Orzo and Arisu were the first to voice their complaints, but one look silenced them immediately. They could see my determination in my gaze, but I hoped that they didn't see my desperation, either. My opponent was on a whole different level than Clyde, and was likely going to be my last opponent, but I didn't care.
The only thing I was desperate about was getting these people to a safe place.
'That's right, I need to live so that I can protect them from harm. I can't fall here...!' The large group of student ran off to the side and into the forest, leaving me and the masked man alone. "I am sorry that it has come to this, young Lord, however, we have deemed your existence too dangerous for you to be left alive any longer."
The man gave me a deep bow before brandishing his weapons. I drew my daggers and asked "What's your name? I'd at least like to know who you are before I supposedly die..." The man hesitated upon hearing my words before responding. "My name is Xeno Arvair. I shall use my full power to respect your bravery, young Lord. Please, do not blame me for this..."
Xeno dashed forward and slashed down at me with one of his tantos before spinning and launching a sidekick to my stomach. I blocked the first attack before barely avoiding the kick with a back step, but it seemed he anticipated my move. Xeno's shadow rose from the ground before forming a sharp spike as it launched toward me.
I was able to deflect it with my daggers, earning a graze across my cheek, as Xeno clad himself in shadows and disappeared from sight. However, this was a mistake, for I could still see his aura clearly. Swinging my dagger down toward Xeno's cloaked body, I caught nothing but air and realized that it was I who made a mistake.
The hairs on the back of my neck began to tingle and I ducked in time to avoid my head being severed before taking a heavy kick to my ribs. I was sent rolling across the ground, ripping up grass and dirt along the ride. I recovered and flipped to my feet before stopping my momentum. Xeno was now uncloaked and standing where I was previously.
"You've grown...Take..." I was just barely able to make out Xeno's words before he appeared in front of me and began to assault me with a flurry of slashes and stabs. I desperately parried and blocked, but I was beginning to accrue too many cuts and punctures. We broke off from each other and Xeno began to wrap his right arm in shadows as he cocked it back, ready to run me through.
This was all I needed.
I felt a surge of power course through my body and flow to my eyes and I thought only one thing. 'Freeze.' Xeno froze for a split second and I already had a dagger aimed at his heart, but he was able to move his left hand over and grab the blade as it pierced through his skin. I ripped the dagger free from his hand and leapt back to get some distance since my only plan had failed.
The hole in Xeno's hand began to heal and was soon back to normal as he sheathed his tantos and held his hands out with the tips of his thumb, index, and middle fingers touching while his ring and pinky fingers were tucked in tightly with the knuckles touching. Xeno closed his eyes and a strong breeze began to blow, ruffling our clothes and tossing all kinds of debris our way.
Suddenly, Xeno opened his eyes and, instead of the color red, they were pure black, sclera and all. Xeno let his hands drop to his sides, and then he was in front of me holding his tantos. I tried to move and block the attack, but he was simply too fast. The tanto pierced my shoulder as the other dug into my ribcage. "This is nothing!" I yelled out as I grabbed Xeno and began to push him back.
He tried to deliver a roundhouse to the side of my head, but I ducked under it and grabbed his leg before tossing him over my shoulder and into the ground. I stumbled and fell to my knees as I struggled to breathe. Xeno's aura was a dark, almost too dark, black in color, but it was now swirling around and condensing itself into his body.
Xeno sprang up and reached his hand out toward me but, after a few seconds had passed in silence, he had a confused look in his eyes. "Do...do you not have an ability...?" He asked as his eyes widened from shock, and a hint of fear. I was just as confused, as I did have an ability, but why would he ask...unless...
"Did...you just try to copy my ability...? That's cheating!!" I had a theory, but I wouldn't know the answer unless Xeno gave it to me. His eyes narrowed as he readied his tantos and said "How the hell am I cheating!? You're the one without an ability, but is able to keep up with me, a trained assassin with mastery over his ability! No matter, you've come far for someone with no ability, but I shall not let this go on any longer!" I readied my daggers and saw Xeno rushing toward me, however, time was beginning to slow down until it stopped with his tanto mere centimeters away from my eye.
A dark smoke began to rise from the ground as a shadowy figure started to form behind Xeno. Through the shadows, I could see two sickly, glowing yellow eyes, and an inhuman, twisted smile. A bone-chilling laugh echoed around endlessly as a strong pressure made sweat drip down my face as all of the hairs on my body stood up. A shadowy, human-like form emerged from the smoke and I could see the unforgettable face of the one being who completely altered the course of my fate.
Mor'Ulthan's hideous, skinless face stared at me as his overgrown and gnarled beak clacked together, each time sending a shiver down my spine...
---
Orzo led the way through the darkening forest with his infrared vision. The entire forest was silent, not a single bird nor insect were heard, adding to the suspension the entire group felt. Sylia was using her advanced hearing to listen out for any potential pursuers but, so far, there was nothing. Not hearing the familiar sound of Take's heartbeat was beginning to take its toll on her.
Azrael continued to march on as he stuck close to Arisu. He refused to let anything happen to her, especially after what he had done, he would repent by becoming Arisu and Take's shield. His only purpose was to protect them now, however, Take was currently battling some unknown enemy, and would possibly die from the encounter; for Azrael had felt the raw presence the man emitted.
Azrael clenched his fists in annoyance and, if not for Arisu being here, he would have run to Take's side and fought to his last breath. He had to atone. Suddenly, a hand was placed on his shoulder and he could see Arisu's smiling face looking up at him. Azrael let out a small sigh before reaching into his pocket and feeling the small coin he kept with him, calming his nerves immediately.
Orzo soon have the signal to stop moving as they entered a clearing where the suns last days of light shone through and illuminated a bloody and bruised gang on men, about eleven strong. "I assume you lot are with Take. Speaking of that, where's the man of the hour? He get lost or something?" The leader had stepped forward and he was rather handsome with his shoulder length blonde hair and purple eyes.
Orzo seemed calm, however, everyone had high tensions as the images of the students head being crushed was still fresh in their minds. Most of these students hadn't even killed a beast or normal animal before, so they were utterly terrified by the whole ordeal. Orzo was like the makeshift leader since Take was gone, so he stepped forward and answered the man's question.
"Yes, we're part of Take Wakizawa's group, and he told us to come to the forest and meet with a man who owes him a favor." The man chuckled to himself as he shook his head, the men behind him letting out low chuckles of their own. "If anything, he owes me a favor, however, he did save my life when we fought that Dragon...so I guess I could help him out this once..."
The man was only mumbling to himself, but everyone heard his words and their jaws dropped when he mentioned that they had fought a Dragon and lived to tell the tale, not to mention that Take had a seemingly active part in its subjugation. "Ahem, my name is Samuel Bladeheart, but you can just call me Sam. Now, where's Take? I'd like to make sure you aren't lying, no offense." Orzo waved his hand and said "None taken. Take...he's at the edge of the forest fighting some man in a full suit of black...I-I don't know if he'll actually make it out of this one alive..."
Samuel's laughter broke through the tense atmosphere as his men joined in as well, everyone wiping tears from their eyes as they held their stomachs. "Oh boy, did you hear this guy? He said Take might not survive! Ahaha, now THAT is funny!" Samuel's expression turned serious before he continued. "That boy isn't normal, but you lot most likely know that already. He has the strongest will I have ever seen, and that boy is not afraid of death. He'll come back, and stronger than ever..."
---
Mor'Ulthan's hideous face was the only thing visible, but the effects were much the same. Fear erupted through my body as his grinning visage grew closer until he was right in front of me. "Hmm, you do seem to be much stronger than I previously thought, however, you are still too weak...pitiful, truly pitiful."
I clenched my hands tightly and mustered up the courage to at least look presentable. "Shut the hell up...what do you know about being close to death!? What do you know of fear! You're an almighty Demon at the top of the food chain...you wouldn't understand the feelings of a Human!!" Mor'Ulthan's deep laughter resonated through my body as he clicked his beak before responding.
"You act like you are Human yourself, little mortal..." I knew that this confrontation could go one of two ways, I'll die, or I'll live. And I wasn't sure which way it was going to go just yet. "I may not be a Human anymore, but my heart is still that of a Human. I know now that I have people I want to protect, people that mean more to me than my own life. I'll do anything to protect them...can you help me, Mor'Ulthan...?"
He let out a shrill laughter before saying "Brilliant, brilliant!! Ahahaha!! Yes, young mortal, I can give you the powers that you seek, but at a price...I can even unlock your slumbering abilities that you so desperately search for..." My brows furrowed in confusion as I thought about his words. "W-What do you mean...my slumbering abilities...?"
Mor'Ulthan's grin grew wider as he said "Oh, dear mortal, you have been using the powers I had granted you, not your own ability...those, you have yet to awaken..."