Tank emerged from the swirling shadows that danced around Adisa, his eyes wide with surprise at the overwhelming power radiating from him.
"Are you… Adisa?" he asked, his voice a mix of astonishment and concern.
"Of course," Adisa replied, his gaze fixed intently on Obsidian. "Tell me something. Is it… possible for me to control the other knights, even without them submitting to me?"
Tank paused, studying Adisa carefully before responding. "Well, yes, there is a way," he finally admitted. "Do you need my assistance?"
"Nope. I just need one of their abilities. I'll figure it out on my own. Thank you, Tank."
Tank gave a slight nod, then vanished into the shadows, leaving Adisa alone in the midst of the devastation. *That boy's power... I haven't seen that in many, many years. Incredible!*
Adisa stood resolutely amidst the ruins, his aura crackling around him. He looked up at Obsidian, his glare sending chills down the Minotaur's spine.
"W-what is this?! No Akie should be capable—"
"I'm not from this era. I was born millions of years ago, maybe even billions. I possess abilities that modern Akies can't acquire easily. You should remember this form from your memories, right?"
Obsidian smacked his lips in disbelief and landed a few yards away from Adisa. The two engaged in an intense stare-off, the air thick with tension. "That aura… this feeling of dread… that powerful presence. It… it…"
A fleeting vision flashed through Obsidian's mind: a woman holding him tenderly in her arms.
*Learn to give up sometimes. It's safe.*
"IT IS NO MATCH FOR ME,ADISA!!! NOW, DIE!!" Obsidian roared, raising his hand high into the air. "Doomsday—"
In an instant, Adisa cleared fifty yards with blinding speed, grabbing Obsidian's wrist and halting his attack. The force of his grip created a massive crater, sending debris and nearby structures flying in all directions.
"Hmph," Adisa muttered, his expression unyielding. He pulled his right arm back and delivered a brutal punch straight through Obsidian's body. The Minotaur let out a pained grunt, green blood spewing from the wound.
Adisa withdrew his arm, then launched himself into the air, spinning as he came down to deliver a powerful kick to Obsidian's ribs, sending him crashing into a nearby building. The structure crumbled upon impact, dust and debris filling the air as Adisa landed gracefully on his feet, ready for whatever came next.
Obsidian used his aura, pushing the fallen debris off of him. His aura caused powerful winds. "I, the strongest among the king's soldiers will not fall to the likes of you, Adisa! There's still more to this fight…don't you dare count me out. Behold…my final transformation!" Obsidian yelled.
Obsidian, struggling beneath the weight of the fallen debris, summoned his aura with a fierce determination. The dark energy surged around him, creating powerful winds that swept away the rubble. "I, the strongest among the king's soldiers, will not fall to the likes of you, Adisa! There's still more to this fight… don't you dare count me out. Behold… my final transformation!" he roared.
As he spoke, his body began to morph, the air around him crackling with energy. The grayish hue of his skin shimmered, revealing a texture akin to snake scales, glistening ominously in the light. Each scale rippled with dark energy, reflecting a sinister brilliance that made him seem otherworldly.
Obsidian's green eyes glowed with a fierce intensity, radiating a predatory hunger as they locked onto Adisa. His fangs elongated, sharp and menacing, dripping with a dark venom that hinted at his lethal capabilities. A long, serpentine tail emerged from his lower body, coiling and twitching with restless energy, adding to his fearsome silhouette.
His tongue slithered out, long and forked, tasting the air as if savoring the scent of impending destruction. The transformation completed, Obsidian stood tall and imposing, a creature born from nightmares, radiating an aura of dread that enveloped the battlefield.
"Oh?" Adisa said, a calm look settling on his face. *His power has doubled. This is somewhat easy to handle. I'll end this quickly before he can go any further—*
As Adisa contemplated his next move, Obsidian took a powerful stance, channeling his aura with ferocious energy. "Primal Unleashed: Doomsday!!"
With that declaration, Obsidian's body began to swell in size, each muscle rippling as he transformed. His snake-like scales shimmered with dark energy, and the primal surge added layers of muscle, enhancing his already formidable physique. He towered higher, imposing and terrifying, the very embodiment of chaos.
Fur burst forth around his legs, thick and wild, lending him an even more primal appearance. Two long, twisted horns erupted from his head, curling menacingly toward the sky, each adorned with jagged edges that gleamed like obsidian in the light. The horns framed his face, accentuating his fierce green eyes, which burned with a predatory hunger.
As he completed his transformation, the air around him crackled with raw power, an overwhelming aura that threatened to suffocate the very space between them. Obsidian stood resplendent and terrifying, a perfect blend of predator and warrior, ready to unleash his full might.
"Now do you see? There's no… possible way you can win, Adisa! No matter how many forms you take, I will always be better!" Obsidian laughed maniacally, the sound echoing through the ruins like thunder.
He took a powerful fighting stance, muscles coiled and ready to strike. Adisa mirrored him, adopting a stance that exuded calm confidence and readiness.
*(His aura readings are off the charts. This… this is somewhat of an issue. Obsidian has managed to close the gap in our power. However, I'm still… far stronger than he is.)* Adisa thought, his mind racing as he assessed the situation.
The air crackled with tension as the two warriors faced each other, each determined to emerge victorious. Adisa felt the weight of the confrontation.
As Adisa and Obsidian took their fight to new heights, the barrier containing their battle trembled ominously. The sheer volume of energy they were unleashing threatened to rupture the very fabric of their surroundings.
*One area of this size can't hold all this power,* Adisa thought, feeling the weight of the energy pressing against him.
---
In a flashback, a woman with long, elegant claws scraped them against the ground as she addressed Obsidian. "It's okay to know when you are outmatched. You are a beast… not a god. Not even gods are perfect. I've been feeling something strange—a deep connection toward you. I'm dying, son. You must serve a king well if one comes into your life. We've been planning this for years. Please, do your best!"
She placed a hand on Obsidian's shoulder, her gaze filled with warmth. "I… feel special about you. Survive."
---
Back in the present, Obsidian snapped out of his reverie, looking down at the much shorter Adisa. The memories faded, replaced by the burning desire to prove himself.
He flicked his tail, a sinister smile curling his lips. "Shall we begin?"
"Yeah," Adisa responded, his eyes cold and unwavering.
The two warriors' auras clashed violently, a tempest of energy swirling around them. In an instant, they teleported, colliding their fists with an explosive force that sent shockwaves rippling through the area.
Obsidian felt his scales begin to peel away under the intensity of their clash. *I'll use my regeneration faster than his aura can erase me!* he thought, pushing Adisa back with renewed determination.
Adisa flipped backward, landing gracefully on the ground. Obsidian leaned back, gathering energy before unleashing a powerful beam of dark energy.
Adisa stood firm, his aura enveloping him as he absorbed the energy of the beam, erasing its destructive force. But Obsidian was relentless; he leaped through his own blast, delivering a devastating blow to Adisa. The impact shook Adisa to his core, and he used his arms to block the attack, bracing himself against the force.
*Using his regeneration powers to stay in this realm? Smart move, Obsidian,* Adisa thought, feeling the strain of the battle weighing on him.
Adisa was propelled into the side of a building, the structure crumbling under the impact. Obsidian moved with incredible speed, appearing behind him and tossing him upward, sending him crashing through multiple floors of the building.
Adisa shot out from the top floor, soaring into the sky. Obsidian teleported above him, kicking down with both feet, positioned for a devastating strike.
"Doomsday Kick… Maximum Output!" Obsidian roared as he descended, his kick aimed directly at Adisa.
The kick connected with bone-crushing force, driving Adisa through the building once again, creating a massive explosion upon impact with the ground.
As the dust settled, Obsidian looked down to see Adisa smiling, a chilling sight. "Is this… really your last attempt to stop your death?" Adisa chuckled, defiance echoing in his voice.
"You… feel nothing?!" Obsidian asked, pressing his massive weight down on Adisa, determined to crush him.
"You aren't hitting me, idiot. You're hitting the shadow realm that exists between us," Adisa replied, a smirk playing on his lips.
Obsidian furrowed his brow in confusion. "That what?!"
Adisa's smirk widened. "Let me just show you." He lifted his hand, channeling his energy and lifting Obsidian into the air without even touching him.
"I'm not even gonna kill you with 10% of my power. This form is unmatched," Adisa declared, bending low to the ground.
With a powerful leap, he launched himself upward, landing a devastating blow that sent shockwaves rippling through the air. Obsidian's eyes widened as he felt the force, and he coughed up green blood, the taste of defeat lingering on his tongue.
Adisa seized the moment, grabbing Obsidian by the stomach and tossing him aside like a ragdoll. He followed up with two massive energy blasts, each one crackling with chaotic energy and aimed directly at the beast.
The blasts struck Obsidian, exploding on impact and sending him crashing into the ground. The force of the attack created a crater, the shockwaves radiating outwards and shaking the very foundation of the city.
Adisa landed heavily on the ground, breathing hard as he adjusted to the strain of his new form. "I still need training to maintain this state for an extended period. I have to finish this, and fast," he muttered, his determination sharpening.
From the rubble, Obsidian emerged, his eyes gleaming with malice. With a swift motion, he bared his fangs and shot a stream of green energy toward Adisa. "Poison!" he hissed.
Adisa barely managed to dodge, the toxic energy grazing past him and leaving a burning sensation in the air. Obsidian clapped his hands together, a massive ball of dark energy forming between the twisted horns on his head. "I'll destroy you, Adisa! Your bloodline will end here, in this city!" he laughed, floating ominously in the darkening sky, the giant green sphere pulsating with lethal energy behind him.
"Are you trying to destroy this island, you idiot?!" Adisa shouted, a mix of anger and desperation in his voice. But Obsidian ignored the warning, his focus solely on building up the energy in his hands.
Adisa closed his eyes, centering himself amidst the chaos. He thought about everyone he had lost on this journey, their faces flooding his mind, each memory fueling his resolve. *I can't let their sacrifices be in vain.*
"Not yet," Adisa said, snapping his eyes open with renewed determination. He clapped his hands together, channeling his energy into a concentrated force. "Aluko… RISE!!!"
******
Next chapter: The Ten Dark Knights 5