Chapter 30 – The Chronicles of Suo (5) – The Confrontation
The wind blew through the silent alleys of the village, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and wooden houses. The moon, hidden behind a veil of clouds, cast a pale light that threw moving shadows across the walls. Suo, his heart pounding wildly, clutched his coat, his eyes fixed on the dark figure advancing toward him.
Loki stood there, motionless, his black hair blending with the surrounding darkness. His violet eyes shone with a supernatural light, piercing the night's veil. He inclined his head slightly, a cold and cruel smile playing on his lips.
— "Hunter…" he murmured, his voice echoing metallically through the deserted streets. "What do you intend to do now? Fight me? Run? No matter your choice… this village will be your grave."
Suo took a deep breath, feeling the shadow energy flow through his veins, ready to manifest.
— "Loki… I didn't come here to die. This village, this facade… it all ends tonight. And you with it."
A chilling laugh escaped Loki's lips.
— "Tonight, you will only witness your inability to win."
Without warning, Loki stepped forward, and the ground seemed to twist. Silhouettes suddenly appeared in the air, perfect replicas of himself, each mimicking his gestures. Illusions. Countless Lokis surrounded Suo, their laughter intertwining like a sinister symphony.
Suo instinctively stepped back, his hands forming symbols in the air. The darkness around him thickened, creeping shadows wrapping around his legs and stretching to the facades of the houses.
— "Illusions…" he murmured. "Very well, I can dispel them."
The shadows took form, materializing into blades and claws, striking with deadly precision. Each struck a Loki silhouette, shattering it with a sharp sound, revealing the illusion behind it.
— "Ha! You're not bad, Hunter… but this is only the beginning! I'm just warming up!" shouted Loki, his eyes glowing with violet intensity.
A violet lightning bolt shot from his hands, striking the ground in front of Suo. The earth cracked open, spectral creatures emerging from the fissures, screaming as they lunged at him. Suo leapt aside, his shadows undulating to grasp the creatures and crush them in a whirlwind of darkness.
— "You play with ghosts, Loki… I shape shadows!" roared Suo.
Loki's illusions multiplied, each replica launching simultaneous attacks. The village walls seemed to warp, the houses twisting and duplicating as if the entire village were an extension of Loki's mind. Yet Suo remained calm, his eyes glowing with black light. Every gesture, every movement of his hands formed shadow symbols that absorbed attacks and launched counterstrikes.
— "You think you can surprise me with your tricks?" shouted Suo. "This village is just a stage, and I… am its shadow!"
One of the illusory Lokis lunged at him, but a hand of shadow shot up from the ground, seizing the illusion and pulling it into darkness before it could strike. Suo countered instantly, a shadow blade materializing and slicing through the air with a sharp whistle. The illusion exploded into violet dust.
Loki leapt back, his smile growing darker, more calculating.
— "Impressive… but you can't fight in a space you don't control!"
Suo made a gesture, and the village shadows condensed into a shifting barrier. Street lamps trembled, windows reflected shards of darkness. He had transformed the terrain into an extension of his magic. Every corner could defend or attack. His ability, Cemeteries of the Black Nights, allowed him to extend his shadow across an entire area to strike multidimensionally and move through his own shadows as if teleporting.
— "You play… but I win with my shadows!" shouted Suo, advancing, his steps echoing like a distant thunder.
Loki laughed, a mad laugh, and created multiple copies of Suo, each moving exactly like the real one. Shadows and illusions collided in a chaotic dance, each strike creating shockwaves that cracked the cobblestones. Shadows attacked from every direction, and Suo's illusions blended into the chaos.
— "Look closely, Hunter!" shouted Loki. "Try to find the real one… if you can!"
Suo dodged, his senses sharpened by shadow magic. He could feel real life, the heat of the true Loki amidst the copies. With a swift motion, he unleashed a volley of shadow claws slicing through the illusions, each one erupting into violet smoke.
— "You're not aiming at me," murmured Loki, appearing behind a house. "You will never touch me!"
He detonated the air around Suo with a violet wave, throwing him against a wall. Wooden beams creaked, debris fell, but Suo emerged from the shadows at the last second, as if he had vanished and reappeared. He was unbeatable thanks to his Cemeteries of the Black Nights.
— "You won't break me, Loki! You have no chance!" shouted Suo, concentrating shadow energy in his hands. "You cannot manipulate what already lies in the shadows!"
A black column rose around him, absorbing illusions and striking Loki with overwhelming force. The shockwave shook the village, tiles flying from rooftops, and a gust of darkness engulfed the battlefield.
Loki stumbled back, eyes wide, surprised by the intensity of the attack.
— "Argh… this guy is much stronger than expected…" he murmured, his voice betraying a hint of fear.
Suo advanced, his heavy steps sending shadows flying like living blades.
— "Now, you're going to tell me who sent you, Loki!"
But suddenly… a storm of illusions erupted from all directions, Loki multiplying his doubles to attack from every angle. Suo, master of shadows, dove into every corner, striking with surgical precision, each shadow hitting a copy while leaving the real Suo untouched.
— "Die!… damn it!" shouted Loki, now out of breath, his illusions dissolving under the onslaught of shadows.
Suo took a deep breath, letting the darkness fully envelop him. His eyes glowed with an intense black light, and a wave of terror swept through the village. Every house, every object, every corner seemed animated by his will.
— "You will pay for all of this, Loki!" shouted Suo.
A final series of shadow attacks rained down on Loki, striking dozens of times faster than light, multidirectionally. His illusions shattered into violet dust. The real Loki was thrown backward, crushing crates and market stalls, unable to rise immediately. Part of the village was destroyed by the force of the attack.
— "He's really strong… damn…" gasped Loki, sweat running down his forehead. "How… you…"
— "Shadow magic…" replied Suo. "I don't usually fight seriously against my enemies, but against you, my rage was so fierce I couldn't hold back…"
Loki rose slowly, a cold smile on his lips.
— "So be it… magic has facets you are far from mastering, my dear Hunter…" he murmured.
The village was silent, the houses damaged, cobblestones cracked, street lamps broken. The air was heavy with residual magic and smoke. Suo stood in the center of the square, fists clenched, his breath still rapid, ready to continue the fight, Loki staring at him with a far more destructive gaze than before.
À suivre...