The wind blew softly across the shattered ground, carrying the faint smell of burnt stone. Everything was quiet now… too quiet.
Riki knelt beside Kazan's unmoving body, his chest rising and falling heavily. Sweat dripped down his face, his hands trembling slightly from the battle.
"Kazan…" he said softly, shaking his shoulder. "Wake up."
No response.
Riki clenched his teeth. "Don't do this… not now."
He placed his ear close to Kazan's chest.
A heartbeat.
Slow… but steady.
Relief washed over him.
"Good… you're still alive," he whispered.
But even as he said those words, a strange feeling crept into his mind. That darkness from before—it wasn't gone. It hadn't disappeared.
It was still there.
Waiting.
Watching.
Riki slowly sat back, his eyes narrowing. "That thing inside you…" he muttered. "What are you hiding, Kazan?"
The memory of the fight replayed in his mind.
Kazan's cold eyes.
That voice.
That power.
"That wasn't you…" Riki said quietly. "It couldn't have been."
He looked down at his brother again, his expression softening.
"…Right?"
The wind suddenly shifted.
A cold gust swept across the battlefield.
Riki's body tensed instantly.
He stood up, grabbing his sword.
"…We're not alone."
From the shadows between the rocks, something moved.
Slowly.
Silently.
Then—
A figure stepped forward.
Tall.
Cloaked.
Eyes glowing red.
Riki's grip tightened. "You…"
The dark man smiled faintly. "Impressive. I didn't expect the Guardian to collapse so soon."
Riki stepped in front of Kazan. "Stay back."
The man tilted his head slightly. "Protecting him? Even after he nearly killed you?"
Riki didn't hesitate. "He's my brother."
The man chuckled softly. "How… predictable."
Riki's eyes burned with determination. "What do you want?"
The man's gaze shifted to Kazan. "The power inside him… it's awakening faster than I thought."
Riki frowned. "You know about it."
"Of course," the man replied. "That power… is not meant for someone like him."
Riki raised his sword. "Then I'll stop you from taking it."
The man's smile widened.
"You?"
In an instant—
He vanished.
Riki's eyes widened. "Too fast—!"
BOOM!
A powerful удар slammed into him, sending him crashing backward across the ground.
Pain shot through his body as he struggled to stand.
"Is that all?" the man's voice echoed.
Riki wiped blood from his lip. "I'm… not done yet."
The man appeared in front of him, calm and untouched. "You are weaker than your brother. You cannot protect him."
Riki gritted his teeth. "Maybe… but I don't need to be stronger than him."
He tightened his grip on his sword.
"I just need to stand."
The man's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Oh?"
Riki charged forward.
His movements were sharp, focused, determined. Each swing of his sword carried everything he had—fear, anger, hope.
The man blocked effortlessly.
But something was different.
Riki wasn't hesitating.
He wasn't afraid.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Steel met shadow again and again.
The ground cracked beneath their feet as the battle intensified.
"You fight well," the man admitted. "But it's meaningless."
Dark energy surged around him.
With a single motion—
He knocked Riki's sword aside and struck him hard in the chest.
Riki was sent flying, crashing near Kazan's body.
He groaned, struggling to move.
His vision blurred.
"…I can't lose…" he whispered.
Behind him, Kazan remained unconscious.
Defenseless.
Riki clenched his fists.
"I have to protect him…"
He forced himself to stand again.
The man watched silently.
"You still rise?" he said. "Interesting."
Riki staggered forward, breathing heavily. "I told you… I won't fall."
For a brief moment—
The man's expression changed.
Not surprise.
But… curiosity.
"You remind me of someone," he said quietly.
Riki didn't respond.
He charged again.
This time, faster.
Stronger.
More determined than before.
Their clash shook the ground once more, energy bursting outward in violent waves.
Riki pushed forward with everything he had.
But the gap between them was still too great.
The man raised his hand.
Darkness gathered rapidly.
"This ends now."
Riki froze.
He had no strength left to dodge.
No strength left to fight.
He closed his eyes.
"…Kazan."
The attack came.
But—
It never landed.
A sudden burst of energy exploded between them.
Bright.
Fierce.
Burning.
The man stepped back slightly.
"…What?"
Riki opened his eyes.
Green fire flickered in front of him.
He turned slowly.
"Kazan…?"
Kazan was still on the ground—
But his body was glowing faintly.
The flame around him pulsed weakly, but steadily.
His fingers twitched.
His eyes… slowly opened.
"Kazan!" Riki shouted.
Kazan's vision was blurred.
His body felt heavy.
But he could hear something.
A voice.
Not the dark one.
This one was… different.
Calm.
Ancient.
"You must rise… Guardian…"
Kazan's eyes sharpened.
The warmth inside him returned.
Steady.
Controlled.
"…Riki…" he whispered.
Riki's face lit up with relief. "You're awake!"
The dark man watched closely.
"So… he returns."
Kazan slowly pushed himself up, his body trembling but determined.
This time—
The darkness wasn't controlling him.
The flame around him burned steady.
"I won't… lose again…" he said quietly.
The man smiled.
"Good."
The air grew tense.
The battle wasn't over.
It was just beginning.