Kira's sword sliced clean through the figure's neck.
At the same time, Zorak slammed his hammer onto the figure's head.
The head flew off like a cannonball, spinning through the air before landing far away.
Kira and Zorak exchanged a victorious thumbs-up.
Kira glanced at Dong, panting.
"We did it, Dong!"
Zorak squinted at him.
"Why the long face?"
Dong froze. His eyes widened in shock.
Zorak noticed the left side of the figure's body starting to vanish into thin air.
Kira's eyes widened. Far ahead, he could see the remaining figure.
Dong muttered, voice low:
"That… that's just his shadow."
Zorak groaned.
"We wasted all our energy… only to strike a shadow."
Dong clenched his fists.
"So his power… it's cloning."
The figure's voice echoed mockingly from the distance:
"You three fools… you're going to die here. No one will come to help."
Dong's gaze hardened.
"That's not happening. We won't be defeated, right, Zorak?"
Zorak hesitated.
"Huh… I don't know."
Kira shook his head, determined.
"Dong's right. We're not going to die."
He noticed Valra watching them silently from a hidden spot.
Dong thought to himself:
"If I use Dimension of Fire or Ice Meteors… the entire forest will be destroyed. Even my teammates could be hurt."
---
Kira leaped forward, charging at the figure.
Zorak moved behind the target, hammer ready.
Dong summoned flames, slicing trees mid-air, clearing the battlefield and creating cover.
Kira muttered under his breath:
"I don't know what you're planning, Dong… but I'll follow your orders."
Zorak gritted his teeth.
"Even I don't know what you're doing… just do it fast!"
Dong nodded.
"Okay."
The three positioned themselves: Kira in front, Zorak behind, and Dong controlling the battlefield with fire and debris.
The figure laughed, voice cold and mocking.
"What foolish technique is this?"
Kira ignored him.
---
Lightning Dance
Kira's body blurred into motion. He moved with impossible speed, a dance of steel around the figure.
His sword cut hundreds of times, slicing through the figure's body in a blur.
Even the grass beneath him split into ten pieces with every step.
In just ten seconds, the skill ended.
The figure was bleeding heavily, a crimson aura spreading around it like the forest itself was wounded.
Kira stepped back, catching his breath.
(Kira's thoughts)
This… this is Lightning Dance. My agility increased by 30%, sword accuracy by 50%, strength by 20%. I dance around the target, making my speed almost untouchable.
Zorak's eyes widened.
"I don't know what you just did, Kira… but it's amazing!"
Kira nodded, pride mixed with exhaustion.
"That's my skill name Lightning Dance."
The figure smirked through bloodied lips.
"Impressive… Lightning Dance… not bad. You've got my attention."
Kira's eyes burned with anger.
"Now… my final skill. Arc of Destruction."
He focused all his strength into his arm, all energy into the sword.
With a blinding flash, he hurled it.
The figure couldn't react in time. The sword struck its shoulder, embedding deep into flesh and bone.
It slammed into a tree with a deafening crack, blood spattering like rain.
Zorak whistled, impressed.
"That's… Arc of Destruction. Lightning Dance… you're insane!"
Kira exhaled sharply, his body steaming from exertion.
Zorak steadied him.
"You're not falling on my watch."
The figure groaned, dragging the sword from its shoulder.
"I'm not done yet…"
Zorak roared, gripping his hammer.
"Titan's Slam!"
He channeled all his strength into the hammer, swinging with a force that made the ground tremble.
The figure sank into the earth under the impact.
Zorak turned to Dong.
"Your turn!"
Dong raised his hands, casting a gravity spell. Thirty cut trees levitated into perfect formation.
"Yup," he muttered, concentrating.
Fifteen trees rose, aligned above the buried figure. Dong slammed them into the ground.
The next fifteen followed, locking the previous ones in place, creating a reinforced cage of wood and earth.
Finally, Dong stepped back.
"It's over."
Kira groaned.
"Isn't this a bit much?"
Zorak laughed dryly.
"Yeah… we just buried someone… who's still alive."
Dong's eyes were cold.
"I don't care. That figure' The Perfect' tried to kill us. This is what he deserves."
---
A sudden realization:
Dong turned to Kira and Zorak.
"At this moment, we didn't even give him a chance to clone himself. There's no way his clone is underground."
Zorak nodded.
"Yeah… makes sense."
Kira's eyes darted around.
"But… couldn't he still make clones and destroy the trees?"
Suddenly
BOOM!
A violent explosion erupted from the cage. All three were thrown into the air, leaves and debris whirling around them.
Dong landed, panting, expression serious.
"Listen carefully… his true power isn't cloning."
He stared at the cage, flames flickering against the night.
"It's… bombing."
In just a few seconds…
Kira was already lying on the ground, barely conscious.
Zorak was thrown against a tree, bleeding, struggling to move.
And the figure
had Dong lifted by the neck.
The burning trees Dong had cut earlier crackled violently around them, flames rising like giant claws.
The figure smirked darkly.
"Your friends… that kid Kira is exhausted, and that hammer man? I already settled him.
And you… you dared to bury me alive? Are you kidding me?"
Dong glared, even while choking.
"Nah… if I knew earlier that your real power was bombing… I'd have sunk you miles underground."
---
Scene Shift
Valra, hidden behind thick bushes, watched everything.
Her lips trembled. Her eyes filled with tears.
Sung held her shoulders gently.
"Please don't cry… I know this is a sensitive situation but… please."
Valra shook her head desperately.
"Let me go! I can help them!"
Sung tightened his jaw.
"No. If you go, you'll be injured too."
Valra pleaded, voice breaking.
"Please… if you can't let me… then—"
Sung sighed.
"Fine. I'll go. But you must stay hidden."
Valra's eyes widened.
"You're going to die. You know that."
Sung laughed softly but with sadness.
"I know… but I'll fight for my master Dong."
Valra whispered:
"I hope you succeed…"
Sung sprinted toward the battlefield.
---
The figure noticed immediately.
"Oh? Another useless brat?"
He grabbed Sung by the neck too, lifting him like a feather.
Dong's eyes widened.
"ARE YOU AN IDIOT!? A FOOL!? WHY COME HERE!? YOU KNOW YOU'LL BE INJURED SO BADLY!"
Sung wheezed, voice cracking:
"I… don't care… I just want to help… even if I have no power… I want to be useful… not smart… but strong…"
Dong clicked his tongue.
"You pathetic kid…"
The figure burst into laughter.
"HAHAHA! This is entertaining. You both"
His grip tightened.
---
Suddenly…
Sung's eyes turned pitch black.
A massive black aura burst out from his back
taking the shape of a monstrous entity.
Dong blinked.
"Are you unconscious, bastard? At THIS time you awaken your power? Congrats, I guess."
The figure stepped back in shock.
"W-What? What is this power? I can't understand—"
The Black Entity grew huge
muscles shifting, aura shaking the ground.
It kicked the figure so hard that the body crashed and rolled, bleeding heavily.
The figure coughed blood.
"If… if I wasn't injured… I would win…"
Dong scoffed.
"Stop making excuses. Accept reality, child. You're getting defeated."
The entity growled, grew even bigger
Then grabbed the figure with both massive hands.
The figure screamed:
"WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!? I CAN'T BE DEFEA—"
CRACK!
The entity tore him into two pieces.
Blood splattered across the burnt ground.
It threw the body aside like trash.
Then…
it turned toward Dong.
Dong raised an eyebrow.
"Huh? Attacking your master? Tch. I'll let it slide… since you awakened your power while unconscious."
He activated a technique.
Hellfire Illusion Technique
Dong's eyes turned blood-red.
In three seconds, the black entity panicked
swinging at random places, roaring, collapsing.
In five seconds
it dissolved completely into nothingness.
Dong exhaled.
"I could've defeated that figure in seconds… but I wanted to give Sung a chance.
And he did it.
I'm proud of you… Sung.
You're now one of my precious people."
---
Dong called out quietly:
"Valra, come out."
Valra stepped out, still shaking violently.
Dong spoke calmly but firmly:
"We need healing… Kira, Zorak, Sung… they're all injured.
And what you saw today
don't dare tell ANYONE.
If you do…
I will destroy your entire bloodline."
Valra cried softly.
"O-Okay… let's just heal them first… or Kira and Zorak will die…"
Dong sighed, tone switching to sarcastic.
"Yeah… we should hurry."
As they walked, Dong thought:
"Hmph… she definitely won't dare to tell anyone about the Hellfire Illusion Technique."
Valra knelt over Kira and Zorak, her hands glowing faintly as she chanted soft healing spells. The air shimmered slightly around them, warm light knitting flesh and easing pain.
Dong sat nearby on a wooden chair, arms crossed, watching her work.
His dark purple eyes reflected both the firelight and his thoughts.
She's never seen real war… never faced something this terrifying.
And now, seeing this battle, she's witnessed chaos, blood, and power beyond imagination.
She'll never tell anyone my secret. That's certain.
After today… she'll change. She's experienced something most people never will.
Hours passed in tense silence, broken only by the soft hum of Valra's healing energy.
Finally, she stepped back, hands dimming, sweat on her brow.
Valra exhaled deeply.
"Thank… God. I'm glad I know some healing spells. Otherwise… none of this would've been possible."
Dong nodded, voice calm.
"Yeah…"
She glanced at him, noticing his own faint injuries.
"You're hurt too, Dong. Should I treat you?"
Dong stretched slightly, a wry smile on his face.
"Oh… right. Can you?"
Valra shook her head lightly, amused.
"It's nothing too serious. Won't take much time."
She placed her hands gently on Dong's shoulders, focusing her energy.
A soft glow surrounded him, the lingering scratches and bruises fading under her magic.
After finishing, she stepped back. Dong felt refreshed, the subtle aches disappearing.
He looked at the group Kira, Zorak, and Sung still unconscious, exhausted from the fight.
"I'll watch over them tonight. You rest. I'll sleep tomorrow."
Valra nodded, a faint smile on her lips.
"Okay…"
The night settled over the campsite, quiet except for the faint crackle of embers. Dong leaned back in his chair, eyes scanning the dark horizon. The battle was over… for now. But the memory of the fight and the awakening of new powers hung in the air like smoke, heavy and alive.