As real as the environment looked, Youden Qey knew that this was a dream. The first sign of that was how his body transferred from his bed to some battle-torn city on the new continent. The continent that he and his armies were fighting for control over. Whereas he was constantly capturing miles upon miles of land, including villages, towns, and the occasion city each and every day. His onslaught would definitely be a part of the echelons of history, and for years to come would his name stay in people's mouths. But it was not all in vain, no, his reasoning for all of this had a purpose. The suffering the civilians faced was not out of regard but in light of the future. The new realities that would come as a result would benefit all mankind.
The thoughts were what kept Youden motivated after all these years, through the pain and struggles, but did not answer for such a dream. Ever since his powers were first unleashed, the man had lost the ability to hold dreams in his sleep. It was unnerving and confusing at first, but over time did Youden get used to it. With such power, he could only assume that some drawback had to be compensated for. But holding onto this power made him stronger, better, and more respected than ever before. So why now, was this happening again?
Taking his time, Youden had little fear as he passed by unrecognizable homes, roofs collapsed from bombing campaigns and artillery, and the streets filled with litter and fallen debris. The city's sirens still rang true in the air, even though it looked as if there were no survivors. Not a single person, alive or dead was in sight, making the scenery feel more eerier than it already was. With a dream like this, he had to really question the reasoning for it to have happened, as nothing was adding up.
What felt like minutes traveled by, with the exploration of the city leading him to no further answers but only more questions. The building structure looked similar to the ones back on the mainland, but the place had no distinguishable buildings that any major cities or towns had in Youdenia. Was this perhaps an alternate universe or dimension in that case, or representing his death and where he would end up? It didn't scare him in the slightest, although it maintained his curiosity even more. That would end quite shortly, as past several more roads and towards the city's center, loomed a large building with some of the most beautiful architecture one would have ever seen. The smooth curves and sharp pointed roofs made it appear to be some type of religious building, almost as if it was made for such a revered god. Someone who held such a high power like himself.
"Is this simply my own imagination of how I see myself? I must be feeling too powerful." Youden was feeling himself with all the encouragement.
That was until a large figure came out of the building, the size of a bulky man. Who dared to now invade his presence, Youden kept his guard up, as the person became clearer. Holding a thin blade of folded steel, did it finally answer Youden's question, as the man in front of him was none other than Boom. The person that had ruined his life since he got his powers, and fueled much of his hate for the world was standing as if he wasn't dead.
"Impossible." Youden had to say, even knowing that this was still a dream.
"No, it's not. You can kill me physically, but I'll never leave you alone. I'm going to make sure you understand that now." Boom's voice remained void of emotion, his ragged clothes signified the condition he was still in.
Youden continued to walk around in a circle, as Boom let the blade drag against the ground, creating sparks on the pavement. The former Supernatural's body held a dreary white glow, giving him an aura that only death would bring. The pace of this engagement was soon to begin, with them slowly closing in on each other. Who would make the first move was to be decided, but the outcome would be quite interesting to see.
Boom was the first to make that choice, as he raised the sword and made a slashing motion towards Youden's chest. The flow of the wind zipped past his head, with Youden sidestepping away from the attack. That gave him plenty of space to form a ball of energy in his right hand, as he launched it toward Boom's face. The other man deflected it off with his blade with ease, keeping a smirk on his face.
This was going to be much harder than Youden anticipated, who kept Boom in his sight. For a dream, the sequence of events was too livid and surreal, way too realistic. Something else was going on behind the scenes that he would have to find out sooner than later. I'll likely have to investigate this throughout this battle, Youden knew, as shards of darkness rained down on Boom.
As predicted, Boom was prepared to move a step ahead before the shards of darkness slowed down rapidly. Youden was waiting for that second power to come into effect, but considering the fact that Boom was willing to use it now meant that a powerful blow was to come. He could do little, as Boom walked across the space with determination, raising his blade over his head.
"Jamal and the others will come for you. I know it's to come, and there's nothing you can do about it." Boom stated with absolute certainty before he let the first slice cross Youden's chest.
A burst of pain erupted, with Youden having no ability to alleviate it. What type of dream would cause this to happen? Smirking now, Boom raised the sword again, before making another slice motion in the opposite direction. His foe could do nothing but keep his mouth open and make no sound. Boom took it with delight, as the years of anguish and revenge began to fill him, as the cuts grew deeper and began to form shape.
The entire ordeal lasted what felt like around ten seconds, as Boom gave a quick inspection of his work. He deliberately cut Youden's chest into the form of a star, with over ten different points, while Youden was helpless in the situation.
"Serves you right. Now, let me do you exactly as you did me." Boom grinned, as the perception of time was slowly catching back to its normal speed.
For some reason, Youden's healing abilities weren't working as he would have thought, as Boom landed a quick uppercut before Youden was able to properly react. Soaring several inches through the air, he could do little but try to brace for the incoming impact, as Boom was already in the air facing him.
"Here it goes!" Boom laughed away, as he gave his full power into the concentrated punch.
It landed square in the intersection of slices, as the blow pierced through Youden's skin. With some streaks of blood already leaking out of his mouth, Youden showered the air with even more splots, before his entire body flung through the entire city. As powerful as the attack was, no building in the nearby vicinity actually collapsed, although swaths of dust were lifted into the air and created a miniature sandstorm that encompassed several blocks. His body on the other hand crashed through the destroyed structures as if it were made out of paper, traveling at least eight miles through the space in several seconds.
Youden's journey finally ended once his body slowed down enough for him to finally rest inside an abandoned warehouse. His broken body felt brittle from such a power, as his limbs were strewn about like a crushed bug. All of his energy and power was gone, and each breath hurt him more and more. Was Youden truly that close to death before the vials technically saved his life in the original fight? It would have all changed had it not been for that day, but at least he was able to connect those dots.
Boom knew too much of what happened after his death for it to just be a coincidence. And in this dream of his, his powers were much weaker than it was when he was awake. He had heard of such a world, especially that millions of people believed in and worshipped but he thought of it to be a lie. A myth to force people to live by chosen morals and ideals. But it was no lie, but the truth all along. He was in the-.
"You've finally figured it out?" Boom's voice interrupted these thoughts, although Youden could do little but stay conscious and focused. "It's a pity you never believed in an afterlife, but yet here we are. Many refer to it as the deadlands, some as the underworld, but as a few like to call it, literal hell."
With that, Youden kept shut as Boom cackled with joy, gripping his sword tighter to his side. Even if it was real, and he was in such a location, didn't mean that he was really dead, did it? His bedroom was always locked, and his secret location in a wooden cabin surrounded by several dozen of his most loyal bodyguards was over twenty miles away from the frontlines. So there was no way that he was killed but possibly brought against his own will. Regardless, he had to get back to the real world, and not be here any longer. That wouldn't be easy for him to find out, but he had no choice but to try somehow.
Raising his hand slowly, Youden struggled to maintain enough control to score a direct hit. But that wouldn't matter as long as it was close enough. Giving himself a few moments, Youden was quick to form another ball of light, before blasting it towards Boom.
"And we're back to this nonsense again?" Boom didn't even have to look back at Youden, noticing the reflection of light moving closer to him, before slicing the attack facing the opposite way.
But that was all Youden needed, as he could feel his presence being shifted back to the living world. He knew what he could never let happen, at least not until his world came to fruition.
"Well, at least I'm not the one stuck here and dead. See you later, ya dead bitc-!" Youden waved away, as Boom wasted no time to race towards him.
Pulling his blade back, Boom was at the cusp of finally cutting his body in half, but unfortunately for him, Youden had faded away once again, leaving Boom all alone. At least this time, was he not the one in danger.
"Heh, we'll meet again, once you're actually dead. Just like me." Boom stood in his very spot, his sword glistening with the burning flames in the building. "We will see each other very soon, forever."
.....
Back in the cabin, Youden was quick to get out of the bed, clutching his stomach with loose knees. His body moved before he could think, the man already opened the window before throwing up all the remaining contents in his stomach. Heaving for breath, he stayed by its side for several more moments, before sliding back inside and against the wall. Youden had to see what damage he had taken against Boom, and if it transferred into the real world, as he slowly lifted his shirt.
To his relief, there was no visible wound, but it still felt as if something was there, as even his healing powers were active at the current moment. Feeling the heat from its work, Youden remained calm while still analyzing the events that transpired. In some way, somehow, did Boom bring him to the world of the dead, and almost killed him, potentially for real. He didn't know the exact details of how death truly worked and the schemes of it in different worlds, but that wasn't what he wanted to learn. He'll stay alive until the world is his, and then do whatever it takes to delay the inevitable. Boom might have been able to move freely and as he chose down there, but Youden wasn't the one dead. No, this domain was his to take, and all for himself.