The air was thick with the scent of hot metal and the crackle of magic, enveloping the battlefield that seemed to never cool.

  Zhang Feiyun moved lightly, her slender silhouette cutting through the gray mist. "Ready to feel the power of the wind?" she asked, her voice soft yet laced with challenge. Her dark green cloak billowed behind her, hands empty but her eyes sparkled like glowing jade. She was known not for brute strength, but for her cunning intelligence and wind magic that could slice through steel. Before her stood Sir Kay, standing tall in his dull bronze armor, a large shield hanging from his left hand. "I’m more ready to catch a storm than to face the wind, Feiyun," Sir Kay replied, his tone a typical challenge of a seasoned warrior. Among the Knights of the Round, he was famous not just as the "gatekeeper," but also as a master of metal and earth magic.

  Fitran and Wu Xianying watched from a distance. "We need to be ready," Fitran whispered amidst the murmurs of soldiers and the clanking of weapons, blending with the heartbeat of the spectators awaiting the outcome of the next duel.

  Feiyun smiled faintly, her voice as calm as the autumn breeze. "We should be celebrating with tea, not blood," she remarked, observing Sir Kay's movements. "In my country, the best duels always begin with a cup of tea and poetry. Too bad we only have blood and metal."

  Sir Kay shrugged, his voice gravelly—strong, a hallmark of a veteran soldier. "Blood and metal are the best spices in this fight, Zhang." He continued, "I haven’t had tea in ages. But I can offer my shield to catch your rain of blood, Feiyun."

  Feiyun chuckled softly. "Ha, give it a try! Let’s see who falls first." She could feel her magic flowing, ready to unleash.

  Feiyun made the first move, her fingers painting a spell in the air.

  “Storm Waltz!”

  In an instant, a whirlwind danced around her, tearing up the ground and scattering debris. “Feel the power of the wind,” she shouted, swinging her hand forward—dozens of sharp blades of wind shot forth, racing toward Kay.

  "Are you trying to defeat a shield with wind?" Sir Kay stomped the ground with his shield. “Bulwark of Bedivere!”

  Metal layers rose from the earth, forming steel walls in front of him. The wind blades struck the metal, creating a high-pitched clang, but none pierced Kay's shield. "Want to try again?" he challenged.

  Feiyun didn’t wait long. She leaped into the air, her body spinning,

  “Dancing Leaves!”

  Dozens of magical leaves fluttered, each carrying a fine poison and pure wind energy. “Come on, become a whirlwind of poison!” she cried, the leaves swirling around Kay, searching for a gap. “You can’t possibly dodge them, can you?”

  “Poison means nothing without time to work,” Sir Kay bent down, one hand still on his shield, his right hand summoning earth magic,

  “Iron Roots, Rise!”

  Metal roots burst from the ground, wrapping around and breaking the magical leaves one by one. “You need to be smarter if you want to defeat me,” he said with a smirk.

  Feiyun floated down, narrowing her eyes.

  “You're strong, Sir Kay. But let’s see how long your earthen shield can withstand the sky.”

  “Don’t underestimate the earth, Feiyun! I am the earth itself,” Kay replied, shifting his stance, bracing for the attack while closing in. “I’ll show you how solid my defense is!”

  Feiyun moved agilely, her body dancing among the ruins, shouting,

  “Wind Mirage!”

  She created five false images, all moving at high speed. “You can’t catch them all, Kay!” she taunted. Each image attacked from different angles—kicks, slashes, even bursts of poisonous wind.

  Kay remained calm. He closed his eyes for a moment, relying on his battlefield instincts. “Be careful, Feiyun. I’ve seen more than you think,” he said quietly.

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  “Not all those shadows are real,” Kay murmured, then planted his shield into the ground, focusing. “It’s time I show my strength.”

  “Gaia’s Pulse!”

  A wave of earth energy surged, striking all the shadows. “You can’t escape reality,” Kay shouted. Four shadows dissipated—only one real Feiyun leaped back, hit by a shard of stone on her arm.

  Feiyun winced, laughing bitterly,

  “You truly are a gatekeeper. But don’t forget, the wind can slip through any crack. I’ll make you feel it!”

  She jumped up, calling forth the power of the whirlwind, with fervor,

  “Emerald Cyclone!”

  A green tornado spiraled, swallowing dust and stones, crashing down on Kay from above. “Feel the power of nature!” she yelled.

  Sir Kay raised his shield, gathering energy. “One attack won’t bring me down,” he replied firmly.

  “Iron Will!”

  He held the tornado with muscle and magic, anchoring himself firmly to the ground. The wind slammed into him hard, scratching Kay’s armor, but he stood his ground, insisting, “You’ll need to do more than that!”

  Feiyun caught her breath, blood dripping from her arm. She looked at Kay, this time without a smile. “This isn’t over, Kay. I will channel all my power!”

  “Sir Kay, this is the end of the dance. If you can still stand, I will admit defeat,” Feiyun challenged, her eyes sharp as she stared at Kay.

  Kay nodded,

  “I’ll wait, Feiyun. Show me your wildest winds. You know I’m not just a shield,” he replied confidently.

  Feiyun opened a scroll of ancient spells, reciting in an ancestral tongue, her voice vibrating with power.

  “Celestial Gale—Hundred Blade Symphony!”

  From the sky, a rain of wind blades descended. Each blade dove with impossible speed, slicing the air into a terrifying echo. “Feel the power of my wind!” Feiyun shouted, her spirit ablaze.

  Dozens, hundreds, thousands—all aimed at Kay from every direction.

  Sir Kay planted his shield, then tapped the ground three times.

  “Excalibur Guard: Shield of the Last Bastion!”

  A massive metal dome appeared, reflecting the wind blades. “Hold on to hope,” he said, gripping his shield tighter.

  But this time, Kay wasn’t just defending. He raised his right hand, forming a sword from the core of the earth with the power of the land. “Get ready, Feiyun!” he shouted with conviction.

  “Gaia’s Blade!”

  The sword shone with pure earth and metal energy. “Looks like you didn’t expect this, did you?” Kay challenged, a crooked smile on his face.

  Feiyun stared at him in shock,

  “So the rumors were true… You’re not just a shield, but also the sword of Yamato today. This is getting interesting!”

  Kay stepped out of the dome, parrying the last blades. “A duel must be balanced. Wind and earth, deception and honesty,” he said firmly, his eyes unwavering.

  Feiyun focused her power, creating a blunt wind to hold Kay back. “You won’t advance any further!” she yelled, her voice filled with tension.

  But Kay sliced through the whirlwind with his sword, breaking through the storm. “Your wind won’t defeat my resolve, Feiyun!” Kay injected with fighting spirit.

  Feiyun was thrown back, her body crashing to the ground. She struggled to rise, but Kay was already standing over her, his sword pressed against Feiyun’s neck.

  “Yield, Feiyun. Your wind is tired,” Kay said, his voice firm and commanding.

  Feiyun gasped, then let out a soft laugh, “I admit defeat. But never underestimate the wind that can return at any time.” She looked at Kay with confidence, as if recalling all the lessons she had learned.

  “If I must fight with the wind, I will summon a storm,” Kay replied, his eyes full of challenge.

  Kay extended his hand, helping Feiyun to her feet. “We honor each other in this battle.”

  “I won’t underestimate anyone who fights as hard as you do, Zhang Feiyun,” Kay replied sincerely as they both stood again on the grand stage.

  They bowed to each other, fine snow slowly falling from the now quiet sky, creating a peaceful atmosphere after the storm. “This isn’t over, my friend,” Feiyun said, glancing toward the battlefield.

  The people of Oda and the remaining soldiers of Qihuang Shin watched the duel with emotion. Fitran nodded in satisfaction from atop the tower. Wu Xianying gritted her teeth, realizing her eastern forces were being systematically broken by the legendary knights. “We must rise from this,” she hissed in silence.

  “But the war isn’t over—and the land of Yamato that night trembled with new names written in history, under a sky still holding winds and steel,” Feiyun shouted, looking up as if seeking blessings from the heavens.

  Sir Kay stood tall, his breath heavy but his eyes sharp. “This duel is not just a personal victory—it’s a message: that Yamato today is built on honesty and strength, not trickery and fleeting storms,” he said, gazing toward the horizon. Yet far behind, the night wind still carried whispers that “tomorrow may bring an even greater storm.”