The wind roared across the mountains, carrying dust and fragments of shattered rock into the air. The tension between the three figures was suffocating.
Kazan stood still, his eyes sharper than before. The flame around him burned steadily—no longer wild, no longer out of control.
Riki tightened his grip on his sword beside him. "Kazan… are you okay?"
Kazan nodded slowly. "Yeah… this time, I understand it."
Across from them, the dark man watched in silence.
Then—
He smiled.
"So… you faced it," he said. "And yet, you still stand."
Kazan stepped forward. "I told you. I'm not afraid of this power anymore."
The man's red eyes glowed brighter.
"Good," he said quietly. "Because fear would only make this more boring."
Suddenly—
Dark energy exploded from his body.
BOOM!
The ground beneath him cracked as shadows surged outward like a storm. The sky dimmed, as if the light itself was being swallowed.
Riki raised his sword instantly. "Here he comes!"
In a flash—
The man vanished.
Kazan's eyes widened. "Too fast—!"
A удар struck from above.
Kazan barely reacted in time, raising his arm as flames burst outward, blocking the attack. The impact forced him backward, his feet digging into the ground.
The man reappeared in front of him.
"Better," he said. "But not enough."
He swung again—
But this time—
Riki intercepted.
CLANG!
Steel met darkness.
Riki stood firm, his blade holding the attack in place.
"You're not fighting him alone," Riki said.
The man's eyes shifted slightly.
"…So the weaker one steps forward."
Riki smirked faintly. "Maybe. But I'm not useless."
He pushed forward, forcing the man back a step.
Kazan's eyes widened slightly.
Riki…
The man tilted his head.
"Interesting."
Then—
He moved.
Faster than before.
His attacks came like a storm—sharp, relentless, overwhelming.
Riki blocked.
Dodged.
Countered.
Each movement precise.
Each step calculated.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Sparks flew as their clash echoed across the mountains.
Riki's breathing grew heavier, but his eyes remained focused.
"I won't let you pass," he said.
The man suddenly stopped.
For a brief moment—
Everything went still.
Then—
A massive surge of dark energy erupted.
Riki's eyes widened. "Not good—!"
BOOM!
The explosion sent him flying across the battlefield.
"RIKI!" Kazan shouted.
Riki hit the ground hard, sliding across the broken rock.
He struggled to stand, his body shaking.
"…I'm okay," he muttered, though his voice was strained.
The man stepped forward slowly.
"You fight well," he said. "But effort alone cannot close the gap between us."
Kazan stepped in front of Riki.
"That's enough."
The flame around him flared brighter.
"I'll take it from here."
The man smiled.
"Yes… show me."
Kazan took a deep breath.
The warmth inside him pulsed steadily.
Controlled.
Focused.
This time—
He moved first.
In an instant—
He dashed forward, flames trailing behind him like a blazing comet.
The man's eyes narrowed.
Their attacks collided.
Fire and darkness clashed violently, sending shockwaves through the air.
Kazan pushed forward, his movements sharper than before.
No hesitation.
No fear.
Each strike carried precision.
Each burst of flame cut through the shadows.
The man blocked, but this time—
He was being pushed back.
"…So you've improved," he admitted.
Kazan's eyes burned with determination.
"I told you. This power is mine."
He raised his hand—
A concentrated flame formed.
Smaller.
Denser.
Stronger.
"Then let's see if you can handle this!"
He thrust it forward.
A beam of blazing energy shot out, tearing through the ground as it rushed toward the enemy.
The man raised both hands—
Darkness surged to meet it.
The two forces collided—
BOOM!!!
A massive explosion shook the mountains.
Dust and debris filled the air.
For a moment—
Nothing could be seen.
Riki shielded his eyes. "Kazan…!"
The smoke slowly cleared.
Both figures stood facing each other.
Unmoving.
Then—
The man chuckled.
"…Very impressive."
Kazan's expression hardened.
"But still not enough," the man continued.
Suddenly—
The darkness around him changed.
It grew heavier.
Denser.
More dangerous.
Kazan felt it immediately.
"This power… it's different…" he whispered.
Riki's eyes widened. "Kazan… be careful!"
The man's voice dropped.
"You are not the only one who holds something… special."
He raised his hand.
The shadows twisted violently.
Then—
They took shape.
A massive form rose behind him—
Dark.
Towering.
Alive.
Kazan's eyes widened.
"What… is that?"
The man smiled coldly.
"This… is my power."
The shadow creature roared, its glowing eyes locking onto Kazan and Riki.
The ground trembled beneath its weight.
Riki stepped back slightly. "…You've got to be kidding me."
Kazan clenched his fists.
His flame flared again.
Stronger.
Brighter.
"Then I'll destroy it," he said.
The man laughed.
"Try."
The creature lunged.
Faster than something that size should move.
Kazan reacted instantly, releasing a burst of flame to block—
But the impact still sent him sliding backward.
"So strong…" he muttered.
Riki ran to his side. "We fight together."
Kazan nodded.
"Together."
The creature roared again, preparing another attack.
The man watched calmly from behind it.
"This is where it ends," he said.
Kazan's flame surged higher.
Riki raised his sword.
The wind howled.
The mountains shook.
And just as the creature struck—
A sudden pulse of energy came from deep within Kazan.
Stronger than before.
Different.
Evolving.
Kazan's eyes widened.
"This feeling…!"
The flame around him began to change.
The next awakening had begun.