The battlefield lay in silence, the tension so thick it felt like the world itself held its breath. The ground was scorched and broken, remnants of Copi's chaotic energy still crackling faintly in the air. Dark stood at the epicenter of the destruction, his fists clenched, his crimson eyes blazing with fury. His aura flickered, unstable, mirroring the storm within him.
Copi stared at him for a moment, his chaotic form rippling as though he were deep in thought. Slowly, he straightened, his ever-present grin returning to his face.
Copi: (calmly) You're an interesting one, Dark. I would and could continue this child's play... but...
Copi: (coldly) As you can see, I am really bored. And I hate being bored. So, goodbye.
Dark's eyes widened as Copi turned away, his chaotic aura beginning to dissipate. It was as though the weight of his presence was lifting from the battlefield, leaving behind only silence.
Dark: (sharply) Don't you dare walk away from me!
Copi paused mid-step, glancing over his shoulder with a smirk. His hollow, black eyes gleamed with amusement.
Copi: (mockingly) Next time, Dark. Next time.
With a flicker of chaos, he began to vanish into thin air, his form dissolving into the ether. But just as Dark's rage began to swell, the air rippled again—a portal opening where Copi had stood.
Copi's voice echoed from everywhere and nowhere, playful yet laced with malice.
Copi: (amused) Oh, wait... Why leave you to stew in your own anger when I can give you a little... distraction?
The portal widened, flames of crimson licking at its edges. From the swirling void stepped Azraelis, his massive form instantly dominating the battlefield. The pressure in the air returned, heavier than before, as though the earth itself groaned under his presence.
Azraelis: (smirking) You again.
Dark's fists tightened, his aura flaring dangerously as he recognized the towering figure before him. The memory of their last encounter flashed through his mind—an unfinished battle, a grudge left to fester.
Dark: Azraelis.
Azraelis: (mockingly) Oh, don't look so surprised, Dark. Did you really think last time was the end?
He rested his enormous blade, Abyss Reaver, on his shoulder. The weapon seemed alive, its dark, shimmering edge pulsating faintly as though hungry for blood.
Copi's disembodied voice chuckled softly.
Copi: (playfully) Have fun, boys. I'll be watching.
The portal snapped shut, leaving Dark and Azraelis alone in the ruins of the battlefield. The silence was deafening, broken only by the faint crackle of energy in the air.
Azraelis: (grinning) This time, I'm going to make sure you don't get back up.
Dark didn't respond. His eyes darkened, his aura intensifying as he lowered himself into a battle stance. The black and red energy surrounding him surged violently, creating cracks in the already broken ground beneath him.
Dark: (growling) Let's finish this.
Azraelis moved first.
He lunged forward with incredible speed for his massive size, Abyss Reaver carving through the air with a screech that made the ground tremble. Dark leapt back just in time, the blade slamming into the earth where he had stood moments before. The impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, shattering the ground and toppling the few remaining trees in the distance.
Dark countered instantly, closing the distance in a blur of speed. His fist, engulfed in black and red energy, struck Azraelis square in the chest, the force of the blow sending the demon skidding backward. Azraelis grinned, unfazed, as he raised his blade again.
Azraelis: (mockingly) That all you've got?
Dark didn't respond. He rushed forward again, Kyuketsu appearing in his hand as he swung with deadly precision. The blade clashed against Abyss Reaver, sparks flying as the two weapons collided. The impact created another shockwave, the sheer force of their clash leaving a massive crater beneath their feet.
Azraelis twisted his blade, deflecting Kyuketsu and following up with a brutal kick that sent Dark flying. Dark twisted in mid-air, landing on his feet and immediately charging again. His movements were faster now, more precise, his strikes aimed at the gaps in Azraelis' armor.
The battlefield became a blur of motion and destruction. Every clash of their weapons sent shockwaves rippling through the air, every strike carving deep trenches into the ground. Dark's aura flared wildly, his attacks growing more feral with each passing second.
Azraelis: (grinning) That anger of yours—it's impressive. But it's not enough.
He slammed his blade into the ground, sending a wave of dark energy surging toward Dark. The attack tore through the ground, obliterating everything in its path. Dark leapt high into the air, avoiding the attack, and retaliated by hurling a massive blast of black and red energy downward.
The blast collided with Azraelis, engulfing him in an explosion that shook the battlefield. When the dust cleared, Azraelis stood unscathed, his grin widening.
Azraelis: (mockingly) You'll have to do better than that.
Dark growled, his horns glowing faintly as his aura surged again. He charged forward, his movements faster, more unpredictable. Azraelis met him head-on, their blades clashing with a force that sent shockwaves rippling across the battlefield.
The battle raged on, their strikes growing faster, harder, more devastating. Dark's attacks were relentless, each one fueled by his unyielding determination. But Azraelis countered with equal ferocity, his blade moving like a living extension of himself.
The ground beneath them was unrecognizable, the once-flat terrain now a wasteland of craters and shattered earth. The air was thick with the heat of their auras, the sky above swirling with dark clouds as their power clashed.
Dark's movements grew more erratic, his rage pushing him to his limits. He roared, slamming his fists into the ground and sending massive shockwaves outward. Azraelis staggered slightly but quickly regained his footing, his grin never faltering.
Azraelis: (grinning) You're strong, Dark. But strength alone won't save you.
Dark didn't respond. He rushed forward again, his movements a blur as he grabbed Azraelis by the head. With a primal roar, he slammed Azraelis into the ground with enough force to create a massive crater. He lifted him again and slammed him down a second time, then a third, each impact shaking the battlefield.
Dark: (roaring) Stay down!
Azraelis growled, his body flickering with dark energy as he grabbed Dark's wrist and threw him across the battlefield. Dark twisted in mid-air, landing on his feet as Kyuketsu appeared in his hand again. This time, the blade began to shift, its form growing larger, heavier, until it became a massive greatsword.
Dark: (growling) This ends now.
He charged forward, the massive greatsword glowing with molten energy as he swung with all his might. Azraelis raised his blade to block, but the force of the strike shattered Abyss Reaver in half. Azraelis' eyes widened in shock as Dark followed through, the greatsword cleaving cleanly through his neck.
Azraelis' head hit the ground with a dull thud, his body collapsing moments later. Dark stood over him, his aura still blazing, his breath heavy as he glared at the lifeless body.
Dark: (softly) It's over.
The battlefield fell silent, the tension slowly dissipating as Dark lowered his blade. His aura flickered, fading as he turned to face the others.
-
Dark moves his trembling right hand upward, his crimson eyes locked on it as though it were a foreign object. Faint tendrils of dark energy coil around his fingers, pulsating like a heartbeat. His breath hitches, and his voice comes out in a low, broken murmur.
Dark: What... have I become?
The battlefield's silence is absolute, the shattered earth and scorched air frozen in time. And then, from somewhere deep—deeper than his consciousness—a voice speaks. Low, resonant, mocking yet commanding.
???: You have become... the inevitable.
Dark's body stiffens. His head snaps up, his expression twisting into defiance.
Dark: No. That was never my plan, I—
???: Uh-uh-uh. Shhhhhh.
The voice cuts through him, almost playful but with a venomous undertone.
???: You absolute monster. Why are you still holding back? Hmm?
Dark: (snapping) What do you mean? I've given it everything! My sanity, my humanity—I've gone mad!
???: Mad?
The voice scoffs, its tone tinged with amusement.
???: No, you haven't. I can feel your heart, Dark. Beneath all that rage, all that despair—it's still pure. That soft, loving boy is still in there. What happened to him, hmm? That dream of a peaceful world... what happened?
Dark's jaw clenches, his shoulders trembling as the words cut deep. Memories flash through his mind—a simpler time, a younger version of himself filled with hope.
Dark: I need to grow stronger to achieve that dream.
???: (mockingly) Oh, is that it? You're chasing strength? Look where it's brought you. Pathetic.
The voice grows colder, harsher.
???: Listen up. End of discussion. I'll give you a deal—a one-time offer, no strings attached. I don't care whether you accept it or not.
Dark: (hesitant) A... deal?
The voice chuckles, low and sinister.
???: I will flood your body with immeasurable energy—raw, pure darkness. Enough to make even the strongest tremble before you. But... in return, I need one thing.
Dark: (narrowing his eyes) What?
???: That dream of yours. Bring it to life. Fulfill it. That's all I ask.
Dark: (hesitant, confused) That's it?
???: That's it. A deal is a deal, after all. But don't accept it for me, Dark. Do it for yourself.
Dark's breathing slows. He closes his eyes for a moment, the weight of the offer pressing down on him. Finally, he opens them, his voice steady.
Dark: I accept.
The voice laughs again, triumphant yet ominous.
???: A deal is a deal. Don't fail, Dark. Not for me—but for your own sake.
Suddenly, the air shifts. His companions watch from a distance, their expressions filled with confusion and unease. Dark's aura begins to flicker and grow, tendrils of black and red spiraling outward. His eyes blaze brighter, the dark energy within him surging.
Lara: (softly) Dark...
Dark looks at her, his gaze unreadable. The world seems to pause, holding its breath. And then, as if pulled by an unseen force, the camera begins to zoom out. It moves rapidly—beyond the battlefield, past the broken landscape, and into the vastness of space. Stars blur together, galaxies swirl like paint on a cosmic canvas, and supernovas erupt in distant silence.
The zoom slows, halting at a solitary, forgotten place. A broken fragment of an ancient castle floats in the void, its moss-covered walls crumbling with age. The air around it feels dense, suffused with an ominous energy. The camera moves closer, pushing through the dilapidated hallways until it finds a pedestal.
Upon it sits a box.
Old. Jagged. Bound by chains that shimmer faintly—black and white, pulsating as if alive. The box exudes an aura of forgotten power, something ancient and immeasurable. For a moment, the chains tighten, as though resisting some unseen force. And then... silence.
The camera snaps back to Dark.
His breath catches. His eyes widen. Sweat drips down his face as he stumbles back slightly, his heart racing.
Dark: (gasping) What... what was that?
His companions step closer, their confusion giving way to concern.
Leona: (sharp) Dark, what's going on? What did you see?
Dark doesn't respond. His gaze remains distant, his body trembling as the memory of the vision lingers.
Gilmuar: (calm, firm) Focus, Dark. Whatever it is, we'll face it together.
Dark's fists clench. He takes a deep breath, his voice low but resolute.
Dark: That box... it's something I can't ignore.
His aura flares suddenly, crackling with dark energy that pushes his companions back. The weight of his power hangs heavy in the air, suffocating. Tier steps forward, his voice strained.
Tier: (gritted teeth) Damn it, Dark! Snap out of it!
But Dark doesn't hear him. His mind is consumed by the vision, by the weight of the deal he just made. He exhales slowly, his voice cold and determined.
Dark: Whatever happens next... I'll be ready.
Dark stood in the center of the silent battlefield, his breathing heavy, his gaze fixated on the spot where the vision of the box had just left his mind. The others watched him cautiously, the tension in the air still palpable. No one dared to speak, the weight of the moment pressing on them like an invisible force.
Dark's crimson eyes flickered as he turned to face them, his voice low and resolute.
Dark: I'm going to find that box.
Lara took a hesitant step forward, her brows furrowed in confusion.
Lara: What box? What are you talking about, Dark?
Dark's gaze softened for a brief moment, but the fire of determination behind it remained unyielding.
Dark: Something... something beyond what we understand. I don't know why, but I need to get it. I need to know.
Gilmuar's golden eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable.
Gilmuar: You're chasing something unknown. Do you even understand what you might unleash?
Dark didn't answer immediately. He looked down at his hands, the faint remnants of his black and red aura still flickering around them. His voice, when it came, was quiet but firm.
Dark: If it's dangerous... I'll stop it. But I can't ignore this. Not now. Not after everything.
Leona crossed her arms, her voice laced with frustration.
Leona: And what if you can't stop it? What if it's something even you can't control?
Dark met her gaze, his jaw tightening.
Dark: Then I'll die trying.
The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, silencing any further protests. Tier stepped forward, his usually calm demeanor faltering as he spoke.
Tier: (gruffly) Dark, if you're set on this, then we're coming with you. No way in hell we're letting you face whatever this is alone.
Lara nodded, stepping closer to Dark with a determined expression.
Lara: We've come this far together. We'll see this through. All of us.
For a moment, Dark's hardened expression softened, a flicker of gratitude crossing his face. He nodded once, his resolve solidifying.
Dark: Alright. Let's move.
The journey was grueling, the atmosphere growing heavier with each step they took toward their unknown destination. The land around them seemed to warp subtly, the sky shifting to unnatural hues, and the air buzzing faintly with an energy none of them could explain. It was as though the world itself was resisting their progress.
Dark led the group in silence, his senses sharper than ever. He could feel it—an invisible pull guiding him toward the box, the faint hum of its presence growing stronger with each passing moment. The others followed closely, their unease evident but unspoken.
Hours turned to days, and finally, they reached it.
The scene before them was otherworldly, unlike anything they had ever encountered. The small floating surface hovered above an endless abyss, fragments of a long-forgotten castle suspended in midair. Moss-covered stones and broken pillars jutted out at odd angles, defying the laws of gravity. The air was thick with an ancient energy, crackling faintly as they approached.
At the center of it all sat the box.
It was small, unassuming, and yet its presence was overwhelming. Sealed tightly with intricate symbols etched into its surface, the box seemed to radiate a quiet power that pressed against their very souls. It was as though the box itself was alive, aware of their presence.
Dark took a cautious step forward, his breath catching in his throat as the energy around the box pulsed faintly.
Dark: (softly) This is it.
Lara's voice trembled as she spoke, her gaze locked on the box.
Lara: Dark... are you sure about this?
Dark didn't answer immediately. He took another step closer, his eyes never leaving the box. His voice was quiet, almost a whisper.
Dark: I have to be.
Gilmuar's hand rested on the hilt of his blade, his golden eyes scanning their surroundings.
Gilmuar: This place... it doesn't feel right. We shouldn't be here.
Leona stepped closer to Dark, her voice sharp.
Leona: Dark, think this through. If this thing was sealed, there's a reason for it. What if opening it is exactly what we're not supposed to do?
Dark hesitated for the briefest moment, his hand hovering over the box. He could feel the weight of their words, the doubt gnawing at the edges of his mind. But something deeper drove him forward—a voice in his heart, an unrelenting need to see it through.
Dark: (softly) I'll take that risk.
Before anyone could stop him, Dark placed his hand on the box.
The air around them erupted in a deafening roar as the energy within the box surged outward, blinding light consuming everything in its path. The ground beneath them cracked and splintered, the floating surface shaking violently. The symbols on the box glowed brighter, pulsing in a rhythm that matched the pounding of their hearts.
Dark gritted his teeth, his hand trembling as he began to open it. The light grew more intense, the energy spiraling upward into the sky, tearing through the clouds and illuminating the heavens.
And then, it happened.
The box opened.
A deafening silence fell over the battlefield, so profound it felt like the universe itself had stopped breathing. The light that had erupted from the box was gone, replaced by an all-encompassing darkness that seemed to devour the very concept of existence. The air grew impossibly cold, and even the stars above dimmed, as though retreating in fear.
From within the box came a low, resonant hum—a sound that wasn't heard but felt, crawling under their skin and sinking into their bones. The ground cracked and groaned beneath their feet, splitting apart as though recoiling from whatever was being unleashed. The atmosphere grew heavier, suffocating, pressing down on them like a vice.
Dark stepped back, his crimson eyes wide as he stared at the box. His breath hitched, and for the first time in what felt like years, he felt something he hadn't known in ages.
Fear.
The box trembled violently, dark tendrils of energy spilling forth and writhing like living shadows. They coiled and twisted, forming shapes that flickered and shifted, too fast for the human eye to comprehend. And then, the darkness spoke.
???: (low, guttural) You... dare?
The voice was ancient, layered with countless tones that echoed through time itself. It wasn't a question but a declaration, a challenge. The tendrils of darkness surged outward, coiling together to form a shape—a towering, monstrous figure that exuded raw, unfiltered malice.
It was Azraelis, but not the Azraelis they had fought before.
This was something else entirely.
His true form was a nightmarish fusion of flesh and shadow, his body covered in jagged, obsidian-like armor that pulsed faintly with a dark, hellish glow. His eyes burned with an otherworldly light, twin orbs of crimson that pierced through the suffocating darkness. Massive wings, torn and frayed, stretched out behind him, their edges shimmering with the faint outline of forgotten runes. His claws were long and razor-sharp, glinting with a sickly sheen as though stained with the blood of gods.
Azraelis: (mockingly) You thought you had bested me, Dark? How amusing. What you saw before was nothing more than a shadow of my true self.
His voice carried the weight of millennia, each word reverberating with the screams of countless souls. The ground beneath him buckled and cracked as he stepped forward, his presence alone warping reality itself. The air grew thick with the stench of decay, and the faint whispers of the damned filled the void, their voices rising in a chilling chorus.
Dark gritted his teeth, his fists clenched as his aura flared to life once more. Black and red energy swirled around him, wild and uncontrollable, but even his immense power felt dwarfed in the presence of this monstrosity.
Dark: (growling) I don't care what you've become. I'll put you down again.
Azraelis chuckled, a deep, guttural sound that sent shivers through everyone present.
Azraelis: (mockingly) Oh, Dark. You truly don't understand, do you? This isn't a fight you can win. You've opened the box. My prison. My grave. And now, I will remind this world—no, this existence—why I was sealed away.
Leona's voice broke through the suffocating tension, her tone laced with both fear and defiance.
Leona: (shouting) What... what the hell is this thing?
Azraelis turned his gaze toward her, his crimson eyes narrowing. A cruel smile spread across his monstrous face.
Azraelis: (mockingly) Curious little insects, scurrying about. You dare to speak in my presence?
With a flick of his claw, a wave of dark energy surged toward her, fast and unrelenting. Dark reacted instantly, moving in a blur to intercept the attack. His aura clashed against the wave, shattering it in an explosion of energy that rocked the battlefield.
Dark: (snarling) Your fight is with me, Azraelis.
Azraelis tilted his head, his grin widening.
Azraelis: (mockingly) Bold words, child. But you fail to grasp the magnitude of your mistake.
He spread his wings, the runes along their edges glowing faintly. The darkness around him twisted and writhed, forming shapes—warped, humanoid figures that emerged from the shadows. Their bodies were malformed, their faces featureless save for hollow, glowing eyes. They moved unnaturally, their limbs bending and snapping as they surrounded Dark and the others.
Azraelis: (coldly) Behold, the remnants of those who dared defy me. Their souls are mine, their pain eternal. And now... they will be your end.
The shadowy figures lunged forward, their movements erratic and unpredictable. Dark met them head-on, his fists blazing with energy as he tore through their ranks. Each strike shattered a figure, their bodies dissolving into ash, but more kept coming.
Gilmuar and Tier joined the fray, their weapons cutting through the shadows with precision. Leona stood beside Lara, shielding her as the swarm closed in.
Dark: (shouting) Stay back! I'll handle this!
Azraelis watched the chaos unfold, his grin never faltering. He raised his clawed hand, summoning a massive, jagged blade of pure shadow. The weapon pulsed with dark energy, its edges shifting and flickering as though it were alive.
Azraelis: (mockingly) You amuse me, Dark. But playtime is over.
With a single, powerful beat of his wings, Azraelis launched himself forward, his blade swinging toward Dark with devastating force. Dark barely managed to block the strike with Kyuketsu, the impact creating a shockwave that sent both combatants skidding backward.
The ground beneath them cracked and splintered as their clash continued, each strike creating ripples of destruction that tore through the battlefield. Azraelis moved with terrifying speed and precision, his attacks relentless and overwhelming.
Dark: (thinking) He's stronger... faster... but I can't back down now.
With a roar, Dark unleashed a surge of energy, his aura flaring brighter than ever. He lunged forward, his fists moving in a blur as he unleashed a barrage of punches that struck Azraelis from all sides. The sheer speed and intensity of the assault forced Azraelis back, his grin faltering for the first time.
Dark: (roaring) I'll end this here!
Azraelis growled, his wings flaring as he retaliated with a devastating slash of his blade. The attack tore through the air, creating a rift that stretched across the battlefield. Dark narrowly dodged, the edge of the attack grazing his arm and drawing blood.
Azraelis: (snarling) Impressive, Dark. But not enough.
Dark gritted his teeth, his mind racing as he searched for an opening. Then, he felt it—a surge of power deep within him, a voice whispering in his mind.
???: Use it, Dark. The Domain World.
Dark's eyes widened, realization dawning on him. He took a deep breath, his aura surging to its peak.
Dark: (softly) Domain World... Abyssal Convergence.
The battlefield shifted. The air grew heavy, and the ground beneath them dissolved into a swirling void of black and red energy. Azraelis paused, his eyes narrowing as he glanced around.
Azraelis: (coldly) So, you finally reveal your hand.
Dark stepped forward, his voice low and unyielding.
Dark: This ends now.
With a burst of speed, Dark closed the distance, his fists moving faster than the eye could follow as he unleashed a barrage of punches. Each strike connected, the force of the blows shattering Azraelis' armor and forcing him back.
Dark didn't stop. He continued his assault, his movements a blur as he pushed Azraelis to his limits. Finally, he leapt back, Kyuketsu appearing in his hand. The blade shifted, growing larger and heavier, its edges glowing with molten energy.
Dark: (roaring) This is the end!
With a final, devastating strike, Dark swung the blade downward, cutting through Azraelis with enough force to split the earth itself. The battlefield fell silent as Azraelis' body collapsed, torn in two.
Dark stood over him, his breath heavy, his aura flickering as he lowered his blade. The darkness around them began to fade, the remnants of the Domain World dissolving into nothingness.
Dark: (softly) It's over.
Azraelis' dismembered body lay lifeless, split cleanly in two. The silence was deafening, broken only by Dark's ragged breaths. His aura flickered and sputtered like a dying flame, yet his crimson eyes remained locked on the remains.
Dark: (softly) It's over.
The words lingered in the air, heavy and final—or so he thought.
A faint, guttural laugh echoed through the battlefield, low at first but growing louder, more mocking.
Azraelis: (weakly, laughing) Can you stop saying it's over?
Dark's eyes snapped open, his head jerking toward the source of the voice. The remains of Azraelis began to reform, his disintegrated halves stitching themselves together with tendrils of shadowy energy. His towering form stood whole once again, his jagged grin cutting through the darkness like a blade.
Azraelis: (mockingly) It's starting to sound like a broken record, Dark.
Dark didn't hesitate. His eyes glowed fiercely, his voice low and cold.
Dark: Disintegration.
The word carried weight, slicing through the very fabric of reality. Azraelis' grin faltered for a split second before his body began to dissolve, fragment by fragment. His form flickered and faded into nothingness, consumed by a force beyond comprehension.
Azraelis: (whispering, as he vanishes) Oh... this... is new...
The battlefield fell silent once more. The oppressive aura that had hung over them evaporated, leaving behind only the stillness of death and destruction.
Dark stood motionless, his trembling hand lowering slowly. His breathing steadied, but his mind was far from calm. His thoughts raced, a whirlwind of emotions threatening to pull him under.
From behind, soft footsteps approached. Lara's voice was gentle, hesitant.
Lara: Dark...
She reached out, her hand hovering over his shoulder. Before it could make contact, Dark's body reacted on instinct. His claws—now sharp, elongated, and dark as midnight—moved in a blur. In an instant, his hand was raised, the deadly tips of his nails mere inches from Lara's face, poised to strike.
Time seemed to freeze.
Dark's eyes widened in horror as he realized what he was doing. He staggered back, lowering his hand as his breath caught in his throat.
Dark: (whispering, broken) No... I... Lara...
Lara's face twisted with fear and betrayal. She took a step back, her voice trembling.
Lara: Get away from me...
Leona stormed forward, fury in her eyes.
Leona: (shouting) What the hell is wrong with you, Dark?!
Dark turned to the others, his expression pleading, desperate for understanding. But what he found in their eyes was condemnation.
Gilmuar: (coldly) You monster. You almost killed her—the love of your life.
Dark turned to Tier, his voice shaking.
Dark: Tier, I—
Tier held up his hand, silencing him with a sharp motion. His voice was low, deliberate, each word cutting deeper than any blade.
Tier: (slowly, mockingly) M-o-n-s-t-e-r.
He moved his hand through the air with exaggerated emphasis, each syllable a slap to Dark's soul.
Dark's crimson eyes filled with tears. The camera zoomed in on his face, capturing the raw emotion—the pain, the regret, the disbelief—as tears streamed down his cheeks, hitting the ground below. From his perspective, their expressions were hauntingly clear: anger, fear, and disappointment.
Dark: (softly, desperate) G-Guys? Please...
Lara's voice was quiet but firm, her tone cutting through him like a blade.
Lara: Until you learn to control your rage... you'll never see me again.
Gilmuar: (coldly) Same here.
Leona: Me too.
Tier: (sadly) Sorry, Dark... but this is the only way for us to be safe.
He gestured to the shattered battlefield around them, his voice laced with finality.
Tier: Everywhere you go... chaos and destruction follow.
Gilmuar: (firmly) And they always will.
One by one, they turned their backs on him, their silhouettes fading into the fog. Their figures disappeared, their shadows swallowed by the mist until Dark was left standing alone, the silence crushing.
Dark fell to his knees, his body trembling as his hands covered his face. His breathing was uneven, his mind spiraling as despair consumed him.
Dark: (softly, to himself) What have I done...? What have I become?
The camera lingered on him, then zoomed out to reveal the devastation surrounding him—a broken wasteland that mirrored his fractured soul.
Suddenly, tendrils of black, shadowy energy slithered out from his aura. They coiled and twisted unnaturally, forming a hand-like shape that rested lightly on his left shoulder. A voice followed, low and venomous, dripping with malice and condescension.
???: Control, Dark. Control is a powerful force. Without it, you may never see them again.
Dark didn't respond. Tears streamed silently down his face, pooling on the ground beneath him. The camera shifted to his face, capturing the hollow look in his eyes—the face of a man on the edge of sanity.
???: Oh, Dark... After everything you've endured, is this really where you give up?
The voice grew louder, more aggressive, like a storm building within him.
???: HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN WHAT THEY JUST CALLED YOU?! A MONSTER. DARK, YOU'VE BECOME THE VERY THING YOU SWORE TO DESTROY.
Dark: (whispering, broken) Stop...
???: What's the matter? Angry again? Ready to lash out? Go ahead—prove them right.
Dark's voice cracked as he replied, his tone filled with despair.
Dark: No... you're right. I've failed. Miserably.
The tendrils tightened around him, their presence suffocating as the voice continued.
???: Do you truly wish to atone, Dark? Or will you wallow in your shame like the pathetic creature you've become?
Dark's head lowered, his voice barely audible.
Dark: (softly) How... how do I atone?
The voice chuckled darkly, its tone shifting to something almost playful.
???: Remember the deal you made with the Merciful Sukojo? Remember the fight against Nekros in Lara's timeline?
Dark: (nodding weakly) I remember...
???: And the time you let Sukojo take over? The time he killed Yuno—that so-called Mugen Oni? Or whatever he called himself?
Dark: (clenching his fists) I remember it all...
???: Then tell me, Dark. What happened to you? To the boy who dreamed of changing the world?
Dark's voice was quiet, filled with self-loathing.
Dark: Sukojo... from all the chaos he unleashed, he turned me into this. A saint? A sinner? I don't even know anymore...
The voice erupted into a mocking laugh, cold and cruel.
???: Hahahahaha! Oh, Dark... you really are something else.
The scene lingered on Dark, his body trembling as the shadowy tendrils wrapped tighter around him, the voice growing louder, more haunting.
???: You are nothing more than the inevitable, Dark. The question is... will you embrace it?
The camera pulled back, zooming out to reveal Dark alone in the wasteland of his own making, his tears glinting faintly in the dim light as the shadow's laughter echoed into the void.
To be continued....
End Of Arc 4 Chapter 17.