Massive bursts of electricity exploded from Vetle's body, his eyes ablaze with golden light. Lichtenberg figures began to form across his arms as the lightning formed into a layer around his body, extending from his horns to make them seem larger than they were. The ground began to be torn asunder at his feet and the lightning sent cracks across the arena.
Edric seemed to falter, stepping away from Vetle. A bolt of electricity struck him in the arm, sending him skidding back away from his opponent.
Yuna stepped forward, getting the sudden urge to rush in and save her brother, but as she did, a crushing pressure stopped her in her tracks. She glanced over and saw a cold expression across Tamashi's face as his blood red eyes drilled her down.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. I'd hate to lose one of my precious pawns, especially not you. You two are my knights… I'd like to keep it that way, so let's play nice, hmm?" Tamashi growled.
Yuna wanted desperately to resist him, but she knew Tamashi was still far stronger than her. Her end goal in all of this was to one day kill Tamashi and be free of purgatory… but that day was still in the distant future.
She stepped back, clenching her fists as she watched helplessly.
Edric regained his composure, facing Vetle who looked nothing like a human any longer.
"I must commend you for standing against my attacks… but now it all ends.." Vetle said.
"Go to hell." Edric cursed.
"We are already there."
Edric drew in a deep breath, then held out his arms, black flames exploding forth from his body like a tidal wave, consuming everything in its path, but Vetle walked straight through the flames, entirely unfazed as a cloak of electricity protected him.
"This is over." Vetle dashed forward, his movements far too fast for Edric to follow, and in a blast of light, his fist plunged through Edric's chest in a spray of blood that soaked the ground.
Edric's eyes went wide with shock as blood spilled from his lips. Vetle withdrew his blood-soaked hand and stepped away from Edric, who dropped to his knees, blood flowing from the gaping hole in his chest. In his last moments, his eyes turned to his dear sister in horror, and she watched as the last flame of light went out and he fell over, dead.
Time seemed to stop for Yuna. She felt everything suddenly crash down on her, crushing her beneath its weight. Her brother.. was dead..? How could that be? He was invincible… but here she was… staring at his lifeless body.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!" Tamashi stood, clapping his hands. "Very well done! Bravo, bravo! Really, what a marvelous show you've given us, it truly got my heart pumping!"
"Is this.. entertaining to you..?" Yuna asked. A black cloud of smog began to form around her, shifting and writhing in the faint form of serpents.
Tamashi turned to her with a grin. "Yes. Actually, it is."
"YOU BASTA-"
As Yuna lunged for Tamashi, something struck her across the head… and everything went black.
— — —
Yuna awoke within a containment cell, locked between iron bars. She groaned, grasping her head. What had struck her? She didn't see anything hit her.. was it Tamashi? It had to of been. Who else could it have been?
And then she remembered her brother, and her heart dropped.
Whereas before, she had been overcome with rage, now she was consumed in sorrow and grief. And guilt. She couldn't stop it… she couldn't save her brother.. all she could do was sit there and watch as another of her loved ones was taken from her. All the memories of her past came flooding back to her in a tidal wave of pain, her father being torn in two, her mother's head being torn from her torso… and Mirai being eaten whole.. all the while, she could do nothing but sit and watch helplessly.
She hated it. She hated it so much, and even though she was in such pain, she couldn't cry.. it was as though she had been through so much, that she had become numb. She could feel all the pain and sorrow, but she could not express it. She couldn't even weep for Edric's death.
"I see you are awake." Came the voice of the one she hated the most. Yuna looked up with hateful eyes as she saw Tamashi grinning down at her, his fangs bared.
"Fuck off." Yuna growled.
"Well, that was rude. I simply came to check in on you, I hit you quite hard in the head you know. Gotta be honest, I've never knocked someone out simply by slapping them before." He chuckled. "You've still got quite a ways to go before you can even dream of taking my head, girl."
Yuna's eyes narrowed. "Oh, don't worry. It won't be much longer.. soon.. I promise you, I will make you grovel at my feet just before I torture you for an eternity until you beg me to end your miserable, pitiable existence."
Tamashi frowned. "That will never happen."
"Are you so sure? Because, if you have any doubt about that.." Yuna grinned madly, an expression of insanity crossing her face as the hydra formed at her back, "then I suggest you kill me now, before it's too late for you."
Tamashi lifted his chin, staring down at Yuna for a long moment. Then he smiled, waving his hand and turning to walk away. "I'm not all that concerned, to be honest. If you want out of that cage, I suggest you change your tune. If you don't, you'll never be given the chance to kill me. Tah tah."