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Warning
This chapter contains fictional combat violence set in a dark anime world.
A
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Chapter 23 — Dance of Blood and Fire
The forest had turned into a living battlefield of chaos;
Flames danced over charred trunks, the wind screamed between shattered trees, and golden lightning tore through the sky like an enraged beast.
More than a quarter of the forest had been reduced to nothing but burnt wood, and the smell of smoke crept through the land like the breath of an ancient creature.
The first raindrop fell.
Then the second.
The third.
Then the scene faded to black for a single second—
Before returning with the sound of a raindrop striking the ground—
As if announcing the beginning of a new round of battle.
Kyura charged forward, unleashing an explosive black beam toward Enzo.
Enzo raised his hand, dense flames igniting around it, forming a complete sword of fire. He placed it before his face—the beam split cleanly into two halves, crashing into the ground behind him and creating two massive craters with cracks stretching far beyond.
Enzo didn't wait.
He vanished.
He appeared behind Kyura.
Kyura spun instantly and struck with his fist—
But the air exploded uselessly. Enzo vanished again.
In the next moment, Enzo appeared at Kyura's left side, his flaming blade slicing across Kyura's flank, leaving a clear wound before Enzo retreated lightly.
Enzo smiled faintly:
"What's wrong? You can't keep up with me anymore."
The rain poured violently, but…
Every drop that came near Enzo's body evaporated instantly.
As for Kyura, the raindrops stopped around him, as if an invisible force held them back before they could touch him.
Kyura spoke in a low voice as he pressed his wound:
"This body is starting to collapse… and negative energy is no longer enough."
Enzo replied:
"That's natural. My power has risen beyond what you imagine."
Kyura laughed:
"You're too confident."
Enzo fell silent for a moment, then said:
"I'll tell you a secret… I'm strong, but I'm not the strongest. I've always sought revenge—but I haven't reached my goal yet."
Kyura:
"Revenge? Against whom?"
Enzo said something…
But the roar of thunder completely drowned his words.
Kyura laughed loudly:
"Even I have someone to take revenge on…"
From a distance, Renion's voice came weak from the severity of her injuries:
"I wish… I could help you… but my speed and condition right now… won't allow it."
Enzo:
"I no longer desire this fight… but you're a powerful opponent. I want to know who is stronger between us. Let's end this battle."
Kyura:
"I'll use everything I have left… but don't think this is my full power. My body will collapse before I reach it."
Enzo nodded:
"I understand."
———
(Call of Power)
Kyura placed his hand on his chest and whispered:
"Luna…"
A voice emerged… not human.
Not Kyura's voice.
A voice pulsing from within him, from the core of power itself.
Luna:
"Yes. What do you want?"
Kyura:
"Help me."
Enzo looked around in confusion:
"Who are you talking to?"
Kyura:
"My power… and you won't understand that now."
A black wave erupted from Kyura, surrounding him until it covered half the area around them.
Kyura raised his voice:
"Death Trap — Supreme Form!"
Black veins spread across the ground…
Touching grass → it turned gray, then black.
Touching fire → it extinguished instantly.
Touching trees → their color drained as if life itself were being pulled from within.
The veins moved toward Enzo, but he dodged them easily due to their slow speed.
Enzo charged at Kyura:
"Don't you think they're too slow to attack?"
Kyura:
"I know."
Enzo raised his sword to strike Kyura's chest—
But the blade stopped suddenly, as if trapped in thick air.
Enzo tried to pull it back… it wouldn't move.
Kyura:
"You won't be able to pull it out."
Enzo let go, and the sword vanished instantly.
He raised his hand and formed a new blade.
Before he could attack, the ground shook violently, and a massive chunk of earth rose toward the sky.
Kyura shouted as he lifted his hand:
"Your fighting exhausts me… why do you never surrender?! You're like me… yet you refuse to fall. Why?!"
Enzo, barely holding himself together:
"I love fighting… I love surpassing my limits… I love knowing how far I can go… and revenge… all of that keeps me standing."
Kyura:
"Then… take this!"
Kyura hurled the massive rock toward Enzo.
Enzo stepped his right foot back, his left forward.
Dense red energy surrounded him as he said:
"Flame Sword — Soul Splitter!"
The rock split into two halves…
But the attack didn't end;
The massive fragments rotated around him and struck one after another.
With every impact,
Heavy sounds echoed,
Indicating injuries and shattered bones.
His sword fell.
A fragment struck his head, driving him into the ground like a stake.
Kyura laughed:
"Half your body won't endure this. Now… it's over!"
Enzo's face was covered in dirt and blood streaming from his mouth and nose…
Yet he smiled.
A wide, confident, insane smile.
"I haven't lost yet."
Flames erupted from beneath the ground, a pillar of fire bursting upward and striking Kyura from below with tremendous force, launching him into the sky before he crashed down unsteadily.
Enzo emerged from the crater, standing… with clear difficulty.
But standing nonetheless.
He said:
"Why do you weaken at every stage?"
Kyura gasped for breath:
"The injuries… this body can't endure anymore… there's not much left. I'll use everything I have…"
Then he asked calmly:
"But tell me… how are you standing despite all these injuries? Don't you feel pain?"
Enzo smiled with courage:
"I'm human… of course I feel pain. But if humans don't stand… how will they achieve their dreams? Even if those dreams are selfish… I stand for my goals."
To be continued…
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