The battlefield had fallen silent.
Only the wind remained, whispering across the broken cliffs and scorched earth. The last traces of Kazan's blazing power flickered faintly around him before slowly fading into the air.
Riki stepped closer, still gripping his sword tightly. "Kazan… it's over. You did it."
But Kazan didn't respond.
He stood completely still.
Head lowered.
Fists clenched.
"Kazan?" Riki called again, this time more cautiously.
Something felt wrong.
The air around Kazan suddenly grew heavy—unnaturally heavy. The ground beneath his feet trembled slightly, as if reacting to something unseen.
Then—
A faint, dark flame flickered around Kazan's hand.
Riki's eyes widened. "Wait… that's not your normal fire…"
Kazan slowly raised his head.
His eyes… were no longer the same.
One glowed bright with his usual fiery energy—
But the other…
Was dark.
Cold.
Burning with something unnatural.
"I… I can still feel it…" Kazan whispered.
His voice sounded different.
Deeper.
Layered.
As if something else was speaking with him.
Riki took a step back. "Kazan… what's happening to you?"
Kazan's hand trembled. The flame around it grew unstable, shifting between bright fire and dark energy.
"It won't stop…" he muttered. "The power… it's still growing…"
Then suddenly—
A voice echoed.
Not around them.
Not in the air.
But inside Kazan's mind.
"You are weak…"
Kazan froze.
His eyes widened.
"…Who said that?" he whispered.
Riki looked confused. "Said what?"
The voice came again, clearer this time.
"You cannot control this power… but I can."
Kazan grabbed his head. "No… get out of my head!"
Riki rushed forward. "Kazan! Focus! It's not real!"
But Kazan staggered backward, breathing heavily.
"It's real…" he said. "I can hear it… it's inside me…"
The dark flame surged.
Stronger.
Wilder.
The ground cracked beneath him as energy burst outward in violent waves.
Riki shielded his face. "Kazan, stop! You're losing control!"
Kazan tried to steady himself, but the voice only grew louder.
"Let go… stop resisting…"
"No!" Kazan shouted. "This power is mine!"
"Then prove it."
The dark energy exploded.
A shockwave blasted outward, sending dust and rocks flying in every direction. The air twisted with heat and shadow, forming a chaotic storm around Kazan.
Riki struggled to stand. "Kazan! You have to fight it!"
Kazan's breathing became erratic.
His hands burned.
His chest felt like it was being torn apart from the inside.
"I… can't…" he whispered.
The voice laughed softly.
"Then I will take control."
Suddenly—
Kazan lifted his head.
But this time…
His expression had changed.
No hesitation.
No fear.
Only cold, emotionless focus.
Riki's heart dropped.
"Kazan…?"
In an instant—
Kazan vanished.
Riki's eyes widened. "What—?!"
BOOM!
A powerful удар struck him from the side, sending him crashing across the ground.
Riki coughed, struggling to get up. "Kazan… what are you doing?!"
Kazan stood a few meters away.
Silent.
Dark flames swirling around him.
"I told you…" Kazan said slowly. "This power… needs control."
Riki froze.
That wasn't Kazan talking.
"You're not Kazan…" he said.
Kazan tilted his head slightly.
"Does it matter?"
Riki clenched his sword. "Yeah. It does."
The air grew tense.
"I won't fight you," Riki said firmly. "You're my brother."
For a brief moment—
Kazan's expression flickered.
Like something inside him was struggling.
But then—
The darkness surged again.
"Weakness…" the voice whispered.
Kazan raised his hand.
Dark energy gathered rapidly.
"Then I'll make you fight," he said coldly.
Riki's eyes widened. "Kazan—wait!"
Too late.
A blast of energy shot toward him.
Riki reacted instantly, raising his sword to block. The impact pushed him backward, his feet dragging across the ground.
He gritted his teeth. "I don't want to do this!"
Kazan stepped forward, each step cracking the ground beneath him.
"You don't have a choice."
Another attack.
Faster.
Stronger.
Riki barely dodged, rolling to the side.
His heart pounded.
His mind raced.
That's not my brother…
But deep down—
He knew.
Kazan was still in there.
Somewhere.
"I have to reach him…" Riki whispered.
Kazan raised both hands now, dark flames spiraling wildly.
"This ends now."
Riki tightened his grip on his sword.
"I'm sorry… Kazan."
He dashed forward.
Not to defeat him—
But to save him.
The two brothers clashed.
Fire and darkness collided in a violent explosion of energy. The ground shattered beneath them, and the wind roared like a storm unleashed.
Riki pushed forward, shouting:
"WAKE UP, KAZAN!!"
For a split second—
Everything froze.
Kazan's eyes flickered.
The darkness wavered.
"…Riki…?" a faint voice whispered.
Hope.
Just for a moment.
But then—
The dark voice returned, louder than ever.
"SILENCE."
The energy exploded again.
Riki was thrown backward, crashing hard against the rocks.
He groaned, struggling to stand.
Kazan stood at the center of the storm.
Power surging.
Uncontrolled.
Unstoppable.
And then—
Suddenly—
Kazan's body froze.
His eyes widened.
The flames flickered violently.
"NO…!" he shouted.
His body trembled—
Then collapsed.
The energy vanished instantly.
Silence.
Riki slowly stood, breathing heavily.
"Kazan…?"
He rushed over.
Kazan lay unconscious on the ground.
The dark flames were gone.
Only a faint warmth remained.
Riki dropped to his knees beside him.
"You idiot…" he said softly, relief in his voice. "You almost killed me…"
But his expression quickly turned serious.
Because even though the darkness had disappeared…
He could still feel it.
Lingering.
Waiting.
Watching.
Riki looked toward the distant mountains.
The wind carried a cold whisper.
And far away—
A pair of red eyes opened in the darkness.
"So… it has begun."