The air grew thick with tension. Matiane sensed it too, feeling Atlas's powerful purple Zeten. Atlas, cloaked in dark green, commanded attention.
He summoned countless portals around him, releasing birds with eerie purple auras and human-like faces. The creatures swarmed Matiane with alarming speed.
Reacting quickly, Matiane slashed through the horde with a red Neba sword. But as the birds' purple blood splattered on him, pain shot through Matiane, leaving a gaping hole in his flesh. Shocked, he realized too late that the birds were a trap.
The birds exploded, covering Matiane in their corrosive purple blood. Trees and grass sizzled and charred under the liquid's destructive power.
Atlas closed in on the incapacitated Matiane, wielding a long katana forged from Zeten. Despite Matiane's attempts to evade, the blade extended unnaturally, slicing through his hand.
Matiane shined with a yellow light, pushing Atlas back and revealing his wounded body. His eye was missing, and his entire form was covered in burns, with bones exposed in several places. Yet, he wore a twisted smile. A sinister red Neba enveloped him, rapidly healing his wounds.
The crew watched, knowing intervening would disrupt Atlas's plan. Atlas questioned Matiane, "What is your goal? Why are you trying to kill us when you're a Zeten yourself."
Matiane laughed. "I'm not one of you. You Zetens are a flaw in this world. I was given power by a god to fulfill his desires, and I will."
Atlas, unable to find a Zeten cross tattoo on Matiane, was perplexed. "How is that possible?" he wondered. Matiane wielded three Nebas yellow, orange and red, but he had no Zeten mark.
Dune pondered Matiane's claims. If a god granted him power, what did it mean? Was there a divine plan to eradicate Zetens?
Matiane's laughter echoed. He sighed, looking skyward. "Let's end this," he declared, the air growing oppressive.
From Matiane emerged a dark, bloody-red Neba, forming a cross-shaped sword. "God of war Atreus, accept this offering," he muttered. "Five souls and the flaw of the world, as you requested."
A surge of energy erupted from him, and the Neba expanded, forming an ominous dark red circle around the crew, trapping them within its boundaries.
"Neba art, Bloody Coffin," Matiane whispered, his voice dripping with malice.
Dune's heart raced as he took in the scene. "What the hell is this?" he thought, panic rising within him.
Desperate to find a way out, Dune reached out to touch the red Neba barrier surrounding them. As soon as his hand made contact, an intense burning sensation shot through his arm.
"Ahh!" he screamed, falling to one knee in pain, clutching his wounded hand. The searing agony left him gasping for breath, and he looked up at Matiane, whose cruel smile only widened.
They were now confined inside the red circle made from Neba. The metallic scent of blood filled the air, making it hard to breathe.
" this smell.. It's blood," Dune realized, his stomach churning.
Matiane's dark chuckle echoed around them, amplifying the sense of dread. "You poor souls," Matiane moved towards the crew, his steps echoing doom.
Atlas stood up to face Matiane, but suddenly, long bloody spikes extended from the barrier in every direction, aimed to the crew. Ned and Dune couldn't do much, receiving most of the hits, while the twins and Atlas managed to dodge several of them.
Atlas, enveloped in a purple Zeten, moved with a blur of speed, weaving and ducking to avoid the spikes. His movements were almost too fast to follow, a testament to his mastery of the zeten power. With agile steps and swift turns, he navigated the deadly forest of spikes, making his way towards Matiane.
Atlas swung his sword at Matiane's neck, Matiane raised his hands, controlling more spikes. Hundreds of them erupted from below the red Neba barrier, stabbing Atlas in several places despite his efforts."You really thought the spikes could only come up from below the barrier? How naive and stupid of you, Atlas."
Matiane then landed a punch in Atlas's stomach, sending him flying back. Atlas fell to the ground but quickly rose, enveloped in a purple Zeten, healing himself and ready to charge at Matiane again.
But behind him the twins suddenly collapsed in agony, convulsing and coughing blood. Dune and Ned rushed to help, frantic.
"What's happening?" Ned cried. Matiane laughed cruelly, enjoying their helplessness.
Atlas, blood trickling from his nose, realized the gravity of their situation. "Poison?" he murmured. Matiane confirmed it with a smug smile.
"Sadly, you were too slow to realize it."
Atlas's vision blurred as the poison took effect. "Damn it, i can't even use my abilities.. this is a Neba poison" With a heavy heart, he glanced at Dune and Ned, their attempts to save the twins futile.
In a silent exchange, Atlas conveyed his resolve. As Dune's anguished cry filled the air, Matiane delivered the final blow, driving his sword into Atlas's heart. "One," he declared, darkness enveloping Atlas.
Atlas's lifeless body fell, consumed by crimson flames. The crew's cries of anguish echoed. Ned, furious, harnessed the full might of his power, blending Green Neba with green Zeten for a devastating wind attack.
Dune stood in stunned silence, unsure how to react. Ned surged forward, but Matiane intercepted him, severing both of Ned's arms with a single strike. "Well, that was scary.. that ability of yours, it's not a joke ," Matiane laughed.
Dune, desperate, rushed to protect his brother. Seeing Ned in pain, his arms severed, filled Dune with rage. Ignoring his fear, he charged at Matiane.
But Matiane's mocking laughter filled the air. He kicked Dune in the stomach, sending waves of agony through him. Dune collapsed, coughing up blood. And then, Matiane struck Ned down with a fatal blow. "Two," he declared.
Dune's anguished cry echoed, pleading for the nightmare to end. Tears streamed down his face as he clung to hope. "No, no, no, please," he begged, his heart shattered. He urged his fallen brother to rise, but it was too late.
Before he could comprehend the depth of his despair, Matiane's onslaught continued. With a cruel grin, Matiane pressed his foot on Dune's face and plunged his sword into Dune's heart. "Three," he declared.
Darkness enveloped Dune. His mind raced with memories, laughter, love, longing. He yearned for a future filled with joy and strength, but all that remained was an endless abyss of pain and sorrow until..