The clash between Meili and Xaphan erupted into a frenzy of energy and violence. Wraithbane, his influence seeping into every fiber of Meili's being, transformed her into an unrelenting force of destruction, her movements savage and unpredictable.
Xaphan, for his part, seemed to be toying with Meili, evading her attacks with the grace and agility of his serpentine form, his laughter echoing through the forest.
"So much anger, little girl, I love it," Xaphan chided, his fanged maw curling into a sadistic grin.
*THWACK! THUD!*
Meili's movements became more erratic, Wraithbane's influence amplifying her rage into a chaotic maelstrom. She flung herself at Xaphan with abandon, her sword strikes coming faster and harder, the clash of steel on scales reverberating through the forest.
Meili's screams, fueled by Wraithbane's influence, rang through the forest, her battle cries a mix of rage and desperation. "DIE! DIE! DIE!" She swung her sword with abandon, each strike fueled by her ever-consuming fury, "DIE YOU WORTHLESS SCUM!!".
"Pathetic!" Xaphan sneered, shifting his body to block Meili's assault. The sharp edge of Meili's sword bit into his scaled flesh, but before Xaphan could retreat, her blade severed the limb with a brutal slash.
For a moment, Xaphan's expression wavered, shock and fury flashing across his serpentine face. "How could you...you'll pay for that!" he hissed, the healing process that usually came easily now faltering.
The influence of Wraithbane had transformed Meili into a force to be reckoned with, amplifying her abilities to frightening levels. Her strikes now carried a malevolent energy that not only inflicted physical damage but also corrupted Xaphan's spiritual essence, disrupting his healing and regeneration. With superhuman speed, she could cross distances in a blur of motion, her strength augmented to deliver powerful sword strokes that belied her slender frame. Her endurance, too, had been boosted, allowing her to push herself beyond her normal limits, even as her senses had been sharpened to keenly anticipate Xaphan's movements and intentions. As she fought, Meili's sword had become an extension of Wraithbane's power, striking a blow that Xaphan was utterly unprepared for.
The wound inflicted by Meili's sword strike, coupled with the disruptions to his regeneration, triggered a wave of fury in Xaphan. His serpentine form, rippling with energy, shuddered with primal wrath.
"What kind of trickery is this?" Xaphan hissed, his eyes glinting with a mix of frustration and interest. "A mere mortal warrior with such power? This is can't be real, perhaps I should be taking this a little more seriously."
Meili, her rage undiminished, launched herself at Xaphan. Her sword, a crimson blur, slashed and cut at the massive dragon-like creature. But Xaphan, fueled by Erebus's power, was more than a match for Meili's strength and speed.
He swiped at her with massive talons, sending her flying through the air. Meili landed with a grunt of pain, As Meili flew through the air, a malevolent whisper echoed through her mind, Wraithbane's voice infused with a mocking, rage-inducing tone. "Pathetic! Is that the best you can do? Get up, you weakling! DESTROY! DESTROY HIM!" She was back on her feet in an instant, her movements driven by the relentless push of Wraithbane's influence.
Meili, in her deep thoughts, found herself submerged in a sea of crimson rage, the waves crashing against her mind with unrelenting force. She struggled to stay afloat, but the more she fought, the more the waves dragged her under.
"What is this place? Why can't I control myself?" she thought, her mind's voice faint and distorted. "What's going on?"
In the distance, Meili saw a shadowy figure in the crimson sea, its shape indistinct but undeniably sinister.
Meili, her curiosity and concern mounting, began to swim towards the shadowy figure. As she got closer, the figure's features started to become clearer. It was herself, her eyes crimson and her lips twisted into a fierce snarl. But there was something different about this version of Meili, something more primal and bloodthirsty.
"Who are you?" Meili asked, her voice tentative and uncertain.
The sinister Meili, her eyes glinting with malice, laughed. "You know who I am. I am Wraithbane. I am the rage that burns within you.
As Meili processed Wraithbane's chilling words, she suddenly felt shackles clamping around her wrists, ankles, and neck, chains of dark energy trapping her in place. She struggled, but the chains only seemed to tighten.
"What's happening?" Meili cried out, fear and confusion filling her. "Where did these come from ?"
Wraithbane, her malevolent grin seeming to grow wider, purred, "Ah, don't you see? I am you, Meili, and you are me. We are one now. These chains are merely a symbol of your submission."
Meili, her mind reeling, tried to reject Wraithbane's words, to free herself from the chains. But with each tug, each pull, she felt her mind slip further into Wraithbane's control, her own identity fraying at the edges.
"No," Meili whispered, her voice shaking. "I won't let you control me."
Wraithbane's laughter echoed around Meili, the crimson waves swelling around them.
"You have no choice, my little puppet. You and I are now one, and I will guide you to victory...and destruction."
As Wraithbane's words resonated throughout Meili's psyche, the crimson sea rose around them, its waves transforming into a raging inferno. Meili, her eyes wide, struggled against the chains, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
"Please, no," Meili begged, her voice a mixture of desperation and defiance. "I-I have to save my friends."
Wraithbane, her grin now feral and wild, leaned closer, her voice a sibilant hiss. "Oh, you still think of such things at a time like this. The battle is already lost. I'll end this wriath carrier and everyone else who stands in my way."
"But you?" Meili's voice trembled, a flicker of terror in her eyes.
Wraithbane's grin widened into a malicious sneer. "You? You are nothing more than a vessel, a toy for me to play with. But do not worry, my little puppet. I will enjoy crushing Xaphan, and then we will turn our attention to your so-called friends. After all, Wraithbane must consume..."
Meili, her desperation morphing into abject horror, felt the chains around her tighten, their dark energy seeping into her very soul.
Outside, the battle between Meili and Xaphan had reached a crescendo of fury and brutality. Xaphan, in his massive, dragon-like form, towered over the battered and bruised Meili, his voice dripping with sadistic pleasure.
"Come on, you peasant," Xaphan growled, his claws raking the earth with enough force to create furrows in the ground. "This is only the beginning of your pain."
Fuse, tears streaming down her face, stood frozen in place, Elia and Lei at her side.
Fuse's eyes, wide with terror, darted between Meili's prone form and the monstrous Xaphan. The ground shook as Xaphan readied himself for another blow, his razor-sharp claws gleaming in the afternoon sunlight.
"MEILI, NO!" Fuse screamed, her voice a mixture of horror and desperation.
Meili, her mind still locked in Wraithbane's grasp, ignored Fuse's cry. She rose to her feet, her body shaking with exhaustion and pain, but her eyes glinted with Wraithbane's malevolent control.
Xaphan, sensing Meili's renewed defiance, let out a deafening roar, the force of his exhalation enough to bend the trees around them.
"Foolish girl," Xaphan hissed. "Your continued resistance only serves to prolong your suffering."
With a swipe of his massive claws, Xaphan lunged at Meili, intent on ending the battle once and for all.
Just as Xaphan's claws were about to connect with Meili, a flash of light sliced through the air.
*THWACK! *
Fuse, her heart hammering in her chest, watched as the metallic glint of a sword collided with Xaphan's attack, the force of the impact sending shockwaves through the forest.
Ryou crashed hard as he held onto Meili, who had gone unconscious at the point of they fell.The resounding clang of metal on bone echoed through the forest as the sword Ryou had used to deflect Xaphan's attack shattered into a shower of fragments.
Levi and Nix at his side.
"Kai?" Fuse screamed , her eyes widening as she realized it was not the familiar form of their friend but a stranger.
Levi, a determined look on his face, stepped towards Fuse. "I am Levi. We're friends of Elia, have you seen any trace of her? " he said, his voice tinged with urgency.
Fuse, her attention divided between Meili and Xaphan, nodded quickly. "Thanks for your help. We need to get Meili out of here. Xaphan's too strong."
As Xaphan glared down at Levi and Ryou, the raging battle seeming to freeze for a moment, Levi turned his head towards Fuse, his gaze intense. "Hey,Tell me. Where is Elia?" His voice was firm, yet laced with an urgency that hinted at the importance of finding her.
Fuse, her heart pounding, nodded in understanding. "She's with us," she said, glancing over to where Elia and Lei were still unconscious. "But they're not awake. We need to take them and leave now, that we can."
Levi, his eyes seething with a fiery rage, let out a harsh, biting breath. "How? How did this happen?" His anger was tangible, directed not just at Xaphan but also at Lei, unconscious on the ground. "You let this happen."
Fuse, her words laced with urgency, spoke quickly, trying to rein in Levi's fury. "Levi, you can't take him on also. Not even Meili's berserk form can stand up to Xaphan's power. We have to retreat, get Elia, Meili and Lei out of here."
Levi, his eyes narrowed, still seething with anger but also grudgingly acknowledging the truth in Fuse's words, backed away, his grip on his sword remaining tight. "Fine, we retreat...for now," he growled, his words dripping with malice.
Fuse, her mind racing, saw Ryou struggling with the unconscious Meili and nodded in understanding. "Let's get out of here, before he decides to target us too."
As they moved towards Elia and Lei, Xaphan roared, his voice filled with a mockery that stung like a whip.
Xaphan, the rage within him rising to a feverish pitch, let out an enraged roar, a sound so deafening and powerful that it sent shockwaves through the forest. His dragon form, pulsing with dark energy, twisted and coiled, ready to unleash a cataclysmic attack.
"Enough of this!" he bellowed, his voice filled with murderous intent. "If you all can insult me and try to run away, you got another one coming. I will blast you all to dust!"
The air crackled with the build-up of his devastating attack, the ground. trembling under the sheer force of his power.
Levi, the beads of sweat forming on his forehead betraying his fear, clenched his jaw tight, his eyes darting around the clearing in a desperate search for a way to stop the impending destruction.
Nix, his voice trembling, called out to Levi in a rush, "Levi! What are we going to do?"
Ryou, carrying the unconscious Meili, joined in, his voice low and urgent, "We have to act fast. That blast will incinerate everything in its path."
Levi, his eyes locked on Xaphan, narrowed them in grim determination.
Meili, her mind still submerged in the crimson sea of Wraithbane's control, felt a sudden shift in the chaotic vortex of emotions swirling around her. Her friends, their voices filled with fear and desperation, were calling out to Levi, a name that echoed in her thoughts like a distant.
Meili, her mind struggling to surface from Wraithbane's grasp, called out to the dark presence within her, "Wraithbane, what's happening? Why can't I move now?"
"You are pathetic, Meili," Wraithbane's voice hissed, filled with malice and contempt. "Weak as a newborn kitten, pathetic as a worm. How could you ever hope to protect anyone with such a pitiful shell? You are a disappointment, a disgrace to the Wraithbane.
"If it wasn't for your insufferable will to protect these 'friends' of yours, we would have obliterated Xaphan by now. Instead, you lay unconscious, unable to defend yourself or your companions.
"But don't worry, Meili. I will not abandon this mission so easily.
I will bide my time," Wraithbane continued, a dark, menacing chuckle echoing through Meili's mind. "Soon, very soon, I will break free of this weak body, find a stronger vessel, and then...then, Xaphan will know the true wrath of the Wraithbane."
Meili, despite her unconscious state, could feel Wraithbane's malice and rage coursing through her veins, as if it were a poison seeping into every fiber of her being. She wanted to fight back, to resist Wraithbane's influence, but her strength was fading fast.
She took a moment before speaking to Wraithbane, "So, you're saying you want to destroy Wraiths and then humanity, right? And Xaphan is one of them?"
Wraithbane responded, "Have you been deaf this entire time?" Meili continued, "Well, sorry to ruin your plan, but I've never given it a thought. It's pointless, and I'm not going to let any of it happen. You might have had a chance to take control of me before, but I promise you, this will be the last time I let you take control of me. " She spoke with unwavering defiance.
As Meili's defiance echoed through her mind, Wraithbane's laughter filled the mental void, reverberating with a cruel, mocking tone.
"Ah, you still think you have a choice in the matter, do you? Foolish girl. You have no control here. The only thing you can do is watch as I complete my mission, whether you like it or not."
Meili, her mind burning with a newfound resolve, growled, "You won't succeed, Wraithbane. I won't let you. And when I wake up, I'll find anyway possible to erase you from my life".
Outside, the forest shook as Xaphan's build-up of energy threatened to unleash a cataclysmic blast that would annihilate everything in its path.
*FWOOSH*
In a mad dash, Levi, Ryou, and Nix grabbed hold of Elia and Lei, and with Meili still unconscious in Ryou's arms, they sprinted through the forest, dodging trees and branches that lashed at them like whips.
The sound of Xaphan's enraged cry pierced the air, followed by a blast of searing heat that threatened to incinerate everything in its path.
*KA-BOOM*!
"Faster! We have to get out of here!" Nix screamed as they fled through the underbrush.
The ground shook under their feet, the trees around them bursting into flames as Xaphan's blast tore through the forest. The crackle and roar of the fire mixed with the frenzied thumping of their footsteps, as the group made a desperate dash towards safety.
Up ahead, a break in the dense canopy of trees appeared, a small glade just beyond the edge of Xaphan's attack.
"There! To the clearing! Come on, we can make it. " Levi shouted, his voice strained with the effort of carrying Elia and Lei.
Just as it seemed like they would be engulfed by the blast, Sifu Hibiki and Sifu Mei arrived at the last moment to rescue them. Without hesitation, Hibiki utilized a technique he hadn't yet fully mastered - Crimson Aegis, the Red Shield. As he activated the shield, Hibiki shouted to Mei, instructing her to lead the students to safety out of the forest.
As the energy from Xaphan's blast slammed into the Crimson Aegis, Sifu Hibiki's eyes widened in alarm as he felt the barrier begin to falter. The crimson light of the shield flickered, its durability strained to its limit as the searing heat from Xaphan's attack threatened to consume Hibiki.
*THUD! *
"HIBIKI!" Mei screamed in horror, as she looked back to glimpse at Hibiki.
Mei, her voice breaking with fear, screamed Hibiki's name, her hand stretched out as if to pull him to safety. But Sifu Hibiki, his face contorted with determination, roared out a battle cry.
"MEI, GO! GET THEM OUT OF HERE!"
His words echoed through the burning forest, as Hibiki summoned the last remnants of his blood energy in a final act of defiance, shouting, "CMON SANGUINE, PULL THROUGH!"
With a thunderous roar, a scarlet flash of light erupted from Sifu Hibiki's core, the power of his blood energy merging with the remnants of the shattered Crimson Aegis. The light pulsed and swirled, forming a titanic barrier that rose high into the sky, deflecting Xaphan's blast into the heavens above.
*FWOOM*
For a moment, the forest was still, the charred remnants of the trees a testament to the battle's ferocity. But then Sifu Hibiki collapsed, falling to his knees as the last of his Ki energy vanished, leaving him drained and vulnerable.
As Sifu Hibiki lay on the forest floor, his muscles spasming and his body wracked with pain, he gritted his teeth and growled, "Damnit, that really took a lot from me. I can't move, tsk."
But his moment of respite was short-lived, "Well, well, look what we have here," Xaphan purred, his voice a low, predatory growl.
The Xaphan's predatory smile widened, the sharp points of his teeth glinting in the fading light of the forest. "I was just thinking, wouldn't it be such a waste to let you all escape without a proper send-off?
So you managed to stop the blast right, how expected of a warrior of your caliber, thanks to that you're in my grasp." His voice was filled with mocking laughter, the derision dripping off each syllable.
Sifu Hibiki, his eyes narrowed in a mixture of defiance and exhaustion, growled, "You're a fool if you think I'll let you get away with this."
"You're helpless if you just lie there like a rug. You're finished, Hibiki, and so is this village." Xaphan sneered, his words trailed by mocking laughter. However, his taunts were cut short as Si-Fu Mei suddenly returned to Hibiki's side, interrupting Xaphan's gloating.
Sifu Hibiki, his eyes widening with alarm, shouted at Si-Fu Mei, "Mei, what are you doing here?! Leave, now, please! I'll deal with this !"
But Si-Fu Mei, her body poised and her eyes burning with a fierce resolve, ignored his warning. "Quiet, Hibiki. The blast might have taken a toll on you, but I'm not going to let Xaphan get away with this."
Xaphan, his eyebrows raised in amusement, chuckled, "Oh, this is interesting. Tell me, what exactly do you think you're going to do to stop me".
Si-Fu Mei, her voice low and deadly, retorted, "You'll see what I'm going to do, Xaphan. By the time...."
Mei, caught off-guard by Zirkyu's sudden appearance, felt the cold blade of his sword against her throat, the sharpness of the edge just a hair's breadth away from her skin.
"Hey, wait a second!" Sifu Hibiki shouted, his body straining as he attempted to rise from the forest floor.
Xaphan, his voice a low, menacing growl, issued a warning to Mei, "You try anything, and Zirkyu will slit your throat like a pig. I advice you think we'll and hard. "
Zirkyu, the cruel smirk twisting his features, pressed the blade even closer to Mei's throat, the metallic scent of her blood mingling with the smoke from the burning forest.
Sifu Hibiki, his body battered and bruised, finally managed to pull himself to his knees, only to be met with Xaphan's cruel kick to his face followed by a series of punches .
With each blow, Xaphan's fists connected with Hibiki's face, the sickening crunch of bones and the metallic tang of blood filling the air. Mei, her fists clenched tight, struggled against the cold steel of Zirkyu's blade, her heart twisting with helplessness as Hibiki's blood stained the forest floor.
Xaphan, his laughter a harsh, cruel sound, towered over Hibiki's prone form, his hands still dripping with the old master's blood. "Say, Hibiki. You sure look horrible right now! Now let's go. "
Mei, her body trembling with anger and despair, grit her teeth against the pain of Zirkyu's blade, a thin trickle of blood running down her neck. Hibiki's battered form was slowly dragged away by Xaphan, his injuries already severe enough to cripple a younger man.
Hibiki's low, strained voice, fighting against his mangled lips, pleaded with Mei, "Stop, Mei. Please. They'll kill you if you interfere. You don't have to worry about me. I'll find a way."
Mei's voice trembled with a mix of anguish and frustration, her tears blurring her vision as they fell.
"I can't just leave you like this! You always say you'll find a way, but look at you! You're bleeding, you're broken! I can't lose you, not like this!" Her words were choked with emotion, her throat raw from the effort of holding back her sobs.
Xaphan, his smile twisting with cruel amusement, cocked his head to one side as he regarded Mei. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. It seems young Mei has a soft spot for you, Hibiki ," Xaphan purred, his cruel amusement evident in his voice. "What a shame. Perhaps we should make this a family affair." He chuckled, his gaze darting between Hibiki's battered form and Mei's tear-streaked face.
Hibiki, his voice weak but resolute, growled, "Don't you dare touch her, Xaphan. I'll end you, even if it costs me my life."
Xaphan, his cruel laughter echoing through the forest, shook his head. "Oh, my dear Hibiw, always so stubborn. Do you think I'm afraid of you?."
Xaphan, his lips twisted in a cold, cruel smirk, pressed a vial of poison into Hibiki's chest. "Here, This should make our journey more pleasant. We wouldn't want you to try and escape."
As the poison began to course through Hibiki's veins, his body grew weak and sluggish, his mind clouding with the coming darkness.
Hibiki's world crumbled as Zirkyu, with no trace of hesitation, plunged his sword into Mei's gut. The piercing cry of pain that escaped her lips reverberated through Hibiki's soul, the sound like a death knell that echoed through the forest.
As Mei's blood spilled onto the forest floor, soaking the leaves and dirt red, Hibiki could only watch in horror, his body already succumbing to the effects of the poison. He shouted her name, "MEIKA!!!" his voice a strangled sob that cut through the air.
As Mei slumped to the ground, blood pooling around her, Hibiki's vision began to blur, the darkness creeping in as the poison took hold. With a last, desperate surge of strength, he reached out, his hand stretching towards Mei, a single tear trailing down his cheek.
"M-Mei...don't die...please" he croaked, his voice barely a whisper in the growing silence of the forest.
Xaphan, his expression a mix of boredom and amusement, waved a dismissive hand. "Pathetic. Let's go, Hibiki. Or should I say, 'My New Vessel'".