The Over-Break System

Completely ignoring any reactions coming from inside the training room, Cynrik's entire focus was on Brance because the moment he pulled his brother into the Shadow Realm, the youngest Jetlensr lit up with a dazzling golden light as he directly entered his [Nephilim Mode].

Two sets of Mana construct wings burst from his shoulders and lower back as he broke free from Cynrik's Umbral Tendril and put distance between them.

"You…" Brance started to say with narrowed eyes as he frantically scanned Cynrik from head to toe with [Mana Sight], hoping to uncover if Cynrik was really a Corrupted Divine. 

"Sigh, ever the jumpy one, ain't you, Brancie?" Using his left palm, Cynrik rubbed his forehead to ease his antsy nerves. 

Due to the conflicting nature of Brance's HolyFire and his Umbra Affinity, the instant suppression Cynrik would feel upon looking at the Angelic-like form his little brother used gave him a splitting headache. 

"Look, I am not here to fight you, not that you would even stand a chance if I did since, according to Jessup, my every attack utilizes Divine Particles now."

"Not to mention, I am WAY faster than you, so odds are you wouldn't even see me coming." Dropping his left arm, Cynrik stood defiantly with his right hand resting on the hilt of his hip-sheathed Kodachi. 

"You aren't him…your Mana signature is nothing like my brothers. Shit…Cyn…I am sorry, sorry that I couldn't stop you…" Brance practically whispered as he no longer recognized the strange makeup of his older brother's Mana Signature. 

Since a being Mana Signature was static from Birth, similar to how DNA or Fingerprints are, it wasn't supposed to be changeable; as Brance observed Cynrik, he could tell how changed the once familiar swirls of Mana had become, indicating the person floating a dozen meters away was no longer the brother he had once known. 

However, what Brance didn't know and had no way of knowing was that it wasn't just Cynrik but Selene who had undergone massive changes the moment they became one. 

The Mind Body and Soul Link radically changed them, effectively creating a two-sided coin by merging not only their [Húðflúr] but also their Mana Signatures. Parts of their individually unique signatures were shared between them, creating a wholly original and new version, yielding a shared image which reflected the other persons. 

Partner that with the changes brought about by their current Accumulated Divine Force stat, which, after spending over a month under the pressure of Divine Particles, had stopped at 50%, and the information obtained from Jessup, a person he trusted, it was no wonder that Brance was ready to end his brother. 

Steeling his resolve, Brance straightened his back, drew his shields, and combined them into their Greatsword Form before dropping into an offensive stance. 

"I will do what I must." Wholly focused and not wishing to see his brother's body defiled by what it had become, Brance rushed forward and attacked, only to end up slashing the air, as Cynrik easily dodged. 

"Really, Brancie…quoting Obi-Wan now? I didn't even give the setup for those lines of dialog. At least let me talk about bringing Peace, Freedom, justice, and security to my new empire first before you give out the punchline OOP," Right as Cynrik finished his statement, he flashed away from another flurry of sword strikes. 

"You really can't hit me, little brother; my AGI is double yours. Sure, your STR is high, but what does that matter if you can't land a single strike?" Shaking his head while taunting his brother further, Cynrik drew his hip-sheathed Kodachi, sidestepped, and stabbed the broad side of Brance's Greatsword, forcefully causing one of Brance's attacks to deviate away and, in turn, crumpling his attack stance.

'Tobs, how long must he stay down here before he gets the Force accumulation stat?' Continuing his one-sided banter while dancing around Brance like a cat, Cynrik asked.

  -Four minutes and 18 seconds; I can reconnect and speak with him again once he gets it. Just don't piss him off to the point where he no longer hears reason.- 

The tiny fairy, who perched herself on Selene's shoulder, stated, causing Cynrik to nod in understanding. 

'4 minutes, I can handle that,' Cynrik thought as he rushed into Brance's face and began deflecting the attacks with ease one after another.

"You know, I knew you were always a fucking meathead, but I figured you wouldn't ever allow other people to influence your perception to the point that you don't even recognize your own brother." Ignoring the trickling sweat flowing down his face as he drew his second Kodachi to deflect Brance's attacks, Cynrik taunted. 

"SHUT UP ASSHOLE!" That did the trick; his aggravating words forced Brance to erupt with a combination of Light and HolyFire Mana, generating a pulse of energy that sent Cynrik wheeling through the air. 

"Tss fuck that stings, OI, Dickhead, why are you trying to burn me to death." Patting his body as if putting out flames with his hands, Cynrik righted himself before crossing both of his Kodachi over his chest and launching a wave of X-shaped Sword lights filled with Umbra Mana at his brother. 

BOOOM BOOOM BOOOM

The impacts of the sword light smashing into Brance's greatsword as he slashed them to pieces created rumbling tremors, a testament to the fact that Cynrik wasn't holding back. 

  -Two minutes, Cynrik, hang in there.-

Worried because she noticed how quickly Cynrik's Stamina was draining as the fight progressed, Tobs felt the need to give an update. 

"Tsk, if it were anyone else, I wouldn't be burning Resource stats at such an astronomical rate; just being in close proximity to that birdbrain naturally drains my STAM rapidly," Cynrik complained in a hushed whisper while checking his Stamina. 

Noticing that it had dramatically fallen to 47%, Cynrik couldn't help but huff in annoyance. 

Meanwhile, Brance's head was currently in total disarray. Initially, he believed that if push came to shove, he would be able to deal with the Corrupted Cynrik since it shouldn't have complete control over his faculties and Mana, but as their fight dragged on, he soon realized how wrong that assumption had been. 

As the seconds ticked by, and he met face-to-face with the Corrupted version of his once older brother, Brance couldn't help but feel a trickle of confusion taking over his brain. 

'What if it really is him, and he wasn't corrupted but instead found some way to mitigate the Divine Particles while utilizing them to get stronger?' The instant that thought flashed into his head, Brance flapped his wings forcefully and put some distance between himself and Cynrik.

"Huff…huff? Oh? What's wrong, little brother? Did you finally realize that you can't win this fight, and it's a fruitless endeavor?" Practically gasping for air and converting the Ambient Mana around him into breathable oxygen, Cynrik let his arms droop as he flashed a cocky grin to Brance. 

Silence descended on the two brothers as they floated with a dozen meters between them without breaking eye contact.

Eventually, Brance broke this silence with hope and confusion in his eyes.

"Are…Are You Really My Brother?"

--PPPST, JOIN US, JOIN US IN THE DISCORD, https://discord.gg/dcxKNJEMwg--