Killian’s brows pulled inward.

’What is this? He can heal himself...?’

The orc priest growled slowly, flexing his wrists and arms. "Yes, please, let’s keep going. I want to play with you."

Killian’s attention returned to the second door.

Three more orcs dressed in similar clothes rushed into the hall.

The orc priest raised a hand, halting them. "This one is mine. Take care of the one outside—"

The tendrils spread out all over the hallways, jolting everyone. "The tendrils wouldn’t move as long as they don’t."

Killian raised the Void-Bat to the priest.

"Now, come."

The priest’s lips curled to a relaxed smile. He dropped his hand and the younger priests stayed back, taking their focus to Killian and not the tendrils.

"Don’t worry," the orc priest said, his voice lowering as he gestured to the entrance. "She’ll be handled the way monsters like her deserve. After you are done for, that is."

Killian’s gaze swept over him once, then looked back to the orc priest’s face. The faint raise of his brow said enough. Monsters were categorised as anything not human or related to the Goddess, and not even an emblem can change that.

The priest stiffened as he realized his unspoken words. Rage followed and flames burst from his clenched fists, humming to life in an instant.

"You are a little too proud, aren’t you?"

Killian didn’t move.

If anything, there was a trace of amusement in his eyes as he stared at the fire burning in his fists.

The last orcs had fire-resistant weapons, so it didn’t surprise him that their natural inclination would be to unlock the Fire Element when advanced. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

He lifted his hand and fire coiled along his arm, forming a reptile’s pattern around his arm, and morphing the head of a snake at his wrist. The priest lunged forward first, throwing three consecutive fire balls at him.

They faded when they got close, being absorbed by the three orbs of fire still floating around Killian’s frame.

The priest hissed, sharply spinning on his heel and swiping his feet under Killian.

Killian stepped back once, slamming the Void-Bat against his foot. He replicated the attack in the same movement, spinning on one heel and crashing his leg into the orc Priest’s neck, despite the priest’s right hand blocking.

It was another indirect insult to the priest by using his move and landing the hit. Killian jumped back as the priest lunged again.

They brawled at the center of the temple, the tendrils giving way for them as they moved. Fist coated with fire collided with fist engulfed in flames.

Killian’s fire burned hotter and freer, taking the breathing air from the surrounding and returning endless heat, which was also absorbed by the heat spaces encircling him.

The whole temple worked to his advantage. The impacts of their brawl cracked through the hall, sending particles across the tendrils coating the floor.

The priest grinned through the pain. Killian’s expression remained flat, with a bead of sweat rolling down his face.

He kicked the orc priest back again, giving himself space to breathe. He wiped the bead of sweat.

’I see. He’s almost on the same level as me, a C-Rank Warden. Like Thistle said. I have to finish this quickly.’

Fire burst from Killian’s body, engulfing his lower torso to his legs. The ground under his feet cracked from the pressure.

The flames spread to his right hand holding the Void-Bat, burning bright along the weapon like it was feeding it.

The priest’s grin faded just a bit, still he stepped forward, but slower now.

Killian didn’t wait for him, as he lunged forward immediately, moving the Void-Bat like a sword. Sharp thrusts, quick turns, and clean parries. It wouldn’t be common for an orc monster.

The priest couldn’t read his movement and every dodge, the Void-Bat still found him, while decisively aiming for his chest. The tip clipped him once, and he felt mana drain from him.

Killian pulled back, and swung again but the priest dodged, having understood that avoiding the bat was more than necessary to keep his flame afloat.

He glared at Killian, holding his arm that was clipped, and slowly healed. "You, void-born, you infested your weapon too."

Killian’s eyes shifted to the orc priest’s arm, and back at his stressed face. He understood, and drove the bat forward again.

The priest countered with a heavy punch, fire wrapped around his fist, and his teeth gritting painfully. "You...!"

But Killian caught it with the bat.

BAM!

The impact rang through the hall.

Unfazed, Killian continued. Another thrust. Another hit. It was never deep enough but remained constant.

He was practising, shifting his weight when needed and changing his pace when the priest got used to it.

His tendrils still made sure the younger priests didn’t interfere, even when they tried to break through.

The priest healed each time, every injury closed in seconds, but soon, the seconds grew longer. The burns didn’t fade right away, and some spread across his green skin.

Killian noticed, and pushed harder.

’Swing—block—step in—stab. Or was it a parry?’

He remembered everything he unconsciously picked up from watching his younger twin train in swordplay.

It wasn’t perfect, but he had always been a fast learner. He could easily create his own moves as long as they worked.

He didn’t give the orc priest space nor let him breathe or recover. Every move flowed into the next steadily, and he kept his left hand behind him for more flow.

The priest growled, as his arms were tightening and he forced the bat back to break Killian’s pace.

Killian struck again, and hard, with both arms. The Void-Bat dug into the orc’s shoulder, and the fire flared.

"Argh!!" The priest stiffened, holding the bat despite the pain and struggling to raise it off his body.

His eyes burned with pain and contempt, and he bit his lower lips till they bled. Green blood slipped from the corner of his mouth, and his breath roughened.

He just looked at Killian, as if he wanted to tear him apart piece by piece, even if his body was the one starting to give out.

Killian met that stare without flinching. A faint smirk touched his lips.

"Didn’t you want to play?"