Amidst the wreckage and the smoldering ruins, Ethan lay motionless, his battered body a testament to the mercilessness of the battle. Marcus, his eyes gleaming with sadistic satisfaction, loomed over him.
"You're nothing, Ethan. A pitiful pawn in this grand game," Marcus sneered, relishing in his victory. "Your power, your genius—it's all meaningless in the face of true darkness."
Struggling to rise, Ethan's voice trembled with a mixture of pain and defiance. "I may be broken, but I will not be defeated by the likes of you. You underestimate the strength that resides within me."
Marcus chuckled darkly, his voice laced with a sinister edge. "Strength? Oh, Ethan, you have no idea what true strength is. I'll show you the depths of despair, the true power of the abyss."
With a swift motion, Marcus launched himself at Ethan once again, the force of his attack shaking the very foundation of their battleground. Ethan, his mind filled with determination, fought back, his genius mind calculating every move.
Their clash intensified, the echoes of their power reverberating through the air. Each blow exchanged was a testament to their relentless will. Ethan's strategic brilliance countered Marcus' brute force, their battle transforming into a deadly dance of wits and brawn.
In a moment of sheer brilliance, Ethan anticipated Marcus' next move, countering with a precision strike that sent Marcus reeling. The tide of the battle began to shift, hope igniting within Ethan's soul.
However, Marcus, driven by his insatiable thirst for dominance, refused to yield. He unleashed a barrage of attacks, each more ferocious than the last. The ground beneath them quaked as their powers collided, the intensity of their struggle threatening to tear reality asunder.
Ethan's mind raced, searching for a weakness, a way to overcome the seemingly invincible force before him. He tapped into his genius, analyzing the patterns of Marcus' movements, searching for any vulnerability to exploit.
As the battle raged on, the darkness within Ethan grew, fueled by anger and a thirst for vengeance. It coursed through his veins, intertwining with his genius, creating a deadly synergy. With each passing moment, Ethan's power surged, a storm of rage and brilliance.
The fight continued, an epic clash between light and dark, intelligence and brutality. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only their duel at the forefront of existence. The air crackled with electricity, the atmosphere heavy with anticipation.
But as Part 1 of Chapter 17 neared its climax, a shocking revelation emerged—a revelation that would forever alter the course of the battle and plunge both combatants into the depths of despair.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Breathing heavily, Ethan's eyes locked with Marcus, a flicker of determination cutting through the chaos. As the battle waged on, Ethan's genius mind seized upon a newfound revelation—a skill he had honed in the darkest corners of his existence: La Place Calculation.
Drawing upon his genius intellect, Ethan delved deep into the intricate web of possibilities that surrounded each move. His mind became a whirlwind of calculations, analyzing the odds and outcomes of every action he could take. With each passing moment, Ethan's understanding of the battlefield sharpened, his foresight growing sharper.
Marcus, his movements fueled by raw power, launched a devastating attack. But Ethan, guided by the calculations etched in his mind, danced with unnatural grace, dodging with the precision of a mathematician. His body moved in perfect sync with his calculated vision, evading each strike with eerie efficiency.
A sense of awe flickered in Marcus' eyes, momentarily overshadowed by a flicker of doubt. "What... What are you?"
Ethan's voice cut through the chaos, resonating with an icy determination. "I am the embodiment of reason, the convergence of intellect and darkness. With La Place Calculation, I see through the shadows of uncertainty."
Their battle continued, the clash of their powers echoing through the desolate landscape. Ethan's movements became fluid, a symphony of strategy and precision. With each step, he calculated the optimal course of action, always staying one step ahead of Marcus.
Yet, Marcus, fueled by his own rage and a newfound desperation, unleashed a devastating attack. The sheer force of his blow sent Ethan sprawling, the weight of his power threatening to shatter Ethan's resolve.
But Ethan, driven by a resolute determination, rose from the ashes. The pain etched upon his face only fueled his determination, igniting a primal fire within him. As he stood, his eyes glowed with an otherworldly intensity.
"Your darkness may be formidable, Marcus, but my genius knows no bounds," Ethan declared, his voice laced with unyielding resolve.
With renewed purpose, Ethan unleashed a calculated onslaught, each strike a testament to his unparalleled intellect. He moved with a grace that defied his physical limitations, his mind processing information in real-time, adjusting his every move to maximize his advantage.
As the battle reached its climax, Ethan's La Place Calculation reached its pinnacle. He foresaw Marcus' every move, his mind mapping out the probabilities, identifying the perfect counter with unwavering accuracy.
The world seemed to freeze for a moment as Ethan's strike connected, a resounding blow that sent Marcus staggering. The balance of power shifted, the tides of the battle turning in Ethan's favor.
However, just as victory seemed within reach, a deafening sound echoed through the battlefield—a bone-chilling laugh that reverberated through the very depths of their souls. Marcus, his eyes ablaze with a newfound malevolence, rose to his feet.
"You think your genius is enough to defeat me? You are a fool, Ethan," Marcus sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.
With a surge of unthinkable power, Marcus unleashed his true form, a manifestation of darkness and fury that eclipsed all reason. The true depths of his terrifying abilities were finally laid bare.
Ethan stood, his mind reeling, facing an enemy far more formidable than he had ever imagined. The weight of his promise to avenge Alex's suffering and the revelation of Marcus' unimaginable power bore down on him.
As Part 2 of Chapter 17 came to a close, Ethan stood on the precipice of a battle that would push him to his very limits. The stage was set for a clash of titans, a battle that would determine the fate of their world and the souls that inhabited it.