Chunks of the ruined building slid off Alberto as he rose to his feet, dust and smoke curling around him.
In front of him stood Ron, the Blade of Vengeance gleaming in his right hand.
Ron drew his arm back, blade tracing a path past his left shoulder until it hovered near his ear — the sword pulsed with lightning.
That stance… it triggered something.
A memory.
---
Dark of Night.
A man stood in the same stance as Ron, his silhouette shrouded in fog and swirling dust. Only his crimson eyes glowed through the darkness. His face — hidden.
"Who is that?" Alberto thought, his pulse quickening. "I don't remember this. That's not my memory… is it?"
---
Lightning exploded.
Ron swung his blade, sending a surge of electric fury toward Alberto. He dodged by taking to the air, but shadows followed him.
Purple tentacles burst from the ground — Black Sorcery. They lashed around Alberto's leg, yanking him down and slamming him into the ground over and over.
"So that's the reason," Alberto muttered, rising again. "The dark energy I sensed from you earlier — it was Black Sorcery. I'm surprised someone else can wield it. Tell me—who is your master?"
Ron's left brow twitched. "Wulkranoth. He taught me Black Sorcery."
Alberto's laughter echoed through the ruins. "Wulkranoth? That coward ran while his entire race burned! Pathetic!" His eyes gleamed with mania. "But me—" he spread his arms "—I was taught by the True Black Sorcerer himself. And you, Ron… you'll be his vessel."
He lunged. A massive axe formed in his hands. Ron met it mid-swing, the Blade of Vengeance crackling against it.
Alberto thrust his palm inches from Ron's face and unleashed a devastating Ki blast.
Ron teleported just in time — the entire space behind him disintegrated, not even atoms left behind.
"Listen to me, Ron," Alberto said, voice dripping with arrogance. "You can't defeat me. If you surrender and become the vessel willingly, the True One might even—"
"All you know is blabbering," Ron cut in coldly. "Come face me like a man."
"You basta—"
"Excuse me, sir!" a voice called out. "This is a family-friendly novel. Please refrain from using strong language."
Both men froze.
Ron turned his head. "Focus on your job, Mr. Cameraman."
"Sorry for the interruption!"
Ron sighed. "And buy a new camera already — you've been using that one for centuries."
"I'll think about it once I get my salary!"
Ron smirked, vanished in a blink, and reappeared in front of Alberto — his knee drove deep into Alberto's gut, followed by a crushing punch that slammed him into the ground.
Alberto swung his axe, aiming for Ron's leg, but Ron blinked away again. In the next instant, Alberto appeared behind him — grabbing Ron's face and slamming him into the earth.
"You're weak," came Ron's voice — from behind him.
Alberto's eyes widened just before Ron's lightning-charged fist crashed into his jaw, shaking the entire planet.
Alberto hit the ground, motionless.
The shockwaves from the Lightning Punch disrupted even Marcus and Henry's movements.
Both turned toward the source of the blast.
"Did something happen to Father?" Marcus thought, before rushing in that direction.
"Where are you running to?" Henry called after him.
Marcus looked back—only to see a punch flying toward him. The blow sent him crashing near Ron.
Ron stood, looking down at Alberto.
"I received training from the old man—just in case," Ron said calmly. "By now, he must have evacuated everyone—the King, the Queen, and both princesses. Prince Henry should be facing Marcus by now."
"This… can't be," Alberto thought, eyes wide.
He roared, "Black Sorcerer! Help me! Give me your power, and I shall capture the vessel for you!"
Suddenly, purple flames erupted around him, shaking the entire universe.
"The True Black Sorcerer… he's lending Alberto a fragment of his power," Ron heard the old man's voice echo.
"Damn that Black Sorcerer," the old man cursed.
Ron surged forward, lightning blazing around the Blade of Vengeance.
"I'll never let him complete the transfer!"
The purple flames intensified. Ron's blade struck them, triggering a cataclysmic explosion that flattened the land—erasing the capital from existence.
Ron staggered, bloodied. Alberto stood amidst the destruction, horns sprouting from his head and elbows.
With a roar, Alberto lunged at him. Ron used telekinesis to lift and slam him into the ground.
Alberto thrust his palm forward—Ron was yanked toward him by an invisible pull. Ron steadied his blade and aimed for Alberto's heart, but Alberto caught the sword by its tip.
Suddenly, the lightning vanished from the Blade of Vengeance.
"What—?" Ron gasped.
He twisted his body and kicked Alberto in the face, freeing himself.
[The True Black Sorcerer is watching you]
The message flashed before Ron's eyes.
Alberto charged again. Something inside Ron stirred—he recognized this attack.
He leapt back, just as a billion spectral axes struck the ground where he'd stood.
"Why is everything moving so slow?" Ron thought, as time itself seemed to bend.
He countered, kicking Alberto hard into the ground.
"What… what happened?" Alberto muttered, dazed.
When he looked up, Ron stood over him—his eyes glowing a deep, terrifying red.
That sight triggered something.
Alberto's mind was pulled into a memory.
It was a dark night. The body he saw through was bloodied, on the brink of death.
Above him, glowing red eyes stared down through the fog—like two crimson moons on the blackest night.
Then—he snapped back to reality.
Ron felt dizzy. What was that?
Alberto suddenly heard voices in his head.
> Kill him.
Kill him now.
I order you—kill him.
"The Black Sorcerer? He's speaking to me… again?" Alberto thought, trembling.