Chapter 20: The First Strike

 

The air had grown colder, and the once peaceful forest where Jae-ho and Arson had trained now felt more like a battleground. Jae-ho had a sinking feeling in his stomach that tonight, everything would change.

As the sun set, casting long shadows across the ground, Jae-ho and Arson stood together in the clearing. Jae-ho’s hands glowed faintly with the golden energy he had come to master, while Arson’s blue aura flickered around him like a protective shield.

“We need to stay focused,” Arson said, his eyes scanning the horizon. “Arak’s close—I can feel it.”

Jae-ho nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. He had trained hard for this moment, but the fear of the unknown still gnawed at him. “I’m ready,” he said, more to reassure himself than Arson.

Suddenly, a gust of wind rustled through the trees, and Jae-ho felt it—a dark, heavy presence moving toward them. The air crackled with energy, and a moment later, Arak appeared, stepping out of the shadows with a cruel smile on his face.

“Well, well, well,” Arak drawled, his yellow power sparking around him. “It seems like you two have been busy.”

Jae-ho’s heart raced as he faced Arak, but he forced himself to stand tall. “This ends here, Arak. We won’t let you hurt anyone else.”

Arak laughed, a low, menacing sound that sent a shiver down Jae-ho’s spine. “Hurt anyone? Oh, Jae-ho, you misunderstand. I don’t want to hurt you. I want your power.”

Before Jae-ho could respond, Arak raised his hand, and a bolt of yellow energy shot toward him. Arson reacted instantly, throwing up a shield of blue energy to block the attack. The two forces collided with a deafening crack, sending ripples of power through the air.

“Stay behind me,” Arson commanded, his voice tight with concentration. He stepped forward, his blue energy flaring as he prepared to defend Jae-ho from Arak’s next strike.

But Jae-ho shook his head, stepping up beside him. “No. We fight together.”

For a moment, Arson hesitated, his protective instincts warring with the knowledge that Jae-ho was no longer the same helpless person he had once been. Then, with a determined nod, he let Jae-ho stand at his side.

Arak smirked, clearly enjoying the tension between them. “How touching,” he sneered. “But it won’t make a difference.”

With a flick of his wrist, Arak unleashed another wave of yellow energy, more powerful than the last. Jae-ho and Arson both reacted at the same time, their powers intertwining as they pushed back against the attack. The golden and blue energies swirled together, creating a dazzling display of light as they clashed with Arak’s power.

Jae-ho could feel the strain of the battle weighing on him, but he refused to give in. He focused on the bond between him and Arson, drawing strength from it as they fought side by side. Their connection was strong—stronger than he had ever imagined—and for the first time, Jae-ho truly understood what Arson had meant when he said their bond was the key to their power.

But Arak wasn’t finished yet. With a snarl, he summoned a massive surge of yellow energy, launching it directly at Jae-ho. Time seemed to slow as Jae-ho saw the attack coming, and for a split second, he thought he wouldn’t be able to stop it.

But Arson was faster. Without hesitation, he stepped in front of Jae-ho, taking the full force of the blast.

“Arson!” Jae-ho screamed, his heart lurching in his chest as Arson was thrown backward by the impact. He hit the ground hard, his blue energy flickering weakly around him.

Jae-ho’s blood ran cold as he rushed to Arson’s side. “No, no, no... please, Arson, stay with me.”

Arson groaned, his eyes fluttering open as he tried to sit up. “I’m... okay,” he muttered, though his voice was strained. “Just... keep fighting.”

But Jae-ho couldn’t focus. His mind was racing, panic setting in as he realized just how close he had come to losing Arson. And then, something inside him snapped.

The golden energy that had been simmering inside Jae-ho exploded outward, far more powerful than anything he had ever felt before. His eyes glowed with a fierce light as he turned to face Arak, his entire body radiating with energy.

Arak’s smirk faltered, his eyes widening in surprise. “What... what is this?”

Jae-ho didn’t answer. With a roar, he unleashed a massive wave of golden energy, far stronger than anything he had ever managed in training. The force of it shook the ground, and Arak barely had time to react before the energy slammed into him, sending him flying backward.

For a moment, everything was still. Jae-ho stood there, panting, his body still glowing with golden light as the dust settled. Arak was nowhere to be seen, and the forest was eerily quiet.

Jae-ho turned back to Arson, who was struggling to sit up. “Are you okay?” Jae-ho asked, his voice trembling with concern.

Arson nodded weakly, but his eyes were filled with pride as he looked at Jae-ho. “You did it,” he said softly. “You’re stronger than you know.”

Jae-ho knelt beside him, his heart still racing from the battle. “We need to get you out of here,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “You need to rest.”

But even as they spoke, Jae-ho knew this wasn’t over. Arak had been defeated—for now—but the threat was far from gone. And the next time they faced him, they would have to be even stronger.

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To be continued...