Phoenix Vanguard: Legends of Astravera

Clash in the Arena

As Andres charged forward, Flame Bolo blazing in his hand, Garrick Steelmaw stood firm, his expression unfazed. The old berserker’s body language was calm but exuded raw power, each muscle honed from countless battles.

"Come on, lad!" Garrick taunted, his voice a deep rumble that seemed to shake the ground. "Let’s see if that spark of yours is enough to singe an old warrior like me!"

Andres swung his Flame Bolo with a quick, downward slice aimed at Garrick’s side, hoping to catch him off guard. The blade, enveloped in flames, sliced through the air with a fiery trail. But Garrick’s reflexes were sharp—despite his age, he sidestepped with a swiftness that belied his hulking frame.

"Too slow!" Garrick sneered, bringing his massive warhammer down in a counter-attack. The hammer descended with bone-crushing speed, a blur of iron and weight.

Andres barely managed to dodge, feeling the rush of air as the hammer crashed into the ground, leaving a small crater where he’d just stood. He could feel the shockwave in his legs, a stark reminder of the strength disparity between them.

"Not bad, old man," Andres muttered, regaining his footing. He quickly activated Blazing Mirage, creating a split-second afterimage of himself to confuse his opponent. He moved with the afterimage, trying to close in from the side.

Seeing the duplicate, Garrick grunted. "A trick? Let’s see how long that lasts."

Andres took the opportunity to leap to the side of Garrick’s hammer, aiming a swift strike at the berserker’s exposed flank. This time, his blade connected, the flames of his Flame Bolo scorching the edge of Garrick’s tunic. A faint singe marred the fabric, a small victory for Andres.

"Well, well," Garrick chuckled. "A scratch won’t be enough."

Before Andres could react, Garrick spun around with shocking speed, swinging his hammer in a sweeping arc that forced Andres to leap backward. The weight of the hammer’s swing sent a wave of air rushing past him, and Andres had to brace himself, his fingers digging into the hilt of his bolo.

Garrick grinned, holding his ground. "Come on, kid! Show me the power of that flame!"

Andres growled, the thrill of the challenge urging him to try something bolder. Focusing, he invoked Fiery Step, his body flickering with flames as he zipped forward, covering the distance between them in a heartbeat. This time, Andres aimed his strike directly at Garrick’s midsection, hoping to break through his defenses.

But Garrick anticipated the move. With a roar, he raised his hammer in both hands and slammed it down right in front of Andres, creating a barrier of raw power. Andres’s Flame Bolo clashed against the hammer, sparks and embers flying as the weapons met. The sheer force of Garrick’s counter shook Andres’s arms, but he pushed against it, teeth gritted, refusing to give ground.

"Not bad, lad," Garrick admitted, "but you’re going to have to give me more than that to earn my respect!"

In a burst of strength, Garrick shoved Andres back, his hammer swinging back into position. Andres staggered, his mind racing as he analyzed Garrick’s movements. He knew he couldn’t match the berserker’s raw power, so he’d have to outmaneuver him.

Andres activated Fiery resolve, to increase his attack power and temporarily boost his armor break effectiveness as he sidestepped around Garrick, aiming for his blind spots. He struck with rapid slashes, each one leaving a flicker of flame in its wake. Garrick, though slower, turned with measured precision, blocking or deflecting most of the hits with his hammer.

Suddenly, Garrick stopped moving and grinned. "Time to end this, lad!" he announced, raising his hammer above his head as it glowed with a reddish energy, revealing his own skill: Berserker’s Wrath.