What if the other person is also a time traveler?
That didn't stop Alhaitham from wanting to beat him up and rob him on the spot. If anything, the revelation only made him more eager to fight.
People in this world were far too weak to interest him. At long last, he had met someone who could rival his power—someone who might even understand him. How could he hold back now?
Clang! Clang! BOOM!
With every clash of their weapons, the earth trembled. Condensed magic power exploded beneath their feet, propelling them forward with explosive force. Each step was like an earthquake, leaving deep craters and shattered ground in their wake.
Their swords glimmered like lightning, striking with a brilliance like diamond shards scattering in the sun.
Alhaitham wielded his magic-forged blade, the EA Deviation Sword, its surface shimmering with a mesmerizing glow.
Sid brandished his jet-black sword, cloaked in a shadowy aura, swinging it with terrifying precision.
Their duel was so fast and relentless that it seemed like thousands of sword slashes were exchanged each second.
Despite being a mere clash between two people, it sounded like a war between armies. And if they had been wielding ordinary steel swords, they would've long since been reduced to scrap metal—Oliha's finest craftsmanship couldn't survive this level of intensity.
Even the stray shockwaves caused widespread devastation. Blades slicing through air left trails of condensed energy, slicing down ancient trees, splitting boulders, and carving new scars into the battlefield.
And yet, through the storm of destruction, both of them smiled.
Their grins weren't filled with malice or hatred. No—this was joy. Joy born from recognition. From finding a kindred spirit.
"Hey," Alhaitham called out between strikes, "how did you time travel?"
Sid ducked under a glowing arc, parried with ease, and laughed. "Me? I got hit by a dump truck. You know, the classic."
Alhaitham blinked. "No way. Same here."
"You serious? Maybe getting hit by a truck is the standard method now."
"Could be. But if every traffic accident ended in time travel, there'd be way too many people from Earth around here," Alhaitham said thoughtfully, dodging another blow that blasted apart the terrain behind him.
"Yeah," Sid agreed with a half-smile. "We'd be tripping over reincarnators every five minutes."
The battle didn't pause—not even for a second. But somehow, amid all the chaos, the two continued talking like old friends catching up over drinks.
"By the way," Alhaitham asked, "where's your system?"
"Ah, that thing?" Sid scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "It hasn't woken up yet. I think the truck did a number on it. It's been recharging ever since."
"Sounds about right," Alhaitham muttered. "They're standard-issue, I guess."
Then he narrowed his eyes. "You should uninstall it. That thing's basically malware. It tries to corrupt your body, your mind... sometimes even your soul."
Sid looked startled. "Seriously? That bad?"
"I've seen what it does. It's not just a tool—it wants to take over. I recommend you ditch it."
"I'll consider it," Sid said, eyes flickering with thought. "But if it is dangerous... maybe I should let you handle it?"
Alhaitham's lips curled. "Tempting. I haven't hacked a system in a while. Feels good."
Sid laughed. "No thanks. You sound like you'd enjoy it too much."
"True." Alhaitham shrugged, disappointment flashing across his face. "But suit yourself."
As they spoke, the land around them was reduced to ruins. A ten-mile radius had been utterly annihilated. Trees were shredded, cliffs shattered, and even the sky above was distorted by their magic. Thankfully, there was no Forest Environmental Protection Association in this world to charge them for ecological genocide.
Then, in the midst of this chaotic ballet, their defenses broke—just a little.
A shallow cut appeared on Alhaitham's cheek.
A line of blood trickled down Sid's neck.
The pain sparked something in them both. Excitement. Elation.
It had been far too long since either of them had bled in a fight.
"Come on," Alhaitham said, licking the blood from his lips, "it would be a waste to stop now."
"Agreed," Sid nodded. "Let's see who's stronger."
The next wave of attacks was even fiercer. Their weapons glowed brighter, infused with raw magic, and every casual swing now split boulders and churned the ground into dust.
"By the way," Sid called out, "what's your name?"
"Alhaitham. And you?"
"Sid. Sid Kageno."
Alhaitham paused briefly. "Sid Kageno… That sounds familiar. Have we met before?"
"Nope. First time."
Again, they clashed, sword against sword, fire against shadow.
And somehow, even as they fought with deadly intensity, they continued their conversation like long-lost friends reunited.
"Let's talk ideals," Alhaitham said suddenly. "Sid Kageno, what do you want out of this world? You've been reincarnated. Surely you have a goal."
Sid's expression changed.
His usual aloofness faded, replaced by something pure and unwavering. He smiled—not a smirk, but a sincere, youthful smile.
"My dream has always been the same," Sid said. "From my past life to this one... I want to become a person of the shadows."
"A person of shadows?" Alhaitham asked curiously, even as he parried a blade and countered with a blast of wind.
"Yeah," Sid said with conviction. "Not a hero. Not a villain. Just someone who lurks in the dark, moving events from behind the scenes. A force that controls the story's flow without standing in the spotlight."
His voice rang with passion, his words strong and clear. In that moment, Sid seemed younger—like a child with a dream too big for the world.
And Alhaitham didn't laugh.
He didn't mock the strange ideal.
Because he understood.
He knew what it meant to have a dream that others called insane. He knew what it felt like to hold onto that dream through two lifetimes.
He nodded slowly. "I respect that."
Then he sheathed his sword for a moment and returned the question.
"My turn. You asked, so I'll answer."
He raised his head, eyes burning with ambition.
"My dream is to become the greatest king the world has ever known. I will conquer everything, raze the old world to ashes, and build a new one atop the ruins—one shaped entirely by my will."
Sid stared at him.
He was speechless for a moment. "That's… honestly kind of insane."
"I know," Alhaitham said with a grin.
"But also," Sid continued, "kind of amazing."
Their eyes locked.
There it was again—recognition. Even though their dreams were different, even though their goals contradicted one another, they understood. They were the same type of person.
Dreamers.
Visionaries.
Warriors of will.
And so—
"Sid Kageno," Alhaitham said, tightening his grip on his sword.
"Alhaitham Paretia," Sid replied, eyes narrowing.
Their auras flared.
Their smiles vanished.
From mutual recognition came inevitable conflict.
"For my ideal," Alhaitham declared, "I'll kill you here and now!"
"For my ideal," Sid roared back, "I'll do the same!"
One final collision.
One ultimate duel.
Two souls—one shrouded in darkness, one burning with ambition—clashed beneath a sky torn apart by magic and steel.
It wasn't just a fight anymore. It was a declaration.
A challenge.
A promise to themselves and each other.
Only one ideal could remain.
Only one would survive.
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