Jose stood before me, his tattoos glowing golden against his skin like ancient symbols of power. His eyes burned with an otherworldly intensity, and his aura was suffocating, pressing down on me with the weight of a mountain. Emilia looked at me with worry, her lips trembling.
"Go," I said firmly, locking eyes with her. "Get to the path. I'll hold him off."
"But..."
"Just go! I'll catch up!"
She hesitated but finally nodded, her trust in me unspoken but absolute. She turned and sprinted toward the path, her figure disappearing into the shadowed corridor.
Now, it was just Jose and me.
He cracked his neck, a grim smirk tugging at his lips. "You shouldn't have sent her away, Jiro. Now you're alone."
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. The Phantom Prowl Steps technique coursed through my mind, a movement style I'd honed in secret. I adjusted my stance, readying myself for the battle to come. "You're not the only one hiding their strength, Jose."
The Clash of Power
Jose was the first to move, his speed blinding as he closed the distance between us. His fist shot out like a bullet, but I sidestepped using Phantom Prowl Steps, his strike grazing my shoulder. I retaliated with a quick jab to his ribs, my knuckles igniting with flame as I activated my Flame Fist technique. The flames licked at his clothes but left no visible damage, as though his aura was shielding him.
"Nice try," he taunted, spinning and launching a roundhouse kick aimed at my head.
I ducked just in time, the air around his kick whistling with raw force. Using the momentum from my dodge, I struck upward with a flaming uppercut, aiming for his jaw. He leaned back just enough to avoid the hit and countered with a palm strike to my chest that sent me skidding across the stone floor.
My back hit the wall, and I coughed, tasting blood. "That's... new," I muttered, wiping my mouth.
Jose's tattoos flared brighter, and I could feel his energy surging. "I've been holding back for too long," he said, his voice layered with the spirit's echo. "You have no idea what I'm capable of."
He charged again, his fists a blur. I barely managed to block his strikes, each one reverberating through my arms like hammer blows. He was stronger than before much stronger and it was taking everything I had to keep up.
Jiro's Counterattack
I couldn't win this fight head-on. I needed to outmaneuver him, to use my techniques strategically. With that thought, I activated Phantom Prowl Steps, my movements becoming fluid and unpredictable.
I darted to his left, feinting an attack before vanishing to his right. Jose's eyes darted around, trying to track me, but my technique was too erratic. I saw an opening and struck, my Flame Fist colliding with his side. This time, the fire broke through his aura, and he staggered back, clutching his ribs.
"Gotcha," I said, a smirk tugging at my lips.
But Jose wasn't done. He roared, his tattoos glowing so brightly they illuminated the entire corridor. His speed and strength doubled, and he lashed out with a fury I hadn't seen before.
As Jose's aura flared brighter, I knew I needed to pull out everything I had. My body ached, every muscle screaming for rest, but my mind was sharp. The fight wasn't just about strength and it was about strategy and timing.
I steadied myself, drawing upon the Phantom Prowl Steps technique to lighten my stance. My movements became fluid, unpredictable, as if I were a shadow slipping between cracks of light. At the same time, I summoned the energy for Flame Fist, channeling it into both my hands.
But this time, I pushed the combination further.
Using the quick, evasive movements of Phantom Prowl Steps, I began circling Jose at an incredible speed, creating afterimages that danced like flickering flames. The heat from my fists built up as I wove intricate patterns in the air, each step adding momentum. My fists ignited into dark, swirling flames embers crackling with a sinister intensity as they combined with the shadows created by my rapid movements.
The result was the Shadow Flame Spiral, a deadly cyclone of dark fire and shadows spinning around me, distorting the air with heatwaves and flashes of light.
Jose's eyes narrowed as he watched the flames spiral around me. "Impressive," he muttered, his voice layered with the spirit's echo. "But it won't save you."
He charged, his golden tattoos glowing even brighter as he unleashed a flurry of strikes aimed at disrupting my spiral. I ducked, sidestepped, and twisted, each movement seamlessly integrated into the spiral's flow. His punches missed by mere inches, the air around them vibrating with raw power.
As he overextended on a punch, I seized the opportunity. With the momentum I'd built, I dashed in close, delivering a powerful Flame Fist straight to his ribs. The impact sent a shockwave through the corridor, and Jose staggered back, clutching his side.
But he recovered quickly, his aura flaring again as he lunged at me. I spun mid-step, using the spiral's momentum to avoid his strike, and delivered a low kick to his knee. He grunted, his balance momentarily disrupted.
Taking advantage, I flipped backward, releasing a burst of dark flames toward him. The fire swirled and converged, engulfing him in the Shadow Flame Spiral.
The flames licked at Jose, but his golden tattoos pulsed with energy, creating a shield that pushed back against the fire. With a roar, he broke free, his aura blasting outward and dispersing the flames.
"You'll have to do better than that!" he shouted, his voice carrying the spirit's unnatural resonance.
He dashed toward me, faster than before, his movements almost a blur. His punches and kicks came in rapid succession, each one carrying enough force to shatter stone. I weaved and dodged, using Phantom Prowl Steps to stay just out of reach.
But he was adapting, anticipating my moves. A sudden punch caught me in the side, sending me tumbling across the floor. I gasped for air, clutching my ribs as I scrambled to my feet.
I had to end this quickly. The Shadow Flame Spiral wasn't enough to overpower him outright, but perhaps it could create an opening.
"Time for round two," I muttered, reigniting the flames around my fists.
I launched myself forward, feinting to the left before spinning to the right. Jose followed my movements, his glowing eyes tracking me with unnerving precision. But as he prepared to counter, I abruptly reversed direction, my Phantom Prowl Steps allowing me to pivot mid-stride.
The sudden change caught him off guard, and I delivered a powerful uppercut with my Flame Fist, the dark flames erupting on impact. He staggered back, his tattoos dimming slightly.
Before he could recover, I activated the full power of the Shadow Flame Spiral. The vortex of fire and shadows surrounded me once again, and I directed it all toward Jose. The flames coiled and struck like serpents, each wave of fire aimed at breaking through his defenses.
Jose's tattoos flared brighter than ever, and he let out a guttural roar as he pushed back against the flames. His strength was overwhelming, and I knew I couldn't hold him off much longer.
In that moment, I turned toward the path Emilia had taken and shouted, "Go! I'll handle this!"
The golden glow from his tattoos pulsed with fury, and he broke through the spiral, charging at me with devastating force. I braced myself, dodging his strike at the last second and countering with a spinning kick infused with dark flames.
The impact sent him reeling, but he recovered almost instantly, his strength seemingly limitless.
I clenched my fists, the flames around them flickering weakly. I was running out of energy, but I couldn't give up. Not yet.
As Jose advanced again, his tattoos glowing brighter than ever, I prepared myself for one final stand. The corridor shook with the force of our battle, the air thick with heat and energy.
And I wasn't giving up. Not yet.
Jose's aura flared again, and I knew I couldn't keep this up much longer. My body was at its limit, and I was out of techniques to use. But I couldn't let him win. Not here, not now.
I glanced toward the path Emilia had taken, hoping she was far enough away to be safe. Then, an idea struck me, a desperate and reckless idea.
I took a deep breath and steadied my stance. "Come on, Jose," I said, my voice steady despite the exhaustion. "Let's finish this."
He charged at me, his fists glowing with golden light. I waited until the last second, then sidestepped using Phantom Prowl Steps. As he passed, I grabbed his arm and redirected his momentum, slamming him into the ground.
He roared in frustration, his tattoos flaring brighter than ever. But before he could get up, I planted my foot on his chest and pressed the pendant against his forehead.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the glow of his tattoos began to dim, and his struggles weakened. I could feel the spirit's hold loosening, but it wasn't gone yet.
"Fight it, Jose," I said through gritted teeth. "I know you're in there. Don't let it win."
His eyes flickered, the golden light fading slightly. But the spirit wasn't giving up. It surged back with renewed strength, and Jose's tattoos flared again, forcing me back.
As I stumbled, I saw him rise, his body still under the spirit's control. My plan hadn't worked but I wasn't giving up. Not yet.
"Emilia," I whispered under my breath, hoping she was far enough ahead to find a way to end this. "I'm counting on you."
Jose stood before me, his aura blazing and his tattoos glowing like molten gold. The fight wasn't over and I was prepared to give it everything I had.
The memory of the duwende's cryptic words about the white liquid flickered in my mind like a beacon in the chaos. "This will be useful in the next trial." I immediately leaned toward Emilia, whispering frantically, "Use it now! Pour it on him before it's too late!"
Emilia hesitated for only a moment before her resolve hardened. She retrieved the small vial of shimmering liquid from her pouch. The possessed Jose was closing in, his steps deliberate, the sharp edge of the bolo gleaming ominously in the flickering torchlight. His malicious grin stretched unnaturally wide, and his voice, layered with the spirit's echo, dripped with menace.
"You think this little trick will save you?" he sneered, raising the bolo for the fatal strike.
Just as he lunged forward, Emilia, with a shout of desperation, splashed the contents of the vial onto him. The liquid spread across Jose's skin in an instant, glowing faintly before turning a blinding white.
Jose froze mid-strike, his entire body convulsing as an otherworldly scream tore through the air. His voice, distorted and agonized, echoed through the corridor as smoke began to rise from his body. The black, tar-like essence of the ghost possessing him surged outward, writhing and twisting as if fighting against an invisible force.
"No!" the ghost wailed, its shape momentarily visible a dark, grotesque shadow with burning red eyes. It clawed at the air, its form unraveling as it was forcefully expelled.
Jose collapsed to the ground, lifelessly crumpling like a puppet with its strings cut.
I hesitated, my body tense as I inched closer. "Is it gone?" I asked, my voice trembling.
But the spirit wasn't entirely gone. It lingered for a moment, a swirling black cloud of malevolence, before vanishing into the shadows. Unlike the faint, pale spirits floating around us, this one exuded a sinister aura that sent a chill down my spine.
Jose remained unconscious, his breathing shallow but steady. I crouched next to him, my own body weak from the fight. The adrenaline that had kept me moving drained away, leaving me lightheaded. Before I could check him for injuries, a wave of exhaustion crashed over me, and everything went black.
When I awoke, the first thing I noticed was the dim glow of torches, their flickering light casting eerie shadows across the stone walls. My body felt like lead, and every movement was a struggle.
Emilia sat nearby, her expression a mix of relief and concern. "You're awake," she said softly, handing me a small canteen of water.
"Jose?" I croaked, my throat dry.
She gestured to the other side of the room, where Jose lay resting. "He's alive. Still out cold, but his breathing's better. Whatever that liquid was, it saved him—and us."
I nodded weakly, grateful for the momentary reprieve.
The pale, floating ghosts that had been warning us earlier still lingered in the air, their translucent forms flickering like candle flames. Unlike the malevolent spirit that had possessed Jose, these ghosts seemed calm, almost gentle.
"They've been trying to tell us something," Emilia said, her voice hushed. "After you and Jose collapsed, they started pointing toward that corner."
She gestured to a shadowed alcove at the edge of the room. A faint glimmer of light was visible, as though something was hidden there.
Emilia led me to the alcove, where we found a small, secluded space shielded from the main corridor. It was dimly lit by bioluminescent moss growing along the walls, casting a soothing green glow.
"This feels…safe," she murmured, her gaze darting around the room.
I nodded, though I couldn't shake the eerie feeling that lingered in the air. "It's the best place we've got for now."
With great effort, we moved Jose into the alcove, laying him down on a makeshift bed of soft moss. Emilia and I took turns keeping watch, our eyes occasionally drawn to the ghosts that hovered just beyond the alcove's entrance.
"Why did that one ghost look so different?" I wondered aloud, breaking the heavy silence.
Emilia's expression darkened. "I don't know. But it wasn't like the others. It felt…evil."
We both fell silent, the weight of the ordeal settling over us.
As I sat there, keeping watch over Jose, the ache in my forehead returned, faint but insistent. I rubbed at it absently, a nagging sense of foreboding creeping into my thoughts. Whatever lay ahead in this trial, it was clear we hadn't seen the worst of it yet.
For now, though, all we could do was wait and hope that Jose would recover before the next challenge began.