Megh's reaction was one of twisted delight; a wide smile spread across his face, followed by a deep, unsettling laugh as he intercepted Lucius's attack.
Lucius, consumed by an unearthly fury, fought with a wild intensity. His yells and shouts tore through the night, each one a raw expression of his inner turmoil. The nature of his attacks was chaotic, his abilities defying any conventional description-an enigma of dark power unleashed without restraint.
Megh, undeterred, retaliated by summoning his massive, multifaceted arms, each one a force of destruction aimed at Lucius. Yet, something strange occurred. As soon as Lucius's gaze fixed upon them, Megh's arms began to rupture violently, each one exploding into a spray of blood and viscera. The sight caught Megh off guard, his confident smile faltering as the impossible unfolded before him.
From a distance, Yu Xuan, barely clinging to consciousness, observed the battle through a haze of pain and confusion. His vision blurred, the figures before him shifting and distorting. The Lucius he knew was no longer recognizable in the dark, wrathful entity before him. "Who... is that?" Yu Xuan muttered weakly, the question slipping from his lips as he struggled to comprehend the scene.
His strength fading, Yu Xuan's vision grew ever more unclear, the figures locked in combat dissolving into shadowy blurs. As his consciousness slipped away, the fight continued, fierce and relentless, until everything faded to black-leaving the outcome a mystery as the two forces clashed in the darkness.
As the day waned, Yu Xuan awoke with a sharp gasp, finding himself back within the shelter, his wounds being tended to by the frail boy from the other group—the one he had briefly glimpsed as they prepared to leave.
The boy had striking white hair and piercing blue eyes. He wore black short pants paired with shoes and socks, his white turtleneck pulled high to cover his mouth, giving him an air of quiet reserve as he gazed at Yu Xuan.
"Oh, Orson... How long have I been unconscious?" Yu Xuan groaned, his voice thick with fatigue as he rubbed his throbbing head.
"Only eleven hours since your return," Orson replied softly.
Yu Xuan glanced around the room, then fixed his gaze on Orson once more. "Where are Harriet and Lucius?"
"Harriet is still undergoing treatment. Her injuries were severe... I'm not yet proficient with my healing force, so it will take some time..." Orson sighed, his tone laced with regret.
Yu Xuan's brow furrowed with concern. "And what of Lucius?"
"The newcomer? He hasn't reported to Zara or Elias. He refuses to speak... We thought it best to let him rest," Orson explained, his voice barely above a whisper.
Yu Xuan's expression darkened as a headache began to pulse through his temples, the fragmented memories of the recent battle flashing through his mind. The vision of that unknown entity, and the man who sought the Seven Dead Corpses, haunted him. His body trembled involuntarily, recalling the last moments of the fight—a battle with no clear victor.
Sensing Yu Xuan's distress, Orson reached out in concern. "Yu Xuan, are you alright?"
"Did Lucius bring Harriet and me back?" Yu Xuan asked, his voice trembling with unease.
Orson nodded slowly. "Yes... He was unexpectedly strong, carrying both of you back to the shelter, and—"
But before Orson could finish, Yu Xuan rose to his feet, his mind set on finding Lucius. "You're not fully recovered yet!" Orson called out, his voice tinged with worry, but Yu Xuan was undeterred, his resolve unshakable.
To be continued.