CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 603: Decoy

Standing upon the surface of the river, Asher gazed steadily at Debro, his mind working at an analytical fever pitch as he dissected every maneuver and counter-move the man had employed. The entire engagement replayed within his thoughts, a relentless study of his opponent’s tactical rhythm.

A soft, internal sigh escaped him; he could not deny the shear magnitude of the challenge. Debro operated as the ultimate counter. His mastery of Friction Manipulation was so absolute and refined that he commanded the very fabric of space, bending the intangible laws of reality to execute his will.

Despite this, Asher remained undeterred. With a mere two minutes remaining on his Star Form, he had no luxury to marvel at such power or hesitate before an superior foe. Debro plummeted from the firmament, slamming into the river with the force of a falling meteor, sending colossal plumes of water skyward. Yet, amidst the violent churning and chaotic waves, Asher stood resolute, meeting the man’s descent with a calm, focused intensity.

Black eyes locked with purple as their energies clashed, causing the atmosphere to vibrate with the sheer pressure of their power. Within a heartbeat, both vanished from sight, the river surging backward as they propelled themselves forward with such velocity that the water parted beneath them.

Even fully aware of Debro’s friction-warping capabilities, Asher pressed the assault without fear. Upon nearing his enemy, he felt that familiar, heavy drag—a resistance designed to nullify his speed—while Debro’s own momentum surged in a jarring, unbalanced display of dominance.

Just as Debro’s blade drew level with his throat, Asher dissolved into thin air, reappearing above his opponent. His rapier descended in an unforgiving, precise strike, executed with lethal timing.

Debro scowled, his instincts shrieking a warning as the strike approached. Committed to his prior motion, he once again harnessed his control over friction, forcing the incoming attack to stall by stripping away its kinetic energy, effectively neutralizing the lethal threat.

Asher’s frustration mounted as his strike faltered again. He had no time to brood, however, as Debro waved a hand, triggering a thunderous, compressed heat explosion. The blast roared across kilometers, turning the river into a roiling cauldron of steam, with droplets of water hanging in the air like suspended, cursed beads.

Guided by mad determination, Asher charged through the steaming haze, his rapier whistling toward Debro’s neck. Once more, Debro spiked the air resistance around Asher, forcing him to a grinding halt before retaliating with a brutal, waist-level slash intended to cleave him in two.

Instantly, Asher flickered out of existence, manifesting behind Debro. This time, however, he found no element of surprise; having weathered so many teleports, Debro had learned to detect the distinct spatial fluctuations that signaled his arrival.

With newly honed spatial awareness, Debro pivoted, his katana descending like a gargantuan hammer toward Asher’s neck. As the steel neared, close enough to sever his head, shock wideened Asher’s eyes.

Triumph flared in Debro’s gaze, but just as the blade grazed skin, a second Asher materialized behind him. The copy’s rapier flashed with deadly intent. This time, Debro failed to detect the spatial displacement. A sudden chill traveled down his spine as he felt his own demise approaching, the strike racing toward his throat with ruthless precision.

Stunned, Debro struggled to grasp the reality of the situation. Doubling his confusion, he beheld two Ashers, both seemingly tangible, both lethal, existence converging in a single, impossible moment. He believed he had already rendered his senses immune to illusions, yet here were two real versions of his enemy.

Unable to spare a thought for recovery, he found himself locked in focus solely on the Asher before him, leaving no margin for maneuver. There was no window to evade or use his friction ability to dampen the kill-strike coming from behind, nor did he have the time to invoke an explosive counter-attack through Astra energy.

Relying on the refined, jagged instincts of a lifelong warrior, he made a split-second decision. He withdrew the Astra energy from beneath his feet, instantly severing the support that kept him atop the water. As gravity took hold, he plunged into the depths of the river, the water swallowing him whole and shielding him from the fatal blow.

Asher’s blade sliced through empty air, failing to secure a clean kill. Though Debro had escaped at the final infinitesimal instant, the rapier still bit into his neck and face. Crimson blood sprayed into the air before falling into the river, staining the current a vivid red.

The Asher standing before him had been nothing more than a decoy. While the steam obscured the battlefield, the true Asher had concealed his presence beneath the river, masking himself until the exact moment Debro committed his full strength against the clone.

Though Asher could have dared to let the clone feign death to lower his opponent’s guard, he knew that a veteran like Debro would likely see through the ruse. He had gambled on this precise strike, and though Debro had relied on an ingenious, pragmatic solution by diving into the river, it served as a stark reminder of the tenacity of such warriors. Their adaptability made them truly terrifying.

Biting back his frustration, Asher knew he had little over a minute of power remaining; dwelling on the miss was a luxury he could not afford. Landing on the water, he channeled rampaging lightning into his palm, intending to turn the entire river into a lethal conductor to fry his submerged foe.

Before his hand could touch the surface, Debro erupted from the river, streaking skyward with explosive force. Anticipating the lightning attack, he had made his move, leaving behind a sonic boom and trailing blood as he ascended—the only testament to the fact that Asher’s strike had drawn blood.