Seen, gazed upon mark with a calculating gaze:
"Was that too much?"
"Huh, what happened here?" Remon exclaimed, tumbling out of a portal and landed deftly on his feet. He rushed to Ariana's side, lifting her off the rock pile with a gentle yet urgent motion:
"Who did this to my sister?"
he demanded, his anger flaring like a wildfire. But before it could consume him, Ariana's weak voice soothed his fury:
"I'm not hurt." She sat up, her movements slow and labored. Remon's gaze narrowed, his attention shifting to Seen, who remained fixated on Mark's unconscious form, seemingly unfazed by Remon's arrival.
"Was it him?" Remon asked, his voice calm.
"Yes, and where did you disappear to?" Ariana countered, her eyes narrowing slightly as she stood up, brushing off the dirt.
"Dad pulled me to some place, but now I'm back," Remon explained.
"He didn't hurt you?" Ariana asked, concern etched on her face.
"No, he actually taught me something," Remon said, pausing for a moment before asking:
"Can I fight him?"
"I'll back you up, don't hold back. Okay?" Ariana replied, her tone commanding yet gentle.
"Okay, sis," Remon said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
"Armorment!" he exclaimed, and two daggers materialized in his hands. A bright red light enveloped him, and when it faded, Remon stood transformed. His body was encased in dark red armor that seemed to pulse with fierce energy. In his hands, he held two daggers that looked like serpents, their blades shining with a deadly glow.
"Is that it?" Ariana asked seemingly disappointed.
"No," a thick voice came from behind the mask.
Seen's gaze remained fixed on Mark's unconscious form, his expression unreadable, as if Remon and Ariana were mere specters, inconsequential to his purpose. Remon, undeterred, opened his mouth, and two words escaped his lips like a battle cry:
"Armorment completion!"
As he spoke, his body began to shift, his dark red armor rippling with energy, his daggers shining brighter, as if infused with an inner fire. But before he could complete his transformation, Seen vanished from his spot, reappearing in front of Remon with an unnatural speed, his hand closing around Remon's neck like a vice.
Seen prepared to slam Remon to the ground, but Ariana's kick intercepted him. However, Seen already prepared for this, he disappeared a few steps back, evading her attack by a hair's breadth, his eyes flashing with annoyance.
"Oh, I see you'll be bothers... So die," Seen spat, his voice dripping with malevolence, as he raised his hand to unleash a devastating blow. But before he could strike, a brilliant white light burst forth from Ariana, illuminating the desolate landscape, casting long shadows, and filled the air with an electric energy that seemed to vibrate. The light enveloped Ariana and Remon, and with its assistance, Remon completed his transformation.
He emerged, his shirt gone, his skin now a deep, pale red, resembling the dark red armor that had encased him moments before. His face was still visible, but his skin tone had transformed to match the armor. He wore black trousers, cinched at the waist, and black boots with a glowing red base that pulsed, red light, as if infused with an inner fire. His daggers, now shining like stars, seemed to hum with power, their blades etched with intricate designs that glowed with a soft, ethereal light.
Ariana had also taken a new transformation, she stood tall, her body encased in a sleek, white battle suit that hugged her curves, accentuating her petite frame. Her grey hair, now tied in a ponytail, revealed her face, and her eyes had transformed into a piercing grey, radiating an aura of power. Her small frame now exuded a sense of quiet confidence, as if she had tapped into a deep well of strength. White boots, adorned with intricate buckles, completed her outfit, giving her a warrior like appearance that belied her gentle features.
Seen's eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking between the siblings, his expression a mixture of curiosity and amusement, as if he was eager to test their powers.
"I shouldn't be moved by low level mortals like you, but it's been thousands of years, so I will fight every one of you like true warriors!" Seen exclaimed, his voice boomed with laughter, before he turned serious, his expression darkening like a stormy sky.
"Dimensional cage!" he bellowed, and the world around them went black, plunging them into an inky void. No light penetrated the darkness, and even their eyes, though open, could perceive nothing.
"Sister!" Remon shouted, his voice laced with concern, and a second later, a response came, Ariana's voice came from the darkness:
"Remon, are you okay?" she asked, her tone tinged with worry.
"Yes, I'm okay, you?" Remon replied, taking cautious steps towards the direction of her voice.
Their eyes, though open, remained unseeing, as if veiled by an impenetrable shroud. Remon slowly approached the source of Ariana's voice, his senses heightened, his heart pounding with anticipation.
"Wait, don't come! It might be a trap," Ariana warned, her voice laced with a hint of uncertainty, and then a thought struck her, like a spark of insight:
"Why do I feel refreshed, it's like my power has been slightly boosted," she pondered, her mind racing with the implications.
Mark's eyes fluttered open, but the darkness remained, a heavy veil that refused to lift. He tried to rub his eyes, blink multiple times, but the blackness persisted, a disorienting void that left him feeling lost and vulnerable.
"Where am I?" he thought aloud, his voice barely above a whisper, a habit formed from months of solitude.
He moved cautiously, his hands outstretched like a blind man, trying to sense his surroundings. But there was nothing, no echo, no resonance, just an oppressive silence. He sat down, trying to calm his racing mind, but his body remained tense, ready to spring into action.
As he tried to stand, a voice cut through the darkness, making him jump.
"It's about time, I began to think you were beyond healing," Seen's voice dripped with sarcasm, sending a shiver down Mark's spine.
Mark's instincts took over, and he assumed a fighting stance, his fists clenched, his heart racing with anticipation. But the silence that followed was deafening, and he wondered if he had imagined the whole thing.
Then, without warning, the darkness was shattered by a blinding light, a radiant explosion that seared Mark's eyes, making him cover them with his hands. For a few seconds, he was blinded, his vision dancing with spots and colors.
When his sight returned, he found himself in the same desolate landscape, but with one key difference, they were alone. Seen sat on his chair, which he manifested previously, while Mark stood a few steps deep in the crater Seen had created with his body.
"You should be proud of yourself," Seen said, his voice dripping with condescension, as he rose from his chair, which promptly disappeared:
"I'm giving you 70% of my power, and the remaining 30% will be divided amongst your friends."