Zara growled softly, her ears folding back. Vin nodded, his eyes flashing with a fierce light. "Let's end this."
The leader sneered, pulling back his hood to reveal a scarred face.
"You're a hard man to find, Vin," he spat. "But now that we have you, you'll make a fine addition to our master's collection."
Vin's expression remained unreadable. "Who's your master?" he asked, his voice dripping with disinterest.
The scar-faced man snarled.
"You'll find out soon enough. Attack!"
The hooded figures charged, their movements swift and deadly. Mara darted forward, her fists a blur as she took down the two on the left.
Vin didn't unsheath his Void sword, but using his two first fingers he condensed Sword Qi on them, its violet energy slicing through the darkness. Zara lunged forward, her ribbons tearing into the attackers.
The battle raged on, the cave echoing with clashes of steel and screams of pain.
Vin moved with precision, his finger sword weaving a deadly dance. Mara fought with equal ferocity, her movements a testament to her Esquisite Paradise training.
As the fight intensified, Vin sensed something off. These attackers were mere pawns, but who was the master pulling the strings?
Suddenly, a faint hum filled the air, and the attackers' movements grew more synchronized.
"Vin, watch out!" Mara shouted. "They're being controlled!"
Vin's gaze snapped toward the leader, who now held a small, glowing artifact.
"A Spirit Anchor," Vin growled. "They're being manipulated remotely."
Mara's eyes locked onto the artifact.
"Take it out!" she shouted.
Vin charged forward, his finger sword flashing toward the leader.
But just as he struck, a blinding light filled the cave, and everything went white.
The light faded, revealing a figure standing behind the hooded leader. Tall, imposing, and shrouded in shadows, the newcomer radiated an aura of immense power.
"Ah, Vin," the figure said, its voice like thunder. "I've been waiting."
Vin's gaze narrowed, his Hellblade still poised for attack. "Who are you?" he demanded. This people seemed to know him well, and the fact that they were able to track him to this cave meant they had kept a good eye on him.
The figure stepped forward, its features slowly materializing from the shadows.
"I am Stain, servant of the Dark Disciple Midwak," Kael declared, his eyes burning with fanatical intensity. "And you, Vin, are a prized acquisition or should I say Zero."
Mara's eyes widened.
"Zero?" she repeated. "You mean...."
Stain nodded.
"The same one you've heard of. You see our master seeks to exploit Vin's unique abilities for the greater good."
Vin's expression turned icy. He had no idea how the Eye Of the Midnight Sun had found out his identity, and now their most terrifying creatures the Dark Disciples had set their sights on him.
"You'll never take me alive," he snarled.
Stain smiled, but that only gave out a creepy feeling as Vin could sense his confidence.
"Oh, but I will," he said. "With the Spirit Anchor, I can control these puppets. And with you....
Stain raised his hand, and the hooded figures rose, their eyes vacant, their movements mechanical.
"...I'll make sure you cooperate."
Mara charged forward, but Stain effortlessly deflected her blows with a single slap.
"Vin, snap out of it!" Mara shouted. "We need to get out of here!"
Vin's gaze locked onto Stain, his mind racing. He sensed the Spirit Anchor's influence, but his Hell Phoenix bloodline resisted the control.
With a burst of adrenaline, Vin shook off the Anchor's effects. His finger sword flashed, slicing through the hooded figures.
"Zara, get Mara out!" Vin shouted. "I'll handle him!". Zara sprang into action, grabbing Mara and leaping toward the cave entrance.
Stain sneered, as he looked at Vin in disdain "You think you can defeat me, Vin?" he taunted.
Vin's eyes blazed. "I'll show you what defeat looks like."
The battle between Vin and Kael erupted, their powers clashing in a spectacular display.
As Mara and Zara escaped into the night, Mara turned back to gaze at the cave.
"Vin will be fine," she whispered to Zara. "He has to be."
Zara's growl was reassuring, but Mara's eyes lingered on the cave, her heart heavy with concern.
Although she had no idea who this so called Dark Disciple was, the fact that he was able to control a servant as strong as that, then he must be terrifying, although she couldn't sense Stain's cultivation level, she knew he was strong, very strong.
But that wasn't the only thing that made her worried, she had seen it, when Vin had heard the two words Dark Disciple his body had trembled for a second and she had a feeling it was out of fear.
But then her mind started to divert towards a shocking secret she had just heard "Vin is... Zero". This discovery was truly shocking, she had heard of the Exodus Order, and the things they had done.
It was only because of the Mystic Realm opening that the excitement of the new force had reduced a little, but that still didn't change the fact that everyone had by now heard of the Exodus Order.
Their amazing feat, at the Hage village was truly something to be remembered, and not only that, their leader, Zero was someone who the younger generation looked up to.
Although they had no idea who he was, they knew from the reports of the bystanders that witnessed the battle, that he was young, possibly a member of the younger generations.
All the various factions and sects had been trying to find out who he was both in secret and in the public, but to no avail, so they could only assume that he was probably one of the top disciples in the top five sects.
But now someone had found out who he is, and was contemplating if she should reveal the information to her sect, she would definitely be rewarded but after thinking about for a while she decided not to.
"He saved my life, the least I can do is keep his secret," she whispered to herself as she took one more glance behind her "I do hope you come out of this Vin"
The cave's entrance erupted in a blaze of violet energy, Vin's Void Sword clashing against Stain's dark, ethereal sword. The air reverberated with the force of their battle.
Vin's movements were fluid, his Hell Phoenix bloodline amplifying his strength. Stain, however, seemed unfazed, his powers bolstered by the Spirit Anchor.
"You're impressive, Vin," Kael admitted, "but the Master's will shall not be denied."
Vin's gaze burned with determination. "I'll never serve your master." he was surprised at how strong this guy was, though he wasn't using his full strength as he had decided to put a seal on it.
But still someone in the sixth stage should be able to keep up with him, but this servant of the Dark Disciple could, it could be seen how much of an amplification that Spirit Anchor bolstered his strength.
Stain sneered. "We'll see about that."
Their blades danced, exchanging blows that shook the cave. Vin's Void sword sliced through the darkness, but Kael's sword seemed to absorb the attacks.
Suddenly, Vin's eyes flashed with insight. "Your sword... it's not just any sword."
Stain's smile faltered. "You're perceptive," he said. "This is a Devourer's Blade, forged from the essence of a defeated beast."
Vin's grip on Void sword tightened. "I'll shatter it." he whisperered
"Sword Two"
With renewed ferocity, Vin launched a barrage of attacks. Stain countered, their blades locked in a struggle that seemed to defy the laws of physics.
As the battle raged on, the cave began to destabilize. Rocks crumbled, and the sound of shifting earth filled the air.
Mara and Zara, now distant from the cave, felt the tremors.
"Vin..." Mara whispered, her eyes worried.
Zara's growl was reassuring, but Mara knew Vin faced a formidable foe.
Back in the cave, Vin's strength waned. Stain's Devourer's Blade seemed to drain his energy.
"No..." Vin gritted, refusing to yield.
With a surge of adrenaline, Vin recalled his master's words: "In times of desperation, tap into your core."
Vin focused, channeling his Spiritual Energy into Void. The sword blazed with renewed fury.
Stainstumbled back, his eyes widening. "Impossible!" he shouted. He was stunned that after all this while he still hadn't defeated someone in the same realm as him.
Vin seized the opportunity. "Finish it!" he roared.
Void sliced through Stain's defenses, striking true. The Devourer's Blade shattered, releasing a blast of energy.
As the cave collapsed, Vin emerged, battered but victorious. Stain lay defeated, the Spirit Anchor destroyed and he couldn't be anymore dead.
Mara and Zara rushed back, their faces etched with concern.
"Vin!" Mara exclaimed.
Vin stood, his chest heaving.
"It's done," he said. "Their plan foiled, for now."
Zara nuzzled Vin, her growl soft.
Mara's eyes narrowed.
"This isn't over," she said. "I'm pretty sure they will send more agents."
Vin nodded.
"I'll be ready."
As they departed the crumbling cave, Vin's thoughts turned to the mysterious Dark Disciple.
Who was this mastermind? And what did they truly seek?
The night swallowed their figures, leaving behind only the echoes of their determination.
*************