As the grim boy's hollow eyes glinted with a sinister light, his form began to shimmer with an intensified energy, the ethereal dust swirling around him in chaotic patterns. Zinia could feel the shift in the air, the dark magic coalescing into something far more dangerous, far more desperate. She smirked, her fingers subtly pulling the strings of Mei's movements, readying him for the next wave of attacks.
"You're running out of tricks, hollow," she called out, her voice dripping with condescension. "But by all means, keep trying. I do love a good show."
The grim boy didn't respond verbally; instead, his form blurred, darting toward Mei with a speed that defied the eye. In an instant, Mei was upon him, his katana gleaming with that vibrant blue flame. Their weapons clashed with a thunderous sound that reverberated through the dead forest, the force of it creating shockwaves that tore through the ground beneath them. The impact sent shards of ice and stardust flying in every direction, yet neither combatant gave an inch.
Mei's movements were a flawless dance of power and precision, his strikes calculated and merciless, but always carrying that mechanical grace that marked Zinia's control. He swept the katana in a wide arc, aiming for the hollow's midsection, but the boy twisted away, his new scythe deflecting the blow with a shimmer of icy energy. Mei immediately followed up with a quick succession of strikes, his blade a blur of blue fire as it whirled through the air, each swing carrying the weight of Zinia's will.
The grim boy, despite the hollow emptiness of his form, moved with a fluidity that matched Mei's own. His scythe parried the katana's strikes with an eerie grace, each collision sending sparks of magic into the air. As Mei lunged forward with a thrust aimed at the boy's heart, the hollow creature spun on his heel, using the momentum to bring his scythe down in a deadly arc. Mei barely had time to shift his stance, raising his katana to block the strike, the force of the impact sending tremors through his arms.
But Zinia was already ahead of him. With a subtle flick of her fingers, Mei's body twisted, his free hand darting out to strike the grim boy's side with a powerful punch. The impact was like a bolt of lightning, sending shockwaves through the boy's hollow form, but the creature merely hissed in response, his body rippling like liquid shadow as he absorbed the blow.
Not bad, Zinia thought, watching the exchange with a gleam of excitement in her eyes. He's adapting… but it won't be enough.
Mei pressed the attack, his movements fluid yet relentless. He unleashed a flurry of strikes, his katana flashing with blinding speed as he alternated between slashes and thrusts, each one aimed at exploiting a perceived weakness in the grim boy's defenses. The hollow matched him blow for blow, his scythe moving with an almost preternatural grace, deflecting each strike with precision.
In a sudden burst of speed, Mei switched tactics. He feinted to the left, drawing the hollow's guard, before spinning on his heel and delivering a devastating roundhouse kick to the creature's ribs. The grim boy staggered, the force of the blow sending him skidding across the ground, but he recovered almost instantly, his form flickering with dark energy as he regrouped.
"You're getting slower," Zinia taunted, her tone laced with mockery. "Are you finally realizing how outmatched you are?"
The grim boy said nothing, his hollow eyes narrowing as he prepared his next move. With a sharp exhale, he raised his scythe high, and the space around him began to distort, warping as though the fabric of reality itself was being twisted. Mei paused, sensing the shift, his body tensing in preparation.
Interesting, Zinia mused, her fingers twitching as she adjusted Mei's stance. What are you planning, hollow?
Without warning, the grim boy slashed his scythe through the air, and the space before him tore open, revealing a gaping void—a black hole that began to pull everything toward it with a terrifying force. The ground cracked and splintered as the black hole's gravity intensified, drawing debris, dead trees, and even the air itself into its inescapable pull.
Mei staggered slightly, his feet digging into the ground as he fought to resist the pull, but Zinia's grip on him held firm. With a calm, almost bored expression, she waved her hand, and Mei's body responded instantly. He sheathed his katana with a swift motion, focusing his energy into his hands. The blue flames that had once wreathed his weapon now surged around his fists, crackling with a dangerous intensity.
"Let's finish this," Zinia said softly, more to herself than to the hollow.
Mei launched himself forward, his body a blur as he closed the distance between them. The black hole's pull was immense, but Zinia's control over Mei was stronger. With a determined look in his eyes, Mei plunged his right hand into the heart of the void, the blue flames around his fist flaring up as they collided with the black hole's energy.
For a moment, there was a tense silence, the world holding its breath as the two forces clashed. Then, with a sound like the cracking of the universe itself, the black hole began to tremble, its pull weakening as Mei's essence burned through it. The energy around Mei's hand flared even brighter, forcing the black hole to contract, its power collapsing in on itself.
The grim boy's hollow eyes widened, the first sign of true fear flickering across his expressionless face. He tried to retreat, to escape the inevitable, but Mei was relentless. With a final surge of power, he slashed his hand through the black hole, tearing it apart from within. The resulting explosion was deafening, a burst of raw energy that lit up the sky and sent shockwaves through the earth.
Zinia watched the spectacle with a satisfied smirk, her fingers dancing in the air as she guided Mei's final strike. As the explosion began to dissipate, the battlefield fell silent, the black hole's remnants vanishing into nothingness, leaving behind only a faint trace of stardust.
The grim boy was thrown back by the force of the explosion, his hollow form flickering wildly as he struggled to maintain his shape. He was clearly weakened, his once formidable power reduced to a mere shadow of what it had been.
Mei landed gracefully on the ground, his katana drawn once more, ready to deliver the finishing blow. But Zinia held him back, her smirk widening as she observed the defeated creature before her.
"Now, now," she said, her voice laced with mock concern. "It wouldn't be any fun if we ended it so quickly, would it? Let's see how much more you can take before you finally break."
The grim boy staggered to his feet, his hollow eyes filled with a cold, burning resolve. He raised his scythe once more, though it was clear his strength was fading. Mei's expression remained impassive, his body poised to strike at Zinia's command.
Zinia watched with a gleam of excitement in her eyes, her fingers ready to pull the strings of her puppet once more. You're strong, I'll give you that, she thought, but you were never going to win this. You're just another toy for me to play with, and when I'm done with you, there'll be nothing left.
With that final thought, Zinia made her move, and the battle resumed, the grim boy's hollow form desperately fighting against the inevitable, while Mei moved with the precision of a blade guided by an unyielding force. The end was near, and Zinia was determined to savor every last moment of the fight.
The hollow was reduced to such state that it's movements became somewhat sloppy. But it was desperate to the point its gaze kept lingering from Mei then Zinia until it finally to me.