The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the barren desert as Roman and Nina finally arrived at the ominous structure that loomed before them—a small, dark black pyramid, its surface smooth and unyielding. The air was thick with tension, and a heavy silence enveloped them as they stared at the pyramid.
Roman broke the silence, his voice low and resolute. "We're here."
Nina nodded, her eyes narrowing as she took in their surroundings. "It seems so."
Before they could take another step, a loud, echoing voice shattered the stillness. It was cold, yet laced with a cruel amusement, and it sent a shiver down Nina's spine.
"It seems you two have made it, but this is where you all die."
Roman's eyes darted upward, his gaze locking onto the figure standing atop the pyramid. It was Neato, his presence exuding an almost palpable aura of menace. Roman's confusion deepened—how could Neato be standing there, after everything they had been through?
But there was no time to ponder. In the blink of an eye, Neato moved with blinding speed, targeting Roman. Before Roman could react, Neato's hand was gripping his face with iron strength. With a sickening force, Neato smashed Roman into the ground, the impact sending tremors through the earth.
Roman grunted in pain but quickly recovered, rolling to his feet with a grim determination. He drew his katana, the blade gleaming ominously in the fading light. "How did you survive?" he demanded, his voice a mix of shock and anger.
Neato's laughter echoed across the desert, dark and mocking. "What do you mean, how did I survive? You came here to kill me, didn't you? So fight me."
Roman wasted no time. He charged at Neato, their swords clashing with a sound that reverberated through the air. Sparks flew as they exchanged blows, each strike more vicious than the last. Roman's eyes were filled with a mixture of desperation and resolve, but Neato's face remained eerily calm, almost bored, as if he were toying with his prey.
Nina, standing on the sidelines, could only watch in stunned silence as the two warriors battled fiercely. The ground around them became a battlefield of dust and blood, yet neither seemed willing to give an inch.
Suddenly, Nina felt a presence beside her, and she turned to see Astron standing there, her face devoid of emotion, blood still trickling from her empty eye sockets.
"Do you really believe that the man you came with will survive?" Astron asked, her voice eerily calm.
Nina's gaze flicked back to the fight, her heart pounding in her chest. "I don't know," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
They both stood there, watching as Neato and Roman continued their brutal clash. Neato's speed and strength were overwhelming, and yet Roman fought with a ferocity that seemed fueled by something deeper than mere survival.
END OF CHAPTER 51