Daylight was ending. Dusk was creeping upon Kracten, yet Husk and Ivan were still at an impasse. Ivan stood tall in front of Husk, blocking his advance on Leo and Ethan. Other clan members tried to take Husk’s side, citing Leo’s Hearth-Bringer powers would save him if anything went wrong. However, Ivan would not budge. He didn’t want to take any chances with Leo’s life.

  Husk finally had enough. “Ivan, the clan has decided that I’m to be the new leader. So, my first order as leader of the Renegaders is for you to step aside and let me end this death-link ceremony right now!"

  “No! I’m still the leader because you have not been declared the official leader yet. So, follow my orders and leave the kids alone!” said Ivan.

  “You stubborn old mule! Let’s finish this once and for all. I, Husk Renegader, challenge you to a one-on-one duel. Whoever wins gets to be the leader of our clan permanently,” said Husk.

  “I accept,” replied Ivan.

  Being longtime allies, both of them were well acquainted with each other’s fighting styles. Ivan knew Husk played dirty. So, he went to the girls and took off their power-binding bracelets. “Hope you won’t need to use your powers, but still, stay away from our fight and be on guard. The others might take advantage of me being occupied and attack you. Krayola, keep the children safe.”

  Husk in return gave out a warning of his own. “Everyone, be wary of this old buffoon. Seems like he’ll go to any length to save the enemy. Keep at a distance and don’t interfere unless I tell you to.” Thus, everyone moved away and gave them ample space to fight.

  So, the stage was set for a battle between two of the greatest living warriors of the Veiled Ones. The Renegaders were dark magicians. Poison, decay, and death were their forte. Husk specialized in causing deterioration inside while keeping the outside intact. Ivan, on the other hand, could cause explosions out of nothing.

  The two of them circled each other from afar first. Ivan took out some black powder and sprinkled it in his vicinity. Husk did the same with some brown powder. The powders they used had their energies, and they hung in the air around them. The black powder was imbued with Ivan’s explosive powers and the brown powder had Husk’s deteriorating ability. These powders created a defensive zone around the users. Anyone other than the users would be harmed if they came in contact with them.

  Husk struck first, decaying the soil beneath Ivan’s feet and causing him to sink into the ground. Then he used his energy already present in the soil to degenerate Ivan’s body stuck inside. Ivan wasn’t going to fall for it, though. He exploded away the land around him, creating a hole in the ground. At the same time, Ivan created small explosions around Husk to distract him while he got out of the hole. He also used the explosions to blow away the shield of decaying powder around Husk. Then, he attacked.

  Ivan used his supreme physical strength to dominate Husk. He ran up to Husk and punched him hard. Small explosions went off simultaneously on Husk’s body as he came into contact with Ivan’s protective powder. Husk flew away several feet. Without giving Husk time to recover, Ivan grabbed him by the leg and twirled him around, smacking him on the ground. Again, Ivan’s protective powder cloud caused several small explosions, damaging Husk immensely.

  Husk, however, used this opportunity to inject his decaying power inside Ivan. So, Ivan’s right hand that came in contact with Husk’s body became unable to move. Next, Husk tried to paralyze Ivan by reorganizing the scattered decaying cloud and sending it after him.

  It didn’t work. Husk’s decaying cloud exploded when it came in contact with Ivan’s exploding powder. Then, Ivan exploded the ground beneath Husk, following it up with exploding the terrain around him, which caused a pile of dirt to bury Husk alive.

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  However, Husk used his decaying power to turn all the hard rock, gravel, and earth around him into a fine dust. Then he used the cover created by the dust to get closer to Ivan and strike him from behind. Ivan’s explosive powder saved him, though.

  “Damn it. I thought you would be all out of exploding powder by now!” said Husk as he coughed blood.

  “The former me would have run out of exploding powder by now. However, unlike you, I’ve improved my skills. The powder I created splits in half before exploding. So, it lingers, giving protection for longer. Give up, Husk. You can’t defeat me!” said Ivan.

  “You are right. I cannot defeat you alone. Unfortunately for you, though, I’m not alone. Everyone, attack!” ordered Husk.

  The clansmen supporting Husk were waiting for his signal, and all of them rushed Ivan at once after it was given. However, Ivan successfully evaded the crowd of people coming at him by jumping high in the air, then launched his counterattack. Ivan caused a series of explosions in the earth that created an impassable crater in front of his assailants. They couldn’t get to him anymore. Or so he thought. Suddenly, something exploded against his protective powder barrier, and more projectiles were inbound. Husk got on his feet and glanced towards the children.

  Ivan forgot about his safety and sent the explosive powder toward the children. A big mistake. The clansmen supporting Husk had gone around the crater by this time and were now coming for Ivan. They almost cornered him, too. However, Ivan sensed the danger and was able to move away at the last moment. But in all this, he couldn’t avoid the array of poison darts thrown at him this time.

  Uncountable poison darts penetrated Ivan’s body. Anyone else would’ve died from the deadly poison in them. Ivan was strong enough to survive, but he could no longer fight. His knees gave in and he dropped to the ground, face down. Once Ivan fell, the children were next. Ivan watched helplessly as a barrage of poison darts collided with his leftover powder barrier protecting the children.

  “Give it up, old friend. That Gainsworth kid and the Anon toddler with him need to die. We’ll try our best to save your great-grandson and the Elemental girl, though. I promise. So, for now, just concentrate on healing yourself,” said Husk as he and the clan members on his side surrounded Ivan.

  “You monster! Them being Gainsworth or Anon doesn’t matter; what matters is that you are killing defenseless children!” said Ivan as he used all of his energy in a last-ditch explosion to hurt Husk and all his goons. Now, if I can only muster enough energy to take out the hidden dart shooters!

  Night had finally come to Kracten. In the darkness of night, it was hard to find the dart shooters who had hidden well. The last of the explosive powders evaporated, yet the onslaught of poison darts kept coming. Husk and his men were regaining their footing as Ivan lay unmoving. The children’s deaths seemed certain. Yet, miracles often happen in the direst moments.

  Suddenly, Ivan saw a huge ice dome forming around the area where the children were, and the poison darts couldn’t penetrate its thick walls. Husk and his men stopped moving too, almost as if someone sucked out all their energy. Finally, he saw Krayola running at full speed towards him.

  “No! Don’t come, protect the children instead of me,” said Ivan meekly as he tried to remain conscious. However, Krayola reached Ivan despite his protests. She grabbed him by the neck and ran back to the girls.

  Lore closed all entrances to the ice dome as soon as Krayola reached them. “Oh no, Mr. Renegader, you are badly hurt!” said a panicked Des.

  “Don’t worry about me! Concentrate on keeping this dome secure!” replied Ivan.

  “Lore here has the abilities of a first-generation Anon. She is extremely powerful. So, she can keep us safe within this ice dome,” Des assured Ivan.

  “Yes, but not for long. She is just a baby, and the attackers are full-grown warriors. I need to get back out there and fight!” said Ivan as he tried to get up, but his body didn’t support him, so he slumped back down.

  “You are in no condition to stand, let alone fight!” said Des as she helped him sit upright against the wall of the ice dome.

  “Then what? Should we just sit around and wait to be taken down?” asked Ivan.

  “No. Teach me how to fight them instead,” said Des.

  “Teach you? Now? In the midst of battle?” asked a shocked Ivan.

  “It’s either that or be beaten by those people outside,” said Des, pointing at Husk and his men, who were trying their best to get inside the dome. However, Lore was using her power to the fullest while channeling the powers of Mother Anorea. So, none of the enemies could get in, until she got exhausted, that is.

  Ivan thought about the situation and realized he had no choice. “Fine. Let’s make the most of this brief respite. I’ll teach you whatever I can,” said Ivan.