Dark stood silently, eyes scanning calmly over the three towering beings before him—Igor, Malrik, and Rhazir. He sighed quietly, his expression flat yet faintly irritated.
Dark: Alright, look. If you're sticking around, I'm changing your names. Your current ones are... annoying.
Malrik shifted slightly, clearly displeased but cautious in his protest.
Malrik: But, Emperor, our titles reflect our—
Dark: (interrupting calmly) Yeah, don't care. Malrik, you're Malik. Rhazir, you're Raz. Igor... Actually, Igor's fine as it is. Short and simple.
Rhazir's fiery aura flared briefly but settled, his voice resigned.
Raz: As you wish.
Malik nodded stiffly, shadows rippling quietly around him.
Malik: Understood.
Igor simply inclined his head deeply, loyalty clear in his stance.
Igor: Your command is absolute.
Satisfied, Dark gave a brief nod.
Dark: Good. Rest for now—I have something to settle.
Without another word, the shadows surged, swiftly drawing the three beings back into Dark's shadow, leaving him alone once more.
Dark exhaled deeply, eyes focused sharply on an unseen point in the distance. He'd carried this unfinished business for too long—it was time to end it. Shadows swirled around him, swallowing him whole in an instant.
Moments later, reality twisted, shadows parting gently as he stepped onto familiar ground—the arena on Earth.
He paused briefly, taking in his surroundings with mild surprise. The damage from their previous brutal battle had completely vanished. Cracked floors, shattered walls, even the destroyed seating had all been flawlessly repaired, as if their clash had never happened.
Dark: (quietly amused) Seems someone cleaned up the mess.
Across the pristine battleground stood a lone figure, patiently awaiting Dark's arrival—Caelum, eyes piercing with calm intensity, a subtle smirk on his lips.
Caelum: Took you long enough. I've been waiting.
Dark's gaze sharpened, shadows subtly rippling beneath him as a faint smile touched his own lips.
Dark: Yeah. Sorry to keep you waiting.
His stance relaxed slightly, confidence clear as he stepped calmly forward.
Dark: Ready to finish what we started?
Caelum's aura surged instantly, anticipation crackling through his poised posture.
Caelum: Thought you'd never ask.
Both figures moved slowly forward, closing the distance, the air between them thickening with quiet tension, ready to explode.
Caelum paused briefly, sizing Dark up, his smirk deepening subtly.
Caelum: Last time, Sukojo interfered and spared you. You sure you want to test your luck again?
Dark tilted his head slightly, a faint smile touching his lips as shadows drifted silently at his feet.
Dark: Luck? Nah. Luck has nothing to do with it this time.
Caelum's eyes narrowed sharply, energy rippling visibly along his arms, his stance shifting from relaxed to dangerously aggressive.
Caelum: Then show me.
In a burst of devastating speed, Caelum lunged forward, power exploding from his fist. But this time, Dark moved differently—faster, smoother, more precise. With effortless grace, he sidestepped, watching calmly as Caelum's strike crashed harmlessly into empty air.
Caelum spun sharply, irritation flashing across his face.
Caelum: Huh—seems you've actually improved a bit.
Dark chuckled softly, posture casually confident as he turned to face Caelum directly.
Dark: You have no idea.
Without another word, Caelum struck again, his movements fierce, rapid, relentless—but Dark was ready. Each strike, each devastating kick, Dark matched calmly, dodging and redirecting attacks with such ease it bordered on mockery.
Caelum roared in frustration, energy erupting wildly as he unleashed a barrage of blindingly fast blows. Yet, Dark simply weaved through them with an almost bored precision, barely moving beyond what was necessary.
Caelum: (furiously) How the hell did you get so damn fast?!
Dark ducked casually beneath another punch, his voice calm, quietly amused.
Dark: Dying tends to make me stronger—funny how that works, isn't it?
Caelum growled deeply, energy flaring violently as his fists ignited with scorching blue flames.
Caelum: You think you can mock me?!
With rage fueling him, Caelum's strikes intensified, raw power shaking the arena. Yet, Dark's calm remained unwavering. He pivoted slightly, caught Caelum's wrist, and twisted sharply, slamming him brutally into the repaired ground, shattering pristine marble beneath them.
Dark leaned down quietly, calm crimson eyes piercing into Caelum's furious glare.
Dark: (quietly, firmly) I told you things changed.
Caelum snarled angrily, wrenching free as energy exploded outward, forcing Dark backward briefly. Breathing heavily, Caelum rose, eyes now burning with wild fury and reluctant respect.
Caelum: Fine—no more games!
Power surged uncontrollably from Caelum, the arena shuddering beneath his feet. Dark calmly braced himself, shadows spiraling elegantly around his body.
Dark: About time you got serious.
Both stood facing each other, energy crackling violently around them, prepared for the true battle to begin.
The air itself seemed to shatter around Caelum, a blazing tempest of raw power enveloping his form. His eyes were alight with a fierce, almost feral excitement, a twisted grin playing across his lips.
Caelum: Don't disappoint me now, Dark. I've waited too damn long for a proper rematch.
Dark straightened slowly, the shadows around him twisting into a protective shroud, their edges razor-sharp, bristling with anticipation.
Dark: Same here. It'd be pathetic if you went down easy after all this hype.
Caelum laughed coldly, eyes gleaming as his aura thickened, forming a swirling, chaotic storm of azure flames. He raised his palm slowly, the flames dancing violently.
Caelum: Trust me—you'll beg for mercy long before I'm satisfied.
Dark rolled his shoulders lazily, eyes locked sharply onto Caelum's every subtle motion.
Dark: You talk too much. Maybe that's why you always lose.
With a feral roar, Caelum blasted forward, tearing through the air, leaving scorching trails of flame behind him. His fist, engulfed in searing blue fire, crashed directly toward Dark, aiming for his chest.
But Dark shifted effortlessly, bending space itself around him, vanishing into his shadow. Caelum slammed violently into empty space, sending shockwaves rippling outward, shattering the ground beneath.
Before Caelum could react, Dark appeared behind him, shadows swirling rapidly as he unleashed a punishing strike, sending Caelum flying violently into the far end of the arena. The marble cracked and splintered under the force of his impact, leaving Caelum momentarily stunned.
Dark stood calmly, unfazed, eyes narrowed in quiet satisfaction.
Dark: Guess you missed that lesson the first time around.
Caelum rose unsteadily, eyes blazing, spitting blood onto the immaculate floor. His muscles bulged dangerously, energy surging uncontrollably around him.
Caelum: (voice raw with rage) Don't get cocky, bastard. This isn't over yet!
Caelum unleashed a deafening roar, flames erupting around his body, encasing him completely, transforming into a monstrous inferno of raw destructive energy. The arena trembled under the pressure, pieces of debris levitating in his immense power.
Dark stood his ground, his cloak billowing gently despite the raging storm around him, eyes locked intently on Caelum's transformed form.
Dark: Finally, something interesting.
He raised his hand slowly, shadows swirling obediently, coalescing into a massive, sinister blade radiating dark energy.
Dark: Let's settle shit for real this time.
Both warriors locked eyes one final time, the tension igniting the air itself as they unleashed their full might, charging forward simultaneously in an explosive collision of flame and shadow.
To Be Continued....
End Of Arc 5 Chapter 12.