The training grounds were charged with an electric tension, the air thick with the anticipation of what was to come. The sun had dipped low, casting long, ominous shadows that seemed to stretch endlessly across the cracked earth. Cron, Leona, Gilmuar, and Tier stood side by side, their eyes locked onto Dark, who stood at the center of the field, calm and collected, his presence almost suffocating.
Dark: (his voice low, almost challenging) Together, try to bring me down. All of you.
Dark's words were a gauntlet thrown at their feet, a challenge they couldn't refuse. Each of them knew this wasn't just a training exercise—it was a test of their mettle, a way to gauge the gap between them and the man who had returned from death, more powerful and more enigmatic than ever before.
Cron: (eyes narrowing, his grip tightening on his weapon) We won't hold back, Dark. You'll see what we're truly capable of.
Leona: (her voice tinged with both determination and worry) Be careful, Dark. We're not the same as before.
Gilmuar: (grimly) Let's end this quick. We're stronger together.
Tier: (quietly, his hands working swiftly over his devices) I'll support from the back. Don't underestimate him, guys.
Without a moment's hesitation, Cron initiated the attack. He thrust his hand forward, summoning a dozen spectral weapons from his Arsenal Magic. Each weapon—a mix of swords, spears, and axes—glowed with a malevolent energy, hovering in the air for a split second before launching at Dark with deadly precision.
Dark didn't flinch. In one fluid motion, he leapt into action, his body a blur as he twisted and spun, narrowly avoiding each weapon. The black feathered cape billowed out behind him, adding to the illusion that he was a shadow flitting through the battlefield.
Dark: (with a smirk, taunting) You'll need to be faster, Cron.
Cron didn't let up. He summoned more weapons, doubling his efforts. The ground beneath them erupted as Gilmuar activated his Gravity Magic, causing the earth to crack and split. The gravitational force intensified, pulling everything towards the center, where Dark stood.
Gilmuar: (with a growl, pushing his limits) Let's see you handle the weight of the world, Dark!
The gravity well bore down on Dark, the sheer force of it threatening to crush him. The very air around him distorted, the pressure enough to pulverize stone. But Dark remained unfazed. With a powerful surge of energy, he pushed back against the gravitational pull, his feet digging into the ground as he began to move forward, each step a battle against the crushing force.
Leona: (summoning her Water Magic, her voice trembling with effort) Titan, come forth!
The earth shook as Leona called upon her Water Titan, a colossal figure made of surging water that rose from the ground like a tidal wave. The Titan roared, its massive fists crashing down towards Dark, intending to pummel him into submission.
Dark's eyes flashed, a mix of black and crimson, as he darted between the Titan's massive blows. The sheer size of the Titan made it slow, but its power was undeniable. Each of its attacks sent shockwaves through the ground, creating craters where they landed. Dark danced through the destruction, his movements too fast for the Titan to follow.
Dark: (voice calm, almost too calm) You'll have to do better than that.
In a swift, almost imperceptible motion, Dark leapt onto the Titan's arm, running up its length with a speed that defied logic. He reached Leona in an instant, his hand darting out to tap her lightly on the forehead.
Leona: (gasping, her vision blurring) What—
The connection between Leona and the Titan shattered like glass. The giant elemental creature wavered, its form losing cohesion before collapsing back into a torrent of water that drenched the battlefield. Leona staggered back, her strength sapped by the sudden disruption of her magic.
Dark: (softly, with a hint of regret) You're not ready, Leona.
He didn't pause to check on her; he moved on, his sights set on Gilmuar. The ground continued to buckle and shift under the strain of Gilmuar's Gravity Magic, the air vibrating with tension as he poured everything he had into keeping Dark at bay.
Gilmuar: (snarling, his eyes narrowing) You won't get past me!
Dark's smile was thin, almost sad, as he closed the distance between them. The gravitational force around Gilmuar intensified, the ground beneath Dark's feet cracking and sinking under the pressure. But Dark's movements didn't slow. With each step, the gravitational field seemed to weaken, bending to Dark's will instead of Gilmuar's.
Gilmuar: (shocked, disbelief in his voice) No... it's not possible...
Dark's hand moved like lightning, tapping Gilmuar on the forehead. The gravitational field collapsed instantly, the crushing force evaporating as Gilmuar's control was severed. He stumbled backward, the strength leaving his body as he fell to his knees.
Dark: (whispering, almost gently) You're strong, Gilmuar. But not strong enough.
Meanwhile, Tier was frantically working with his devices, trying to calculate Dark's next move, looking for any weakness in his movements, anything they could exploit. He had deployed energy traps, barriers, and scanning devices, all working in unison to try and outmaneuver Dark.
Tier: (thinking to himself, desperately) There has to be a pattern... something I can use...
But Dark was already there, moving with a speed that defied logic. He bypassed every barrier, every trap, with an almost supernatural ease, his gaze locked onto Tier.
Dark: (calmly, but with finality) Technology won't save you this time, Tier.
Tier barely had time to react before Dark's hand tapped his forehead. His devices shut down in an instant, the lights fading as if they had never been there. Tier stumbled back, his mind racing with disbelief.
Tier: (frustrated, voice shaking) How... how are you doing this?
Dark didn't answer, his attention already shifting to Cron, who stood as the last line of defense. Cron's eyes blazed with determination, refusing to let fear creep into his mind. He knew he was their last hope, the only one who might have a chance of standing against whatever Dark had become.
Cron: (fiercely, preparing himself) This ends here, Dark. I'll push you to your limits.
With a roar, Cron slammed his hands together, and the ground beneath them erupted with magical energy. An arena of swirling light and shadow formed around them, sealing them off from the outside world. The air was thick with tension, every breath a struggle as the magic of the arena pressed down on them.
Dark: (smirking, his eyes flashing dangerously) Interesting. Let's see what you've got, Cron.
Cron didn't waste any time. He unleashed a barrage of attacks, combining his Copy Magic with Arsenal Magic to summon an army of spectral weapons—each one infused with deadly precision and power. Swords, spears, axes, and arrows flew at Dark from all directions, each strike aimed to incapacitate or kill.
Dark moved like a phantom, his body twisting and turning in ways that seemed impossible. He dodged and deflected each attack with an almost eerie grace, his black feathered cape swirling around him like a living shadow.
Cron: (thinking, his mind racing) How is he doing this? He shouldn't be this fast... this strong...
Cron's frustration mounted as Dark continued to evade his attacks with ease. Desperate to gain the upper hand, Cron decided to dig deeper. He knew he had the ability to reach into his opponents' souls, to see the core of their power. It was a risky move, but he was desperate to understand what made Dark so different now.
Cron: (muttering to himself, focusing) Let's see what you're hiding, Dark.
He focused, channeling his magic to link with Dark's soul. But as soon as he tried to connect, he was met with resistance—something dark, something ancient and powerful, lurking deep within.
Suddenly, the world around Cron shifted. The arena faded, replaced by a realm of shadow and silence. The air was thick, oppressive, and Cron felt an overwhelming sense of dread creeping over him. He heard a low growl, deep and guttural, reverberating through his very being. It was followed by the sound of a single, loud heartbeat, echoing like a drumbeat in the void.
Cron: (thinking, his heart pounding) What... what is this place?
A figure emerged from the darkness, towering and menacing. It wasn't Dark—it was something else, something far more terrifying. The figure's eyes glowed with an eerie light—six eyes in total, two main ones that seemed human, but far more ancient and powerful, and four smaller, more sinister eyes beneath them, each pair radiating a malevolent energy.
Sukojo's Essence: (a deep, growling voice) You dare look into my soul?
Cron froze, his blood turning to ice as the essence of Sukojo stepped closer. The figure wore a black and white kimono, the fabric seeming to pulse with a dark aura that flowed like smoke. The energy radiating from the essence was suffocating, pressing down on Cron's chest, making it hard to breathe.
Cron: (thinking, his mind racing with fear) This... this isn't Dark... what is this thing?
The essence of Sukojo leaned in closer, its voice low and filled with a terrifying calmness.
Sukojo's Essence: (menacingly) This is your final warning, mortal. Leave now, or face a fate far worse than death.
Cron's heart pounded in his chest as the figure's presence bore down on him, its power overwhelming. He couldn't move, couldn't speak. All he could do was stare into those six eyes, each one promising unimaginable pain if he continued to probe deeper.
Suddenly, the essence of Sukojo vanished, leaving Cron alone in the darkness. He felt a jolt, and the world around him shifted again, pulling him back to reality.
Cron gasped as he returned to the arena, his body trembling uncontrollably. The magical dome that had enclosed him and Dark flickered and then dissipated, the battle coming to an abrupt end. He looked at Dark, his eyes wide with shock, his entire body shaking. There was no doubt in his mind now—Dark was no longer the man they once knew. He was something far more dangerous.
Leona: (rushing forward, her voice filled with concern) Cron! Are you alright?
Gilmuar: (frowning, stepping closer) What happened in there? You look like you've seen a ghost.
Tier: (adjusting his devices, confused) Cron, talk to us. What did you see?
But Cron couldn't find the words. His breath came in shallow gasps, his eyes still locked on Dark, who was standing a few feet away. Dark's posture was strange—his body was hunched forward, his arms hanging limply at his sides. His head was tilted slightly, his eyes wide open but unfocused, pupils trembling ever so slightly.
Cron: (thinking, terrified) What... what have you become, Dark?
Dark didn't move, didn't speak. He simply stood there, staring at Cron, as if trapped in a trance, his mind elsewhere. The others exchanged worried glances, unsure of what to do.
Leona: (softly, reaching out to Cron) Cron... what's going on? What did you see?
Cron: (shaking his head, his voice barely a whisper) It wasn't Dark... it was something else..... He's back...
Gilmuar: (urgently) What do you mean? You're not making any sense, Cron.
Cron: (stumbling over his words) Inside him... there's a fragment... an essence... of Sukojo....
Tier: (seriously) An essence? But Sukojo is out of his body, isn't he?
Cron: (shaking his head) Not entirely. A part of him... a powerful part... still resides within Dark. And it's far more dangerous than we ever imagined.
Leona turned her gaze back to Dark, who remained frozen in that eerie posture. Her heart sank as she realized just how much they didn't know about what Dark had become.
Leona: (softly) Dark... please, say something.
But Dark didn't respond. He stood there, his breathing shallow, his eyes still trembling with some unseen terror or rage.
Gilmuar: (stepping forward cautiously) We need to do something. He's... he's not right.
Cron: (urgently) No! Don't get too close....
The group fell silent, the weight of Cron's words hanging heavy in the air. They had fought alongside Dark for so long, trusted him with their lives. But now, standing before them, was something they no longer recognized, something far more powerful and far more dangerous than they could have ever imagined.
End Of Arc 2 Chapter 9.