Chapter 109: A Battle In The Skies


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    Alexei''s eyes narrowed dangerously as he spoke, his voice low and menacing. "What are you trying to say, Kan? That our lord should bow to yours?"


    Kan felt his heart skip a beat, the words throwing him off bnce. "No, Alexei, that''s not what I-"


    "How dare you look down on my lord like that? I was willing to go easy on you because we are brothers, but if you dare to insult the lord I swore my sword to, then you will die here today!" Alexei cut him off, his tone rising with anger.


    Alexei suddenly raised his sword high, the de crackling with lightning. He leaned forward, his body pressing close to the neck of his dragon, his legs tightening around the beast''s nks.


    "Charge!" he yelled, his voice echoing through the sky. His riders flew forward, their dragons roaring together as theyunched into a full-speed assault.


    Kan''s mind raced, struggling to understand the sudden esction of events.


    ''This doesn''t make any sense,'' he thought, watching the oing horde.


    ''Aren''t dragons supposed to be rational creatures? Why is Alexei so hot-blooded, so irrational?''


    In the back of his mind, he remembered the words of his dragon knight, Darven. Darven, too, had a simr fiery temper, or at least a love for battle-a trait Kan had always thought was due to his desire to serve him, but now he was starting to think it could be something else entirely.


    ''Could it be... Is it because they''re lightning dragons? Or is it just their pride?'' he wondered.


    But there was no time to think about it. Alexei, riding atop his massive obsidian dragon, was flying toward him, his long sword drawn and crackling with lightning. Kan barely had time to react before the first swing came.


    Kan quickly leaned to his right, gripping the reins tightly in his left hand while his right hand drew his own sword from its scabbard.


    He shifted his weight, guiding his dragon into a tight roll to the side just as Alexei''s first strike came down. The de whistled through the air, narrowly missing Kan''s head by inches.


    Kan''s dragon responded instantly to hismands, its wings tilting to the side to avoid the attack.


    Kan straightened himself and immediately retaliated, swinging his sword in a wide arc aimed at Alexei''s side. Alexei deflected the blow with a sharp flick of his wrist, the sh of their des sending a shower of sparks into the air.


    ''This isn''t good. He''s strong, and I don''t have any battle experience fighting like this,'' he thought, gritting his teeth.


    Alexei gritted his teeth as well, his jaw tensing in anger. He lifted his sword high and brought it down with a forceful, two-handed sh aimed at Kan''s shoulder.


    Kan saw the attacking and pulled back hard on the reins, causing his dragon to rear up on its hind legs. The sudden movement lifted Kan out of the direct line of attack, the de grazing harmlessly past his chest.


    Kan then twisted his body sharply to the left, using the momentum to sh at Alexei''s exposed side.


    Alexei, with lightning-quick reflexes, spun his sword in a circr motion, meeting Kan''s de with a loud ng. The impact vibrated up their arms, but neither of them would give in.


    "Is this what your lord has done to you?" Alexei asked, his tone dangerous. "Your skills seem to have dulled, pathetic!"


    ''This is bad. I have to get us to the ground so I can stand a chance,'' Kan thought.


    Their mounts, the lesser dragons, continued to battle in mid-air, snapping at each other with their powerful jaws.


    Kan''s dragon sprang forward, attempting to sink its teeth into the neck of Alexei''s mount. Alexei''s dragon responded by twisting its body, swinging its tail with tremendous force. The tail struck Kan''s dragon in the side, forcing it to veer off course.


    Kan held on tightly as his dragon was knocked off bnce, quickly shifting his weight topensate.


    He adjusted his grip on the reins, pulling his dragon back into a stable flight path. He then angled his body forward, urging his dragon into a steep dive to gain speed.


    "Are you running away now?"


    "Where is your pride as a Valor-Void?"


    "You are a disgrace to our n!" Alexei''s angry tone filled the air as he chased after Kan.


    Alexei followed closely, his eyes locked onto Kan like a predator stalking its prey.


    ''The ground seems to still be thousands of feet down. If Ind like this, he could catch me off guard.''


    ''I have to do something he wouldn''t expect.''


    As they dived, Kan risked a quick nce back, catching sight of Alexei''s intense gaze. He knew he needed to turn the tables.


    Kan suddenly yanked the reins to the left, causing his dragon to snap its wings open and hover up sharply.


    The move was so sudden that Alexei had to pull back on his own reins to avoid crashing into him.


    Taking advantage of Alexei''s brief hesitation, Kan swung his sword upward, aiming for Alexei''s weapon hand.


    The move forced Alexei to adjust his grip, raising his sword in a defensive block. The sh of steel echoed as Kan''s de met Alexei''s in a series of lightning-fast shes. Kan''s movements were smooth; each swing of his sword was well controlled, though unrefined.


    He twisted his torso, rotating his hips to generate more power with each strike. His feet were nted firmly in the stirrups, allowing him to maintain bnce despite the dragon''s rapid


    movements.


    Alexei, however, matched him blow for blow. He shifted his weight from side to side, keeping his stance wide and stable.


    Each of his strikes was aggressive and forceful, the lightning crackling around his de adding extra power to his attacks.


    Suddenly, Alexei''s dragon let out a furious roar and lunged at Kan''s mount, its ws


    extended.


    Kan''s dragon attempted to evade, but the obsidian beast was too fast. The two dragons collided with a massive boom, their bodies crashing together.


    Kan was nearly thrown from his saddle but managed to keep his grip, his body pressed close to his dragon''s neck as the two beasts grappled mid-air. He could feel the strain in his dragon''s muscles as it fought to break free from the other''s grasp. He knew they couldn''t keep


    this up for long.


    Suddenly, out of nowhere, Alexei spoke. "Even on a bad day, Kan''s attacks are not so


    uncoordinated and unrefined."


    "But your body is not in bad shape; it''s perfect, in fact. But your skills are entirely


    nonexistent."


    "A Valor-Void''s skills couldn''t possibly diminish overnight."


    As he spoke, Kan felt a chill run down his spine as he paused, taking in hisst words.


    Alexei''s purple eyes glowed brightly from behind the visors of his helmet as he said, "This may not make any sense, but I''m sure of it. You are definitely not Kan. So tell me, who


    exactly are you?"