Biberus's sword was as swift as a storm of steel. At first, Abdullah could barely parry, but with every blow he caught, his sword arm grew more numb.
Hatred gave Biberus inexhaustible strength, while Abdullah's heart held only the panic of a man desperate to escape.
At last, under a heavy diagonal slash charged with all that fury, Abdullah's guard was swept aside completely. His Power Scimitar flew from his hand, and his massive body lost its balance. He staggered backward before crashing into the mud and rubble.
Dust choked his breathing grille.
He lay on his back, the upper half of his vision filled by Absolution's murky yellow sky, stained with Smoke.
Now that sky was dotted with countless falling fireballs—the trails of his fleet's wreckage, like a meteor shower.
Every falling streak of flame marked the destruction of a ship and the shattering of his ambitions.
Bitter defiance sank its fangs deep into his heart like a venomous snake.
He refused to accept it!
He had been only one step away from completing his plunder, departing fully laden, and fleeing into deep space!
Only one step away from crushing Biberus utterly and savoring his revenge!
"Biberus!!"
He roared, struggling to rise, his gaze fixed on the figure approaching step by step with sword in hand, like death itself.
Silhouetted against the burning sky, the figure showed only the cold red glow of his Visors.
"It is time you paid for what you have done, Abdullah." Biberus's voice was terrifyingly calm, as still as the eye of a storm.
He did not run. He simply advanced on Abdullah, one steady step at a time.
Each step struck Abdullah's heart like the tolling of a funeral bell.
Abdullah scrabbled backward on his hands and feet, his frantic gaze catching the