With a thunderous crack, the figure's foot connected with Dark's chest, sending him flying through the air. The impact was so fierce it shattered the throne room's walls, and Dark's body blasted through the remnants of the shattered door, out into the cold night, and down into the heart of Harbos' arena.
Dark crashed into the snow-covered ground, the impact carving a deep furrow in the earth. Gasping for breath, the cold air stinging his lungs, he struggled to push himself up. His vision blurred momentarily, but then he saw it—Goudro, the monstrous form that Harbos had taken, towering before him. The creature's grotesque, crusted skin glinted menacingly under the moonlight, and in its hand, a giant black greatsword pulsed with dark energy.
Dark's eyes widened in disbelief as Goudro let out a guttural roar, the sound reverberating through the arena. The creature's eyes burned with a feral intensity, filled with an insatiable hunger for destruction.
Goudro: You thought you defeated me, but now you face my true form! Prepare to be annihilated, Dark!
Dark's mind raced, the reality of the situation sinking in. He forced himself to stand, every muscle in his body screaming in protest.
Dark: (thinking) I've barely recovered from that last attack, and now this... I have to stay focused. I can't afford to lose here.
Goudro lunged forward, the ground trembling beneath its massive weight. Dark barely had time to react, rolling to the side as the greatsword cleaved into the ground where he had been standing, sending a shower of snow and debris into the air. He countered with a swift strike, his katana slicing through the air, but the blade barely scratched Goudro's hardened skin.
Dark: (thinking) His armor... it's even tougher now.
Goudro swung again, the greatsword cutting through the air with a whoosh. Dark ducked and weaved, his movements a blur as he evaded the relentless onslaught. Each missed strike from Goudro shattered the ground, leaving deep fissures in the earth.
Dark: (thinking) I need to find a weakness. There has to be a way to get through that armor.
He focused, centering himself amidst the chaos. The world seemed to slow around him, the snowflakes drifting lazily once more. Dark's eyes scanned Goudro's form, searching for any sign of vulnerability.
Goudro: Is that all you've got, Dark? You're nothing but a gnat to me now!
With a roar, Goudro charged again, the ground shaking with each step. Dark darted to the side, aiming for the joints of Goudro's armor. He struck with precision, his katana finding a small gap and sinking in. Goudro howled in pain, but the wound was shallow, barely enough to slow him down.
Dark: (thinking) It's not enough... I need more power.
Drawing on every ounce of his remaining strength, Dark pushed himself to the limit. He felt the familiar warmth of his energy building within him, the same force that had helped him defeat Harbos before. He focused it into his blade, the Kyuketsu glowing with an ominous light. He lunged forward, his movements a blur of speed and precision, aiming directly at Goudro's heart.
Goudro swung his greatsword down with tremendous force, but Dark anticipated the move, sidestepping at the last moment. With a swift, powerful strike, he drove the Kyuketsu into Goudro's chest, channeling all his energy into the attack. The blade pierced through the hardened flesh, sinking deep into the beast's core.
Goudro let out an ear-splitting roar, staggering back as dark energy erupted from the wound. The ground trembled, and the air crackled with raw power. Dark pulled his blade free and leaped back, watching as Goudro convulsed, the dark energy consuming him from within.
Dark: (thinking) This is my chance...
Summoning the last of his strength, Dark dashed forward, his katana ready for the final blow. He swung with all his might, aiming for Goudro's neck. The blade connected, and with a blinding flash of light, Goudro's head separated from his body, the monstrous form collapsing into the snow with a thunderous crash.
Panting heavily, Dark stood over the fallen beast, his body trembling from exhaustion. The arena was silent, the echoes of battle fading into the night. He felt his legs give way, and he collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily.
Suddenly, the sound of hands clapping echoed through the cold air, followed by the measured sound of footsteps approaching him.
Figure: Well done, well done. You managed to defeat my executioner.
The figure's voice was calm, almost mocking. Dark tried to lift his head, but his body refused to obey, every muscle paralyzed with fatigue.
Figure: Fine, I'll tell you my name.
The figure stopped a few paces away from Dark, the moonlight casting long shadows over his form.
Figure: My name is Retsyu, Emperor of the Assassin Empire. And the wielder of the Seventh Divine Order, Sword Of Death.
Retsyu then slowly lowered his hood and placed both of his hands on his shadowed head, cracking it to reveal his true skin and face. He had an almost ethereal beauty, his features sharp and symmetrical, with long hair that reached his neck and slightly obscured his eyes, giving him an air of mystery and allure.
Retsyu: Get up, Dark. I know you're alive.
Dark started breathing heavily, the weight of Retsyu's presence pressing down on him.
Dark: Damn you... and your executioner...
Dark tried to lift himself up, but his entire body felt dead, unable to move, completely frozen.
Dark: I'll break you, your empire. And last but not least, your darkened heart.
Dark's voice was filled with defiance, even as he lay helpless on the ground.
Dark: You piss me off so much. I can't even get up.
Retsyu's smile widened, a chilling sight under the pale moonlight.
Retsyu: We'll see about that, Dark. We'll see.
As Dark lay on the ground, struggling to remain conscious, he heard faint voices in the distance. His vision blurred, but he could make out the silhouettes of two figures approaching.
Tier: Dark! Hang on, we're coming!
Gilmuar: Don't give up, Dark. We're here.
Dark's heart lifted at the sound of his friends. Tier and Gilmuar had found him. He tried to call out to them, but his voice was weak, barely a whisper.
Dark: (thinking) Tier... Gilmuar... thank you...
Retsyu stepped back, watching with a bemused expression as Tier and Gilmuar rushed to Dark's side. They lifted him gently, supporting his weight between them.
Tier: We need to get him out of here, now.
Gilmuar: Right. We'll find a safe place to regroup and plan our next move.
As they began to carry Dark away, Retsyu's voice rang out, cold and mocking.
Retsyu: Run while you can, Dark. But remember, you can't escape your destiny. I'll be waiting.
Dark's mind raced, a thousand thoughts swirling in the chaos. He knew that the battle was far from over, but with Tier and Gilmuar by his side, he felt a glimmer of hope.
Dark: (thinking) I will come back, Retsyu. And when I do, I'll be ready.
With that silent vow, Dark let himself be carried away, his body heavy with exhaustion but his spirit unbroken.
As Tier and Gilmuar carried Dark away from the arena, he gradually regained his strength, the fog in his mind lifting slightly. They found a sheltered spot among the ruins, where they gently set him down. Dark took a moment to catch his breath, his mind still reeling from the intense battle and Retsyu's ominous presence.
Dark: Thank you, Tier. Gilmuar. I owe you both.
Tier: We're just glad we found you in time. You looked pretty beaten up back there.
Gilmuar: We couldn't leave you behind. We're in this together.
Dark's expression hardened, a flicker of cold determination in his eyes. He pushed himself to his feet, ignoring the pain coursing through his body.
Dark: (thinking) I can't stay here. I need to get stronger. That's all that matters.
Tier and Gilmuar exchanged worried glances as they watched him struggle to stand.
Gilmuar: Dark, you need to rest. You're not in any shape to fight right now.
Dark: I don't care about rest. I don't care about saving the world. All that matters is becoming stronger.
Tier: What are you saying? You don't care about our goal? About what we've been fighting for?
Dark: There is no "we." I never cared about any of it. This was always about power. And I'll get it, no matter the cost.
Ignoring their pleas, Dark began to walk away. Gilmuar stepped forward, reaching out to stop him. Just before his hand touched Dark's shoulder, Dark whirled around, drawing the Kyuketsu with lightning speed. The blade stopped inches from Gilmuar's neck, the sharp edge gleaming dangerously in the dim light.
Gilmuar's expression shifted, a mix of ego, disappointment, and a loss of respect crossing his features.
Gilmuar: Do you even have any humanity left within you, Dark? Or are you just so consumed by your need for power that you think you have to do everything alone?
Dark's eyes burned with intensity, his grip on the Kyuketsu unwavering.
Dark: Humanity? It's a weakness. I've had enough of relying on others.
Gilmuar: (shaking his head) We joined you to help you, Dark. Leona and Tier were the first. They believed in you. I believed in you. But you're throwing it all away for what? Strength? Power?
Tier: Dark, we've been through so much together. We found you in the Academy of the Elites. We've faced so many battles side by side. This isn't just about you anymore. We're a team.
Dark: (thinking) A team... I never wanted this. I never wanted any of this.
Dark lowered his blade, but the tension remained in the air. His thoughts drifted back to his childhood, raised by nature itself, isolated from the world. The forest had been his only companion, teaching him survival and strength.
Dark: I never asked for friends. I never asked for any of this. I was fine alone.
Gilmuar: (voice softening) Maybe you didn't ask for it, but it happened. We're here now. We're with you because we care. Because we believe in you.
Tier: We've already lost so much. Gilmuar was killed and brought back. We've all faced our demons. Don't let this darkness consume you, Dark. Don't push us away.
Dark took a deep breath, the weight of their words pressing down on him. He sheathed the Kyuketsu, his shoulders sagging with the burden he carried.
Dark: I... I just don't want to lose anyone else. I don't want to be the reason you get hurt.
Gilmuar: We're all at risk, Dark. But we're stronger together. You need to trust us. Trust me.
Tier: Gilmuar's right. We can't do this without you, but you can't do it without us either.
Dark shook his head, stepping back from them.
Dark: No. There is no "we." I don't need anyone. I never did. And I never will.
With that, Dark turned and walked away, his steps heavy with both resolve and sorrow. Tier and Gilmuar watched him go, their hearts heavy with the weight of his words.
Dark found a cave nearby and entered, the darkness within mirroring the turmoil in his soul. He sat down against the cold, hard stone, the silence of the cave pressing in on him.
Dark: (thinking) I need to be alone. Only then can I find the strength I need.
The cave's stillness was a stark contrast to the chaos outside. Dark closed his eyes, trying to steady his breathing, but the pain in his heart was relentless. Memories of his past, of the friends he had unintentionally made, flooded his mind.
Dark: (thinking) I never wanted this... I never wanted any of this...
As the night wore on, Dark remained in the cave, a solitary figure amidst the encroaching darkness, wrestling with his inner demons. The path ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: he would face it alone, as he always had.
Dark sat in the cold cave, the silence pressing in on him. His mind was a whirl of thoughts and memories, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. The weight of his decision to push his friends away gnawed at him, but he remained resolute.
Suddenly, a faint sound caught his attention—whispers carried on the wind, followed by the unmistakable noise of a struggle. Dark's senses sharpened, and he realized that something was terribly wrong.
Dark: (thinking) Tier... Gilmuar... they're in danger.
Without hesitation, Dark bolted from the cave, his body protesting every step but his resolve unyielding. As he neared the clearing where he had last seen his friends, the scene before him confirmed his worst fears.
Tier and Gilmuar were surrounded by a group of shadowy figures, their forms barely visible in the dim light. The Nightshade Assassins moved with lethal precision, their blades gleaming as they attacked. Tier fought valiantly, his movements a blur as he deflected strikes, while Gilmuar stood his ground, his face set in grim determination.
Assassin Leader: Eliminate them. They are the key to breaking Dark's spirit.
Dark's eyes blazed with fury. He unsheathed the Kyuketsu and charged into the fray, his blade cutting through the shadows with deadly accuracy. The assassins turned their attention to him, their movements coordinated and ruthless.
Assassin 1: He's here. Focus on Dark!
The fight was intense, each strike from the assassins aimed to cripple or kill. Dark parried and countered, his mind a whirlwind of tactics and rage. Despite his exhaustion, he fought with a ferocity that left the assassins reeling.
Dark: (thinking) I can't let them harm my friends. Not again.
Tier: Dark! Behind you!
Dark spun around just in time to block a strike aimed at his back, the force of the blow sending sparks flying. The assassin sneered, their eyes cold and unfeeling.
Assassin Leader: You can't protect them forever, Dark. Retsyu will see to that.
Dark: I won't let you touch them!
With a roar, Dark unleashed a powerful surge of energy, driving the assassins back. The clearing erupted into chaos, shadows clashing with the light of Dark's blade. Despite the overwhelming odds, Dark fought on, his determination unwavering.
Gilmuar: Dark, watch out!
Gilmuar's warning came just in time as Dark narrowly avoided a deadly strike aimed at his heart. The assassin's blade sliced through the air, missing its mark by mere inches. Dark retaliated with a swift, brutal strike, his blade finding its target.
The battle raged on, but slowly, the tide began to turn. Dark's relentless assault and the combined efforts of Tier and Gilmuar started to overwhelm the Nightshade Assassins. One by one, the assassins fell, their forms dissolving into shadows as they were defeated.
Breathing heavily, Dark stood among the fallen, his body aching but his spirit unbroken. Tier and Gilmuar approached him, their expressions a mix of relief and concern.
Tier: Dark, are you okay?
Gilmuar: We can't keep fighting like this. We need a plan.
Dark: (grimly) They'll keep coming. Retsyu wants to break us, but we won't give him the satisfaction.
Tier: Then we need to stay together. We're stronger as a team.
Dark: (softly) I know. I'm sorry for pushing you away. I thought I could protect you by keeping my distance.
Gilmuar: We're in this together, Dark. Remember that.
Dark nodded, a flicker of warmth in his eyes as he looked at his friends.
Dark: Let's find a safer place to regroup. We need to be ready for whatever comes next.
The three friends moved cautiously through the forest, their senses on high alert. The recent battle had left its mark, but their resolve was stronger than ever. Dark knew that the path ahead would be fraught with danger, but with Tier and Gilmuar by his side, he felt a glimmer of hope.
Dark: (thinking) We'll face whatever comes together. I won't push them away again.
As they disappeared into the shadows of the forest, the wind whispered through the trees, carrying with it the promise of more trials to come. The fight was far from over, but for the first time in a long while, Dark felt that they might just stand a chance.
Dark: Tomorrow, we begin our counterattack. Retsyu won't know what hit him.
End Of Chapter 16.