The man gave off an air of rugged handsomeness, his lean build displaying a subtle strength beneath the surface. His reddish-brown hair, tousled in an effortlessly attractive way, complemented the piercing intensity of his red eyes. Cloaked in a long, flowing black coat, underneath, a close-fitting black shirt and trousers.
The man's right eye began to emit an even more intense glow, suggesting a latent power that lay within him, ready to be unleashed upon the White Crusader.
"Yes, you're Forbidden Power..." The White Crusader gripped the hilt of his sword tightly.
"I'm glad you remember me! You know it's been many years since the last time we met," Forbidden Power smiled, though the expression carried an unsettling feeling of murderous intent.
Eve suddenly ran up beside The White Crusader, her eyes slightly widening, "You're Forbidden Power?"
Forbidden Power sneered at Eve, "Ah, you must be the halfbreed. Wait your turn. Once I kill this bastard, all of you are next," as he pointed menacingly at Eve, Simon, and Bard, his eyes giving off an intense feeling of malevolence.
"Begone, halfbreed, you'll only get in my way," The White Crusader ordered, his tone firm and dismissive.
"If you're here, that must mean your leader is lurking nearby, doesn't it?" Eve asked, her eyes narrowing as they focused on Forbidden Power.
Forbidden Power smirked, provoking Eve. "Oh, right, if I remember correctly, you hold some vendetta against them. Who knows, you'll have to beat that answer out of me," he taunted, ready for the confrontation.
"Are you the one responsible for the disappearances in this area?" The hero's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword.
Forbidden Power chuckled, "Disappearances? I have no idea what you're talking about. I just arrived not too long ago."
As they looked on, Simon started to hear a faint voice in his head, seemingly coming out of nowhere. "Oi, kid! Can ya hear me?" echoed a voice in Simon's mind.
"What the— did you say something Bard?" Simon asked.
"I didn't, but considering the mess unfolding, it might be smart for us to make a exit. The situation has gone completely out of hand," Bard suggested, his eyes fixed on Forbidden Power.
Simon sighed, his eyes looking at the intense scene happening before them. "How do you suggest we do that? Our car is parked right in the middle of this standoff. Unless we plan on making a grand entrance into the hero-villain showdown, we might need a different strategy."
"W-We shouldn't get involved; there's no telling what that thing might be able to do..." Mary's voice trembled.
Bard considered Mary's words carefully. "Indeed, avoiding direct involvement seems to be our smartest move. Let's make some distance first then decide our next move."
"Oi, kid! Ya gotta hear me, there's more than just Forbidden Power!" The voice in Simon's head grew louder.
Simon furrowed his brow, bothered by the persistent voice. "Who are you, and what do you mean 'more than just Forbidden Power'?" he muttered under his breath.
"Pipe down and hear me, mate. Those two are quickly on there way now, get ready to scuffle if you have to," the voice in his head replied.
"Man, why do you sound British? And 'those two'? What are you talking about?" He asked the mysterious voice.
"Mate, I can't hold communication any longer. As for 'those two,' well, let's just say they're not here to have pints with you, Brace yourself; trouble's on its way," the voice fading away.
Simon's eyes widened as the mysterious voice disappeared, leaving him with a sense of unease. Glancing nervously at Bard and Mary, he followed them, moving away from Forbidden Power. He couldn't shake the feeling of what the voice told him, that trouble was indeed on its way.
"Now, I believe that's enough talk. I came here to kill you, after all," Forbidden Power chuckled.
"Indeed, your very existence is a blight to this world . This time, I'll ensure you vanish from existence," The White Crusader vowed as he unsheathed his sword.
"I've waited a long time for this. Get ready to spill everything," Eve declared, preparing for the imminent clash.
"Two against one? That's no fair, don't you think—"
The White Crusader appeared suddenly in front of Forbidden Power, his swift movements catching his opponent off guard. The White Crusader unleashed a powerful kick, sending Forbidden Power soaring through the air until he crashes forcefully with a nearby magical tree. The impact resonated through the area, leaving a moment of silence in its wake.
"Hah... I forgot how fast you are, that's on me—" As Forbidden Power began to stand, The White Crusader was already standing before him.
"Spirit technique, Severing Thread, level 0!" The White Crusader's sword began to glow brightly as he focused on Forbidden Power's waist.
Forbidden Power, with an unexpected display of strength, intercepted The White Crusader's swift sword swing using only the palms of his hands.
The clash created a brief but intense struggle, "fine, I'll get serious then. Forbidden attribute, power of the void!" Forbidden Power channeled the power of the void into his palms and feet. Void energy surged around him as he executed a powerful kick, sending The White Crusader flying backward. The clash intensified as Forbidden Power not only created distance but also managed to disarm him. Shifting the balance of the confrontation. The air vibrated with the unleashed energy.
"Geez, how do you lift this thing?" Forbidden Power grunted as he was barely able to lift The White Crusader's sword.
"Do you think disarming me puts you at an advantage?" The White Crusader, unfazed, wasted no time and began to walk towards Forbidden Power.
With a dismissive toss of the sword, Forbidden Power said, "No, but I know for a fact I'm better than you in hand-to-hand combat." Forbidden Power swiftly closed the gap, charging towards The White Crusader.
"Hmph, Spirit Technique, Soul Enhancement, level zero...!" Instantaneously, a luminous flow of light bathed The White Crusader in a celestial glow.
The White Crusader, now empowered by his spiritual augment, moved swiftly and precisely. His strikes became a blur, and each movement left traces of the light blue aura in its wake. Forbidden Power, all too familiar with The White Crusader's Spirit Techniques, adjusted his stance.
With a sudden burst of speed, The White Crusader launched a barrage of enhanced punches and kicks. The air mixed with spiritual and void energy colliding, creating a dazzling spectacle of light and shadow.
The clash between Forbidden Power and The White Crusader unfolded with an intensity that sent shockwaves through the air. Their movements were a blur as they exchanged strikes and counters.
Forbidden Power, agile and unpredictable, weaved through The White Crusader's attacks; his void-empowered strikes were like shadows, darting in and out.
The White Crusader, despite being disarmed, showed his formidable martial skills. Each of his punches and kicks carried such heavy weight behind them, and he parried Forbidden Power's punches with precise blocks.
Forbidden Power attempted to exploit openings, aiming for vulnerable points, while The White Crusader defended with a stoic demeanor, countering with powerful blows.
Their movements became a showcase of acrobatics and strikes. Forbidden Power, with a burst of void energy, shot himself into the air, attempting a devastating aerial kick. The White Crusader, however, anticipated the move, dodging and countering with a swift uppercut.
The White Crusader's adaptability became obviously as the fight continued, countering Forbidden Power's attempts to gain the upper hand. Each strike was delivered with calculated force, pushing Forbidden Power further back.
"You bastard..." Forbidden Power's frustration grew, his strikes became more thoughtless yet faster, as if trying to overwhelm The White Crusader through sheer force. The once strategic moves turned into a flurry of rapid attacks, reflecting Forbidden Power's increasing desperation to
fatally strike his opponent.
The White Crusader, after enduring a series of blows, he skillfully found an opening in Forbidden Power's defenses. With a swift movement, he delivered a powerful kick to Forbidden Power's knee, forcing him to drop to one knee.
Without wasting a single second, "Spirit Technique, Draining Stomp, level zero!" He stomped on Forbidden Power's back, pinning him to the ground and began absorbing his energy.
Eve assuming the battle was already set, she walked up to the White Crusader. "Please wait a second, Mr. Hero. Before you kill Forbidden Power, there are questions that demand answers," she said, glaring at Forbidden Power.
As the dust settled from the intense fight, a red car appeared in the distance, drawing closer to the scene. Eve's eyes widened with realization as she remembered calling Vulcan and Eliza for assistance.
"Haha... Hey, tell me, do both of you feel that?" Forbidden Power weakly chuckled as he was pinned against the ground.
Eve's eyes looked around the surroundings, a sense of unease coming over her. "White Crusader, this feeling... something's not right."
"Eve, go with your friends and get out of here—"
A massive surge of void energy streaked through the sky, impacting the car Vulcan and Eliza were in.
"Eliza, Vulcan!" Panic surged through Eve as she ran towards the explosion, her heart racing with anxiety. As she got closer, there were two ominous silhouettes standing amongst the smoke; one petite and the other giant. The petite silhouette seemed to give off an eerie calmness, contrasting sharply with the imposing stature of the giant.
"You know those two quite well, White Crusader," Forbidden Power said, a sinister smile on his face
"Forbidden Lust and Wrath..."