Suddenly, he was enveloped in a red-hot, glowing aura—a manifestation of pure hatred and rage, something I had never witnessed in my entire life. This boy continued to fight, despite being in the wrong. Perhaps, in his mind, he believed he was right. The aura expanded, doubling in size, and swirled chaotically.
The entire area trembled, and I could feel it in every bone; his anger permeated every inch of space. It was too late now; he was consumed by evil.
Ayesha remained hidden in the bushes, recovering from being thrown by the boy's power surge. Despite her tear-filled eyes, I could see her attempting to cast something.
"What should we do?" I yelled over the boy's continued screams of anger.
"There's no saving him, that's for sure. But you should use your veil, do what I showed you," Venidith replied. She demonstrated by pressing her palms together in a praying gesture, with her thumbs beneath her and se, closing her eyes. "Moon release: Moonlight Sonata."
Nothing seemed to happen immediately, but as the words left her mouth, a peculiar sensation washed over me, as if I had done this before.
"PREPARE FOR YOUR DEATHS!" The boy's wrathful shout echoed as he charged at us, his grin stretching from ear to ear in an inhuman manner.
"Do it!" Venidith urged as she intercepted the boy, their swords meeting without a clang, as Venidith's sword was composed of energy.
I took a deep breath, not allowing the swordfight just meters away to distract me. I brought my palms close to my face, positioning them to face each other. I sensed something swirling within my spine, and as I closed my eyes, everything fell silent; not a single sound.
With a profound exhale, I uttered, "Moon Release: Moonlight Sonata."
I could hear that same sound that the boy had emitted earlier, the sudden boom and the ground cracking. However, this time, I also heard a peculiar breaking noise—plates and glasses scattering.
As I opened my eyes, the constant doubt and dread that had plagued me disappeared, and the moon was on the verge of rising. Connecting the dots, I realized something profound—I had shattered the two veils. The moon no longer lingered high in the sky, and the wind felt natural.
The mountain had vanished, and we now stood in a clearing before a colossal structure that was meant to be a mountain, but it wasn't. It was a cathedral.
Bathed in the silvery embrace of moonlight, the cathedral loomed majestically before me. Its grandeur took on a haunting beauty beneath the night sky. The massive stone structure rose like a guardian, its spires reaching up to touch the stars.
In the cool, ethereal moonlight, the cathedral's architectural details came to life, casting delicate plays of light and shadow. The intricate stained glass windows, though devoid of color, still radiated a mesmerizing charm. Moonlight painted ghostly patterns on the stone floor, weaving a tapestry of long-forgotten whispers.
The night air hung in hushed silence, with a gentle breeze rustling the ancient trees that surrounded the cathedral. It added an eerie, almost mystical quality to the scene. I stood there, a solitary witness to this nocturnal spectacle, feeling a sense of awe and reverence wash over me.
"Just like... Baclaran church... Every Sunday... With Grandma." I uttered...
I glanced around to find both Venidith and the boy at a standstill. Venidith was breathing heavily, her aura beginning to wane.
"NOO! WHAT HAPPENED! YOU! YOU EVIL GROWTH UP!" The boy's scream was filled with wrath as he glared at me with his glowing red eyes, his aura mirroring mine, though mine was a deep blue.
"Let's end this," I declared, charging at him at full speed. The ground cracked behind me, and the force of my charge left a deep crater in its wake.
With a guttural roar, he charged, his sword gleaming like a sliver of moonlight. My instincts guided my blade into a swift parry, creating sparks from the collision. His strength was astonishing, and his blows relentless, as if fueled by the abyss itself.
We circled each other, locked in a deadly waltz. The moon cast eerie shadows, accentuating every movement, every glint of steel. My muscles ached, and my breaths came in ragged gasps, but I couldn't afford to falter. The village depended on my victory.
The boy's eyes, twin infernos, bore into mine. "You think you can stop me?" he hissed, his voice dripping with venom.
I tightened my grip on my sword, its hilt slick with sweat. "I know I must try."
In an instant, he lunged, his blade a blur. I narrowly sidestepped, the edge of his sword grazing my cheek, leaving a searing gash. The taste of my own blood filled my mouth, fueling my resolve.
With a furious battle cry, I countered with a flurry of strikes, each blow aiming to pierce his defenses. But he moved with preternatural speed, his sword deflecting my every attack. It was like fighting a whirlwind, an embodiment of chaos.
Our clash became a symphony of steel, a relentless exchange of blows. The cathedral's grandeur faded into obscurity, the world shrinking to the arena of our duel. Moonlight danced upon our blades, creating a mesmerizing spectacle.
Venidith watched, her crimson eyes wide with concern. She had been a formidable ally, her magic aiding me in battles prior. But now, she could only bear witness to this fierce struggle, her power spent.
Ayesha, still recovering from her earlier injuries, observed from the shadows. Her hands trembled, charged with the moon's energy, but uncertain of how to wield it. She was our wild card, our last hope.
The boy's laughter, a haunting cacophony, filled the cathedral. "You can't stop what's coming," he taunted, his attacks growing more ferocious with every passing moment.
But I refused to yield. With newfound determination, I unleashed a devastating series of strikes. Blow after blow rained down upon him, and for a moment, it seemed as if I might gain the upper hand. But he was a demon, a force of malevolence, and he wouldn't be defeated so easily.
With a single, fluid motion, he disarmed me, sending my sword clattering across the stone floor. Defenseless, I stared into his burning eyes, knowing that this might be the end.
"This is for the village," he said, his voice less hostile, almost contemplative. "You'll never understand." I could see the small glimmer of kindness in his eyes but it was far too gone.
He raised his sword, preparing for the final blow. Time seemed to stretch, seconds expanding into eternity. I closed my eyes, bracing for the inevitable.
But then, a brilliant burst of light filled the cathedral. It was Ayesha, summoning the moon's power with newfound clarity. A swirling orb of pure moonlight enveloped her, and with a determined cry, she unleashed a torrent of energy.
The boy, taken by surprise, staggered back, his form engulfed in blinding radiance. It was a moment of respite, a glimmer of hope.
I seized the opportunity, retrieving my fallen sword, its blade pulsating with my resolve. With a swift, determined charge, I closed the gap between us, my sword descending in a final, dramatic strike.
The clash of steel echoed through the cathedral, and for a heartbeat, everything hung in precarious balance. Moonlight illuminated the boy's face, contorted in agony and realization.
In that fleeting instant, I felt a surge of power, the moon's blessing coursing through me. With a mighty push, I overcame the boy's defenses, my sword plunging deep into his chest.
A look of shock crossed his face, his eyes widening in disbelief. Then, with a shuddering breath, he crumpled to the ground, his demonic form dissipating into a spectral mist.
The cathedral fell silent, save for the echo of our battle. I stood there, chest heaving, sword in hand, victorious but weary. The moon cast its gentle glow upon the scene, bathing the cathedral in ethereal light.
Ayesha approached, her moonlight powers subsiding, and Venidith joined us, her aura slowly recovering. We had won, against all odds, and the village was safe from the boy's darkness. I failed to save him but we had no choice.
As we stood in the cathedral's moonlit embrace, I collapsed to the ground, hearing the distant voices of the two girls. I was spent, too tired, my final vision a blurry one, with Venidith rushing towards me.