Ryo steadied himself, gripping his void katana tightly. As Rias charged at him, her eyes glowing with dark energy, he could feel the weight of the fight ahead. He didn't want to hurt her, but he knew that holding back would be a mistake. This wasn't just about power anymore — it was about saving someone he cared about.
With a swift movement, Ryo raised his katana, parrying Rias' first strike. Her raw strength sent a shockwave through the courtyard, cracking the ground beneath them.
Ryo: "Rias, snap out of it! This isn't you!"
Rias let out a bitter laugh, her eyes still gleaming with that unnatural glow. "You think you can talk your way through this, Ryo? You underestimate me."
Before Ryo could respond, Rias unleashed a barrage of dark energy blasts, each one filled with a malevolent force. Ryo leapt into action, dodging and deflecting the attacks with his void manipulation. Each blast that hit the ground left a smoldering crater, the sheer destructive force causing the air around them to shimmer.
Ryo: *I can't keep going like this. I need to find a way to break through to her.*
Ryo focused on his [Void Manipulation], channeling it through his katana. He had to be careful, using enough force to match her power but not so much that it could cause irreversible harm. With a swift motion, he slashed at the air, creating a void portal behind Rias. In an instant, he teleported through the portal, appearing behind her.
Ryo: "I'm sorry for this."
With a single strike, Ryo aimed his katana to knock her off balance. But just as the blade was about to connect, Rias' form shimmered, and she vanished into thin air.
Ryo: *What—?*
Before he could react, a burst of energy hit him square in the chest, sending him flying across the courtyard. He crashed into the ground, skidding to a stop. Ryo coughed, tasting blood in his mouth.
Rias reappeared above him, floating in the air. Her smirk was gone, replaced by a look of cold fury.
Rias: "You should've just surrendered, Ryo. But now? Now, I'm going to show you the true power of the Gremory."
She raised her hand, gathering a massive ball of dark energy. The air crackled with tension as the power in her grasp grew more unstable, pulsating like a heartbeat.
Ryo knew he had to act fast. This attack was going to be devastating.
---
**System Alert:**
[New Skill Unlocked: Void Chains]
**Description:** Bind an enemy with chains formed from pure void energy. The chains suppress magic and prevent movement.
**Mana Cost:** 50,000
**Duration:** 30 seconds
---
Ryo: *Perfect timing, System.*
Without wasting another second, Ryo activated his new skill. Dark chains of void energy erupted from the ground, wrapping around Rias in an instant. She struggled, trying to break free, but the chains held firm.
Ryo stood, wiping the blood from his lip. "I'm not going to let you hurt yourself or anyone else, Rias."
Rias' eyes burned with rage. "You think these chains can hold me?!" Her energy flared, and for a moment, it looked like she might break free. But the void chains pulsed with power, suppressing her magic and locking her in place.
Ryo approached her cautiously. He could still feel the malevolent force inside her, controlling her actions. He needed to reach her before the darkness consumed her completely.
Ryo: "Rias, listen to me. This isn't you. Whatever's controlling you, fight it. I know you're stronger than this!"
Rias stopped struggling for a moment, her expression softening as if something inside her was trying to break through. But then, just as quickly, the darkness returned.
Rias: "You don't understand, Ryo. It's too late for me. The power I've gained… it's too strong to resist. You need to leave before I hurt you."
Ryo shook his head. "I'm not leaving without you."
---
Suddenly, the system activated again, this time with a warning:
[System Alert: High-Level Foreign Entity Detected]
**Description:** A powerful entity is exerting control over Rias Gremory. Traces of a forbidden magic have been identified.
**Suggestion:** Locate and destroy the source of the foreign entity to free the target.
---
Ryo: "Forbidden magic… that explains a lot."
It wasn't just Rias' power that had changed. Something — or someone — had used forbidden magic to corrupt her, feeding off her strength and turning her into a weapon. Ryo knew what he had to do now. He had to find the source of the magic and break its hold over her.
But before he could move, a deep voice echoed through the air, filled with malice and arrogance.
???: "You're more persistent than I thought, Ryo Uchiha."
The sky darkened, and the temperature in the courtyard dropped as a tall figure emerged from the shadows. He was draped in black robes, his face hidden beneath a hood. Dark energy radiated from him, more potent and vile than anything Ryo had ever felt.
Ryo's eyes narrowed. "So, you're the one behind this."
The figure chuckled. "Yes, and soon, Rias will be mine completely. But first, I think it's time I tested your strength for myself."
With a flick of his wrist, the figure sent a wave of dark energy crashing toward Ryo. Instinctively, Ryo raised his void katana, slashing through the wave with precision. The force of the attack was incredible, but he held his ground.
Ryo: *I don't have time for this. I need to free Rias.*
The figure tilted his head. "You're impressive, but that won't save you."
Suddenly, the dark energy in the air coalesced, forming shadowy creatures that lunged at Ryo. They moved with incredible speed, each one more vicious than the last. Ryo fought them off with everything he had, using his [Void Manipulation] to slice through their bodies, but they kept coming.
Ryo: *Damn it… this guy is strong. If I don't end this quickly, I'll be overwhelmed.*
Ryo glanced at Rias, still bound by the void chains. Her eyes had grown dim, and he could feel her energy weakening.
Ryo: *I need to free her, now!*
With a burst of determination, Ryo unleashed a wave of void energy, destroying the remaining shadow creatures. He turned to face the figure, his eyes filled with resolve.
Ryo: "I'm ending this. Now."
The figure laughed again, dark and sinister. "I'd like to see you try."
Ryo summoned all the void energy he could muster, channeling it into his katana. The blade hummed with power, glowing a deep, unnatural black. He knew this attack had to count — it was his only chance to break through the darkness and free Rias from the grip of this entity.
With a final shout, Ryo charged at the figure, his void katana slicing through the air with incredible force. The dark figure raised his hand to block the attack, but Ryo's void energy cut through the magic, shattering the entity's defenses.
As Ryo's blade connected, there was an explosion of energy. The dark figure let out a howl of pain before dissolving into nothingness, leaving behind only a trail of black smoke.
Ryo collapsed to the ground, exhausted but victorious. He looked up at Rias, and the dark energy surrounding her began to fade.
Ryo: "Rias… it's over."
She blinked, her eyes returning to their normal crimson color. Slowly, she collapsed to her knees, the void chains dissolving around her.
Rias: "Ryo… what happened?"
Ryo smiled weakly. "You were being controlled. But it's over now."
Rias looked at him, her expression softening. "Thank you… for saving me."
Ryo reached out, taking her hand. "Always."
---
**Quest Complete: Unknown Threat Neutralized**
**Rewards:** +50,000 EXP, New Skill: [Void Armor], Unknown Reward Unlocked.