The forest was shrouded in an eerie silence, broken only by the rustling of leaves and the distant hooting of an owl. The moonlight struggled to penetrate the dense canopy above, casting scattered beams that danced among the gnarled branches. In this foreboding setting, three boys, Alan, Gabriel, and Barry, moved with purpose, their determined gazes contrasting with the coldness that lingered on their faces.
Their breaths came in ragged bursts as they pushed their bodies through the thick undergrowth, leaves crunching under their hurried footsteps. The ground beneath them was uneven and treacherous, with hidden roots and fallen branches threatening to trip them up at every turn. Yet, they pressed on, their determination unyielding.
Barry, the leader of the group, forged ahead, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of their elusive target. His jaw clenched tightly, accentuating the steely resolve etched upon his face. With each step, his determination seemed to intensify, propelling him forward with unwavering resolve.
Gabriel, a silent companion, followed closely behind, his features locked in an expression of grim determination. His normally cheerful countenance had been replaced by a stoic resolve, his eyes darting from tree to tree, vigilant and unwavering. He matched Alan's pace with unwavering loyalty, his silent presence a testament to their shared objective.
Alan, the youngest of the trio, struggled to keep up. His youthful features bore a mixture of fear and determination, his wide eyes reflecting both the urgency of their quest and the weight of their purpose. Though his breath came in gasps, he refused to falter, his youthful spirit refusing to be left behind.
The sun was setting and the natural glow of revenge emerged on the faces of the trio, they had just now left the Light residency and were making pace toward mysterious lands. One by one they crossed various rivers and hills in search of someone, they gave the direct impact of ninjas aiming to assassinate a certain target but they had the expression of personal revenge in their minds.
"HEADS UP", informed Barry while ducking.
Alan and Gabriel didn't question and ducked down with him only to see a shuriken pass by their throat. They regained their ground only to see Two shadowy figures emerging from the dark.
"They must be alerted through our entrance, don't worry Alan keep barging don't lose the motive to come here we will handle them, GO!" ordered Gabriel.
Alan at once leaped through the assistance of a cut-down trunk and disappeared from their sites. Barry was concerned and was scared to let him go but one side of his spoke to him and made him trust Alan just this one. Alan started to sweat profusely as he had been once again brought closer to the thing he had feared throughout his childhood. He wasn't going to give up, was he? He kept going further into the darkness dismissing his fear and breathing heavily until he felt a sharp feeling in his mind that kept increasing at an insane amount. He grabbed a branch and stopped his momentum forwards as a ray of purple light just missed his face and obliterated the tree behind him, It was his perception.
"You step in our land what makes you think you'll leave Alive," said a man in all black wearing a cloak.
"Oye, Shut up your voice annoyed me", replied Alan with a cold look on his face.
The man was shocked by his attitude as he had never witnessed anyone speak to him like this before, but before he could say anything Alan was already in front of him with a clenched fist. The man was incredibly astonished at his power and was barely able to dodge his attack.
Alan without wasting even a single second stood amidst the towering trees, his heart pounding with a mix of trepidation and resolve. The night sky was shrouded in darkness, only occasional beams of moonlight piercing through the thick canopy above, casting ethereal rays upon the forest floor.
As a rustling sound echoed through the silent woods, Alan's senses heightened, his gaze fixated on the approaching figure of an enemy. With a swift motion, he reached for the hilt of his katana, its silver blade gleaming in the moonlight. As his fingers wrapped firmly around the handle, a surge of determination coursed through his veins, overshadowing any trace of fear.
The enemy noticed the immediate withdrawal of his Katana and changed his motion to get further away from him. He took a quick stare at Alan's body before both of them rushed to each other and met at the center only to hear a clean "shing" sound as both of them stood firm.
Alan clenched his arm as it had been cut down and was bleeding, but due to the cut being shallow it wasn't going to affect Alan, while the man himself had received a slash in the leg as well, but his expression seemed to be ignorant over the wound and instead, he was focused on something else.
The man placed his hand on the ground filled with the stain of blood and was reciting something under his breath.
[Replication]
A blue aura emerged from the ground as the trees swayed fiercely due to the immense prowess emitting from that move. A portal opened from beneath the ground and a completely new figure emerged from the ground but with a familiar aura. As the smoke cleared a body started to become visible as well and after a brief moment it became fully visible and it wasn't something Alan had anticipated.
It was a complete clone of Alan himself! Alan Stood there confused by his creation and was lost in his thoughts. The man had thought that Alan would be scared to see his exact clone in front of his very eyes but he couldn't be very wrong.
There was a brief moment of silence before Alan busted out laughing menacingly in the face of that man, Alan's laughter echoed through the air, a chilling sound that sent shivers down the spines of those who heard it. His normally composed demeanor shattered as a menacing grin stretched across his face, revealing a glimpse of the darkness that lay hidden within.
The laughter itself was a haunting blend of amusement and malice, a symphony of sinister tones that seemed to reverberate with disturbing energy. It started as a low, rumbling chuckle, building in intensity with each passing moment, until it erupted into a crescendo of wicked glee.
The man was triggered by his reaction as he was questioning his Creation and was about to attack him before he was stopped by taunting words of Alan.
"You fool, you think you can beat me even though my clone is nothing to me and my will so don't waste my time, Weakling"