[Samael Ashwood's POV]
"Hehehehehe!!!"
A chilling laughter echoed through the darkness, sending a shiver down my spine. The sound was neither Merlin's jovial chuckle nor Erebus's commanding tone. This was something different—something malevolent.
"Who's there?" I demanded, my voice shaking slightly as I struggled to regain my composure.
"Oh, such bravery," the voice sneered, dripping with mockery. "But you should know, little mortal, that bravery alone will not save you from what's coming."
The darkness around me began to churn, and a figure emerged from the shadows. It was a twisted, sinister presence, its form shifting and writhing as if made from the very essence of nightmares. Its eyes glowed with an unholy light, and a vicious grin spread across its face.
"Who are you?" I asked, forcing my voice to remain steady despite the fear gnawing at my insides.
"Oh~ Where are my manners ?" the figure hissed, its voice a blend of malice and amusement. "I am the one and only Soul King, who slapped angels, demons, and dragons left and right. Created a whole new realm out of sheer boredom, and brought entire god realms to their knees with a flick of my finger."
"But who would have thought those spineless bastards to gang up on me, Thousands of god-kings with their personal toy armies versus little ol' me? It's a shame really, but they couldn't handle my sense of humor," the Soul King chuckled darkly, his presence oozing with arrogance and power.
I tensed as the Soul King's words washed over me, his arrogance and power palpable even within the confines of my soul space. This being was no ordinary adversary; he exuded a sense of malevolence and danger that sent a chill down my spine.
"What do you want?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady despite the fear rising within me.
"What do I want?" the Soul King repeated, his grin widening into a sinister smirk. "Why, I want to play, of course. And you, my dear mortal, are going to be my plaything."
His words sent a shiver down my spine, and I could feel the weight of his gaze bearing down on me like a physical presence. The Soul King was a being of immense power and cruelty, and I knew that facing him would be no easy task.
"But fear not," the Soul King continued, his voice dripping with malice. "I'm not one to play unfair. I'll give you a fighting chance—a chance to prove your worth against me."
Before I could respond, the darkness around us began to shift and twist, coalescing into a nightmarish arena. Shadows danced and writhed across the ground, and a sense of foreboding settled over me like a suffocating blanket.
"Here we are, mortal," the Soul King sneered, gesturing to the darkened arena around us. "A battleground fit for our little game. Now, let's see what you're made of."
With a flick of his wrist, the Soul King conjured a sinister-looking blade into his hand, its edge gleaming with dark energy. He twirled the weapon with practiced ease, his eyes glittering with sadistic delight.
Wuuuu~
Breath In~
Breath Out~
Since it looks like a sword duel, I'll need to rely on the Flaming Sword of Nine Suns technique and all the power I've gained so far. There's no room for hesitation.
I summoned my blade—Sword Of The Dark Light, feeling its familiar weight and the surge of power that flowed through it. The blade gleamed with a dark luminescence, a testament to the fusion of the diverse abilities I now wielded.
"Impressive," the Soul King mused, his eyes narrowing as he appraised my weapon. "You got this toy too, Now I am seriously wondering, How the heck do you get all those things, the essence of that stupid mage, and physique of that upright monkey with a poll in his ass, My sealed box, and now this twig of a sword. Truly, you are a mystery, Samael Ashwood."
Ignoring his taunts, I took a deep breath and focused on the task at hand. This wasn't just a battle for survival—it was a test of everything I had gained, everything I had become. The stakes were higher than ever, and I couldn't afford to falter.
"Enough talk," I said, my voice firm and resolute. "Let's end this."
The Soul King's grin widened, and without another word, he lunged at me, his blade slicing through the air with terrifying speed. I barely had time to react, raising my own sword to block his attack. The clash of our blades sent shockwaves through the arena, and the force of his strike nearly knocked me off my feet.
He's strong.
Like ridiculously strong.
And he is playing with me, testing my limits. But I can't let him see my fear. I have to stay focused and use everything I've learned.
"Dawn's Embrace!"
I shouted, channeling the power of the first sun into a powerful slash. My blade ignited with the fiery energy of dawn, cutting through the air toward the Soul King.
He deflected the attack with ease, his movements almost casual. "Is that all you've got?" he taunted, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "You need to do better than that to entertain me."
I gritted my teeth, pushing back the rising frustration. The Soul King's taunts were designed to unnerve me, but I couldn't let him get under my skin. I had to stay focused and use the full range of my abilities.
"Solar Flare!"
I called out, unleashing a blinding burst of light and heat. The intense radiance illuminated the arena, temporarily blinding the Soul King.
Seizing the moment, I followed up with a series of rapid strikes, each infused with the power of the Flaming Sword of Nine Suns. The techniques flowed seamlessly, each movement a blend of grace and power.
"Midday Convergence!"
I thrust my blade forward, concentrating the scorching heat of the noon sun into a devastating attack aimed at the Soul King's heart.
Sigh~
The Soul King sighed, as if he was growing bored with the exchange. "Stupid mortal, I am the Soul King. Your attacks are but child's play to me."
With a dismissive flick of his wrist, he deflected my strike with ease, sending me stumbling backward. His blade moved with blinding speed, and before I could react, he was upon me again, his attacks relentless and precise.
But instead of the sharp edge, he was hitting me with the blunt side of his blade, the strikes delivering a powerful force that sent shockwaves through my body. Each blow landed with bone-rattling impact, threatening to overwhelm me with sheer force alone.
I gritted my teeth against the pain, refusing to yield to the Soul King's onslaught. Drawing upon every ounce of strength and determination within me, I countered his attacks with renewed resolve.
"Eventide Eclipse!"
I roared, calling upon the darkness of a solar eclipse to shroud my blade. With a swift and fluid motion, I lashed out at the Soul King, aiming to catch him off guard with the sudden shift in tactics.
To my surprise, the darkness seemed to disorient him, throwing off his rhythm for a moment. It was all the opening I needed.
With a burst of speed, I closed the distance between us, my blade flashing with the intensity of a supernova. I unleashed a flurry of strikes, each one fueled by the combined power of the Flaming Sword of Nine Suns and the affinity of Destruction.
The Soul King staggered back, his arrogance replaced by a flicker of uncertainty. For the first time since our duel began, I sensed a hint of surprise in his eyes.
But the moment was fleeting.
With a snarl of rage, the Soul King launched himself at me with renewed ferocity, his attacks coming faster and fiercer than ever before. I parried and dodged as best I could, but his relentless assault pushed me to the brink of exhaustion.
I could feel my strength waning, my muscles screaming in protest with every movement. But I refused to give up. I had come too far, fought too hard, to let myself be defeated now.
Summoning every last ounce of energy within me, I focused on a single, desperate gambit—a final, all-or-nothing strike that would decide the outcome of our duel.
"Destruction's Descent!"
I cried out, channeling the full force of my affinity into a devastating blow. My blade erupted with raw, unbridled power, its edge crackling with destructive energy.
With a mighty swing, I unleashed the attack, aiming for the Soul King's very core.
And then...
Everything went black.
***
[Soul King's POV]
Sigh~
"Brat almost destroyed his own soul space with that reckless attack," I muttered to myself, shaking my head in disbelief. "He's lucky I intervened when I did, or he would've been trapped in darkness for eternity."
As the echoes of our battle faded into the void, I turned my attention to the unconscious form of Samael Ashwood lying before me. Despite his reckless bravado, there was a spark of potential within him—a glimmer of power that intrigued me.
"Looks like you have some growing up to do, little mortal," I murmured, a faint smirk playing at the corners of my lips. "But I suppose I can't let you perish just yet. After all, where's the fun in that?"
"But now I know one thing, Dying sucks being inside that box for I don't know how long? But at least I got to stretch my legs a bit and have a little fun," I chuckled darkly, a sense of satisfaction coursing through me.
I still remember when I crowned myself as the soul king, carving out my own realm from the fabric of existence. I had grown bored with the petty squabbles of gods and mortals, and so I sought to create my own playground—a realm where I could reign supreme and indulge my every whim.
But even I grew weary of the endless monotony, the ceaseless cycle of power and destruction. And so, let those pesky gods do as they pleased, sealing my shade of soul away in that accursed box for what felt like an eternity.
Now I got myself an heir to my powers, a mortal with the potential to wield the destructive forces that I once commanded. Samael Ashwood may be reckless and inexperienced, but there's a fire burning within him—a hunger for power and a thirst for adventure that I can't help but admire.
"Rejoice brat, For I Reio! the one and only soul king, have decided to spare your pathetic existence—for now. Consider it a gift, a chance to prove yourself worthy of inheriting my legacy."
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[To Be Continued]
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