Chapter 6: The Thunderous Clash
The air crackled with energy as the two brothers faced each other in the training grounds. Yusha stood calmly, his katana in hand, the faintest smirk playing on his lips. His eyes, though relaxed, were sharp—every movement of his brother, Jisoo, being scrutinized. Jisoo, on the other hand, was practically vibrating with energy, his rapier glinting under the sunlight.
"You ready, Jisoo?" Yusha called out, the question almost casual. But there was a hint of amusement in his tone.
Jisoo's grin widened, his fingers twitching in anticipation. "Always," he replied, his voice filled with excitement. "You better keep up!"
Yusha's gaze narrowed slightly as he shifted into a more defensive stance. Despite his younger brother's enthusiasm, he knew that Jisoo wasn't going to pull any punches today. Not with the new techniques he had been practicing.
The first move came from Jisoo, as expected. He lunged forward at lightning speed, his rapier aiming for Yusha's side. The thunderous crack of his footfalls against the ground was only a prelude to his speed, as he was more a blur than a person. His Thunderbolt attribute allowed him to move at a speed nearly impossible to follow with the naked eye. Yusha barely had time to react, but instead of dodging, he parried the blow with a swift swipe of his katana, knocking the rapier aside.
"Not bad," Yusha remarked, his expression unreadable. "But you're going to need more than that."
Jisoo laughed, rolling with the momentum of the failed strike. He quickly reset his stance, preparing for the next attack. "Oh, I've got more than that!"
Yusha took a step back, his mind calculating. He wasn't going to use any of his abilities—this was all about skill. As Jisoo closed the gap again, he tried a different approach. This time, he spun, attempting to land a quick slash to Jisoo's shoulder. But Jisoo was already gone. He had used his Thunderbolt ability, turning into a blur once more.
Yusha's eyes tracked Jisoo's movements, but before he could react, Jisoo appeared behind him. In an instant, the thunderous energy surged, and a Substitution happened. Jisoo vanished from one spot, only to reappear right behind Yusha. With a crack of thunder, he launched a brutal upward slash, the thunderbolt surging through his rapier. The force of the strike was immense.
Yusha barely managed to dodge, twisting his body at the last moment. The thunderbolt narrowly missed, but the sheer power of it still left a burning sensation on his skin as it grazed his side. Jisoo, however, wasn't done. He Substituted again, disappearing from his original position and reappearing directly in front of Yusha. This time, Yisoo's eyes flashed with intensity, and he slashed at Yusha's face with precision.
A small cut appeared just beneath Yusha's left eye—a clear sign of Jisoo's newfound skill. But Yusha's expression didn't change; if anything, he was more impressed.
"Nice," Yusha said, his voice calm. "I didn't think you had that in you."
Jisoo stood tall, breathing heavily, a mix of pride and determination in his eyes. "You're still faster, Yusha. But you're not the only one with tricks."
Yusha tilted his head slightly. "You've been practicing that combo for a while, huh? The Thunderbolt makes you faster than lightning, and that Substitution trick is almost impossible to counter."
Jisoo's grin grew even wider. "You think so? I've been refining it for weeks. I just needed the right moment."
Yusha raised an eyebrow, stepping back slightly to reassess. "You've improved. But let's see if your Thunderbolt can keep up with this."
With a flick of his wrist, Yusha summoned a thin string of thread from his palm. It seemed harmless, like a simple piece of cloth. But to anyone who knew Yusha, they knew it was much more than that. The thread he controlled was a tool of precision and skill, one that could control the flow of battle.
Jisoo lunged again, but this time, Yusha was ready. He moved with fluid precision, his thread extending toward Jisoo's blade, wrapping around the rapier with expert timing. With a flick of his wrist, he manipulated the thread, pulling Jisoo off balance.
The momentum worked against Jisoo, and he stumbled forward just enough for Yusha to take advantage of the opening. With a swift motion, Yusha countered, using his thread to wrap around Jisoo's arms, immobilizing him. The katana came down, forcing Jisoo to drop his rapier, and Yusha's expression softened, though his eyes remained sharp.
"You've gotten better, Jisoo. But you can't just rely on speed and power," Yusha said, offering a rare compliment. "Your Thunderbolt attribute is strong, and your Substitution is clever. But speed isn't everything."
Jisoo, still caught in the threads, grinned sheepishly. "Guess I still have a lot to learn, huh?"
Yusha shook his head. "No, you're already a great fighter. But keep in mind, power isn't the only thing that wins battles. Strategy and precision... those will win wars."
Just as the tension in the air started to settle, a voice broke through the moment. "Quite a spectacle, young masters."
Yusha and Jisoo both turned to see their butler, Han Soo, standing at the edge of the training grounds with his usual composed expression. He gave them a small bow before continuing.
"Your father has requested your presence. It seems your uncle will be arriving soon."
Yusha's eyes narrowed. "Uncle?"
"Yes, Master Yusha. Your father has sent word that your uncle will be joining you at the estate. It appears there is something important he wishes to discuss."
Yusha exchanged a glance with Jisoo. The atmosphere suddenly shifted, the playful tension of their sparring turning into something more serious.
"Alright," Yusha said, his voice serious now. "Thanks, Han Soo."
With that, they followed Han Soo back inside, the earlier battle forgotten, replaced with the uncertainty of what lay ahead.