I summoned the exit portal to the room, leaving immediately as time was now my most precious commodity. Emerging once more within the endless, desolate landscape that was the domain of the death itself, I cast a quick glance at my own bare form, devoid of suitable clothing.
"Is there anything you can do about my clothes?" I inquired.
[I can provide suitable replacements that are both stylish and durable]
"Perfect." I mused.
"I'll be needing that right about now; can't have the climax in rags now, can I?" It was a rhetorical question, of course.
[Cloth creation complete]
A brilliant azure light flashed as clothing materialized on my body, once again showing the wide variety of skills that the system possessed.
Thus, there I stood, my body the embodiment of strength in this ghastly terrain. My once unruly hair had been shaped into a short, silky and flowing, black hair that framed a face which had matured into striking handsomeness in a short period.
His emerald, green eyes, which were once filled with uncertainty when first facing the entities beyond humanity now held a steady resolve, even somewhat overflowing with confidence.
A dark hood, as inky as the abyss, shrouded me, its fabric concealing his very presence within the pitch darkness of the biome. Bearing a sly smirk before I finally began my journey to the final destination, as well as ending this god forsaken mission. I then vanished from sight, just like a whisper, I had disappeared into the background with the aid of the skill stealth, making me undetectable by even the most advanced technology.
Then a new scene presents itself. There was an oppressive darkness that came over this land, the sky above hung heavy with ashen clouds that blocked the moon. As far as the eye could see, there lay an endlessly army of skeletal monstrosities, an unholy assembly that defied imagination.
Gargantuan skeletal dragons, their bony wings outstretched and jaws agape, hovered in the darkened skies. Their empty eye sockets burned with violet otherworldly flames, flickering like distant stars.
On the desolate ground below were skeletal knights, their armor tattered and corroded by time, stood in an unholy, synchronized formation. Each clutched a jagged, blackened sword, its blade imbued with an unnatural power; poised to strike any that came their way.
Then dotted amidst the skeletal ranks were the supreme mages of the undead. Necromancers; cloaked in tattered, hooded robes commanded entire legions of the horde as per their lord's behest.
Finally at the rear end of this unholy assembly were the goliaths of war themselves. Massive giants of bone and sinew strode with earth-shaking steps. Their colossal forms cast monstrous shadows upon the desolate earth. The behemoths wield enormous, jagged clubs ready to crush any and all things that stood in their path.
The air was thick with the stench of decay, and a foreboding silence hung between the monstrous legions. There was something coming, they could feel it in with their souls yet there wasn't a trace of the enemy to be found.
Suddenly space itself began to warp as a humanoid silhouette began to protrude from an eerie mist. A hooded figure then materialized from the empty space at the forefront of the undead army, having a stance that was all but too relaxed. This alerted the dragons flying above as they began summoning forth massive torrents of flames, seeking to incinerate the intruder. The soldiers as well also marched forward while the necromancers began to cast all sort of archaic spells to enhance the undead beings' abilities.
With a mere raise of my palm, an unparalleled force manifested as a colossal, violet sphere. It swelled, dwarfing even the giants in size, threatening to unleash an unimaginable amount of power. But then, I grinned.
Hundreds of identical spheres materialized behind me, and at my command, they released their devastating might upon the deathly army. A multitude of purple beams pierced the skies as they clashed against the monstrous onslaught. The dragons' breath was strong, but not enough to push back the otherworldly power, the red-hot flames spewed out endlessly; trying to overpower the might of the attacks but it was futility at its best. The landscape was lit up giving a proper view of how the foot soldiers were faring, which wasn't too well. Most of them had already been eradicated, leaving behind the necromancers and giants to take heed in the onslaught.
I surveyed the battlefield only to see that things were going much smoother than I had anticipated. However, I had failed to realize the full extent of my abilities which could effortlessly take down an army of A-class monsters in a battle like this. Then the ground began to tremble, a dust cloud billowed ahead as enormous silhouettes charged forward with astonishing speed for beings of their size.
"Well, I guess I should test out my new skills before facing him." I mused.
Taking a battle stance, I summoned the World Splitter, wielding it in my left hand, while clutching a jade blade in the other.
"Let's see how well they fare against the multi-strike weapon arts." I declared with a self-assured snicker.
Before the towering giants could draw too near, I darted toward them like a lightning bolt. Ascending into the air, I gazed down upon these colossal beasts, each standing a staggering hundred meters tall. Their grotesque bodies, composed of rotting flesh and bone, housed dimly flickering flames within their empty eye sockets.
With both blades unsheathed, I set my sights on one of them in the center of the group. In an instant, both swords descended upon it like a whirlwind, slicing through its massive form with effortless grace. They cut up the surface of the beast with ease, carving a double helix arc as I methodically dismantled the giant's structure. Bones shattered, and the monster faltered before collapsing into a mound of lifeless remains.
Swiftly, I leaped toward another giant, even as the first one crumbled. The others had taken notice of my actions now, and they converged, attempting to gang up on me, but still this was all in vain. I simply used the telekinetic abilities granted by the hand of god to render the rest of the army immobile.
"I expected a little more of a fight from the armies of death, but an easy victory's not bad either." I remarked casually, my tone dripping with confidence.
Then with the casual wave of my hand the entirety of the ground forces was reduced to a morbid pile of flesh and bone. This only left the dragons above which were still struggling against the void blasts.
"Huh." He said as the power within the attacks increased drastically.
Overwhelming the dragons, my void blasts consumed their flames within the tenth of a millisecond, engulfing the beasts and reducing the monstrous creatures to nothing but ash.
[The host has received 500,000,000exp for slaying 1000x summons]
[The host has leveled up]
The exhilaration of the battle coursed through my veins, but it wasn't without its price. Maintaining the immense power I'd just unleashed was still a challenge in my current state.
"Damn, even with the level of Qi control I have maintaining that amount of power is daunting."
"Well, that was quite a fine show. Your strength has increased significantly since last I saw you." A whisper, soft as a breeze, echoed in the depths of my mind.
Then that paralyzing feeling returned, once again seizing control over both my mind and body. My senses began to falter as the system bombarded me with an endless number of warnings, urging me to flee. But I had come too far; there was no way I'd back down at this point, I had no choice but to fight.
Zephyr's heart, which had been pounding rhythmically moments before, now hammered wildly against his chest as though trying to escape. His breath, once steady, now came in ragged gasps, each exhale practically a whispered prayer for help. His palms grew clammy, as cold sweat trickled down his spine soaking his shirt. He tried his best to move, to escape, but his legs remained rooted to the spot, as if shackled by an invisible force.
'No, how can he still be so strong? After all the hellish endeavors I'd gone through my body still feels such fear towards an opponent'
He was in utter shock at his innate reaction to the presence of the demon. He believed, his strength had far surpassed the feeling of fear, but it appeared not so. So, clenching his blades even more Zephyr prepared to use the rising tide sword arts against his foe.
"This ends now, once and for all!!!" I yelled, steeling my resolve to fight.
*clap*
*clap*
*clap*
"I admire your bravado, so if you insist let us begin."
A skeletal figure stood past the remnants of the fallen army, walking through the field of destruction without even the slightest hint of emotion. He moved through the smoke, and we stood only a few meters apart. He took no battle stance, simply taking hold of his great sword as if he waited for what my first move would be I decided that this was the moment to strike.
Getting into the proper stance my Qi flowed seamlessly through my datian as my muscles readied to execute all that I had learned in the passing days. My gaze met his and then every muscle in my body began to contract as I drew all the energy from my cells and core into them. I then began the first movement for my assault.
*BADUMP*
*BADUMP*
Everything turned gray. Time itself seemed to slow, and a dreadful realization washed over me. I had been decapitated in an instant, and then, abruptly, I was back, standing where I'd started.
"W-Wh-What was that?" I stammered, feeling completely disoriented.
*Huff*
*Huff*
*Huff*
*Huff*
I couldn't regulate my breathing as it became apparently clear that my instincts were warning me. But just as I gained footing again, the same scenario occurred over and over and over again. It repeated endlessly within the confines of my mind, every possible attack gave the same end result, death. Thousands to tens of thousands of times I saw and felt myself die by the hands of this monster in the span of a single second. Once I regained myself my body had already began to falter, my knees buckled as I didn't have the willpower to move for even a moment.
"Those scenes weren't illusions child; they were simply your body giving you the end results of every possible outcome of this battle. YOU CAN'T BEAT ME AS YOU ARE!!!"
Those words resounded with him for some time before Zephyr got back up on his feet once again.
"Well then I guess I just have to get as strong as I possibly can."
"Open Character Profile."
[Opening Character Profile]
[Name: Zephyr Everwood
Age: 16
Level: 21
Exp: 82,427,255.515/1,969,336,636.40.
Rank: SS-class
Stats:
Strength-40
Speed-40
Health-40
Dexterity-40
Intelligence-46
SP: 10
QI: 4600
HP: 100%
Skills: Bloodlust(0), Regeneration(2.5), Danger Sense(0), Hand of God(10), The Fist of God(25), Void Blast(50), Rot(50), Stealth(125), Detoxify(5)
Techniques: Separating Heaven and Earth, Rising Tide Sword Arts Technique, Consecutive Dragon Fist Technique, Multi-strike Weapon arts
Inventory/Items: Spawn Repulsion Heart, World Splitter, Box of Calamity, Bracelet of Transfiguration
Mission: Clear an entire Spawn field within the allotted time limit
Rewards- 1000exp, the active skill The King of Kings
Penalty- Death
Time Limit- 6hrs
Realms: Divine Training Room
Soldiers: 1]
'That should be enough to close the speed gap at least' I hoped.
[Name: Zephyr Everwood
Age: 16
Level: 21
Exp: 82,427,255.515/1,969,336,636.40.
Rank: SS-class
Stats:
Strength-45
Speed-45
Health-40
Dexterity-40
Intelligence-46
SP: 0
QI: 4600
HP: 100%
Skills: Bloodlust(0), Regeneration(2.5), Danger Sense(0), Hand of God(10), The Fist of God(25), Void Blast(50), Rot(50), Stealth(125), Detoxify(5)
Techniques: Separating Heaven and Earth, Rising Tide Sword Arts Technique, Consecutive Dragon Fist Technique, Multi-strike Weapon arts
Inventory/Items: Spawn Repulsion Heart, World Splitter, Box of Calamity, Bracelet of Transfiguration
Mission: Clear an entire Spawn field within the allotted time limit
Rewards- 1000exp, the active skill The King of Kings
Penalty- Death
Time Limit- 6hrs
Realms: Divine Training Room
Soldiers: 1]
"Oh, it seems you've just gotten stronger, haven't you? I'm curious to know just how a human like you could acquire such a unique system of growth."
I just stared without giving the slightest bit of hesitance in my gaze.
"Well then aren't you going to see just how much stronger I have gotten as well?"
This statement sent a chill down the spine of Zephyr, the very monster he had struggled to even be compared against had gotten even stronger. That was the worst possible scenario for him.
"Alex."
[Opening Character Profile]
[Name: Grim, The Sovereign End, The Death of All Things
Age: ??? [He seems to have existed before the creation of the mortal realm]
Stats: ??? [Due to the presence of immeasurable power]
Level: None
Exp: None
Skills: Reanimation, Dragons Breath, Rot, Void Blast, Cardiostasis, Fission, Soul Tether
Inventory: Demon Core
Rank: SSS+++ (The maximum ranking that can be given with the current system capabilities)]
"Now, let me show you why I am the sovereign end."
In an instant the skeletal demon rocketed towards me at immeasurable speeds; wielding his massive obsidian great sword as though it was a common blade. With impeccable precision he materialized right before me, offering no chance to even raise my weapon. His figure appeared like that of a blur and with a single devastating strike his blade collided with that of the swords in a cataclysmic clash that resonated with enough force to make the entire continent rumble. In the heat of the moment, I was only able to block due to the rising tide sword arts technique and that to I had accomplished with great difficulty.
*AAAARGH*
"Shit!!!" I yelled, the force of just a single sword strike already cracked the bones in both arms.
"You feel it don't you? The vast difference in power between both of us, so what the hell is with that expression?"
I sported a massive grin, akin to that of a hunter who finally found the greatest beast in the wild. Veins bulged on my forehead; the struggle of keeping my body standing was evident, yet inexplicably I showed no signs of defeat but instead the resolve of one who yearns for victory. Then the very next second Grim vanished from sight relaying another strike which had even more force than the last one.
I was on the receiving end of a devastating attack. From just the sheer speed of the strike every particle surrounding us had been engulfed in a furious inferno. He came in for another strike, taking full advantage of the speed difference to go for my blind spots as we exchange clashes. Endless blurs came from all directions that aimed for instant kills, the only edge I had was in terms of skills which was what managed to keep my body unscathed.
Two streaks of light dashed around the skies in endless confrontations, each collision releasing massive amounts of energy that illuminated the night sky as if it was day. There wasn't even enough time for sound to catch up to their attacks so the sonic booms that would normally be present were practically non-existent, but that would only beg the question how the two can have conversations as they fight?
'This mortal truly is impressive, but it is about time I stop humoring his arrogance' Grim thought.
Then he paused for a moment, giving distance between himself and Zephyr.
"Don't you think we should start showing each other the range of skills we have acquired?"
There was a short pause before Zephyr answered.
"Fine then, I'll show you what I'm really made off." I retorted with utmost determination.
Then he sheathed the world splitter and disabled the bracelet of Transfiguration, preparing to strike the demon once he saw a chance; but once again fate had other plans. Grim raised his left arm and snapped his fingers, then immediately radiant dark chains emerged from the fabric of reality itself. They twisted and convulsed with life as they wrapped themselves around the body of Zephyr in an instant. Then going even a step further they penetrated his soul binding it in place.
"What is this?"
A strange feeling had enveloped the body of Zephyr, not only could he not freely move but it was as if the flow of Qi throughout his body was stopped.
"Dammit! What the hell am I supposed to do?" I roared in frustration.
Then Grim outstretched his right arm, and from it a blinding light shone. Eight purple spheres of energy manifested themselves before him forming intricate pathways connecting to each other which made a formation akin to the pattern of a magic circle. The violent energy they released could destroy the planet ten times over and yet they could be contained by the simple gestures of the demon. Then his gaze intensified as the octagonal structure shrank down to the size of his palm which was pointed directly at me. Suddenly the grip of the chains tightened as the Sovereign End grinned with malice.
*BADUMP*
*BADUMP*
A high-speed blast hurled towards me with overwhelming force, in mere moments the energy beam had engulfed me with its destructive power. Continually the blast kept on going as it inflicted severe damage upon my body. My skin was burning to a crisp, my organs had been ruptured instantly, and my bones rattled as they struggled to maintain their structural integrity. I hung in the air, being held in place by the chains which shackled my very soul.
"U-U-Uh wh-what t-t-th-he h-hell w-w-w-w-was that?" The boy groaned, struggling to even string together a proper sentence.
Yet the unyielding cruelty of death was ever so present. Moments after the initial bombardment the skeletal monarch appeared before me once again, his presence marked by the concentration of qi which gathered in his throat. My body even in a crippled state instinctively tried its best to move, but it was a futile attempt at escape.
Then the violet flames which flickered in his eyes suddenly burned uncontrollably as a gleaming red beam of pure energy shot forth at Zephyr. It violently pierced right through his chest in an instant, leaving behind a scorched, gaping hole in the abdomen. The beam moved until it hit the earth, where it released a devastating amount of raw power. The attack exploded with a cataclysmic bang which obliterated the entirety of the spawn fields in an instant. The power output on its own was so great it set off multiple alarms across the globe which isn't surprising in the least, an entire continent and its surrounding islands were eradicated from existence after all.
The only thing left behind was a patch of land which was barely a few inches above sea level. Then the chains vanished leaving my body to fall downwards at accelerating speeds. With a loud thud I crashed unto the island, my body lay there completely weakened.
[The host is severely damaged]
[Health-35%]
[Regeneration Active]
Then a familiar sensation consumed me. It was the soothing feeling of the agony across my body being relieved as its cells were being healed. Then he levitated downwards, his guard completely down as if not considering me a threat in the slightest.
"Why do you try so hard? That's a bad habit of you mortals, always fighting back when the outcome is clear."
My fury intensified even more as he looked down on my capabilities.
"But I realize that there is something more that drives you, a goal which you wish to achieve regardless of the journey. Tell me boy, what is it that you desire?" He said calmly as he approached slowly.
My body had only just begun to heal properly, and I realized that I needed to buy some time before I can fight again. So, with determination backing my resolve I spoke.
"What drives me? That's a question I've never bordered to ask, because the answer is quite clear."
I paused for a moment.
"I wish to bring creation to its knees and from the ashes a new world shall arise, one where mortal life is worth something in the eyes of you monsters."
I mustered the strength to rise to my feet and looked him straight in the eyes of the death.
"Starting with your head, I will be the light in this dark universe, a symbol of hope that keeps the divine and the demonic in check, I will be the one that brings peace to all living beings through the decimation of Chaos; that is what drives me." A confidence unlike any other had rested in the heart of Zephyr, and unbeknown to him this confidence also came with a radiant glow of divine energy.
Grim paused for a moment before realizing the truth of the boys' power.
"So that must be it, no wonder you were able to achieve such heights as only a frail human being." But he spoke no further as he was wary of the ever-present ears of Diablo.
Then a deathly aura filled the air as an unholy joy consumed the demonic being.
'Not once in my eternal life did I ever think to see the first of the two primordial gods, the one who keeps the light of creation reborn into the body of a mere child'
He then jested uncontrollably once again showing that he sees Zephyr as no threat. Zephyr however was put into a state of confusion.
"Alex, what does he mean?"
[It would be best if the host focused on the fight at hand]
"Just answer me with concretely for once."
[To completely reveal the truth I would need more time for further explanation]
*Inhale*
*Sigh*
"Alright then, I'll be looking forward to that explanation though."
Zephyr then turned to the direction of his opponent as Grim rushed towards him with nothing but pure killing intent. With monstrous power the demon swung his blade at great speeds, the force being enough to push back all the waters that surrounded the island. Zephyr though was taken aback but quickly reacted to the forth coming assault. He swiftly reclaimed both his weapons and with all his might parried the sword strike from the demon. This however was not enough as he was sent back flying several miles before being able to regain his composure.
"Ugh, dammit. I guess I have to use this a lot sooner than I thought."
With a grin he entered into a new stance wielding both blades in expert manner. His feet were outspread and his center of balance stable. Then he began to breathe slowly, his movements were steady, and muscles relaxed. His gaze then sharpened as a figure was headed towards him like a speeding torpedo, and with perfect grace he began.
'There was a reason the 1st supreme martial arts were never found in the jade library, and I believe that's because it was never created in the first place. If my hunch is right, then the combination of the second and third will make an ample substitute for whatever the first might have been.'
That was the thought process he had and as such combined the Rising tide sword art and Multi-strike weapon arts to form the pseudo version of the ultimate martial arts. The Blades of God Martial Arts Technique; and as the name implies the fist of god as well has been incorporated into the style.
[I am sincerely concerned by the principles of this technique. The Qi flow is extremely rapid and forceful even with the application of the "Separating Heaven and Earth" technique, applying great pressure upon the datian. If a single misstep occurs it could imply the destruction of your pathways and the permanent termination of your use of any Qi based skill]
"I'm prepared for the consequences, but all that matters is that I win, cause if I don't that bastard's gonna destroy the Earth." There was no response.
So, I instantly lunged forward, my blades slicing through the air like a whirlwind of destruction. We clashed once again, destroying every possible point within the landscape as we fought fiercely. His attacks were both powerful and swift, leaving no room for me to do anything but defend. Brash, heavy blows from all directions were all I could see as the cuts and slashes presented a continuous onslaught.
"Ugh, if the fight keeps on going like this I'll be a corpse in no time." Zephyr retorted.
Then Grim disappeared from sight for a brief second, before reappearing right behind me with a devastating downward slash. My instincts however were able to save me as with haste I used both blades to stop the attack without the need to look, having absolute confidence in my swordsmanship.
"Huh, to think that the great end of all things would require such petty tricks in a battle of blades."
My arrogance knew no bounds, for I wanted to make him let down that impenetrable guard of his while enraged. However, he remained as he was, fiercely trying to use his great sword to hack me into pieces from behind, and to be completely honest holding my own was extremely exhausting as even my two blades began to falter.
"This is as far as you go boy, your efforts have all been for naught."
The tone in his voice was sickening to say the least; it's as if he wanted to make it clear on how much he looked down on me as an opponent.
"Like hell I'd let you beat me that easily you bastard."
Then with graceful footwork I leaped into the air, pushing him back with my blades as I did. Completing a one hundred and eighty degree turn as my swords struck forward with great force and precision. In that moment it was as if the hands of time themselves stopped as I was about to strike him, the blades moved with a perfect flow that was the complete amalgamation of the two prior techniques. Forming a double helix that flowed like a running river the two blades shone radiantly as they moved towards the skull of the demon, and with a single move I had landed two devastating blows on the body of the monarch, sending him stumbling back meters as I made my landing.
*Huff*
*Huff*
With a sigh of relief, I see the fruits of my endeavors. One of his obsidian horns lay on the ground, being sliced clean off of the monarchs' visage; then I glance at the embodiment of death and see a deep gash in his skeletal frame.
"What is the meaning of this?"
As I stood there, the land itself seemed to quiver beneath the weight of his voice, its echo reaching the farthest corners of my perception. Then, as if summoned by the very words that had whispered through the landscape, a mysterious fog began to manifest. It crept slowly, almost sensually, blanketing the world around me with its embrace. As it shrouded the terrain my hairs began to stand on edge from the sudden shift in temperature. A sudden chill gripped the air, descending upon the environment as if nature itself was reacting to the will of the monarch of death. It was as though the surroundings had transformed into a frozen tundra, and with each breath I took there was a further drop in temperature.
Being wary of the sudden changes I made preparations for my next assault on the demon. Taking the stance for the blades of god technique I gripped my weapons and readied to attack. But that's when an all too familiar pair of violet eyes lit up profoundly; coming out of the mist Grim no longer bore that arrogant attitude that looked down on me, instead he looked pissed beyond all reasonable doubt.
"Do not be so early to celebrate Zephyr; why give yourself hope when I have not even shown a thousandth of my strength." His all-consuming gaze only further intensified as he grabbed his great sword.
"Huh, well then let' see just how much stronger you are when you're not holding back right?" Zephyr responded, confident as ever.
There was no response, only an instantaneous clash between warriors of which the outcome was truly unexpected. There on the ground lay Zephyr in a pool of blood before the skeletal figure of Grim.
"H-Ho-How did this happen?" Zephyr questioned as it seems he too was not fully aware of what had transpired.
It all occurred far too quickly. Grim hastily grabbed his blade and sped towards Zephyr at incalculably fast speeds. He appeared before Zephyr ready to obliterate him with a single strike that contained a tenth of deaths full power. Recognizing the imminent threat to his very existence Zephyr used the jade blade which was in his right arm to defend against the sheer might of the strike. The blades clashed in a majestic display of energy which pushed battled violently against each other.
"Now feel the consequences of your blasphemous actions."
The immense strength unleashed an attack of overwhelming power that shook the entirety of the globe. Zephyr brought his blade to bear, but the impact was staggering. The force of the blow surged through him, shattering his defenses and obliterating his guard against the monarch. Then a heart-wrenching, bone-chilling sound echoed through the battlefield; the monarchs' colossal sword cleaved through his right arm in a spray of crimson red blood.
"U-Ug-Ugh, why can't I feel my arm?"
The strange lack of feeling from my right arm was a horrifying occurrence. No matter how much I tried there was no sensation where it was meant to be, and that was when it dawned on me fully that there was nothing left of the limb, it had been utterly obliterated in an instant.
[The hosts' arm is damaged beyond repair capabilities as basic mitosis cannot be applied]
[Health-25%]
*AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH*
"Dammit, Dammit, Dammit!!!"
I was losing blood fast and quickly gripped the wound, planting my katana in the soil. But the devastation did not end there. The ground behind me quaked as the colossal blades strike gave way to an unstoppable arc of pure destruction. Earth and stone were torn asunder, forming a colossal canyon of destruction; no, the term destruction could not quantify the scale of chaos wreaked by that single strike upon the planet. An entire chunk of the crust had been eradicated from existence, leaving behind a colossal amount of dust and debris, most of which were sent into space. The portion of the Earth that had practically been deleted was replaced by a scorching, molten inferno of carved rock that spanned hundreds of kilometers in size. Then and only then did I realize the threat death posed to all mortal existence.
"Now do you realize your place in this world? I am death personified, the end of all mortal beings. It matters not who you once were for now you are NOOOOOOOTHING!!!"
He yelled as once again he propelled himself towards me. Instantly I grabbed the world splitter and prepared to defend against whatever he had to offer, regardless of my current state. His blade swung horizontally, ready to split me in half but I was able to parry his attack a moment before it landed. Once again, we struggled against each other in a stalemate, but I however couldn't keep it up for long.
"You goddamn monster, I'll never back down, no mat-"
*SLICE*
Zephyr was both confused and shocked by what had just happened. His mind became disoriented as his body fell limp on what was left of the ground.
"H-how is t-th-this happening?" He felt utterly defeated as he looked towards the heavens, realizing that his body had been cut in half.
Excruciating agony surged through what was left of me which rendered me asunder. The initial shock left me breathless, but the sensation that followed was a merciless assault on my senses. It was a visceral experience, as if every nerve ending had erupted in fiery protest of my actions. The ache radiated from my abdomen, and from there it spread outwards like a maelstrom of torment across every cell. My vision blurred, and the world seemed to waver in and out of focus as my body fights to cope with the devastation. Each heartbeat throbbed with excruciating intensity, pumping out more and more blood onto the floor. With every shallow breath, I felt the pain ebb and flow, each inhalation and exhalation sending out fresh waves of torment. The world around then began to fade into insignificance as the all-encompassing pain dominated my sense of awareness, reducing the world to a raw, unyielding sensation that was no longer perceived as real.
*Cough*
*Cough*
My eyes became bloodshot, and my body went into a state of paralysis.
"Alex, please is there anything you can do? I can't die, not now, not with him still free to roam the earth."
[I'm afraid not. Your health has gone below 2% at which point external aid is needed for any hope of survival]
"Hmm, so this is death. It's a much more peaceful experience than I thought." He began to weep; the terror of dying was bliss compared to the thought that he had failed to keep his promise. He had failed to protect Naomi and Nikko from this cruel world. He was just too weak to do so, just like back then when Arvin died before his very eyes.
Grim walked over to the dying body of Zephyr; looming over it he begins to speak.
"The outcome of this battle was determined from the moment you set foot in the planes, but I will thank you nonetheless for now you have reawakened my desire to eliminate all which have breath on all worlds. So, take solace in the fact that I shall send your entire race with you to the afterlife." His eyes flickered far brighter than ever before as he announces the atrocities he plans on committing.
Upon hearing this Zephyr finally closes his eyes, his body finally at its limit as it begins its eternal rest, and in an unexpected manner the skies begin to downpour upon the Earth.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Naomi, Nikko, Maya please forgive me for leaving you behind." Those were the last lingering thoughts of the warrior. Within the hearts of all those that held him dear there was a great inexplicable sorrow that consumed them and for the rest of the world there was an ever-looming terror which filled their souls.