From the eastern gate, Daniel stepped forward—a being bathed in celestial light
from the Other World, his very presence radiating calm yet overwhelming power.
The Light Elf, adorned in a pristine silver-white armor, bore the unmistakable halo of
luminescence that marked his aura. In his hands, he wielded the legendary Luminara (a
legendary blade given to him by King Yama), a blade forged from the essence of a
dying sun, its golden edge humming softly, resonating with the cosmic forces of balance
and order. His emerald-green eyes burned with the intensity of a warrior-king, yet his
stance remained composed, as if he were holding back a storm. He exhaled slowly. He
knew this was coming. He had always known. Because from the western gate, his
opponent emerged. Talus.
The illustrious former-member of the Demon Clan. He strode forward,
towering, wreathed in smoldering red energy, his mere presence warping the very air
around him. Wearing his black-wife beater, his spiky white hair, green eyes, pointy ears,
fangs and sharp claws. His pale white skin, he shook with excitement he had waited for
over 1,000 years to fight the elf. And now... he was finally getting the chance. Talus
cracked his knuckles, his monstrous claws flexing, eager for bloodshed. He grinned,
fangs glinting beneath the flickering lights of the coliseum. "Finally." His voice rumbled
like distant thunder. "No more pretenses, no more delays. You and me, Elf!" Daniel
didn't flinch. "You never could resist a fight, could you?" Talus laughed darkly. "Oh,
but this isn't just a fight, Elf." He spread his arms wide. "This is fate."
The Announcer Drone whirred above them.
"BEGIN!"
Collision of Titans
The moment the words left the drone— The battlefield exploded. BOOM! Talus
moved first— A blur of demonic energy, he lunged forward, his claws raised high,
bringing it down with enough force to shatter mountains. Daniel barely had time to
react. CLANG! He blocked, but the sheer impact sent shockwaves tearing through the
coliseum. The audience screamed, the ground cracked, and the very air distorted from
the clash of holy and unholy energy. Daniel gritted his teeth— And with a powerful
burst of radiant force, he pushed Talus back. The demon skidded across the
battlefield, his boots gouging trenches into the stone. He wiped his mouth. Grinned.
"Not bad." Daniel exhaled. "I won't let you destroy this place." Talus tilted his head,
mockingly. "Oh? And who's going to stop me?" His eyes blazed. "You?"
Celestial Light vs. Infernal Wrath
Talus unleashed hell. With a roar, he slammed his fist into the ground,
summoning tendrils of black fire that erupted like volcanic geysers, consuming
everything in their path. The arena shook violently, massive cracks forming in the
battlefield. Daniel reacted instantly, raising Luminara, channeling his divine energy
into a massive shield of golden light. The flames slammed against it— But Daniel held
firm. Then, in a flash, he counterattacked. A single, precise swing— And a lance of
pure celestial energy shot forward, piercing through the darkness like the judgment of the gods themselves. BOOM! The blast engulfed Talus, sending him crashing through
the arena walls, debris raining down like a meteor shower.
For a moment, silence. Then—
A deep, guttural chuckle. Talus flew through the air straight at Daniel: "Why don't you
stop dicking around and fight me around, skip to that ultimate form your Neon-Zen
State." Daniel shouted: "No, if I fought too recklessly with it, everyone here would be
killed." Talus shouted: "LIAR!" He tried to grab Daniel but Daniel grabbed him first. He
began to shine like the sun with golden sun. "This is my Solar Wave form." Talus began
to drool, "Beautiful, my turn." Talus turned into what looked like himself but made of
Crystal. When he did this portals actually began to crack throughout reality. Daniel
shouted: "TALUS STOP, THIS IS GETTING OUT OF HAND!" Talus laughed: "Why
don't you stop me!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!" Talus began to unleash a barrage
of attacks at Talus, in the face, in the chest, eventually Talus was sent flying back; he did
several back flips with his hands and feet until he used his hands to push him into the sky.
Talus floated above the arena as he wiped the blood from his lower lip. "Much
better, but I think I can push you just a bit further." Daniel was angry at this point, "Talus
knock it off this isn't funny at all." Talus screamed: "Let's see if you'll push yourself
further if these weaklings that call you hero have their lives put in danger!!" On the
ground Hermes was concerned: "He's joking right?!" Ungar for his part was terrified:
"NO! He's been waiting for this fight for 1,000, NO, 10,000 years. his entire life. Nothing
will stop him." Daniel screamed: "TALUS! This isn't like you!! You wouldn't hurt
innocent people!! You've been through too much!! You're an uncle in two families,
you've saved the world twice!! You wouldn't do this!!" Talus began to laugh hysterically:
"Show's what you know!! These mortals are nothing to me, I'm the superior life form if I
so wished I can wipe them all out. And I will, unless you stop me!!" Daniel screamed:
"DON'T DO IT!!!!!" Talus hissed with sick pleasure: "THEY WILL DIE!!" Talus began
to unleash an incredible amount of aura eventually shooting it downwards, Download
shot a beam of aura upwards eventually pushing back Talus's aura.
Talus screamed: "IMPOSSIBLE! IT'S UNBELIEVABLE!!" The attack exploded
in Talus's face. When the dust cleared Talus was there laughing. "For a moment, I
thought I was going to die, finally, what a rush!!" Talus slowly descended back to the
arena. The announcer shouted: "Unbelievable!! Talus seemed to have nearly destroyed
the entire arena, I really hope that was a trick. But in any event he took a more powerful
attack head on and he doesn't have a scratch on him. What kind of training has this guy
gone through?" Talus giggled.
Daniel clenched his fists. The air around him shimmered with raw celestial energy,
his aura pulsating like a dying star on the verge of supernova. "Talus, listen to me! This
isn't you! You've fought for the weak, protected those who couldn't protect themselves!
You're better than this!" Talus tilted his head, his emerald eyes burning with madness.
"And what has it gotten me? Eons of loneliness. Isolation. I have always been feared,
never accepted. Why should I hold myself back? Why should I let these insects live when
I have the power to fight stronger and stronger gods. I have no interest in ruling over
anyone, I simply want to battle. You weaklings tried to make me soft like you. And it
almost worked, but you'll never cage me!! I'm a demon, AND I ONLY LIVE FOR
BATTLE!!" Daniel narrowed his eyes. "Because power without restraint is destruction,
not strength." Talus let out a guttural laugh, his crystalline form glowing brighter. "Then
let's see if you can stop me, old friend." With a crack of thunder, Talus vanished from
sight. Before Daniel could react, a devastating fist slammed into his ribs, sending him
flying into the remains of the coliseum wall. The impact shattered stone like brittle glass,
sending shockwaves across the battlefield.
Daniel grunted, forcing himself back up as Talus materialized in front of him,
already throwing another strike. Clang! Daniel barely managed to block with Luminara,
the force of the attack sending sparks of light and dark energy cascading through the air.
Talus grinned. "You're getting slow." Daniel exhaled. "You're getting desperate." Talus
scowled and unleashed a barrage of strikes, each impact sending seismic ripples
through the battlefield. Daniel countered, weaving between the onslaught, deflecting and
dodging, his movements like a dance of light against the encroaching darkness. The two
warriors moved faster than the eye could follow, their battle shaking the heavens. Above
them, the sky cracked, celestial and infernal forces clashing in the atmosphere. Hermes,
still on the ground, gasped. "This is insane! They're going to tear this planet apart!"
Ungar clenched his fists. "No... Daniel will stop him. He has to." Talus suddenly broke
away, ascending high above the ruins of the coliseum. He spread his arms wide, the air
distorting around him as crimson sigils appeared behind his back, glowing with
malevolent energy. Daniel's eyes widened. "No, he wouldn't—" Talus roared, his voice
shaking the very fabric of reality. "ENDLESS NIGHTFALL!" A swirling vortex of
black energy erupted from his core, expanding outward in a cataclysmic wave of
destruction. The ground split apart, entire sections of the coliseum disintegrating into
nothingness. The sky darkened, stars being consumed by the sheer power of the attack.
Daniel had seconds to react. He tightened his grip on Luminara and closed his eyes. "If I
hold back any longer, there won't be a world left to save." He took a deep breath. His
form flickered—then exploded into golden light. "Neon-Zen State: Activated."
Talus' eyes widened as Daniel reappeared in front of him, moving faster than he
could comprehend. Before he could react— BOOM! A single strike from Luminara sent
Talus hurtling down like a meteor, crashing into the ruins below. The ground collapse
inward, forming a massive crater where he landed. Silence. Smoke. Then—laughter.
Talus stood up, bruised, battered, but grinning. "Now that's more like it." He cracked his
neck. "I knew you had it in you." Daniel hovered above, his golden aura burning like a
second sun. "I won't let you destroy this world, Talus. Even if I have to stop you
myself." Talus' grin widened. "Then stop holding back and finish me." Talus exploded
with power, "I don't care about political power, or friends, or any of that nonsense, I only
wish to push past my own limits in this meaningless worlds, and if these insects die
because of my insatiable drive for fighting power, so be it!! Behold my greatest form!!"
Talus transformed into what looked like a jack-o-lantern face and made of fire. Behold
my ultimate form: "NIGHTMARE TALUS!!" Talus and Daniel teleported back into the
arena. The crowd went wild. "Folks this is an incredible bout!! These two titans will
certainly fill an incredible chapter in the history of martial arts."
The coliseum trembled as Nightmare Talus took a step forward, the very air
igniting with his presence. His blazing jack-o'-lantern face twisted into a ghastly grin,
flames licking at the edges of his mouth like a living inferno. His body radiated an
overwhelming heat, distorting reality itself as his aura pulsated like an unstable star on
the verge of collapse. Daniel narrowed his eyes, golden energy coalescing around his
form, the celestial radiance of the Neon-Zen State amplifying with each pulse of his
heart. He knew this was it—the moment that would decide everything. Talus cackled, his
voice a chorus of infernal wails. "Come on, Daniel! Show me the real power of the
so-called Light Elves! Show me what made you the Gate-Keeper!" Daniel exhaled. No
more words. With a single movement, he vanished. BOOM! Talus barely had time to
react before Daniel reappeared in front of him, fist glowing with cosmic light. The impact
was devastating, sending a golden shockwave through the entire coliseum. The crowd
gasped as Talus rocketed back, flipping midair and skidding to a halt with sheer force, his
claws gouging trenches into the stone. For a moment, silence. Then—laughter. Talus
wiped the molten blood dripping from his mouth, eyes burning with a crazed euphoria.
"Now THAT'S what I've been waiting for!" He raised his hands, and the sky above split
apart, revealing an endless void swirling with unearthly energies. Reality groaned in
protest as dozens—no, hundreds—of rifts began to form, spewing out nightmarish
creatures born from Talus' unhinged power. The ground quaked, the arena shifting into an
apocalyptic battlefield. Daniel's expression darkened. "You've gone mad." "Mad?" Talus
threw his head back and laughed. "This is liberation!" With a single snap of his fingers,
the creatures lunged toward the spectators, their grotesque forms shrieking in delight.
Daniel reacted instantly. BOOM! A radiant pulse erupted from his body, erasing dozens
of the monstrosities in an instant. He blurred forward, cutting through more with precise
strikes from Luminara, golden arcs of energy severing limbs and vaporizing shadows.
But for every one he destroyed, more emerged from the endless rifts.
Talus grinned, tilting his head. "What's wrong, Daniel? Getting distracted?" Daniel
barely had time to react before Talus was upon him. The demon's fist, wreathed in pure
nightmare fire, slammed into Daniel's side, sending him crashing into the ground with
explosive force. The coliseum floor cratered beneath the impact. Talus descended,
landing lightly, his grin widening. "You should worry less about these insects and more
about yourself." Daniel coughed, blood staining his lips. He clenched his fists, golden
light crackling around him. He could feel the weight of the battle pressing down on
him—Talus' power had reached a level that threatened the very fabric of reality itself.
There was no other choice. He closed his eyes. I didn't want to do this... Then, his aura
shifted. The sun itself seemed to dim as Daniel's energy condensed into something purer,
more refined. His golden glow took on a deeper hue, his form radiating an overwhelming
presence—serene, absolute, divine. Luminara hummed in his grasp, its blade
transforming, elongating, pulsing with an ancient, celestial power. Talus' expression
faltered for the first time. "What... what is this?" Daniel opened his eyes, and for a
moment, the universe itself seemed to hold its breath. His voice, steady, unyielding, rang
through the battlefield: "Solar Zenith." BOOM.
The explosion of power that followed shattered the remains of the coliseum, the sheer
force sending shockwaves across the battlefield. The sky burned with blinding light,
forcing even the spectators to shield their eyes.
Talus barely had time to brace before Daniel was upon him, faster than the speed
of thought. A single strike—pure, absolute, unrelenting—crashed into Talus' chest,
sending him hurtling across the battlefield. Talus slammed into the distant ruins of the
arena, the impact causing an entire section of the coliseum to collapse. Smoke and debris
filled the air. The audience held their breath. For a long, agonizing moment, nothing
stirred. Then— A deep, low chuckle. From within the rubble, Talus emerged, his form
flickering, his flames dimming—but his grin never fading. His breathing was ragged, his
body covered in cracks of molten energy. "...Hah..." He wiped the blood from his chin,
staring at Daniel with wild, frenzied eyes. "That... was incredible." Daniel remained
silent, hovering in the air like a celestial deity. His energy remained steady, unwavering.
Talus took a step forward. Then another. His body trembled, the damage taking its toll.
Yet his eyes burned with something almost... grateful. "You..." His voice was softer now, almost reflective.
"You really are... something else, Daniel." Daniel tightened his grip on
Luminara, but he didn't attack. "It's over, Talus." For the first time, Talus hesitated. He
looked at his own hands, the cracks in his form, the remnants of his nightmare energy
flickering like dying embers. He let out a slow breath. "...Maybe it is." The air grew still.
The coliseum, though battered and broken, remained intact. The spectators, awestruck
and shaken, whispered amongst themselves. Talus grinned one last time. "Heh. Looks
like you win... hero, you may take my life." With that, his body gave out and reverted to
his previous form. His flames extinguished, his monstrous form receding, and he
collapsed to his knees, exhausted, defeated. Daniel exhaled, lowering Luminara. The
battle was over. The Announcer Drone, after a long pause, finally spoke:
"THE WINNER—DANIEL!!"
On the ground Talus told Daniel: "Alright Daniel, strike me down. Kill me."
Daniel replied: "The announcer said I won, so I guess it's over. I don't have to kill you."
Talus began to slowly panic: "No you have to put me down, if you don't the battle will
have no meaning." Daniel replied: "Don't be ridiculous, I gave you the fight, it's over."
Talus exploded with anger, flames shot up like pillars to the heavens. "HOW DARE
YOU!!!!! You promised me when we first met that we were going to fight to the death!!
You owe me that Daniel!!" Daniel flatly refused. The announcer bot shouted: "Guys it's
time for the next round." But Talus shouted back, "NO! The match isn't over until one of
us is dead. So get lost!!" The crowd started to boo Talus. Talus chuckled, "Fine... I think
I can persuade you." Talus smirked and held his hand off to the side shooting a blast of
energy in his Nightmare form at the crowd, people screamed in agony as hundreds of
people were murdered in an instant. This filled Daniel with intense anger. "Talus stop
right now!! You're acting like an animal!!" Talus chuckled: "Oh am I, well why don't
you put me out of my misery then." Talus put his palm forward shooting another energy
blast at the crowd Daniel tried to block it but it flew back towards the arena. Qayyim, and
the children survived as well as all of their friends who fly off with Qayyim brushing a
few tears from her cheeks, needless to say though many innocents though.
The sky above them seemed to crack and tremble with the weight of their rage.
Talus hovered, his Nightmare form pulsing with dark energy, his fiery grin widening as
he gestured for Daniel to follow. The battlefield was scarred, the once-grand coliseum
now little more than a ruin, and the distant screams of those who had perished echoed in
the air. Daniel's chest heaved with controlled fury, his golden aura flickering, but his
resolve was unshaken. "Let's finish this," Daniel said, his voice cold and unwavering.
"Somewhere away from the innocent." Talus nodded, and with a snap of his fingers, the
very fabric of reality shifted. The ground beneath them shattered, sending massive chunks
of earth plummeting into the abyss below. Daniel followed, his wings of light spreading
wide as he shot upwards, the blinding glow of his aura illuminating the darkness around
them. They ascended into the sky, higher than the clouds, higher than any mortal had ever
flown. The world below became a distant memory, nothing more than a blur of motion.
They hovered in the void, an empty, shattered landscape with no one but the two of them.
Daniel's voice was filled with quiet intensity. "This is where it ends, Talus. No more
destruction. No more senseless violence." Talus cackled, his voice echoing across the
expanse. "Violence is all I know, Daniel. You think this is just about destruction? This is
about proving I can push past every limit or die trying! To finally test the boundaries of
my power... You can't stop me now!"
Daniel's eyes flashed with a momentary sadness. "It's not about limits, Talus. It's
about understanding them." The two locked eyes for a split second—one filled with the
unyielding will to end the battle, the other burning with the insatiable thirst for strength.
And then, as if on cue, both of them lunged forward, a blinding clash of light and shadow,
the forces of their powers colliding in an explosion of cosmic magnitude. The sound of
their impact shook the very stars above, as if the universe itself could not bear witness to
such a cataclysmic force. Daniel's blade Luminara met Talus' nightmare energy, both
powers pushing against each other, an eternal struggle between light and dark. The
energy created a rift, a tear in reality, swirling with chaotic energy. Daniel grunted, his
body pushed to the limit as Talus' energy flared brighter. His muscles strained, his skin
burning under the pressure, but he refused to yield. He knew that if he lost control here,
even for a moment, the world would be lost. His thoughts drifted back to everything he
was fighting for—the innocent lives, the future, the hope that still burned within the
hearts of the people. Talus sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "You're weak, Daniel.
I've seen your strength, and I know you're still holding back. You could never go as far
as I can. That's why you'll always be inferior." "Then I'll prove you wrong," Daniel
growled, summoning the last reserves of his divine energy. "Solar Zenith: Final
Judgment!" In that instant, his form exploded with radiant, otherworldly energy,
enveloping the battlefield in a flash so intense that even Talus had to shield his eyes. The
very air vibrated with the sheer power of the blast.
Talus was still standing after that, "Have a taste of some real power," before he
could say anything a giant worm burrowed its way out of the ground. They didn't know it
yet but this was the Nyxoth, and it was being piloted by Abraxtos and the warlock
Enoch.