The usually warm and pleasant morning sunlight felt different this time – a tense aura hung in the air over Kota Kinabalu, even before the sun fully rose above the towering Crocker Range mountains. Inside Ryu's second-floor bedroom, the vintage wall clock mounted above his study desk showed 5:30 AM, but he had been awake since 4:30, sitting cross-legged on his bed in a meditative position, feeling strange energy vibrations pulsating through the earth beneath his feet.
"What is this?" Ryu muttered to himself as he opened his eyes, his hand unconsciously moving to touch the hilt of Aethel's katana, which rested against the headboard of his bed – a weapon he never let leave his side since the day he awakened his powers.
His well-controlled dark energy was now throbbing intensely beneath his skin – as if responding to something incredibly strong and saturated with negative energy that was approaching from the vast expanse of the South China Sea. He could feel every blood vessel in his body starting to contract and expand at an accelerated pace, his heart beating with the force of a war drum, and his usually calm blue eyes began to glow with a faint purple light that shimmered like molten amethyst, invisible to the naked eye but powerful enough to cast soft purple shadows across his bedroom walls.
Outside his room, through the closed door, he heard his father Mikael moving hastily in the living room – the familiar sound of his work boots tapping against the tiled floor, followed by the clink of teacups as he prepared his morning brew. Without a second thought, Ryu swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood up, his bare feet making no sound against the wooden floor as he moved to open his bedroom door.
He found his father standing by the large living room window, staring out at the horizon with a worried expression etched across his weathered face. Mikael Kim was a master swordsmith who had spent forty years perfecting his craft, and his hands – usually steady enough to forge the finest blades – were now trembling slightly as he gripped the window frame.
"Dad? What's wrong?" Ryu asked in a calm but attentive voice, moving to stand beside his father and follow his gaze toward the sea.
Mikael turned to him, his face slightly pale beneath his tan skin: "Ryu... you can feel it too, right? That strong vibration coming from the sea... I've been working with metal my whole life, and I can feel how every iron nail in this house is humming like a tuning fork. It's not natural."
Before Ryu could respond, a loud banging echoed through the house as someone hammered urgently on the front door. The sound was sharp and frantic, cutting through the still morning air like a warning bell. Mikael immediately moved toward the door, his hand instinctively resting on the custom-made katana he kept hidden beside the entrance – a blade he had forged specifically for self-defense, never imagining he would one day need it for anything more than protecting his family from common criminals.
When he pulled the door open, Lis Vestya stumbled inside, her breath coming in ragged gasps, her reddish-blonde hair – usually styled in neat braids – now loose and messy from running, strands plastered to her forehead with sweat. Her bright blue eyes were wide with worry, and her hands were shaking as she gripped the doorframe to steady herself. She was still wearing her pajamas – a simple white cotton top and purple floral pants – having clearly rushed over without stopping to change.
Lis (gasping for breath, her voice barely above a whisper): "Ryu... you have to see this... hurry... I was at the beach near my house when I felt it... the water... it's not right..."
Without waiting for a reply, she reached out and grabbed Ryu's hand, her fingers cold and clammy against his skin. The moment their hands touched, Ryu felt a surge of energy pass between them – her light-based magic intertwining with his dark power in a way that sent a warm tingle up his arm. Mikael quickly grabbed his jacket from the coat rack and followed them out the door, not bothering to lock up – there were more important things to worry about now.
The morning air was thick and heavy with moisture, carrying the scent of salt and something else – something acrid and metallic that made Ryu's nostrils flare. As they ran through the quiet residential streets of Tanjung Aru, they passed neighbors who were already emerging from their homes, looking confused and concerned as they stared toward the sea. Dogs were barking frantically, their howls echoing through the neighborhood, and birds that usually filled the trees with song were nowhere to be seen.
When they reached the shore, what they saw made them freeze in place, their feet rooted to the sand as their minds struggled to process the impossible sight before them. The once clear blue sky was now covered by a massive wall of thick black clouds that stretched from one end of the horizon to the other, churning and roiling like boiling tar. Within those clouds, lightning bolts of deep blood-red streaked across the sky, not the usual jagged forks but slow, crawling tendrils that seemed to pulse with malevolent intelligence.
The sea itself had transformed into a raging monster – waves that should have been no more than a meter high now towered over fifty meters, their crests topped with froth that glowed with the same unsettling red light as the lightning above. Each wave crashed onto the shore with a deafening roar that shook the ground beneath their feet, sending sprays of water high into the air that hissed and steamed when they touched the sand.
And in the middle of this chaos, rising slowly from the depths like a mountain emerging from the ocean floor, was a figure so massive and terrifying that it defied all logic. He stood over a hundred meters tall, his body built like a titan carved from solid obsidian. His skin was covered in thick scales that gleamed like burning coal, each one large enough to shield a grown man. His eyes were enormous orbs of glowing red fire, set deep beneath a brow ridge that was crowned with a pair of curved horns – each as long as a telephone pole, tapering to sharp points that seemed to pierce the dark clouds above.
He wore armor forged from what looked like black iron that had been tempered in hellfire – plates etched with intricate patterns of skulls and twisted faces that seemed to move and grimace in the flickering light. A massive crimson cloak billowed behind him, not from any wind but from the sheer power radiating off his body. In his right hand, he wielded a spear that could have served as a ship's mast – its shaft was carved from the bone of some ancient beast, and its tip was shaped like a dragon's head with jaws wide open, its eyes glowing with the same red fire as its master's.
Lis (her voice trembling with fear but still steady as she spoke, drawing on centuries of knowledge): "That... that is Lord Khaos – the Evil Dark Sovereign who was Astaroth's sworn enemy... I've only read about him in the ancient texts, seen his image carved into the walls of the hidden temples... they say he was the first being to twist dark energy for evil purposes, to believe that power meant dominion over all life..."
Ryu felt his blood freeze in his veins at the sound of that name. He had seen fragments of this creature in Astaroth's memories – flashes of brutal battles fought across continents, of cities reduced to ash, of countless lives lost in a war that had raged for over three hundred years. Astaroth had not defeated him – only managed to trap him in a prison deep beneath the ocean floor, using the combined power of all the world's light and dark magic users to create a seal that was supposed to hold for all eternity. But now, that seal had broken, and Lord Khaos had returned – and his power felt even greater than the memories had suggested.
The titan's red eyes scanned the shore until they settled on Ryu, and a smile spread across his massive face – revealing rows of teeth like jagged obsidian shards. He raised his spear high into the air, and when he brought it crashing down into the sea, the impact sent a shockwave across the water's surface that flattened the raging waves in a perfect circle around him.
Lord Khaos (his voice booming across the entire city like rolling thunder that made windows rattle and ears ring with pain): "RYU KIM – THE CURSED SUCCESSOR OF ASTAROTH! I CAN FEEL YOUR WEAK POWER CALLING OUT TO ME, LIKE A FLEDGLING BIRD CRYING FOR ITS MOTHER! COME FORTH AND FACE ME LIKE A TRUE WARRIOR – OR WATCH AS I DESTROY EVERYTHING YOU HOLD DEAR! I WILL CRUSH YOU BENEATH MY HEEL, THEN CLAIM MY RIGHTFUL PLACE AS THE ONE TRUE DARK SOVEREIGN OF THIS WORLD!"
His voice echoed off the buildings of Kota Kinabalu, carrying across every neighborhood, waking every resident from their sleep. In the distance, they could hear the sound of car alarms blaring uncontrollably, triggered by the vibrations from his voice. Streetlights began to flicker and die one by one as the power grid struggled under the strain of the energy disturbance, plunging parts of the city into darkness even as the red light from the sky cast everything in an ominous glow.
Ryu felt his own power responding to the challenge, surging through his body with a force that made his hair stand on end. A dark purple aura began to envelop him, thick and tangible like smoke, crackling with small bolts of purple lightning. His blue eyes blazed with intense purple light now, visible even in the growing darkness, and his hands moved to grip the hilt of Aethel's katana with a firmness that showed he was ready for battle.
The katana seemed to hum with excitement as he drew it from its sheath, the blade catching the strange red light from the sky and reflecting it back as brilliant purple. Along its length, the ancient runes that had been carved into the metal by Astaroth himself began to glow, each one a symbol of power that had been passed down through generations.
"Dad, you need to go help people find shelter – get them to higher ground, away from the shore," Ryu said in a calm but determined voice, his eyes never leaving Lord Khaos. "Lis, you should go too – this is a battle between me and him, and I don't want either of you getting hurt."
Lis (stepping forward and gripping his hand tightly, her own body beginning to glow with a soft golden light as her magic awakened in response to the threat): "No! I won't leave you alone! Astaroth made me swear an oath to protect his successor, to stand by them in their darkest hour – and I will keep that promise, even if it costs me my life! You don't have to face this alone, Ryu."
Mikael also stepped forward, drawing his own katana and holding it steady despite the fact that his hands were still shaking slightly. The blade caught the light, its polished steel surface gleaming with the same determination that shone in his eyes: "I won't leave either, my son. I may not have your powers, but I am a Kim – and we don't run from our battles. I will stand with you, even if all I can do is buy you a few extra seconds to find a way to defeat him."
Ryu felt a warmth spread through his chest at their words, pushing back the cold fear that had begun to creep into his heart. He looked from his father's determined face to Lis's unwavering gaze, then back to Lord Khaos, who was watching them with amusement in his glowing red eyes.
"Then... let's face him together!"
Without further delay, Ryu pushed off from the sand and leaped into the air, his dark purple aura acting like wings that carried him high above the churning waves. The air rushed past his face as he ascended, and he could feel the energy of the sea and sky responding to his presence – the water below him beginning to calm in small circles wherever his aura touched it.
He raised Aethel's katana high above his head, gathering dark energy from the air around him until the blade was surrounded by a swirling vortex of purple light. The energy crackled and snapped like live wires, and when he swung the katana down in a powerful arc, a massive wave of pure dark energy shot forward, cutting through the air with a sound like a thousand thunderclaps.
The energy wave struck Lord Khaos head-on, hitting him square in the chest with enough force to shatter a mountain. For a moment, the titan stumbled backward, his massive feet creating craters in the ocean floor as he struggled to maintain his balance. Smoke and steam rose from his armor where the energy had made contact, and several of the scales on his chest were cracked and blackened.
But then, Lord Khaos merely laughed – a deep rumbling sound that sent shockwaves across the water – and raised his left hand. A shield of blood-red energy materialized before him, shimmering like liquid fire. He waved his hand casually, and the remaining energy from Ryu's attack dissipated harmlessly into the air like mist.
"TOO WEAK!" roared Lord Khaos, his laughter echoing across the sea. "IS THAT THE BEST YOU CAN DO? Astaroth STRUCK HARDER THAN THAT WHEN HE WAS STILL A CHILD! IS THIS WHAT THE WORLD HAS COME TO – A DARK SOVEREIGN WHO CAN BARELY MAKE ME STUMBLE?"
Before Ryu could respond, Lord Khaos raised his massive spear and thrust it deep into the ocean. The moment the tip touched the water, a deafening roar echoed through the depths, and the sea began to boil and churn with even greater intensity. From beneath the surface, thousands of shapes began to rise – creatures that had been twisted and corrupted by Lord Khaos's dark energy.
They were unlike anything Ryu had ever seen – some had the bodies of large fish with rows of sharp teeth and multiple eyes, while others were more humanoid, with pale skin that glistened like wet leather and claws that could tear through steel. Some flew through the air on bat-like wings, their screeches piercing the air like nails on a chalkboard, while others slithered across the water's surface on hundreds of writhing tentacles.
The creatures swarmed toward the shore, moving with unnatural speed as they sought out human prey. People who had not yet managed to evacuate began to scream and run, their panic spreading like wildfire through the crowd.
On land, Lis immediately sprang into action. She raised both hands to the sky, her body glowing brighter with each passing second as she drew power from the light energy that existed even in the darkest places. Golden runes began to appear in the air around her – the same ancient symbols that Astaroth had taught her centuries ago – forming a protective dome over the area where the civilians were gathering.
"By the light of the ancient stars, by the power of all that is pure and good – I command you, shield these people from harm!" she chanted, her voice clear and strong despite the chaos around her.
The runes burst into brilliant golden light, merging together to form a solid barrier that extended from the ground up to twenty meters in the air. When the first wave of dark creatures reached it, they slammed against the shield with enough force to shake the ground, but it held firm, sending shocks of golden energy back at them that burned their twisted bodies.
Mikael positioned himself at the edge of the shield, his katana held ready as he watched for any creatures that might find a way through. When one of the flying creatures dove toward a group of children who had fallen behind, he moved with surprising speed for a man his age, leaping into the air and slicing through the creature's wing with a clean stroke. The creature let out a final screech before dissolving into black smoke.
"Keep moving!" he shouted to the civilians, his voice loud enough to be heard over the chaos. "Get to the community center on top of the hill – it's made of reinforced concrete and will be safer there!"
As more military personnel began to arrive on the scene, directing people to safety, Mikael continued to fight alongside them, his years of training as a swordsmith giving him an edge in handling his blade – every strike was precise, every movement calculated to protect both himself and those around him.
In the sky, Ryu continued his battle with Lord Khaos, but every passing moment made it clear that he was outmatched. The titan moved with impossible speed for his size, dodging Ryu's attacks with casual ease and countering with strikes that forced Ryu to use all his speed and agility to avoid being hit.
Ryu unleashed his full arsenal of powers – using Infinite Darkness to create clouds of impenetrable black smoke that obscured Lord Khaos's vision, only to find that the titan could sense his presence through their shared connection to dark energy. He used Full Recovery to heal the small wounds he received when he wasn't quite fast enough to dodge, feeling his body mend itself within seconds but knowing that the energy required to do so was draining him quickly.
He tried using Soul Cleavage, sending waves of energy that targeted the very essence of Lord Khaos's being, but the titan merely laughed and absorbed the energy into his own body, using it to make his attacks even stronger. Power Enhancement made Ryu faster and stronger for short bursts, but Lord Khaos's strength seemed limitless – with each blow he struck, the shockwaves were powerful enough to create new waves in the sea below.
When Ryu tried using Time Manipulation, slowing down time around Lord Khaos to give himself an advantage, the titan responded by reversing the effect, speeding up time in a small area around Ryu and forcing him to move so fast that he could barely control his own body.
"YOU ARE STILL FAR FROM UNDERSTANDING TRUE POWER!" roared Lord Khaos as he gathered a massive ball of blood-red energy in his palm, the sphere growing larger and brighter with each passing second. "ASTAROTH UNDERSTOOD THAT POWER REQUIRES SACRIFICE – THAT TO BE STRONG, YOU MUST BE WILLING TO DESTROY ANYTHING THAT STANDS IN YOUR WAY! YOU ARE TOO WEAK, TOO TETHERED TO YOUR HUMAN EMOTIONS!"
He threw the energy ball toward Ryu with tremendous force, and Ryu could feel the heat from it even before it reached him. He tried to block it with his katana, but the moment the energy made contact, the force of the impact sent him flying backward, his body skidding across the air as if he had been hit by a freight train.
He crashed hard against the surface of the sea, the impact creating a massive crater in the water that sent waves towering over the shore. The cold seawater engulfed him completely, filling his lungs and momentarily disorienting him, but he quickly pushed himself upward, breaking through the surface with a gasp as he spat out salt water.
The energy from Lord Khaos's attack had left deep burns across his chest and arms, his clothes charred and tattered. But even as he felt the pain burning through his body, his healing ability was already at work – the skin slowly knitting itself back together, leaving only faint white lines in place of the wounds.
Ryu looked up to see Lord Khaos descending toward him, his massive form casting a dark shadow over the water. The titan raised his spear high, preparing to deliver the finishing blow, and Ryu knew he had only seconds to act.
Drawing on every last ounce of strength he possessed, Ryu focused his dark energy inward, feeling it course through his veins like liquid fire. His aura flared to life with unprecedented intensity, purple light so bright it turned the surrounding water a deep violet. The runes on Aethel's katana blazed with power, and the blade itself began to vibrate with energy.
"INFINITE DARKNESS – SHADOW BLADE!" he roared, channeling all his power into a single strike.
The katana extended in length, transforming into a massive blade of pure dark energy that stretched over twenty meters long. Ryu swung it upward with all his might, meeting Lord Khaos's descending spear in a collision that shook the entire region.
The impact sent a shockwave that flattened the sea for kilometers around them, creating a perfect circle of calm water. A blinding flash of purple and red light illuminated the sky, and for a moment, even Lord Khaos was forced to step back, his eyes narrowing in surprise.
When the light faded, Ryu's energy blade had dissipated, and he was left holding the original katana, his body trembling with exhaustion. Lord Khaos stood before him, his spear still intact, but several large cracks now ran across its surface, and one of his horns had been broken clean off, lying in the water beside him.
"Interesting," Lord Khaos said, his voice no longer booming with arrogance but carrying a note of genuine respect. "You have more power than I gave you credit for, successor. But it will still not be enough to stop me."
Before Ryu could respond, he heard a scream from the shore. He turned to see that the protective shield Lis had created was beginning to flicker and weaken – dozens of dark creatures were throwing themselves against it simultaneously, and Lis was visibly struggling to maintain her concentration, sweat streaming down her face as she poured more energy into the barrier.
Mikael and the military forces were doing their best to hold back the creatures that had breached the perimeter, but they were being overwhelmed. Several soldiers had been injured, and Mikael was now backed against a parked truck, fighting off three creatures at once with his katana.
Ryu felt a surge of anger rise within him – hot and powerful, burning away his exhaustion and fear. He could feel his power responding to his emotions, growing stronger with every beat of his heart as his determination to protect those he loved intensified.
"I won't let you hurt anyone else!" he shouted, his voice carrying across the water with newfound strength.
He began to gather energy from every source available – drawing on the dark energy that existed naturally in the world, absorbing the residual power from the destroyed creatures, even taking small amounts from his own life force. His aura expanded outward, wrapping around him like a suit of armor, and his eyes glowed with purple light so intense it seemed to burn through the darkness.
Lord Khaos watched him with interest, a small smile playing at the corners of his massive mouth. "So you finally understand – power comes from passion, from the willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve your goals. Show me what you can do now, Ryu!"
As Ryu and Lord Khaos prepared to continue their devastating battle, a loud whirring sound echoed across the sky – the unmistakable roar of multiple helicopter engines approaching at high speed. Within seconds, a formation of six Royal Malaysian Air Force helicopters appeared from behind the clouds, their green and white livery standing out against the dark sky. Each aircraft was equipped with heavy machine guns mounted on their sides, and missiles were visible beneath their wings, ready for deployment.
Leading the formation was a larger transport helicopter, its doors open to reveal soldiers in full combat gear, their weapons aimed at the dark creatures swarming the shore. The lead pilot's voice crackled over a loudspeaker system that had been rigged to carry across the entire beach:
"This is the Royal Malaysian Armed Forces! All civilians are to evacuate immediately to designated shelters! We will engage the hostile entities – do not attempt to fight back!"
Behind the helicopters, a squadron of five F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets streaked across the sky, flying in tight formation. They banked sharply toward the sea, and moments later, missiles were launched – arcing through the air with trails of white smoke before striking the mass of dark creatures gathered in the water.
Each missile impact created a massive explosion, sending plumes of water and black smoke high into the air. The concussions from the blasts shook the ground, and the heat was intense enough to make the sand on the beach glow orange. Hundreds of the dark creatures were destroyed in the initial strike, their twisted bodies dissolving into ash before they could even hit the water.
The transport helicopter landed gently on a clear patch of sand near where Lis and Mikael were fighting. A tall, broad-shouldered man in a green military uniform with the insignia of a colonel on his shoulders jumped out, followed by a team of special forces soldiers armed with assault rifles and energy weapons – technology that had been developed in secret to combat supernatural threats.
The man moved with purpose toward Lis and Mikael, his boots crunching on the sand as he approached. When he was close enough, he saluted crisply, his movements precise and practiced:
"Colonel Amir Hamid, Malaysian Special Task Force for Paranormal Defense. We've been monitoring unusual energy signatures in this area for weeks – we were just waiting for the right moment to intervene. You must be Lis Vestya and Mikael Kim – our intelligence division briefed us on your connection to the Dark Sovereign."
Lis nodded, her hands still glowing with golden light as she struggled to maintain the protective shield. "Yes – thank you for coming. We're being overwhelmed – there are too many of them, and Lord Khaos is far stronger than we anticipated."
Colonel Amir immediately turned to his soldiers and issued orders in clear, decisive tones: "Team One – reinforce the defensive perimeter and help evacuate remaining civilians. Team Two – provide covering fire for the wizards and focus on taking down the aerial threats. Team Three – prepare to support the Dark Sovereign in his battle against the main target. We have energy cannons on standby that can disrupt dark energy signatures – we'll use them to weaken the titan while he's focused on Ryu."
As his soldiers moved to carry out their orders, the sound of heavy artillery fire echoed across the beach. Several military trucks had arrived, carrying mobile anti-aircraft guns and energy cannons that began firing at the dark creatures with devastating effect. The air was filled with the sound of gunfire, explosions, and the screeches of dying creatures, but slowly but surely, the tide of battle on the shore began to turn.
Mikael breathed a sigh of relief as soldiers moved in to take over the front lines, allowing him to step back and catch his breath. His katana was stained with black blood and his arms were aching from the effort of fighting, but he was uninjured – thanks in no small part to the quick thinking of the military forces.
"Thank you," he said to Colonel Amir, who had come to stand beside him. "We were running out of time."
"The Dark Sovereign is protecting this country – it's our duty to protect him in return," Colonel Amir replied, his eyes fixed on the battle raging in the sky. "We've known about the existence of supernatural forces for decades – we just never thought we'd have to face something like this."
Meanwhile, in the sky, Ryu continued to clash with Lord Khaos, their battle taking them higher and higher above the sea. Each strike from Ryu's katana sent waves of purple energy slicing through the air, while Lord Khaos's spear strikes created shockwaves that distorted the very fabric of space around them.
Ryu was moving faster now, his body a blur of purple light as he darted around the titan, striking at weak points in his armor whenever he found an opening. He had managed to score several hits – leaving deep gouges in Lord Khaos's scales and shattering more of his armor plates – but the titan's regenerative abilities were just as strong as Ryu's, and his wounds were healing almost as quickly as they were inflicted.
As the battle intensified, a brilliant new light appeared on the horizon – so bright it seemed to turn night into day. Ryu and Lord Khaos both paused, shielding their eyes from the glare, as a massive golden portal opened in the sky above the city.
From the portal emerged a procession of figures riding on beams of pure light – men and women dressed in flowing robes of white and gold, their bodies glowing with an otherworldly radiance. At their head was a woman whose presence commanded attention – her long white hair flowed behind her like a river of starlight, and her eyes glowed with the warm light of the sun. She wore a gown woven from what looked like spun gold, and in her right hand, she carried a tall staff topped with a crystal that pulsed with gentle light.
She descended slowly to hover above the beach, her presence immediately calming the chaos around her. The dark creatures that came near her were bathed in golden light and dissolved into harmless smoke, and even the raging sea began to calm beneath her gaze.
Lis (her eyes widening in awe as she recognized the woman): "That... that is Queen Sorceress Siti – the leader of the Council of Magic across Southeast Asia. They say she was trained by the same masters who taught Astaroth centuries ago – she's lived for over five hundred years, guiding and protecting magic users across the region."
Queen Sorceress Siti raised her staff to the sky, and her voice rang out across the entire battlefield – clear and melodious, yet powerful enough to be heard over the sounds of combat:
"Lord Khaos – your reign of terror ends today! For centuries, you have sought to spread darkness and destruction across our world, but we will not allow it to continue. The light and dark forces of this world have put aside their differences to stand against you – for we know that true power comes not from domination, but from balance!"
As she spoke, more figures emerged from the portal – wizards and sorceresses from all over Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, each one glowing with their own unique energy. They formed a circle in the sky, their hands raised toward Queen Sorceress Siti, and their energy began to flow toward her staff, merging into a single stream of brilliant golden light.
The military forces on the ground also joined in, their energy cannons synchronizing with the wizards' magic, firing beams of concentrated energy that merged with the golden light in the sky. Even Lis added her power to the collective effort, her golden light blending seamlessly with the rest.
Ryu felt the combined energy wash over him, and he could feel his own power growing stronger as it was enhanced by the support of hundreds of magic users and soldiers. The purple aura around him intensified, and Aethel's katana blazed with light so bright it was almost white.
Lord Khaos looked around at the gathering forces, his red eyes narrowing in anger. "You think you can stop me with your pathetic alliance? I am Lord Khaos – the strongest being in existence! Your combined power is nothing compared to mine!"
He raised his spear and gathered all his dark energy into a single massive blast, preparing to destroy everyone in one strike. But Ryu was ready – he raised his katana high, feeling the combined power of all his allies flowing through him, and channeled it into a single counterattack.
"For everyone I love – for everyone who calls this world home!" Ryu shouted, his voice ringing with determination.
He swung his katana forward, and a beam of purple light so bright it rivaled the sun shot from the blade, meeting Lord Khaos's red energy blast head-on. The collision created a shockwave that sent ripples across the entire planet, and the light was so intense that people hundreds of kilometers away could see it in the sky.
The two forces struggled against each other for what felt like an eternity – purple against red, light against dark, hope against despair. And then, slowly but surely, Ryu's beam began to push forward, gaining ground against the titan's attack...
END OF CHAPTER 8