorch mark left by the deflected lightning bolt, a spark of inspiration igniting in his eyes. A new plan began to form in his mind, a gamble that may just turn the tide of the battle.

A desperate grin painted itself onto Aiden's face. He knew he couldn't outmaneuver Noah in a straight-up duel. So, he decided to use Noah's own speed against him.

"You're fast, Noah, I'll give you that," Aiden said, his voice raspy.

"But let's see how you like being chased."

He raised his hand again, but this time, instead of focusing on one concentrated sphere, he weaved his fingers in a rapid sequence. Sparks danced around his fingertips as he split his magic, creating multiple small, fast-moving orbs of lightning. With a flick of his wrist, he sent them shooting out in all directions, forming a web around Noah.

Noah, caught off guard by the sudden change in strategy, was forced to abandon his offensive stance. He danced and weaved through the barrage of lightning, his blue aura flaring as it absorbed the smaller bolts. He moved with practiced ease, his movements a blur of trained reflexes.

However, this wasn't a simple attack. As Noah focused on dodging the numerous projectiles, Aiden saw his chance. He channeled the remaining magic within him, forming a single, larger sphere of lightning, crackling with raw power, and aimed it directly at the ground beneath Noah's feet.

Noah, in the midst of avoiding a volley of smaller bolts, only noticed the larger sphere at the last second. He realized he wouldn't be able to completely dodge both the web of lightning and the larger sphere. A quick decision had to be made.

With a grunt, Noah channeled his mana into his sword, causing the blue aura to intensify. He raised the blade above his head, intending to deflect the larger sphere as he navigated through the smaller ones.

The scene became a chaotic dance of light and motion. Noah, a whirlwind of blue, deflected the smaller bolts with his energized sword, while the larger sphere hurtled towards him.

With this Aiden was certain of his victory, to further seal this victory he had sent signal to Gareth in hiding to move to deal the finishing blow just in case. A smirk couldn't help adorning his face.

Aiden's smirk faltered as Noah's playful demeanor vanished, replaced by a chilling seriousness. The world plunged into sudden darkness, swallowing them both in an inky blackness.

Noah had just unleashed his second exclusive skill: The Night of Death!

Aiden's heart hammered against his ribs. His victory, once certain, now felt like a distant dream.

He couldn't see Noah, but he felt him. A presence radiating a deadly aura materialized in front of him, impossibly fast. Before Aiden could react, a fist, imbued with Noah's fury and full strength, slammed into his stomach.

Bang !

The impact stealing the air from his lungs.

''Gah!"

He crumpled to his knees, a strangled cry escaping his lips as he vomited a torrent of blood.

Distantly, he heard a muffled grunt and the sickening clang of metal on flesh. His vision blurred, the darkness swimming with swirling lights. A single thought echoed in his mind: Gareth.

Through the haze, he saw a faint blue glow – Noah's sword, embedded in a large form lying motionless several meters away. The realization hit him like a physical blow. Gareth had tried to intervene, and now...

A guttural laugh ripped through the darkness, devoid of mirth, filled with a chilling inhumanity. Aiden felt a heavy boot connect with his back, driving him face-first into the unforgiving ground. He tasted dirt and blood, gasping for breath that wouldn't come. He was helpless, utterly defeated.

"Seems like underestimating your opponent isn't the best strategy, is it, Aiden?" Noah's voice, cold and emotionless, echoed in the darkness.

Aiden coughed, blood dribbling down his chin. He wanted to retort, to fight back, but his body refused to obey. He was a broken toy, discarded and forgotten in the aftermath of a brutal game.

The darkness remained, a suffocating presence mirroring the suffocating despair that threatened to consume him. As his consciousness faded, the chilling image of Noah's laughter flickered in the void, a haunting reminder of his utter defeat. He thought this time he had prepared best, he could win, to ensure his victory he increased his level like crazy.

He even awakened a second element, he brought Gareth with him just in case, everything was to win this rematch but alas he still failed with all the preparation he did. He couldn't understand, with his background, his talent, he must be the winner? He must have everything, glory and her and yet Noah kept getting in his way? Just why?

Aiden kept wondering why he always lose to Noah? Is this his destiny? To always be second? No, he doesn't believe it. Maybe it was because he hasn't worked harder? Yes it had to be.

He needs to work hard and stop underestimating Noah, treating like an equal.

Having come to this realization, Aiden open his mouth and with difficulty said.

''Cough! It's my defeat this time. Cough! Next time I.. I will surely crush you.'' He took out his smart bracelet and tossed it to the side, his body was enveloped by blue light before vanishing.

Noah canceled the Night of Death and light came back. He picked up the smart bracelet before moving toward Gareth and retrieved his smart bracelet as well, sending him out. He stood alone in the plain, bathing in sunlight before his body suddenly fall to the ground with a thud.

''Sure, I'll be waiting.''

He was too exhausted and his body hurts all over, he swallowed back the blood threatening to come out. Aiden was strong, much stronger than anticipated and despite losing in such a fashion, his will didn't crumble, for the first time Noah felt respect towards Aiden.

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