Knights stood firm before the swirling chaos, their swords gleaming beneath a crimson sky. The air was thick with smoke and the sharp scent of burning wood. From within the black flames, a figure emerged—a man with a pale face, eyes black as the void, and hair that flickered like fire itself. He moved with eerie silence, his long coat billowing behind him. The surrounding destruction seemed beneath his notice as he glided forward with slow, deliberate steps. Flames danced around him, but he didn't flinch. His gaze was fixed on the knights, who stood frozen in awe.
Igetis stepped forward, his silver armor catching the dim light.
"Are you the one responsible for this?" he demanded, his voice unwavering.
The figure in the fire tilted his head slightly, a sly smile creeping across his lips.
"Manners, Sir Knight. Manners," he said in a mocking tone. "It's quite rude to address someone without introducing yourself first. After all, what are we, without manners?"
Igetis moved closer, his steps slow and deliberate, his presence suffocating.
"At the very least, you should know the name of the one who will end your little crusade."
He tightened his grip on his sword, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders.
"My name is Igetis, a Knight of the Sun. And yours… Chaos Seeker?"
The man placed a hand over his chest, bowing slightly.
"Now we can talk," he mused. "I am Skotadi, Mister Igetis. And let's not make this day any worse, shall we? The world is already drowning in suffering… no need for us to add more. Just the idea of suffering is enough to make me want to reshape it."
Igetis' eyes hardened.
"It will suffer far less without you in it."
Skotadi's smirk faded, his gaze darkening.
"Ah, such a short-sighted solution. Eliminate what you fear and pretend the world is healed? How noble. How naive."
From behind Igetis, Theo and Evangeline stepped forward, their young voices clashing together.
"Enough talking. He's a sickness. The sooner we take him down, the better the world will be."
Skotadi chuckled, his eyes flickering toward them.
"Ah, siblings. I can see it—the same fire, the same impulsiveness."
His smile curved into something colder.
"But I'll forgive your recklessness. Youth has all the time in the world to learn."
Igetis kept his eyes locked on Skotadi.
"Theo, Evangeline—focus. This place feels... wrong."
Theo's eyes widened.
"We're in his barrier."
Evangeline scanned the area, spotting shifting shadows creeping closer.
"And we're not alone. There are bugs around us."
A dozen shadowy figures emerged behind Skotadi, their eyes glowing faintly. One stepped forward, its voice like a whisper on the wind.
"Let's rid the world of them—for a better world."
The rest echoed in unison:
"For a better life."
Evangeline spun her sword confidently.
"I'd love to see you try, shadow bugs."
Skotadi sighed with theatrical disappointment.
"You should have learned manners, girl. Didn't the knights teach you any?"
He waved lazily.
"Very well—take them down."
The shadows lunged. Steel met steel in a blur of motion. Evangeline deflected a sickle strike aimed at her throat, pivoting to deliver a counter-slash. Theo parried a flurry of blows, his blade clashing against his attacker's, sparks flying with each furious strike.
Theo gritted his teeth, feeling the pressure of every hit. He glanced at Evangeline—she met his eyes and gave a sharp nod. Silently, they began shifting their fight, drawing the shadowy foes away from Igetis and Skotadi.
"Follow them!" one shadow hissed.
"Let us take the bait," another said, eager for the kill.
Skotadi watched with an approving smirk.
"Smart. Let the young settle their little fires... while we deal with the storm."
With a sharp gesture, darkness swirled around him.
"Mavri Fotia!" he roared, hurling a wave of black fire toward Igetis. Trees crumbled, the earth scorched as the inferno tore through everything in its path.
Igetis stood his ground, raising his sword high.
"Iero Fos!" he bellowed, and his blade burst into radiant light. He swung it wide, slicing through the darkness and scattering the flames into harmless embers. The clearing blazed with golden brilliance, pushing back the suffocating gloom.
Skotadi's lips curled into a sneer.
"Light is fleeting, knight. Darkness… is eternal."
He moved like a phantom, flickering into motion. In a blink, he was upon Igetis. Their swords clashed with a crack of thunder, the shockwave shaking the ground. Igetis staggered, but quickly recovered, stepping into the next strike with renewed resolve.
Skotadi's form flowed like smoke, each slash carried the weight of despair. Igetis met every strike, his golden armor flashing bursts of light that split through the shadowy mist.
Their battle grew fiercer. Skotadi lunged low, aiming for Igetis' ribs—but the knight sidestepped, countering with an upward slash that forced Skotadi to retreat. Igetis pressed forward, sword a beacon of hope cutting through darkness.
The forest trembled beneath them. Screaming mushrooms shrieked in terror, scuttling to avoid the chaos. Igetis noticed them huddled in despair as black flames closed in. With a wide sweep of his glowing blade, he pushed the fire away, shielding the creatures.
"Strange creatures," Skotadi mused, panting. "They scream in pain, yet never run far enough to escape it. Do you see, knight? They follow the suffering, drawn to it."
Igetis didn't waver.
"No need to worry. I'm here to protect them."
Skotadi's grin darkened.
"Exactly why they stay. You make them weak. But I can't blame them. If I had someone to protect me... I might never have left either."
With a roar, Igetis lunged, his blade igniting in pure light. He swung with all his strength. Skotadi barely dodged—his coat tore and a burn marked his arm.
He hissed, annoyed, then countered with a downward slash. Black fire and radiant steel collided in a storm of sparks.
They locked blades, eyes meeting in a battle deeper than swords. Each strike sent waves of force across the clearing, trees groaning, the very air trembling.
Finally, Igetis found an opening. With a surge of strength, he knocked Skotadi back. The shadow-wielder staggered, but his grin never faded.
"Well then, Igetis…" he said, brushing ash from his coat.
"Let's see how long your light can last… before it burns out."
Igetis steadied his breath, sword glowing brighter than ever.
"Until the light drives out the darkness."
Their battle was far from over.