The cold wind howled through the towering spires of the Interdimensional Sword Academy, swirling shards of frost like restless spirits around the battleground. The sky was painted a bruised purple, clouds roiling as if mirroring the turmoil in Kayn's chest. The arena—vast and ethereal—stood suspended between worlds, glowing with runes pulsing like the heartbeat of the multiverse itself.
Kayn tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, the legendary Supreme Sword whispering faintly with anticipation. His eyes, sharp and cold as obsidian, fixed on his opponent—Prince Zhen, the so-called "Ice Prince," heir of the frozen North and champion of the Glacial Sovereign clan. Zhen was a formidable figure, draped in armor that shimmered like carved glaciers, his breath crystallizing in the air, every movement exuding a lethal grace.
This duel was more than a mere test of strength or skill—it was a pivotal moment in Kayn's journey through this world, a challenge laid down by the Academy itself. Defeat meant exile, erasure of his rising legend. Victory? A step closer to reclaiming his forgotten throne and uncovering the truths buried deep within Lyana's sealed memories.
"Are you ready to be shattered, Rebooted God?" Zhen's voice cut through the icy wind, a sharp edge of disdain hidden beneath the polite facade.
Kayn's lips curled into a cold smile, voice low but dripping with conviction. "I am no mere god reborn. I am the reckoning you never saw coming."
The crowd surrounding the arena was a swirl of flickering shadows and glowing spirits—spectators from countless universes, drawn to witness this clash of titans. The System's voice echoed faintly in Kayn's mind, cool and calculated.
System: Initiating duel parameters. Opponent's power level: 4,800,000. Tactical advice: exploit elemental imbalance.
Kayn's eyes narrowed. The Ice Prince's mastery of frost was legendary, but cold was a weakness to fire—and the Supreme Sword could channel energies from all realms. His palms tingled as latent flames stirred within the blade's core.
"Let's end this fast." Kayn murmured, centering himself.
The arena's surface shifted—frost and flame intertwined, ice cracking beneath a rising heat. Kayn's first move was a blur, a slash that cleaved the air with scorching energy. Zhen countered swiftly, a shield of frost materializing, but the heat chipped at its edges.
Their swords sang a deadly duet—fire against ice, chaos against control. Kayn's strikes were ruthless and precise, each blow infused with his growing mastery of the Supreme Sword's multiverse skills. Zhen's counterattacks were elegant, weaving through the flames with practiced ease, but his smirk faltered.
"You're stronger than I expected," Zhen admitted through gritted teeth, eyes flickering with icy blue fury.
Kayn's mind raced, recalling fragments from his past lives—lessons from forgotten worlds, whispers of battles long ended. This duel was not just physical; it was spiritual, a test of will against fate.
Suddenly, Zhen unleashed a torrent of shards—glacial daggers spinning in deadly arcs toward Kayn. The crowd gasped. The System beeped urgently.
System: Defensive maneuver recommended. Deploying Phase Shift.
In a heartbeat, Kayn activated the System's ability, slipping into a state between dimensions. The daggers passed through his form harmlessly, and he reappeared behind Zhen, blade poised for a killing strike.
But the Ice Prince was no novice. With a roar, he twisted, parrying the blow with a counterstrike that sent a shockwave through the arena. The ground cracked beneath them, frost and flame mingling in chaotic patterns.
"You're impressive," Zhen conceded, sweat mingling with frost on his brow. "But you lack one thing."
"And what's that?" Kayn challenged, eyes burning.
Zhen's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "Heart."
The words hit Kayn harder than any blade. Was that what he lacked? A heart to fuel his vengeance? To protect the ones he loved?
The moment's hesitation was all Zhen needed. With a burst of icy speed, he lunged forward, sword aimed at Kayn's heart.
Time seemed to slow. Kayn's instincts screamed—but so did the voice of the System, reminding him of his mission, his promises, his destiny.
With a roar, Kayn unleashed the Supreme Sword's ultimate technique—"Inferno of the Phoenix."
Flames erupted, swallowing the ice in a brilliant inferno that forced Zhen back, eyes wide in shock. The power was overwhelming, born of countless universes' fusion, of gods' forgotten secrets.
The ice shattered, and the battlefield fell silent, save for the crackling of dying embers.
Zhen fell to one knee, breath ragged, eyes locked on Kayn with reluctant respect.
"You win," he whispered. "But this is only the beginning."
Kayn extended a hand, helping his opponent rise.
"Then let the beginning be the end of your doubts," Kayn said softly. "And the start of a new legend."
The crowd erupted in cheers and gasps, the echoes of the duel rippling through dimensions.
But as Kayn turned away, a chill ran down his spine—not from the cold, but from the shadow lurking beyond the arena's edge. A silent watcher, cloaked in darkness, eyes glowing with malicious intent.
The System hummed a warning, but before Kayn could react, a whisper slithered into his mind.
"The Ice Prince was but a pawn. Your true enemy waits in the shadows, Kayn. Prepare yourself. The multiverse's fate hinges on the next move."
Kayn's jaw clenched. The duel was over—but the war was far from won.
**
Summary of Chapter 16:
Kayn faces off in a fierce duel against Prince Zhen, the Ice Prince, showcasing his growing power with the Supreme Sword system. Though victorious, Kayn realizes the battle is only a prelude to greater challenges, as ominous forces watch from the shadows, signaling an impending threat that could change the fate of the multiverse.
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