Dark stood in a vast, impenetrable blackness—darker and thicker than any night he had ever known. The nothingness around him felt suffocating, as if the void itself was alive, pressing down on his very soul. In front of him, a shadowy figure began to emerge, its form barely discernible. The only features visible in the dark were glowing, predatory eyes and a sinister, wide grin. The figure exuded a monstrous yet calm presence, the kind of power that demanded attention.
Vylrath: Welcome, Dark. I am Vylrath. You stand within your own mind, the void of your consciousness.
The voice reverberated through the empty space, low and resonant, almost as if the words were crawling into Dark's very core. Dark's face remained stoic, his eyes cold and indifferent as he studied the being before him.
Dark: This shit again? What do you want?
Vylrath's smile grew wider, his glowing eyes narrowing with dark amusement.
Vylrath: It's not what I want, Dark. It's what you've brought upon yourself. You've summoned me here, in this darkness. Do you not understand? This is your awakening.
Dark's expression remained emotionless, his voice sharp.
Dark: Awaken? I've already heard that crap from Sukojo. So why the hell am I here?
Vylrath chuckled, the sound deep and unsettling, as if each laugh held a hidden threat.
Vylrath: Ah, Sukojo... a puppet of chaos. A creation of despair and madness. My father, Shou, cast him into the Supreme Black Hole, a place meant to birth chaos itself. He was supposed to be the end of all things, the embodiment of destruction.
Dark: Great. Now tell me how to get the fuck out of here so I can finish killing my brother.
Vylrath's glowing eyes seemed to bore deeper into Dark, his voice growing more calculated, more insidious.
Vylrath: You cannot leave until you understand why you summoned me. I ask again, what were you feeling just before you found yourself here?
Dark paused, his memory flashing back to the battle. The sight of Nen charging at him with that blade... the feeling of his body giving out... the dread of defeat.
Dark: I thought I was going to die. I saw Nen coming at me with that fucking blade, and then... I was here.
Dark's voice was tinged with frustration, a rare crack in his usually emotionless tone.
Dark: Am I dead?
Vylrath let out a low, rumbling laugh, his mouth contorting in a twisted expression of amusement. His eyes gleamed in the dark, no longer just predatory but also taunting.
Vylrath: Dead? No, Dark. Far from it. This is not death. This is your Awakening—a chance to unlock what lies dormant within you. Sukojo merely scratched the surface of what you can become. But me? I am here to guide you to the depths.
Dark scowled, his patience wearing thin.
Dark: Enough with the cryptic bullshit. Just get to the point.
Vylrath's grin remained, his voice growing darker, almost sinister in its calmness.
Vylrath: Very well. You are not dead because you have yet to fulfill your purpose. You summoned me because you were ready to awaken the full extent of your power. But you still lack understanding. And that, Dark, is where I come in.
Dark's eyes narrowed as he processed Vylrath's words. This wasn't just another mind game. This was something deeper, something primal.
Dark: Fine. So what now?
Vylrath floated closer, his form still barely visible against the endless black. His eyes locked onto Dark's, as if challenging him to grasp the truth.
Vylrath: When you return, you will say these words: Lurona Kokun. These words will unlock something far beyond your comprehension, something tied to your very soul. It will give you power over time itself—a weapon that none can withstand.
Dark's expression remained stoic, though his mind raced with the possibilities.
Dark: And what's the catch? There's always a catch.
Vylrath's smile never wavered as he answered.
Vylrath: The only catch is that you must choose when to use it. Every time you invoke it, you step closer to the abyss. But if you survive, you will wield power that even the gods fear.
Dark stared at Vylrath for a moment before speaking again, his tone emotionless yet resolute.
Dark: I've got nothing left to lose. I'll use it.
Vylrath's eyes gleamed with approval.
Vylrath: Good. Now return... and end what you've started.
With that, the darkness around Dark began to shift and ripple, pulling him back to reality. The void receded, and before he knew it, Dark found himself back on the battlefield.
Nen stood above him, blade poised to strike. The world seemed to slow as Dark whispered the words Vylrath had given him.
Dark: Lurona Kokun.
Instantly, time itself seemed to stop. Everything around Dark froze, and he slowly stood, his body moving effortlessly through the suspended reality. He glanced at Nen, who was frozen mid-swing, and smirked.
Dark: So this is what it does. Not bad.
Dark walked behind Nen and crossed his arms, taking in the sight of his helpless brother. A low chuckle escaped his lips, the memory of his childhood fantasies flooding his mind. He used to imagine having power like this, and now, it was his reality.
Dark: Hahaha. Alright... time to get serious.
Dark's eyes narrowed as he tapped into the deeper well of his power.
Dark: Yokina Du Tu.
His body began to shift, dark energy swirling around him. His eyes glowed with a malevolent crimson, and his voice deepened, taking on a demonic resonance. His skin darkened, and jagged black markings etched themselves into his flesh. His pupils turned to slits, and a pair of dark, twisted horns grew from his skull. His entire form radiated with raw, uncontainable power a half-demon, born of rage and darkness.
Dark moved his hand near his left eye, showing his glowing, slit-pupil gaze between his pinkie and index fingers.
Dark: (thinking) No fucking idea what I'm doing... but I like it.
He looked at Nen's frozen form once more, then whispered the words that would end it all.
Dark: World Of Darkness....
In an instant, the entire universe was engulfed in blinding white light. Every star, every planet, every fragment of existence was swallowed by the sheer force of Dark's power. Nothing remained but an endless expanse of pure white, a void devoid of all color, of all life.
Nen was unfrozen, standing before the skeletal remains of a colossal being. Dark stood calmly in front of the skeleton, facing his brother with an eerie calmness.
Dark: Shiro No Yami Sakai.
The white expanse seemed to stretch infinitely, yet within it, there was a profound, inescapable darkness. Shadows danced within the light, creeping and twisting with malicious intent. This was Dark's domain—a world where light and darkness coexisted, bound to his will.
Nen stared at the scene before him, his heart pounding in his chest. The sheer magnitude of Dark's power was unlike anything he had ever witnessed. This was no ordinary battle. This was the beginning of the end.
Dark stood in the center of his creation, his figure a shadow against the infinite white that enveloped the universe. His eyes, now glowing with a haunting red light, bore into Nen, who stood frozen in place. The sheer power radiating from Dark made the air crackle with tension, the weight of his Domain pressing down on everything within it.
Nen: (voice trembling with rage) What is this trickery, brother? What manner of sorcery hast thou unleashed upon me?
Dark's expression remained cold, his voice calm but carrying an underlying menace that was impossible to ignore.
Dark: This isn't some cheap trick, Nen. This is my world now. Everything you see, this endless white, is under my control. You're just a fucking speck in it.
Nen's golden armor flickered with energy as he tried to summon his strength, but the overwhelming presence of Dark's domain suppressed his power, rendering him far weaker than he had ever been.
Nen: (snarling) Thou dost underestimate me! I am power itself! I shall not be bested by the likes of thee!
Dark took a step forward, his demonic eyes never leaving Nen's, and with each step, the white expanse seemed to close in on them, as if reality itself was bending to Dark's will.
Dark: You always were full of yourself, Nen. That's why you'll lose. You think this is about power? About who's stronger? Fuck that. This is about control, and you've lost it. I control everything here. Your strength means nothing now.
Nen roared in defiance, raising his blade high above his head. Golden energy crackled around it, and he swung down with all his might, aiming to cut through the fabric of Dark's domain. But the blade struck nothing but empty air, the attack dissipating into the white void.
Dark didn't even flinch. He raised his hand, and with a mere flick of his fingers, the skeletal remains behind him stirred to life. The colossal bones began to shift and move, their hollow eyes glowing with an eerie light. The skeleton stood upright, towering over both Dark and Nen like a monument to death itself.
Dark: (calmly) Meet the new resident of this world, Nen. And it's hungry.
The skeletal figure lunged forward with terrifying speed, its massive bony hands reaching out for Nen. Nen barely had time to react, dodging the first swipe by a hair's breadth. But the skeleton was relentless, its movements faster and more aggressive with every attack.
Nen: (furiously) Thou shalt not claim me, beast!
Nen tried to counterattack, slashing at the skeleton's bones with his golden blade, but each strike barely left a mark. The skeleton seemed invulnerable, a creature born of Dark's twisted domain, impervious to Nen's attempts to fight back.
Dark watched with cold indifference, his arms crossed over his chest. The light and darkness of his domain swirled around him, reflecting the struggle unfolding before him.
Dark: (mockingly) Keep trying, Nen. Let's see how long you can last.
Nen's breaths grew more ragged as the relentless assault from the skeleton continued. The skeletal hands closed in on him, and despite his best efforts, Nen could feel the weight of defeat bearing down on him. But he refused to give in.
Nen: (roaring) I will not be defeated by a wretch like thee!
In a final act of desperation, Nen unleashed a surge of golden energy, blasting the skeleton back and creating a momentary reprieve. He stumbled backward, his once-pristine armor now dented and cracked, blood trickling from the wounds that had begun to accumulate on his body.
Nen: (panting) Thou... hast made a grave mistake, brother. I shall... I shall destroy thee... even if it costs me everything.
Dark tilted his head slightly, almost as if considering Nen's words. Then he let out a low, humorless laugh.
Dark: You still don't get it, do you? You're done, Nen. This world... it's mine. And soon, everything will be.
With a swift motion, Dark extended his hand toward Nen. The white expanse of the Domain World pulsed with energy, and suddenly, tendrils of pure darkness shot out from the ground, wrapping themselves around Nen's limbs. They were cold, suffocating, draining him of his strength as they tightened their grip.
Nen struggled against the tendrils, but the more he fought, the tighter they became. The white of the domain seemed to darken around him, as if the very light of the universe was being swallowed by the abyss.
Nen: (desperately) No! I shall not fall to thee! I am thy superior! I am... I am...
Dark stepped closer, his voice barely more than a whisper, but it cut through the air like a blade.
Dark: You were never superior to me, Nen. You were just better at pretending.
Nen's eyes widened in shock, his body trembling as the reality of his situation finally began to sink in. The darkness continued to creep up his body, consuming him inch by inch, and for the first time, Nen felt something he had never experienced before: true, unrelenting fear.
Dark: (quietly) Goodbye, brother.
With a final pulse of energy from Dark's hand, the tendrils of darkness surged forward, engulfing Nen completely. His screams echoed through the endless white expanse, but within moments, they were silenced. The tendrils constricted one last time before pulling back into the ground, leaving nothing behind but the stillness of the void.
Dark stood alone in his Domain World, his eyes glowing with a faint red light. He looked around at the vast expanse of white, now tinged with traces of shadow, and allowed himself a small, tired sigh.
Dark: (thinking) It's done. Finally.
But even as he stood there, victorious, Dark couldn't shake the emptiness that settled over him. This was supposed to be the end of it all, the final closure to his hatred and rage. But instead, all he felt was... nothing.
Dark: (thinking) Was this it? Was this all I was fighting for?
Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed through the void, breaking the silence. It was Sukojo, his tone light and playful, as if he hadn't just witnessed the most brutal moment of Dark's life.
Sukojo: (jokingly) Well, that was quite the show, Dark. A little overdramatic, but hey, points for style.
Dark didn't turn around, didn't acknowledge Sukojo's presence. He simply stared ahead into the void, his mind racing.
Sukojo: (mockingly) Oh, come on, don't be like that. You won, didn't you? Shouldn't you be celebrating? Maybe throw a little party in this creepy-ass world of yours?
Dark: (coldly) I'm not in the mood, Sukojo.
Sukojo appeared beside Dark, his grin wide and devious, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
Sukojo: (teasingly) Aw, come on, buddy. You can't just brood all day. That's my job, remember? Chaos and destruction? Ring any bells?
Dark remained silent, his eyes distant, lost in thought. Sukojo's grin faltered for a moment, but then he shrugged, his playful demeanor returning just as quickly.
Sukojo: (smirking) Well, whatever. You do you. But just remember, Dark... this is only the beginning.
Dark stands tall, his expression unreadable as Sukojo steps forward, a devious smile twisting across his face. The battlefield, once filled with the sounds of their brutal clash, falls into a haunting silence. Dark's eyes, usually devoid of emotion, flicker with a momentary understanding, a resigned acceptance.
Sukojo: (mockingly) You've fought well, Dark. But it ends here. It always had to end like this, didn't it?
Dark doesn't respond, his cold stare locked on Sukojo as if he had always known this moment would come. His body, battered and bloodied, refuses to tremble or show any sign of fear. He stands still, resolute, almost welcoming what is to come.
Dark: (quietly) Do it, Sukojo. Finish this shit.
Sukojo chuckles, the sound low and sinister as he approaches Dark. His eyes gleam with malice, his laughter filling the stillness around them. He steps closer, raising his hand, dark energy crackling at his fingertips. The power radiating from him is overwhelming, suffocating the very air around them.
Sukojo: (softly) I've waited for this moment for so long. The culmination of all that we've been through. You've served your purpose, Dark. And now, you're just another obstacle in my way.
Dark doesn't flinch, doesn't even blink. He simply stands there, his gaze unwavering, accepting the inevitable. There's no anger, no hatred—only emptiness, as if he has already made peace with his fate.
Sukojo: (whispering) Goodbye, Dark.
With a flick of his wrist, Sukojo plunges his hand into Dark's chest. The impact is swift, brutal, and final. Dark gasps, his body seizing as the dark energy tears through him, ripping apart his insides. Blood pours from his mouth as he staggers, his vision blurring.
Dark: (weakly) ...figures... it'd be you...
Sukojo twists his hand, a sadistic grin on his face as Dark's body convulses in agony. The once-unstoppable force, the warrior who had faced gods and demons alike, now crumbles beneath Sukojo's touch. Dark's strength fades, his knees buckling as his world begins to darken.
Sukojo: (mockingly) Farewell, Dark. You were always destined to die by my hand.
With one final, violent twist, Sukojo rips his hand from Dark's chest, pulling free a mass of energy, swirling with darkness. Dark's body collapses, lifeless, to the ground. Blood pools beneath him, soaking into the earth as the last remnants of his strength fade away.
Sukojo stands over Dark's corpse, the energy still writhing in his grasp. He looks down at the body with a mixture of satisfaction and contempt, a cruel smile curling his lips.
Sukojo: (quietly) And now... it begins.
The battlefield remains silent, the air heavy with the weight of what has just transpired. Sukojo watches Dark's lifeless form for a moment longer before turning away, his smile never faltering. He walks forward, leaving the body behind, his mind already focused on the next phase of his plan.
But as he steps away, the wind begins to stir, carrying with it a faint whisper—a whisper of something that Sukojo ignores for now. He vanishes into the distance, leaving Dark's bloodied remains to rest in the silence of the desolate battlefield.
End of Arc 2, Chapter 5.