Ashira's eye twitched, his hands shaking vigorously as he bit down on his bottom lip so hard that it started to bleed.
This is bad. He thought. I can feel myself getting weaker and weaker by the second. Whatever this bastard did to me is starting to take effect. I need to quickly end this.
Ralak rested the scythe on his shoulder, staring coldly at Ashira. "It's getting worse, isn't it? And here I thought we'd have more time to have some fun."
Ashira's gaze met Ralak's, his face overflowing with rage. "Just you wait! I'll kill you way before whatever you did to me can harm me. Not even my ability you stole will save you from me!"
Ralak let out a loud laugh, his voice carrying an air of mockery. "You think I copied your ability because I need it? You still don't understand your current situation, do you? You think you're only at a slight disadvantage. You think there's still some way to pull yourself out of this and beat me?"
Ralak's voice turned cold, his glowing eyes locking onto Ashira like a predator. "For what I'm about to do to you… death is a mercy."
FWOOSH!!!
Ralak shot toward Ashira, the blood scythe dragging behind him, leaving a bright red trail like a comet streaking through the void.
Ashira smirked, tensing up as he drew his twin blood blades behind him, prepared to parry the incoming strike.
As Ralak came into range, he lifted the scythe high and drew it back, aiming directly for Ashira's head. Ashira pulled his swords to his face, ready to block. But just as the scythe neared its target—
Clap.
A low clapping sound echoed. In an instant, Ralak was gone.
Ashira didn't have time to be surprised. A suffocating killing intent loomed behind him, freezing him in place. His head tilted slightly, his eye darting to the side. There was Ralak, standing behind him, the scythe already positioned at his neck—waiting.
Without hesitation, Ralak swung the scythe, aiming to decapitate him.
NO!! Ashira's mind screamed.
SWOOSH!!
The scythe sliced into Ashira's neck. As it dug deeper, he turned his body just enough to keep a sliver of skin intact. Blood poured out as he quickly used Conquer of Red to regenerate the damage.
FWOOSH!!
Ralak gave him no time to recover, launching another flurry of strikes.
CLANG!! SWOOSH!!
The sound of Ralak's scythe clashing against Ashira's swords filled the void of space. Ashira tried to dodge and block, but Ralak was relentless, teleporting constantly and outpacing every attempt to defend himself.
This bastard is just playing with me at this point! Ashira thought, his frustration mounting. **No matter what I do, nothing works. He's too fast! And if I turn my body into blood, he'll just take control of me. Damn it!"
After what felt like an eternity, Ralak suddenly stopped, hovering above Ashira, his scythe resting in his hand. He stared silently, his gaze cold and calculating.
Panting heavily, Ashira struggled to keep himself upright. His body was riddled with deep cuts, and his regeneration couldn't keep up.
"Look at you," Ralak finally spoke, his voice dripping with disdain. "In this pitiful, disgusting state."
"With those wounds to your body and my little friend that's slowly devouring your soul, you have no chance of making it out alive. So do me a favor: tell me the coordinates of the main universe the X3X empire rules."
Ashira slowly lifted his head, glaring at Ralak. "Who said I'm going to die here? And even if I were, why would I betray the people who made me who I am? I may have no honor, but I respect loyalty. I wouldn't say a word to a dog like you."
Ralak sighed, his expression bored. "So be it. It matters not if you tell me or not. We'll find others, but high-ranking individuals like yourself would have saved us some time. No matter. We'll end this here."
Ashira suddenly jammed his hand into his chest.
KWSHH!!
Ralak's expression darkened. "What are you doing?"
Ashira laughed, blood continuously running out of his mouth. "You're right about one thing: I definitely can't beat you. But if I'm going to die anyway… I'll take you with me!"
He pulled out his glowing heart, red energy pulsating from it like a ticking bomb.
"You think that's going to—"
WHOOSH—PZZZTTT!!!!
An enormous pressure hit Ralak and Ashira. A bright white streak of thunder erupted in the direction of the main battlefield.
Ashira froze, his glowing heart dimming as he looked toward the thunder in horror. "What the hell? Who—what—is capable of something like that!?"
Ralak's expression turned grim, his gaze fixed on the thunder.
Kid… you're hurt.