The mountain trembled.
The massive shadow creature loomed over Kazan and Riki, its glowing eyes burning like embers in the darkness. Each breath it took sent waves of cold energy through the air.
Riki tightened his grip on his sword. "…This thing is not normal."
Kazan stepped forward, his flame flickering around him—but something was different this time. It wasn't just fire anymore.
It felt… deeper.
"He said it himself," Kazan muttered. "This power… it's not just flames."
The dark man stood behind the creature, calm and unmoving.
"You're finally beginning to understand," he said.
Riki glanced at Kazan. "Understand what?"
Kazan's eyes narrowed.
"This power… it's mixed," he said slowly. "Fire… and something else."
The flame around him shifted slightly—green and gold… with a faint trace of darkness.
The man smiled.
"Correct."
He stepped forward slightly, his cloak moving with the wind.
"Your flame is not ordinary fire. It is an ancient force… one that has existed long before you were born."
Riki frowned. "Then what is it?"
The man's red eyes gleamed.
"It is called… the Eclipse Flame."
The wind howled louder.
Kazan felt the name echo inside him.
Eclipse Flame…
"That flame is born from two forces," the man continued. "Light… and darkness. Creation… and destruction."
Kazan clenched his fists.
"So that's why… I couldn't control it…"
The man nodded slightly.
"You were only using half of it."
Riki's eyes widened. "Half…?"
Kazan looked down at his hands.
The flame flickered again.
Unstable.
"I almost lost myself because of it…" he said quietly.
The man's voice grew colder.
"And you still might."
Suddenly—
The shadow creature roared and lunged forward.
"Watch out!" Riki shouted.
Kazan raised his hand, releasing a burst of flame—but the creature smashed through it, its massive claw slamming into the ground.
BOOM!
The impact sent both brothers flying.
Riki rolled across the ground, coughing. "That thing is too strong!"
Kazan pushed himself up, breathing heavily.
His flame flickered wildly again.
Not now…
"I need to stay in control…" he whispered.
The creature charged again.
Riki jumped in front, blocking with his sword—but the force drove him to one knee.
"Kazan!" he shouted. "I can't hold it for long!"
Kazan froze.
His mind raced.
The flame inside him began to surge again.
Faster.
Stronger.
Unstable.
The dark voice returned.
"You cannot win like this…"
Kazan's eyes widened.
"No… not again…"
"You need me."
Kazan clenched his head. "No… I don't…"
Riki struggled against the creature's strength. "KAZAN!!"
The pressure increased.
Cracks spread across the ground.
Riki's arms shook.
"I'm… losing…!"
Kazan's breathing became uneven.
The flame inside him split—
One side bright.
One side dark.
Fighting.
Tearing at him from within.
"Accept it…" the voice whispered.
"No…" Kazan said.
"Accept… ALL of it."
Kazan froze.
All of it…?
The memory of the inner world flashed in his mind.
The figure of fire and shadow.
"I am you…"
Kazan's eyes slowly steadied.
"…Then I won't reject it."
The energy inside him paused.
Riki looked back. "Kazan…?"
Kazan lowered his hands.
"I've been trying to fight it…" he said. "That's why I keep losing control."
The flame around him changed.
Slower.
Heavier.
More stable.
"But this power… it's both."
The light and darkness began to merge.
Perfectly.
"I don't need to choose…" Kazan said quietly.
"I just need to control it."
Suddenly—
His eyes flared open.
Now glowing with both light and shadow.
"THIS IS MY POWER!"
BOOM!!!
A massive wave of energy exploded from his body, forcing the creature backward.
Riki was pushed away but quickly regained his footing.
"…Kazan?"
The flame around Kazan transformed.
No longer just fire.
It burned with a dual aura—radiant and dark at the same time.
The Eclipse Flame.
The man's smile slowly faded.
"…So you've done it."
Kazan stepped forward.
This time—
Calm.
Controlled.
Unshaken.
"Now… let's finish this."
The creature roared and charged again.
Kazan didn't move.
At the last second—
He raised his hand.
The Eclipse Flame formed into a sharp, concentrated burst.
"Break."
He released it.
A beam of fused light and darkness shot forward, piercing straight through the creature.
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
The massive shadow shattered into fragments of darkness, dissolving into the air.
Riki stared in shock. "He… destroyed it…"
The battlefield went still.
Only the wind remained.
Kazan stood tall, his flame slowly calming.
The man watched him carefully.
"…Impressive," he admitted.
Kazan's eyes locked onto him.
"You're next."
For the first time—
The man did not smile.
Instead, he spoke calmly:
"You are not ready to face me… not yet."
The shadows around him began to swirl.
"But now… I have what I needed."
Kazan frowned. "What do you mean?"
The man's red eyes glowed one last time.
"My name… is Zareth."
The air grew cold.
"And this is only the beginning."
Before they could react—
He vanished into the darkness.
Gone.
Silence fell across the mountains.
Riki exhaled deeply. "…That guy… Zareth…"
Kazan looked at his hands.
The Eclipse Flame flickered softly.
Stable.
But powerful.
"…This power…" he whispered.
Riki walked beside him. "Can you control it?"
Kazan nodded slowly.
"For now…"
But deep inside—
He could still feel it.
Watching.
Waiting.
Growing.
Kazan looked toward the distant horizon.
"This isn't over," he said.
Riki smiled slightly. "Good."
The wind picked up again.
And far beyond the mountains—
Something else began to awaken.