The desolate landscape stretched for miles, a testament to the sheer destruction wrought by the recent battles. Far from the epicenter of the chaos, Retsyu moved with purpose, his expression a mask of cold determination. His aura crackled with dark energy, leaving a trail of lightning in his wake.
Suddenly, the scene shifted. Dark, Tier, Cron, and Gilmuar stood amidst the ruins of the empire, catching their breath and tending to their wounds. The air was thick with tension and the scent of blood.
Dark: We need to regroup and plan our next move. Retsyu won't stay down for long.
Without warning, the ground trembled violently. From millions of miles away, Retsyu appeared in front of Dark, as if side-dashing through reality itself. The sheer force of his arrival shattered the ground beneath him, leaving a trail of lightning and aura in his wake.
Before Dark could react, Retsyu's hand shot out, grabbing him by the neck. With a swift, brutal motion, Retsyu ground-slammed Dark into the earth. The impact was cataclysmic, sending shockwaves that obliterated the remains of the empire and shattered half of the earth.
Cron: (eyes wide, jaw dropped) What... what just happened?
Retsyu slowly stood up, his eyes gleaming with a deadly focus.
Retsyu: Playtime's over now.
In an instant, Retsyu disappeared, reappearing behind Cron with such speed that no sound or effect accompanied his movement. Cron tried to react, but Retsyu's kick connected with his neck, sending him flying at a speed that defied the laws of physics. Cron crashed through a wall, landing in a bloody, exhausted heap.
Retsyu's gaze flicked toward Leona, his intent clear.
Leona: (fearfully) No...
Before Retsyu could make his move, Gilmuar stepped in front of Leona, his stance resolute.
Gilmuar: No. You'll have to go through me first.
Retsyu: (smirking) Brave, but foolish.
Gilmuar's hands glowed with the power of his Gravity Magic, ready to defend Leona with every ounce of his strength. The air around them grew heavy, the ground cracking under the intense pressure.
Gilmuar: (gritting his teeth) You won't harm her.
Retsyu: (coldly) We'll see about that.
With blinding speed, Retsyu lunged at Gilmuar. The two clashed with a force that sent tremors through the earth. Gilmuar's Gravity Magic intensified, creating a protective barrier around him and Leona. Retsyu's strikes were relentless, each one a test of Gilmuar's endurance and resolve.
Gilmuar: (thinking) I have to hold out... just a little longer...
Retsyu: (mockingly) You're wasting your time. You can't stop me.
Despite the overwhelming odds, Gilmuar stood his ground, his eyes burning with determination. But Retsyu's power was immense, and it was clear that he was only toying with them.
Leona: (shouting) Gilmuar, watch out!
Retsyu's hand shot out, breaking through Gilmuar's defenses and striking him with bone-crushing force. Gilmuar was thrown back, skidding across the ground and crashing into the rubble.
Leona: (rushing to his side) Gilmuar!
Retsyu: (approaching slowly) It's over.
Leona: (tears in her eyes) No, it's not!
Just as Retsyu was about to strike again, a surge of energy erupted from the ground. Dark, battered but unbroken, stood up from the crater, his eyes blazing with fury.
Dark: (voice cold) This ends now.
The ground beneath them trembled as Dark summoned the full power of his Kyuketsu. The blade, though half-shattered, glowed with an intense, otherworldly light.
Retsyu: (smirking) Still standing, are we? Impressive.
Dark: (determined) I won't let you destroy everything we've fought for.
Retsyu: (mockingly) Brave words. Let's see if you can back them up.
With a roar, Dark charged at Retsyu, his blade slashing through the air with deadly precision. The two clashed in a battle of wills and power, the very earth shaking under the force of their strikes.
Cron, bloodied and battered, pushed himself up, his eyes locking onto Retsyu.
Cron: (grinning) I'm not done yet.
Cron's body glowed with renewed energy as he tapped into his vast array of copied powers. He lunged at Retsyu, joining Dark in the fight. Together, they fought with everything they had, their determination unwavering.
Retsyu: (voice cold) You're all so persistent. But persistence won't save you.
The battle raged on, each strike echoing with the fury and resolve of the fighters. Blood splattered the ground, the air thick with the scent of battle and the crackle of powerful magic.
Cron: (laughing through the pain) You haven't won yet, Retsyu.
Retsyu: (eyes narrowing) Then let's finish this.
Dark: (panting) We won't let you win, Retsyu. Not now, not ever.
Retsyu: (smirking) You're only delaying the inevitable.
Without warning, Retsyu flicked his hand through the air. An invisible force sliced through both Dark and Cron's stomachs simultaneously. They gasped in pain, clutching their wounds as blood poured from the deep gashes.
Cron: (gritting his teeth) Damn it...
Dark: (struggling to stay upright) We... we can't give up...
As Retsyu prepared to strike again, a sudden, deliberate footstep echoed through the battlefield, halting the fight. Dark and Cron turned to see a figure emerging from the shadows, walking menacingly toward them.
Sukojo's face was a mask of anger and annoyance. His eyes burned with intensity as he approached the battlefield.
Sukojo: (voice dripping with disdain) There's a fight going on here and no one told me about it?
Retsyu: (smirking) Ah, you pathetic loser.
Retsyu raised both his arms slightly, a mocking gesture of power.
Retsyu: I should have finished you 10,000 years ago when I had the chance.
Sukojo's expression twisted into a sardonic smile. He stared directly at Retsyu, his voice filled with contempt.
Sukojo: (laughing) When you had the chance? Such lies! YOU WERE ON THE GROUND CRYING LIKE A PATHETIC CHILD, WAITING FOR COSMIC TO HELP YOU!!
Retsyu's smirk faltered for a moment, replaced by a flicker of anger. The tension in the air was palpable, the impending clash between these powerful beings promising to be even more destructive.
Sukojo: (stepping forward) Let's see if you can back up your words this time, Retsyu.
Dark: (thinking) Sukojo... I've seen a mere fraction of his power. Maybe with his help, we stand a chance.
Retsyu: (coldly) You think you can change anything, Sukojo? This battle was already over before it began.
Sukojo: (smirking) We'll see about that.
With a swift motion, Sukojo summoned his power, the air around him shimmering with intense energy. The ground trembled as his aura grew, a stark contrast to Retsyu's dark, crackling energy.
Sukojo: (tauntingly) Ready for round two, Retsyu?
Retsyu: (gritting his teeth) You insolent fool!
Sukojo launched himself at Retsyu with incredible speed, their clash creating a shockwave that sent Dark and Cron sprawling. The sheer force of their battle was unlike anything they had ever seen.
Cron: (struggling to stand) This... this is insane...
Dark: (determined) We have to help him. We can't let Sukojo fight alone.
As Dark and Cron moved to join the fray, Sukojo glanced back at them, his smile unwavering.
Sukojo: (firmly) Stay back. If you interfere, you'll only hold me back from unleashing my minimum power.
Cron: (hesitant) But...
Sukojo: (smirking) Trust me. I can handle this way too fuckin easily.
Reluctantly, Dark and Cron stepped back, their eyes fixed on the fierce battle before them. Sukojo's attacks were relentless, his movements a blur as he struck at Retsyu with unparalleled precision. Dark and Cron watched in awe, their injuries momentarily forgotten.
Dark: (lightly) I fought Sukojo before, but it was nothing compared to this. His power... it's beyond anything I've ever seen.
Cron: (nodding) Yeah... I've never seen Retsyu struggle like this.
Retsyu, who had been confident and mocking moments ago, now showed signs of strain. His movements, while still swift, lacked their previous precision. Sukojo's constant smile only seemed to infuriate him further.
Retsyu: (snarling) You're just a nuisance, Sukojo!
Sukojo: (laughing) And yet, here we are.
The ground beneath them cracked and splintered under the intensity of their battle. Each clash of their powers sent shockwaves through the air, the sheer force of their attacks threatening to tear the fortress apart.
Dark and Cron's attention was drawn to the approaching figures of Leona and Gilmuar. They too looked on in shock and awe at the spectacle before them.
Leona: (gasping) Is that... Sukojo?
Gilmuar: (wide-eyed) I've never seen him fight like this. It's... incredible.
Sukojo continued his relentless assault, his face always adorned with that unfazed, confident smile. He moved with a grace and speed that seemed almost unreal, his attacks pushing Retsyu to his limits.
Dark: (quietly) He's... he's actually doing it. He's pushing Retsyu back.
Cron: (nodding) But we can't let our guard down. Retsyu's still incredibly dangerous.
As they watched, Sukojo landed a particularly powerful blow, sending Retsyu skidding backward. Blood trickled from the corner of Retsyu's mouth, a sign of the toll the battle was taking on him.
Retsyu: (growling) You... how dare you...
Sukojo: (smiling) What's the matter, Retsyu? Finding it hard to keep up?
Retsyu's aura flared with renewed intensity, his eyes burning with fury. He launched himself at Sukojo with a ferocity that took everyone by surprise.
Retsyu: (roaring) I will end you, Sukojo!
Sukojo: (grinning) I'd like to see you try.
The battle reached new heights of intensity, the very air crackling with the power of their clash. Sukojo's face remained unfazed, his smile unwavering as he matched Retsyu blow for blow. The ground around them was littered with debris, the remnants of their destructive fight.
Dark: (whispering to Cron) We need to be ready. If Sukojo can't hold him...He's the trump card that we never predicted....
Cron: (nodding) Agreed. But right now, we have to trust him.
As the battle continued, it became clear that Sukojo was gaining the upper hand. Retsyu's movements grew more desperate, his attacks less precise. Sukojo, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying every moment, his smile never fading.
Sukojo: (mockingly) Is this all you've got, Retsyu? I expected more from you.
Retsyu: (voice filled with rage) You... you'll pay for this!
With a final, powerful strike, Sukojo sent Retsyu crashing into the ground, the impact creating a massive crater. Retsyu struggled to rise, his body battered and bloodied.
Sukojo: (smiling) It's over, Retsyu. You've lost.
Retsyu: (gasping) This... isn't... over...
Sukojo: (laughing) Oh, but it is.
Sukojo grabbed Retsyu by the hair, lifting him into the air. With his other hand, he gripped Retsyu's shoulder, his smile never fading. Slowly, he applied pressure, ripping Retsyu's head from his neck and shoulders with a sickening crack. Blood sprayed everywhere, drenching Sukojo as he threw Retsyu's body to the ground.
Then, to the horror of Dark and his friends, Sukojo brought Retsyu's head to his mouth and began to eat it, his eyes locked on them the entire time. The grotesque display left them speechless, their fear palpable.
Sukojo: (turning his head towards them, tilting it) What?
Dark, Cron, Leona, and Gilmuar stared at Sukojo in stunned silence, their fear and uncertainty clear in their eyes. The battle was over, but the terror had only just begun.
Sukojo walked toward them, his movements deliberate and menacing. As he approached Leona, he casually tossed Retsyu's head near her feet, causing her to recoil in horror.
Leona: (gasping) What...?
Dark, Cron, and Gilmuar instinctively prepared themselves for a potential attack, their bodies tense and ready.
Sukojo: (sneering) What? I just saved you and this is how you repay me? Foolish humans.
In an instant, Sukojo vanished and reappeared behind the three of them, resting his back on Dark's. He smiled, crossing his arms and placing his left leg on top of his right, a gesture dripping with contempt and disrespect.
Sukojo: (smirking) Know your place and don't even raise your hands to fight me.
With that, Sukojo disappeared from the scene, leaving an eerie silence in his wake. Dark, Cron, Leona, and Gilmuar exhaled in relief, the tension slowly easing from their bodies. They had thought for a moment that Sukojo would attack them, but he hadn't.
Dark: (quietly) That was too close...
Cron: (nodding) He's unpredictable. We need to stay on guard.
Leona: (shaken) What do we do now?
Gilmuar: (firmly) We regroup, we heal, and we prepare for whatever comes next.
Dark: Yeah let's get the hell out of here....
End of chapter 18