"A friend?" Aaron asked as Elana joined him in the battle.
"Yeah, it's a long story," she replied softly, her status board appearing beside her as she drew out a long sword with an inscription carved into it.
The first hollow emerged from the ground, with half of its face chopped off by the huge serpent Aaron had summoned earlier. The hollow gave a mischievous grin as its face healed instantly.
"You humans and your cunning ways," the first hollow said, standing beside its companion, who was ready to charge at Elana.
"Cunning ways? You bastards were beating up weaklings before we showed up," Aaron fired back, resting his katana on his shoulder.
"Hand over that vessel; he belongs to the Lord," the second hollow said impatiently, pointing at Rylan, who was badly injured.
Elana furrowed her eyebrows. "And what is your business with him?" she asked.
"Well, since you both will die, I'll gladly tell you. You see, he has become the vessel for Shoji, and to make the Lord's plans a reality, we're going to feed him to the Lord himself," the hollow paused with a smirk, then continued. "Then we'll kill the seven gods of heaven, or should I say, the six gods of heaven."
"Tsk... enough of the talk. Why don't we chat more with our blades?" Aaron challenged.
Elana and Aaron prepared themselves for the impending battle. Elana's sword glowed with a mystical energy as she readied her stance. Aaron's serpent coiled around him, its eyes locked onto the hollows.
"Let's make this quick," Elana said, her voice steady and determined.
The first hollow lunged at Elana with incredible speed, but she parried its attack with a swift motion of her sword. The force of the clash sent shockwaves through the air. Aaron dashed forward, his katana slashing through the air with precision. He aimed for the second hollow, who dodged and countered with a vicious swipe of its claws.
Rylan, struggling to stay conscious, watched the battle unfold. He knew he had to do something, but his body was weak, and his healing power was almost depleted.
The battlefield was a chaotic storm of motion, energy, and sheer willpower. The sky was lit up by the flashes of Aaron's katana clashing with the first hollow's claws, the intense sparks illuminating the grim determination on Aaron's face. Around them, airborne trains zipped past, their occupants staring in shock at the fierce aerial duel.
Rylan struggled on the ground, his body unresponsive despite his desperate attempts to move. "Damn it, move! Move, move!" he cursed, frustration and pain etched on his face. He could only watch as his friends fought for their lives.
In a blur of speed and skill, Elana engaged the second hollow, her movements a graceful dance of death. She spun like a tornado, her sword delivering a series of precise, powerful slashes. But the hollow, with its superhuman agility, dodged each attack with contemptuous ease, a wicked grin plastered across its face.
"Entertain me more, human, and I shall deem you worthy of the Lord's Vasto Lordes army," the hollow taunted, its voice a mocking snarl.
Elana's eyes narrowed. She needed a new strategy. Drawing a deep breath, she focused, channeling all her energy into a single, concentrated strike. Her sword began to glow, the inscription on it burning with an intense light. With a fierce battle cry, she lunged at the hollow.
*** BRIEF INFORMATION ***
In the world where Aaron, Elana, and Rylan fight to protect their realm, hollows come in various forms, each with unique and increasingly formidable powers. Here are the seven forms of hollows:
### 1. **Minions**
- **Description:** The lowest rank of hollows, minions are numerous and lack significant power or intelligence.
- **Abilities:** They possess basic combat skills and limited regenerative abilities, making them relatively easy targets for adventurers. Minions often attack in swarms, relying on sheer numbers rather than individual strength.
### 2. **Lurkers**
- **Description:** Lurkers are a step above minions, known for their stealth and cunning.
- **Abilities:** They can blend into their surroundings, becoming nearly invisible. Lurkers are adept at ambush tactics, using their enhanced speed and agility to strike unexpectedly. They have moderate regenerative abilities and can manipulate shadows to create illusions.
### 3. **Enforcers**
- **Description:** Enforcers serve as the muscle for the hollow hierarchy, boasting greater physical strength and endurance.
- **Abilities:** They possess immense brute strength and tough, nearly impenetrable skin. Enforcers can generate shockwaves with their attacks, causing widespread destruction. Their regeneration is faster than lurkers, making them more challenging to defeat.
### 4. **Wraiths**
- **Description:** Wraiths are ethereal hollows, feared for their ability to manipulate spiritual energy.
- **Abilities:** They can phase through solid objects, becoming intangible at will. Wraiths can drain the life force from their enemies, weakening them over time. Their regenerative abilities are advanced, allowing them to recover quickly from most injuries.
### 5. **Vasto Lordes**
- **Description:** Vasto Lordes are elite hollows, revered for their immense power and intelligence.
- **Abilities:** They command vast spiritual energy, enabling them to perform devastating attacks. Vasto Lordes can manipulate elements such as fire, ice, or lightning, and possess near-perfect regenerative abilities. They often lead hollow armies and are strategic masterminds in battle.
### 6. **Lords**
- **Description:** Lords are the hollow commanders, overseeing vasto lordes and other hollows with absolute authority.
- **Abilities:** They wield unparalleled power, capable of altering the fabric of reality itself. Lords can create and manipulate powerful barriers, summon massive energy blasts, and control lesser hollows with their minds. Their regeneration is almost instantaneous, making them nearly invincible in combat.
### 7. **Founding Hollows**
- **Description:** Founding Hollows are the rarest and most powerful form of hollows, appearing once every 2 billion years.
- **Abilities:** They are the embodiment of chaos and destruction, with powers that can reshape worlds. Founding Hollows can manipulate time and space, create and destroy matter, and harness the energy of entire planets. Their regenerative capabilities are beyond comprehension, allowing them to recover from any injury instantaneously. Founding Hollows are ancient beings of immense knowledge and power, feared by all other hollows and beings alike.
--- END OF INFORMATION ------
Aaron and Elana quickly realized that the Vasto Lorde they faced was far beyond their capabilities. They needed to deliver a fatal injury, at the very least, to survive this encounter. The air around them crackled with tension, their determination unwavering despite the overwhelming odds.
"Aaron, we need to do something drastic!" Elana shouted, her eyes flicking between Aaron and the Vasto Lorde, which was preparing another devastating attack.
Aaron clasped his hands together, focusing his energy. "I know. Just cover me for a moment!" he replied, his voice steady but urgent. His mind raced through the techniques he had mastered, settling on one of the most powerful and dangerous ones.
"Serpent Haven, Third Gate of Infinite Strike!" Aaron intoned, his voice echoing with power. As he performed the ninjutsu technique, the air around them shimmered, and the environment seemed to warp.
The Vasto Lorde, sensing something amiss, lunged at Aaron, but Elana intercepted with a flurry of precise strikes, forcing it back just long enough for Aaron to complete the technique. A portal opened beneath the Vasto Lorde, dragging it into a bottomless domain filled with writhing serpents. Above, a massive gate materialized, creaking open to reveal a gigantic snake with menacing eyes.
The Vasto Lorde roared in defiance, but it was too late. The giant snake charged at the hollow, delivering a massive, crushing bite. Other serpents swarmed, striking in unison, their fangs sinking into the hollow's flesh repeatedly. The Vasto Lorde thrashed and fought back, its regenerative abilities struggling to keep up with the relentless onslaught.
Aaron and Elana watched from the edge of the domain, their breaths bated. The power of the technique was immense, but they knew it might not be enough to fully defeat a Vasto Lorde. However, it could deliver the crucial injury they needed.
"Come on... just a little more," Aaron muttered, his hands still clasped, maintaining the technique. Sweat beaded on his forehead, the strain evident.
Elana kept her sword ready, her eyes locked on the Vasto Lorde. She knew they had to be prepared for whatever came next. The serpents continued their attack, overwhelming the Vasto Lorde with sheer numbers and ferocity. The hollow's roars grew weaker, its movements slowing as the damage accumulated.
Finally, with a deafening hiss, the gigantic snake delivered a final, crushing bite, breaking through the Vasto Lorde's defenses and delivering a fatal wound. The hollow let out a guttural scream, its form flickering as it began to disintegrate.
The domain started to dissolve, the serpents fading into nothingness as Aaron released the technique. He staggered, exhaustion clear on his face. "Did... did we get it?" he asked, his voice barely more than a whisper...