Serendipity (Veldora x TBATE)

04 | The Path Ahead

There was tension in the air as Veldora stood motionless with a faint, almost lazy smile on his lips. His hands hung loosely by his sides, and his gaze was calm as he watched the three Lances prepare to attack. He didn't speak—there was no need to. His expression alone was enough to provoke them, his complete lack of concern driving them to the edge.

Bairon Wykes, the platinum-haired man, could no longer hold back. Channeling a burst of mana to his legs, he shot forward like a lightning bolt, his body blurring as he closed the distance between him and Veldora in an instant. His fists were wreathed in lightning-deviant mana.

But Veldora didn't flinch. At the last moment, with a speed that was almost inhuman, he sidestepped Bairon's strike, the fist sailing harmlessly past him. Veldora's footwork was smooth—effortless.

He shifted his weight and spun around Bairon. Bairon's eyes widened in shock as Veldora delivered a swift palm strike to his side, sending the platinum-haired man skidding across the ground with a grunt of pain.

Olfred Warend, the dark-skinned dwarf, came attacking next. There was no order on what to do with the blonde-haired man, but he was dangerous—frighteningly so. Olfred roared as he charged forward. Each punch he threw left behind a trail of heat, the force of his blows shaking the ground beneath them. Veldora met Olfred's power head-on, not with magic, but with pure physical might.

The two exchanged blows at blinding speed, their fists colliding with thunderous impacts. Veldora weaved through Olfred's attacks with ease. He blocked a flaming punch with his forearm, then countered with a sharp knee to Olfred's gut. The dwarf grunted as the wind was knocked out of him, but he didn't falter. He swung again, this time with more precision, trying to catch Veldora off guard.

But Veldora was relentless. He ducked under the swing and swept Olfred's legs out from under him with a quick low kick. The dwarf crashed to the ground with a heavy thud, the heat from his molten fists fizzling out as his concentration broke.

"Phew," Veldora exhaled. "I'm getting the hang of this whole martial arts thing! Easier than I thought it would be."

The lances didn't know what to say. How could they? Veldora not only outclassed them in power, but he was already performing at a level of skill that exceeded theirs in a short amount of time, and yet he's saying he's just getting the hang of it.

It's even more disturbing if you think about the fact that this is his first time experiencing this form of combat. It's a clear demonstration of how true dragons really outclass all lifeforms in every single category, even if it is not obvious in the case of the eccentric and "good-for-nothing" Veldora.

From above, Varay Aurae descended as she launched a barrage of gigantic icy blades toward Veldora. Each blade was a pinpoint of precision as they left an icy mist in their wake, designed to cut through anything in its path.

Veldora smirked, watching the enormous blades of ice approach. With a sharp pivot, he danced between them, his movements too fast for the eye to see. The blades sliced through the air where he had been just moments before, but none found their mark. He didn't even break a sweat as he dodged the onslaught with casual ease.

Varay's eyes narrowed as she pressed forward, closing the distance. She slashed at Veldora with a blade of ice, but he caught her wrist mid-swing, his grip firm yet almost gentle.

For a moment, they locked eyes.

Then, with a single twist, he disarmed her, sending the icy blade shattering into the ground. Varay staggered back as she realized just how outmatched they were.

Bairon had recovered and was charging again. Olfred was back on his feet, magma pooling at his hands as he prepared another assault. But Veldora simply smiled—a calm, confident smile that unnerved them even further.