Chương 255: A Smaller Gap

Vale cast his weapon aside at the edge of the library's underground arena, the metal clattering sharply against stone before settling into silence. The chamber stretched wide and bare around him, its scarred walls and fractured floor bearing witness to countless battles fought within its confines. Now, it held only two figures: Vale, and the shadow that faced him. Shade stood motionless, arms crossed, his crimson eyes fixed on Vale with quiet anticipation, as though he had all the time in the world.

Vale rolled his shoulders and stretched broadly, a faint groan escaping him as he loosened his limbs.

"One… two…" he muttered under his breath, rotating his arms, then his legs, working tension out of his muscles. After a moment, he exhaled deeply and raised his guard, a cocky smile tugging at his lips as he met Shade's gaze.

"Come on, Shade," he said, voice steady despite the edge of challenge beneath it.

"I'm ready." Shade's eyes lit with unmistakable delight, and without hesitation, he seized his greatsword and hurled it forward. The weapon tore through the air with brutal force, missing Vale by a fraction, close enough that the displaced wind lashed across his face, sending his hair whipping wildly. A thunderous crash followed as the blade embedded itself deep into the arena wall, stone splintering outward from the impact.

Vale blinked, then let out a strained, nervous smile, glancing toward the lodged weapon before looking back at Shade.

"Was that really necessary?" he asked, though his tone suggested he already knew the answer. Shade didn't speak, but the shift in his glowing eyes, subtle, yet unmistakable, carried the shape of a grin. Vale inhaled slowly, centering himself. He adjusted his footing, widening his stance, his expression sharpening as he studied the shadow before him. He knew exactly what he was up against. Shade was superior in nearly every measurable way, stronger, faster, more skilled, more experienced.

Even as something bound to him, Shade fought with a ferocity and independence that ignored any notion of hierarchy. Vale's only advantage was his size, his agility.

'Then that's what I'll use,' he decided, his eyes narrowing with resolve.

"Come on," he said again, quieter now, focused. Shade moved. The distance between them vanished in less than a heartbeat. One moment he stood still, the next, he had already crossed over a dozen meters, his massive form cutting through space with terrifying speed. Vale barely had time to react, he threw himself backward as Shade's fist came crashing down. The impact shattered the stone floor, fragments erupting outward in a violent burst.

Vale twisted mid-motion, narrowly avoiding the strike, and countered immediately. His heel snapped upward, slamming into Shade's jaw with all the force he could muster. It was like striking a mountain. Shade didn't move. Vale's eyes widened.

'Not good.' He tried to pull his leg back, but Shade's hand shot out and clamped around it with crushing certainty. Panic flickered across Vale's face.

"Oh, damn," he muttered. A moment later, he was airborne. Shade lifted him effortlessly and hurled him across the arena. The world spun as Vale hurtled toward the far wall, but instinct took over, he twisted midair, planting his feet against the stone. The impact cracked the surface beneath him, but he managed to absorb enough force to avoid serious injury. He pushed off immediately, landing back on the ground in a low stance, breath coming fast and uneven.

'That was close.' His jaw tightened as realization settled in.

'I still can't afford a single mistake. Not against him.' And yet, despite the danger, a faint smirk crept onto his face.

"A pity," he muttered under his breath. Then he charged again. Shade rose to meet him, his crimson gaze narrowing as he tracked Vale's approach. Vale sprinted straight ahead before veering sharply to the right as Shade's fist descended once more. The shadow adjusted instantly, redirecting his strike, but Vale anticipated it. He twisted again, slipping past the attack by inches.

'Yes.' Momentum carried him forward. He gathered his breath, his focus tightening, his body coiling for the next strike. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Shade reacted again, raising a leg to intercept, but Vale moved first. His metallic arm surged forward, muscles tightening beyond their natural limits as he executed the technique Shade himself had taught him.

Power condensed unnaturally into the strike, oxygen burning through his system as the blow landed with explosive force. This time, Shade recoiled. His eyes twitched, a flicker of pain breaking through the usual calm. Vale's grin widened, something fierce and unrestrained flashing across his face.

'Yes… I can win.' He pressed forward without hesitation. One strike flowed into another, each fueled by the same dangerous technique, muscles compressing, strength forced beyond safe limits, oxygen draining rapidly from his body. He had learned the cost the hard way: five consecutive strikes was his limit before collapse became inevitable. But here, that limit didn't matter. His fist drove into Shade's abdomen, impact reverberating through the arena. The shadow staggered slightly.

Vale twisted with the motion, delivering an upward strike that connected cleanly with Shade's jaw, snapping his head back as the force echoed outward. For a brief moment, Vale held the advantage. Then he hesitated. Just a fraction too long. Shade's eyes sharpened instantly. His body shifted with sudden precision, intercepting Vale's next strike mid-motion. His hand closed around Vale's arm, stopping it completely. Slowly, he looked down at him, his expression no longer amused, but edged with irritation.

Vale froze under that gaze, tension coiling in his chest.

"…Any chance you'll go easy on me?" he asked, half-joking, though the answer was already clear. Shade didn't respond. He didn't need to.

"Thought so," Vale sighed. The next instant, he was thrown again. He skidded violently across the stone floor, friction tearing at his clothes as he tumbled. At the last moment, he planted one arm against the ground, using the momentum to vault himself back upright. His body twisted mid-motion, feet finding purchase as he regained his stance in a single fluid movement. Dust settled slowly around him as he exhaled, steadying his breathing. Across the arena, Shade stood waiting.

Vale lifted his gaze, locking onto those glowing crimson eyes once more. A smug smile spread across Vale's face as sweat traced a slow line down his chin. His chest rose and fell with controlled strain, yet beneath the fatigue, something brighter burned, excitement. Unrestrained excitement. He stood only a few steps away from Shade now, closer than he had ever managed before without being immediately overwhelmed.

The same shadow that had once nearly ended him in a single exchange was now recoiling under his strikes. The gap hadn't closed entirely, not even close, but it had narrowed, and Vale could feel it. That alone was enough to make his confidence surge.

"Let's go, Shade," he said, lifting his hands again, his voice carrying a sharp edge of anticipation.

"One more time." Shade regarded him in silence. For a brief moment, his crimson eyes widened, just slightly, just enough to betray a flicker of surprise. Then the expression settled, sharpening into focus as he raised his guard in return. The air between them tightened. Vale inhaled deeply, steadying himself, his gaze locking onto Shade's movements.

'I'll move first,' he decided, shifting his weight forward, but Shade was faster. The shadow surged forward in a blur, his massive form tearing across the arena with explosive speed. Vale's eyes flickered as instinct took over. He pivoted sharply, his body spinning as his leg whipped outward in a wide arc, aiming to intercept the charge before it could fully close the distance. It didn't matter. Shade lifted a single arm and caught the strike effortlessly. Vale's breath hitched.

The towering shadow loomed over him, unmoved, unshaken. Shade raised his other fist high above his head, the motion heavy with intent. Vale's eyes tracked it, widening as realization set in.

'So you've stopped holding back,' he thought, a flicker of tension threading through his chest. The fist came down. It stopped inches from his face. The impact never landed, but the force behind it was undeniable. A violent gust of wind tore through the arena, whipping Vale's hair across his face and rattling the fractured stone beneath his feet. For a moment, all he could hear was the rush of displaced air and the echo of what could have been. Then silence returned.

Vale exhaled heavily, his breath uneven as Shade released his leg. He stumbled back a step, staring up at the shadow with something close to awe.

"Damn, Shade…" he muttered, a faint, breathless laugh escaping him.

"You really are something, aren't you?" Shade's expression shifted, subtle, restrained, but there was a quiet acknowledgment in the way he moved. He gave a small shrug, as if dismissing the praise, then extended a hand. The greatsword embedded in the arena wall trembled before wrenching itself free, carving a fresh crater into the stone as it returned to rest across his back. Vale watched it with a soft chuckle, shaking his head. The tension in his shoulders eased slightly, the adrenaline beginning to settle.

For a moment, neither of them moved. Then Vale's expression changed. The energy drained from his grin, replaced by something quieter, something heavier. His gaze drifted upward, meeting Shade's eyes again, but this time there was no challenge in it.

"Hey… Shade," he said, his voice lower now, edged with thought rather than excitement. He hesitated. For a brief moment, he said nothing at all. Then, finally,"Do you think Eskar will survive this place?"