Kazuki Town, a once peaceful and prosperous settlement surrounded by dense forests, comes into focus. The bustling streets are alive with the chatter of townsfolk going about their day, unaware of the dark schemes unfolding beyond their borders. The sound of horses galloping echoes in the distance, growing louder with each passing moment.
CRACK! CRACK!
Within the depths of the forest, a sinister scene unfolds. A gaunt, frail slave struggles to keep pace with a column of knights, his back marred by the whip of a ruthless army leader.
Army Leader: "Blow the horn, you worthless rat!"
Slave (trembling): "P-please, I'm too tired... I c-can't..."
Army Leader (snarling): "You dare defy me?!" WHIP! WHIP!
Slave (screaming): "AAARGH! A-alright, I'll do it!"
The slave, his hands shaking, raises a large horn to his lips and blows with what little strength he has left.
BOOOOOOOOM!
The sound reverberates through the air, silencing the town as its residents rush to see what's happening. Among them is the elder chief, Vesstan Virlynn, a short, stoic man with a long white beard and hair that partially obscures his piercing eyes.
Vesstan steps forward, his cane tapping against the cobblestones as he leads the townsfolk to the gates. There, an imposing force of knights stands ready, their leader sneering at the gathering crowd.
Army Leader: "By decree of the king, we are here to claim this land. You should feel honored—we'll pay 10,000 gold for your pitiful town."
Vesstan (calmly): "This land isn't for sale. I've watched over Kauski since it was nothing but a dirt field. These people are my family, and this is our home. No amount of gold will make us leave."
Army Leader (glaring): "Are you defying the king's will, old man?!"
Vesstan (firmly): "I'm not defying anyone. I'm simply protecting what is ours."
The tension thickens as the knights grip their weapons. The army leader's face contorts into an angry sneer as he takes a step closer.
Army Leader: "This is your last chance. Either you accept the deal, or we'll take this town by force."
Vesstan (unwavering): "I won't repeat myself. The answer is no."
The army leader's patience snaps. He raises his hand, signaling the mages in his ranks.
Army Leader: "Do it."
The mages chant in unison, their hands glowing with arcane energy. A shimmering forcefield springs up, trapping the townsfolk within.
FWOOOOOSH!
Townspeople scream and shout as they realize they're surrounded. The knights march forward, grabbing children from their parents' arms.
Parent 1: "Let go of my child!"
Knight (sneering): "Get out of the way, you pathetic worms!"
Child (crying): "Mama! Papa!"
Parent 2: "You'll have to kill us first!"
The chaos intensifies as the knights begin dragging families apart. Vesstan, standing at the center of it all, grips his staff tightly. His calm demeanor vanishes, replaced by an aura of barely contained rage.
Vesstan (low growl): "I didn't want it to come to this."
He steps forward, his aura flaring red. The ground trembles as a shockwave of energy explodes outward.
BOOOOM!
The soldiers attempting to drag children are thrown back, crashing into their comrades like ragdolls. The townsfolk gasp in awe and fear as Vesstan's true power is revealed.
Army Leader (stunned): "What... what are you?! You're not human!"
Vesstan (coldly): "I never claimed to be. I am Vesstan Virlynn, guardian of this town. For thousands of years, I've protected these lands, and I'll die before I let you destroy them."
The knights hesitate, but the army leader's resolve hardens. He smirks and claps his hands. From the shadows, two figures step forward, exuding dark, menacing auras.
Army Leader: "I expected resistance. Meet my secret weapons—D-Rank adventurer, Zira the Flame Sorceress, and C-Rank adventurer, Grall the Iron Executioner."
Zira, a slender woman with crimson robes and a staff crackling with fire, rolls her eyes as she examines the townsfolk.
Zira (mocking): "This is who we're fighting? A bunch of peasants and a cranky old elf? How boring."
Beside her, Grall, a towering brute with rippling muscles and a massive battle-axe, chuckles deeply.
Grall: "I don't care who they are. I'll crush them all the same. Let's make this quick—I'm itching to fight!"
The army leader steps back, grinning smugly as his two adventurers prepare for battle. The townsfolk huddle behind Vesstan, their last hope against the oncoming storm.
Vesstan (to himself): "So this is what it's come to... Very well. Let's see if you're ready
with his aura blazing brighter than ever, Vesstan plants his staff into the ground. The wind howls, and the skies darken as he prepares to defend Kazuki Town with Everything he has.
The scene begins with a tense standoff in the middle of the town square. The Army Leader, clad in imposing black armor adorned with spikes, steps forward, his booming voice echoing across the crowd.
"With our might and numbers, you dare defy us?! Submit now, or face annihilation!"
The Town Elder, an old but fierce man draped in simple robes, steps forward, gripping his wooden staff with weathered hands. His eyes burn with determination.
"I don't care what happens to me. I will never allow you to harm my townspeople!" he declares, his voice unwavering.
The group of adventurers, a ragtag band of fighters, mages, and rogues, step forward as well, standing behind the elder.
"Then let's get ready!" one of them shouts, brandishing their weapon.
A towering adventurer, the party's meathead fighter, cracks his knuckles and steps forward eagerly.
"Let me go first!" he roars, hefting a massive battle axe over his shoulder. The blade begins to glow with a fiery yellow energy as he charges toward the elder.
With each step, the ground trembles beneath his massive frame.
"You should've just stayed down, old man!" the fighter shouts, raising his glowing axe high above his head.
The Town Elder, calm as ever, glances around with sharp eyes. His gaze locks onto a pile of broomsticks leaning against a wall. With a subtle gesture of his finger, he points at them, then upward.
"I've defended this town longer than you've been alive. You won't harm a single soul here today!"
The broomsticks begin to quiver, then rise into the air, one by one. A faint crimson glow surrounds them, intensifying with each passing second. The crowd watches in awe as the elder motions, causing the broomsticks to hover behind him like a fleet of makeshift weapons.
"Attack me if you dare!" the elder declares, his voice crackling with energy.
The meathead lets out a bellowing laugh, bringing his glowing axe down in a devastating swing.
"I'd like to see you stop this!" he taunts.
The elder thrusts his finger forward, and the broomsticks launch like rockets. They streak through the air, trailing red energy that explodes behind them in fiery bursts. The sound is deafening, like the roar of a hundred cannons.
The meathead's eyes widen in surprise as the glowing projectiles close the distance faster than he expected. Gritting his teeth, he plants his feet firmly and swings his axe like a baseball bat.
"Let's see you handle this!" he shouts, unleashing a wave of yellow energy to counter the incoming broomsticks.
The first broomstick clashes with his axe, the impact sending shockwaves rippling outward. Sparks of red and yellow energy dance wildly as the meathead's strength meets the elder's magic.
Then the second broomstick strikes.
And the third.
And the fourth.
The meathead grits his teeth, struggling to hold his ground as the relentless assault continues. Finally, two broomsticks shoot in unison, delivering a decisive blow. The axe cracks, then shatters into a hundred glowing fragments.
"What?!" the meathead gasps, his face a mask of disbelief.
Before he can react, the remaining broomsticks slam into him, sending him flying. His massive frame disappears into the sky, a comical sparkle marking his departure.
The remaining broomsticks, still crackling with energy, veer toward the army. The soldiers hesitate, panic spreading among their ranks.
The Army Leader, now visibly nervous, shouts, "Stand your ground!" He quickly turns to the mage in his ranks and thrusts a heavy bag of coins at her.
"Protect me! Use your magic! I'll pay you 10,000 gold!"
The mage, a tall woman with an elegant staff and a condescending smirk, inspects the bag and shrugs.
"Make it 15,000," she says.
"Fine! Just do it!" the leader shouts, trembling.
The mage steps forward, her staff glowing with a deep purple light. With a wave of her hand, she conjures a shimmering barrier of energy.
The broomsticks collide with the barrier one by one, shattering it layer by layer. The mage grits her teeth, pouring more power into her spell. Sweat drips from her brow as she adds three more layers to the barrier.
Finally, one broomstick remains. It slams into the final layer, and both explode in a burst of red and purple energy. The force sends the mage stumbling to her knees.
"H-how…?" she gasps, staring at the elder in disbelief. "He almost made me use all my energy… at his age?"
The elder straightens his back and smirks.
"For your information, I'm 2,391 years old," he says casually.
The mage's face twists in a mix of anger and humiliation. Meanwhile, the Army Leader is sprawled on the ground, unconscious, a noticeable wet stain spreading across his pants.
The mage glances at him in disgust and spits.
"You pathetic fool," she mutters. Then she rises, gripping her staff tightly.
"Fine," she snarls. "If you want to see true power, I'll show you. Behold my ultimate attack!"
She thrusts her staff into the air, a swirling vortex of purple energy forming above her. The energy condenses into the shape of a massive, spectral dragon. Its eyes burn with malevolent light as it lets out an ear-shattering roar.
"This is my C-Ranked ultimate attack: Dragon Wrath! Prepare to meet your end!"
With a mighty cry, the mage points her staff forward. The dragon surges toward the elder and the townspeople behind him, its massive jaws wide open.
The elder steps forward, his staff glowing faintly as he prepares to counter the attack.
"Let's see how much power you truly have," he says, his voice steady.
The scene is set for an explosive showdown between the elder and the mage's devastating spell.
The town trembled as the colossal dragon surged forward, its immense wings creating gusts of wind that whipped the air around the people. It was a monstrous, ancient beast with scales that shimmered like obsidian under the moonlight, glowing with ominous purple energy. With a fearsome roar, the dragon drew in a breath, its mouth opening wide to form a small, crackling purple energy ball, glowing brighter and brighter with each passing second.
Kazuki, Seraphina, and the Elder watched as the dragon's body tensed, preparing to unleash its devastating attack. The tension in the air was thick, as if time itself was slowing down. The energy ball inside the dragon's mouth pulsed, growing exponentially in size. It was as if the entire town could feel the energy building, the very earth shaking underfoot.
The dragon shot forward with blinding speed, moving faster than any living creature could react. The purple orb was now enormous, a harbinger of destruction. It rocketed toward the Elder, the ground quaking beneath the beast's raw power.
In a last-ditch effort, the Elder snapped his fingers, making intricate, precise movements with his hands. The air vibrated with an electric hum as red energy crackled around him, surrounding his form. He gritted his teeth, a painful groan escaping from his lips as a crimson energy barrier materialized. The barrier enveloped the townspeople, protecting them from the impending calamity but leaving the Elder exposed.
"Why couldn't I be younger?" The Elder muttered through clenched teeth, his face contorting with the weight of the years.
In a flash, the Elder's mind was flooded with memories of his youth. He was no longer the weary man standing in front of a deadly dragon. Instead, he saw himself as he was decades ago, vibrant and full of life. His long white hair swayed in the wind, his piercing blue eyes gleaming with determination. He wore a flowing robe and gleaming armor, his sword stained with the blood of countless dragons. He stood proudly atop the corpse of an enormous dragon, its scales littering the ground beneath him.
"I was once known as the Dragon Slayer…" The Elder's voice echoed in his own mind as his memory replayed a time when he had been a renowned adventurer and military general. Back then, his name struck fear into the hearts of dragons. He had slain hundreds of thousands of the beasts, leading his forces in battles that shook the very foundations of the world. He had been powerful, unstoppable, a hero in his prime.
But now… now he was a shadow of that man. The years had taken their toll.
Back in the present, the Elder's breath hitched, and he spat blood from his mouth. His body shook with exhaustion, his once-immense strength barely enough to hold the barrier in place. His vision blurred, his thoughts scattering as pain coursed through him. His legs trembled, threatening to buckle beneath him as he struggled to stay upright.
"Old age… comes for everyone," he muttered, his voice barely a whisper. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to one knee, still holding the barrier with a single, trembling hand. Blood leaked from his mouth, dripping down to the ground below him as his eyes grew heavy.
The townspeople looked on in terror, witnessing the Elder's struggle. The Elder's mind raced as his vision dimmed. His eyes darted around, desperately trying to focus, but everything was spinning. He could feel his body nearing its breaking point, but his thoughts turned to the people he had sworn to protect.
"I cannot… I cannot let them fall. I will not let them die…" His voice was weak, but his will was as strong as ever. The faces of the townspeople flashed through his mind—his family, his friends, his comrades. He couldn't bear the thought of them being wiped out because of his inability to fight.
With a final, resolute breath, the Elder's spirit surged. "I will sacrifice myself for them. I must…!"
His body suddenly surged with red energy, crackling with raw power. His eyes blazed with a fierce determination, and he stood tall, his body glowing like a blazing inferno. The barrier around the townspeople shimmered with newfound strength, expanding outward to keep the dragon's attack at bay.
"YOU WON'T PASS ME!" the Elder roared, his voice booming with an authority that commanded the very earth beneath him. The crimson energy around him intensified, the barrier becoming a wall of impenetrable might.
But the dragon was relentless.
The purple orb in the dragon's mouth expanded further, reaching a size that seemed impossible. The tension in the air was unbearable as the orb's energy swelled. The Elder's barrier strained under the immense pressure, and the dragon's roar pierced the night. It was a clash of power that could tear the world apart.
Then, with a deafening explosion, the barrier shattered.
The Elder's eyes widened in horror as the energy ball closed in on him, the dragon's roar echoing through the skies. He knew it was over. There was no escaping this. No more strength left in his body.
But then—something unexpected happened.
In the sky above, strange figures appeared. Shadows, barely distinguishable from the darkened sky, materialized out of nowhere. The dragon's attack seemed to pause for a moment as the mysterious figures descended, their dark forms outlined against the pale moonlight.
Kazuki and Seraphina had arrived.
Kazuki's clothes billowed in the wind, his dark hair fluttering like a cloak. His eyes glinted with an unreadable expression, and a grin played on his lips as he surveyed the battlefield. Seraphina, in her humanoid form, floated beside him, her golden eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.
With a flick of his wrist, Kazuki extended his hand towards the dragon. His palm glowed with a dark, strange energy, swirling with an essence that seemed to bend the very fabric of space. The dragon's energy ball stopped in mid-air, its raw power stilled by an invisible force.
Kazuki's eyes narrowed. "So, you decided to play with us, huh?"
In a single motion, the dark energy coiled around the dragon's attack, absorbing it completely, leaving nothing behind. The purple orb disintegrated into nothingness, devoured by Kazuki's power.
The dragon roared in confusion, but it was powerless against the strange energy that had consumed its attack.
Kazuki's grin widened, his voice dripping with authority as he spoke to the shadowy figures around him. "I hate being bored. I think it's time we end this little game."
Seraphina, standing beside him, gave a playful smile. "That was fun," she said, her voice light and mischievous. "But I think it's time for something more interesting, don't you?"
The Elder, barely able to comprehend what had just happened, gazed up at Kazuki and Seraphina. A flicker of relief sparked in his eyes as his vision faded. The town, for now, was saved. But as Kazuki and Seraphina landed with grace, the real battle was just beginning.
The dragon's fury was nothing compared to the forces now gathered in this strange, new world.
The battlefield was a cacophony of destruction, the air thick with the stench of burnt earth and smoke as the last remnants of the enemy army crumbled. Kazuki stood in the center, his crimson eyes ablaze with fury, his presence radiating an unholy power that seemed to twist the very fabric of reality. Seraphina, his ever-loyal companion, floated by his side, her mischievous smile barely hiding the destructive force she was about to unleash.
The Last Stand
Kazuki turned to face the remaining enemies—a group of desperate soldiers led by the so-called "Army Leader," who was kneeling in the dirt, trembling in terror. He had seen his army fall, his most powerful weapon—an elite dragon—defeated by Kazuki and Seraphina. It was a sight that would haunt him forever.
The dragon had been powerful, a beast of unimaginable strength, but it had fallen to Seraphina's overwhelming might. Kazuki had absorbed the beast's power, and the once-proud creature was no more. Now, Kazuki's eyes turned on the leader, who was cowering, begging for mercy. But mercy wasn't something Kazuki was known for.
The Army Leader barely managed to raise his gaze before Kazuki's voice rang out, low and venomous. "So, the King sent you to try to forcefully take my town, did he?" Kazuki chuckled darkly, his eyes burning with a malevolent rage. His voice was cold and mocking as he continued, "And you thought it was a good idea to kill my people in the process?"
The Army Leader, paralyzed with fear, stammered, "Y-y-you can't escape this... You can't—!"
Kazuki's aura flared, the air around him becoming dense with raw, unrestrained power. His voice was calm, but the fury simmering beneath the surface was undeniable. "Barrier, huh?" He glanced around, and with a single flick of his gaze, the barrier surrounding them shattered like fragile glass.
The Army Leader's eyes widened in horror. "How...? That barrier was designed to withstand the might of S-rank adventurers. How—?"
Kazuki's lip curled in a twisted smirk. "Still don't get it, huh? Then I'll teach you, you bastard."
He started walking toward the Army Leader, each step heavy with the weight of impending doom. The Mage standing nearby, witnessing the horror unfold, muttered in panic. "That was my ultimate spell! How did he—?"
Her words were cut short as she scrambled to cast another attack, desperation in her voice. "Don't come any closer!"
With trembling hands, the Mage fired a massive purple energy blast, aimed directly at Kazuki and Seraphina. The attack shot forward with the force of a thousand storms, crackling with dark power.
Kazuki smirked. "This pathetic thing?" With a swift motion, he lifted his leg and slammed it down. The ground shook violently, and a massive crater formed beneath his feet as rocks began to float upward, spiraling around him in an orbit of raw power.
The rocks, charged with Kazuki's intense energy, shot forward toward the energy blast. The two forces collided with an earth-shattering explosion, and the energy blast was immediately shattered, dissipating into nothingness. But Kazuki was far from finished.
With a swift, calculated motion, the rocks plummeted toward the Mage's barrier. The barrier shattered with ease, the impact of the rocks sending shockwaves through the surrounding air. The Mage's eyes widened in disbelief as the rock, now glowing with a terrifying energy, slammed into her stomach with enough force to make her entire body contort. She coughed blood, her vision blurring, and her body began to crumple.
Kazuki's laughter filled the air, dark and mocking. He clapped his hands once. "Now that's what I call a display."
The Mage, struggling to stand, gasped for breath as she tried to rise. But Kazuki was already on the move. He dashed forward, closing the distance in the blink of an eye. His hand shot out in a lethal arc, slamming into the Mage's gut. The impact was like a cannonball hitting her body, sending her flying back with an audible crunch of bone.
She gagged, spitting out more blood, barely able to register what had just happened before Kazuki was on her again. Without giving her a moment's rest, Kazuki kicked her back, sending her into a wild somersault. She crashed into the ground but barely had time to react before Kazuki was under her, grabbing her legs and twisting them with inhuman force.
With a mighty heave, Kazuki tossed her high into the air. The force of the throw sent a shockwave through the earth, cracking the ground beneath them. Kazuki launched himself upward, following the Mage's trajectory, and when he reached her, he clenched his fists.
His eyes narrowed, and with both hands locked in a tight grip, Kazuki brought his fists down with the power of a falling mountain. The impact was so forceful that the Mage's stomach seemed to implode, her body folding in on itself as her mouth, nose, and eyes exploded with blood.
The Mage's eyes rolled back, her body limp in mid-air, but Kazuki was far from finished. His aura flared once more as he dove down after her, his legs straightening, gathering all his remaining power.
With a resounding crack, his foot collided with her stomach, sending another explosion of force through the air. The earth cracked beneath them as the Mage was slammed into the ground with enough power to shatter the very foundation of reality. Blood splattered everywhere, and the air was thick with the scent of destruction.
Kazuki stood over her, panting, his blood-red eyes gleaming with savage satisfaction. "Did you really think you could defeat me?" He sneered. "This was never about power—it was about making you realize just how insignificant you really are."
He turned away, leaving the Mage broken on the ground, the final remnants of her strength fading.
Seraphina floated beside him, a playful grin on her face. "That was fun!" she giggled, flicking a peace sign toward the fallen enemies. "But now, we've got more important things to do!"
Kazuki, his expression cold and unreadable, glanced toward the Army Leader. "Now, where were we?" he muttered, his eyes narrowing as he stepped forward.
The Army Leader, still kneeling, shaking in fear, looked up and saw the ruthless power radiating from Kazuki and Seraphina. His heart dropped into his stomach.
Kazuki's gaze flicked over him, and he sighed, the weight of what was about to happen looming heavily. "I think it's time for you to understand what true power is."
And with that, the world seemed to tremble. The battle had been won, but the real storm was just beginning.
The night was thick with the sounds of distant battles. The forest was eerily silent except for the galloping of hooves. The army leader, his eyes wide with fear, urged his horse forward, galloping through the trees, away from the battlefield. The clatter of his armor rang out in the stillness, echoing his panic. He muttered to himself, breathless:
"Monsters... They're monsters! We must report this to the king. We need the heroes... we need them to defeat them. We can't handle this!"
His voice quivered as the dark shadows of the forest seemed to close in on him. The air was thick with dread. The horse's hooves struck the ground with urgency.
"Go faster!" he shouted, slapping the horse's side with the reins. "Hurry, damn it, hurry!"
Just as he thought he might escape, a sound broke through the night—a whoosh! The trees behind him shook violently, and a deep, ominous energy washed over him.
His heart raced as he looked over his shoulder, eyes widening in horror.
Serphina.
She was a blur of motion, a dark streak in the night air, her form like a shadow in the trees. She was closing the distance with terrifying speed.
"No... no, NO!" The army leader roared in panic, cracking the reins against the horse's back. "Faster!"
Serphina's voice cut through the wind, icy and cold. "Don't you run."
The leader's face twisted in terror. "Oh no!" He shouted, slamming his feet into the stirrups, urging the horse to go faster, the animal's breath coming out in heavy clouds.
In an instant, Serphina's form soared above him. The air split with the force of her speed, and as she reached his level, she shifted mid-air, twisting to the side, and slammed her foot into his side.
The impact was brutal. A crack! echoed as his ribs shattered. His eyes widened in shock as blood sprayed from his mouth. The force of the blow sent him flying through the air, crashing through the trees.
Thud! He slammed into a pile of rocks, each impact making his body crumble further, his vision spinning as the pain overwhelmed him.
Finally, his body slammed against a massive tree. His armor crumpled, and he lay there, broken, gasping for air, his limbs twisted unnaturally beneath him. He was barely conscious as he watched Serphina approach, her eyes cold, emotionless.
"No... no... please," he gasped weakly, his voice barely a whisper.
Serphina's gaze never wavered. "You think I'll show mercy?" Her voice was colder than the night air. "You will pay the price for what you've done."
As she neared him, he scrambled to speak, his throat raw from the screams. "Wait, wait! I'll give you millions of gold! I'll give you anything! Just please—"
Serphina's expression didn't change. She wasn't moved.
He coughed, choking on blood. "No... please..."
She stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "You think that will save you?"
The army leader's face twisted with realization. His last hope evaporated. With no other option, he reached out toward the sky, his broken body lifting itself as he tried to escape.
He shot into the air, his wings beating the air frantically. "I'll flee. I'll escape—"
Serphina wasn't finished.
She crouched low, her body tensed, and then in one swift motion, she leaped into the air. Her feet left the ground with a burst of power, and in a flash, she was soaring after him.
"What?! How?!" The leader's eyes widened in disbelief as Serphina reached him in an instant.
She grabbed him by the back of his neck, her grip like iron, and twisted his body, sending him into a spin mid-air. His eyes were wide with panic as she slammed her foot into his ribs. The force of the blow shattered his spine, and the sound of breaking bones rang out. His body jerked, his eyes rolled back in his head, and blood sprayed from his mouth as he crashed to the ground.
Thud!
The impact created a massive crater in the earth, the shockwave sending dust and debris flying.
Serphina landed gracefully on the edge of the crater, her eyes glowing with dark energy. She approached him as he lay broken, gasping for air.
"You're not done yet," she said softly, her voice chilling as ever.
With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a dark pulse of energy. The ground trembled as the leader's body was suddenly revived. His eyes snapped open, but the pain was still evident. He gasped, clutching his chest.
"What… how am I alive?" His voice shook as he sat up, confusion clouding his pain-stricken expression. "Gods…"
Serphina smirked, her aura darkening further, radiating a sinister purple energy. "I revived you, but I placed a little something extra in your resurrection."
The leader screamed, his body writhing in agony. "Aaaaahhh!! The pain! It's... still here! Why?!"
Serphina laughed darkly. "You can feel every broken bone, every piece of your shattered body. You are healed, but I want you to experience everything you did to others."
She reached down and grabbed his hair, yanking him upright. "Do you think I'll just let you go?"
"No, please—"
But Serphina wasn't done. With a savage spin, she hurled him into the air, her strength sending him flying toward the mountains.
He crashed through one mountain, then another, the ground shuddering with each impact as his body left a trail of destruction. His bones cracked, blood splattering as he flew through the air like a ragdoll.
By the time he hit the edge of the last cliff, his body was unrecognizable, broken beyond repair. He fell to the ground with a sickening crunch.
Serphina stood above him, her dark energy crackling around her. "You're still not done?"
She revived him again. This time, he was barely conscious, his mind reeling. His bloodshot eyes flickered open, pain and terror consuming him.
"One million slaps," Serphina said coldly, and in a flash, her hand struck his face. Smack! Smack! Smack! Her palm hit his cheeks a million times in five seconds. His face was a grotesque, bloodied mess. His eyes were swollen, and his cheeks were black and purple, as if they'd been crushed. Blood poured from his mouth and nose.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" he begged, barely able to speak through the mangled mess of his face.
Serphina only smirked, cold and unyielding. "I've got one more for you."
With a gesture, the ground trembled. A dark aura spread, and a shadowy entity rose from the earth, its form massive and formless, a dark silhouette of malice.
"Master Serphina..." The entity's voice was deep and chilling. "What is your command?"
"Take him to the Thrall of Darkness," Serphina ordered, her voice laced with cruelty.
The dark figure knelt before her, its hollow eyes glowing red. "As you command, Master Serphina."
The army leader, his eyes wide in horror, screamed, "No! Not my soul! Please!" But it was too late.
With a laugh that sent chills down his spine, the shadow reached down, its dark hand grasping his soul. "Your soul will be ours."
The leader's screams echoed as his soul was ripped from his body. "No! No! Nooo—"
The darkness consumed him, pulling him into the abyss. His body fell to the ground, lifeless, as Serphina watched without a shred of remorse.
She looked up into the sky, where Kazuki awaited her arrival. "It's done."
With a flash of her power, Serphina soared into the sky, her dark presence lingering in the wake of her vengeance.
The moon hung heavy in the night sky, casting a pale light over the war-torn landscape. The battle was over. The sound of steel on steel, the cries of warriors, and the rumbling earth had quieted, leaving behind the eerie silence of victory. But for the army leader, there was no peace—only an agonizing and brutal end awaited him.
As the smoke cleared and the bodies of his fallen comrades littered the battlefield, the army leader was alone. His horse galloped frantically, the thundering hooves echoing through the forest as he fled. Sweat poured down his face, his hands trembling as he urged the beast forward.
"They're monsters! Monsters!" he muttered under his breath, eyes wide with terror. His mind was racing, desperately trying to grasp the reality of what he had just witnessed. "I have to report this to the king—send the heroes to defeat them! They... they can't be stopped by normal soldiers!"
His heart pounded as the sound of something approaching broke his thoughts. He whipped his head around, and his eyes widened in horror as he saw her.
Serphina.
She was dashing through the forest with inhuman speed, a blur of motion, her eyes locked on him. The leader's hand trembled as he slapped his horse's sides, urging it to go faster, but it was no use. The horse was already at its limit, and Serphina was closing in fast.
"Don't you run!" she shouted, her voice like the roar of a storm. The leader's heart skipped a beat, and his stomach churned with dread.
"No! No, no, no!" he screamed, striking the horse again, his desperation mounting. But it was too late.
Serphina leapt into the air, soaring towards him like a hunting falcon. With a swift, brutal motion, she side-stepped midair and slammed her foot into his ribs, the force of the impact crushing his ribcage. The sickening sound of breaking bones echoed through the forest as blood sprayed from his mouth. His eyes widened in shock and agony, the world spinning as he was thrown through the air, landing with a sickening crash against rocks. His body bounced and rolled multiple times before coming to a stop, a mangled heap of broken bones and flesh.
Weakly, he tried to rise, but his body was broken, his strength drained. His vision blurred, and he saw Serphina walking toward him, her expression cold and emotionless, like an angel of death.
"Wait!" he gasped, his voice barely a whisper. "Wait, please... I'll give you millions of gold... anything... just let me go."
Serphina didn't even flinch. Her eyes locked onto his, filled with a chilling emptiness. "You think I care for your gold?" she said, her voice low and lethal. "You think it's that easy? You're not leaving here alive."
The army leader's last shred of hope vanished as he saw her hand stretch toward him. He knew the end was near.
"God... please!" he screamed in his mind, his soul filled with fear. "Please, have mercy!"
But mercy was a foreign concept here.
Without warning, the leader's body jerked upward as Serphina's hand gripped his hair, pulling him up and spinning him around. "Did you really think you could escape?" she hissed, her voice dripping with venom.
His cries of pain were drowned out as she threw him across the sky, his body crashing through mountains with violent force. He passed through peaks and valleys, his flesh torn apart by the brutal impacts. Each collision with the rocky terrain shattered bones, sending blood splattering into the air like a grotesque mist. His body tore through the mountain ranges, creating massive craters with each deadly impact. He could feel the blood draining from his body as his ribs broke, his skin ripped apart by jagged rocks, his body beyond recognition.
Eventually, he reached the edge of the mountains, where his body slammed into a cliff face, the jagged rocks tearing him apart. His body crumpled, leaving only a pool of blood and mangled flesh.
Serphina hovered above him, her dark, glowing eyes watching coldly. She floated down, her aura swirling with malevolent power. The army leader, broken and barely alive, looked up at her, his eyes filled with both terror and pleading.
"Please... kill me... end it..." he gasped, his voice weak and hoarse.
Serphina stared down at him. "You're not done yet."
With a flick of her wrist, the air shimmered as the leader was revived, his wounds healing almost instantly. His breath caught in his throat as he gasped for air, still feeling the agony of his broken body. He couldn't believe it—he was alive again.
But before he could speak, she slammed her foot into his chest, causing his ribs to crack again. The leader screamed in pain, his entire body trembling.
"You're going to feel every second of this," Serphina said coldly. "Every ounce of pain you've caused will come back tenfold."
She grabbed his long, greasy hair, pulling him up with terrifying strength. "Do you really think I'm going to let you go after everything you've done?" she asked, her voice dripping with malice.
Without warning, she spun him around, using his hair as leverage. The world blurred as she hurled him through the air once again, his body tearing through mountains once more, his screams echoing in the vast, empty spaces. Every time he hit a rock, a bone cracked. Every impact shattered his already broken body even further.
With a sickening crash, he finally collided with the ground, his form unrecognizable, his flesh mangled beyond belief.
Serphina stood above him, her eyes glowing with a dark purple aura as she cracked her knuckles. "That's not enough," she said, her voice low and chilling.
And then, as the army leader's battered form lay motionless, Serphina summoned a shadowy darkness that consumed the ground. From the dark void emerged an entity—an ancient being of pure darkness, cloaked in shadows.
The entity knelt before her. "What do you wish, Master?"
"Take him," Serphina ordered, her voice filled with cold authority.
The darkness reached down, pulling the leader's soul from his broken body. The army leader's screams echoed in the dark void, his mind filled with terror and regret. "No! Please, no! My soul... my soul!"
The darkness grinned, its mouth full of jagged, sharp teeth. "We'll enjoy you," it whispered, as it dragged his soul down into the abyss, vanishing into the dark circle.
Serphina turned away, her expression unreadable as she ascended into the air, her eyes glimmering with dark satisfaction.
She flew towards Kazuki, who stood waiting in the distance, a look of calm determination on his face. Together, they had crushed the enemy, leaving only devastation in their wake.
Kazuki turned to her as she landed beside him. "Are they truly gone?"
Serphina nodded, a smirk forming on her lips. "They won't be coming back."
Kazuki placed a hand on her head gently, giving her a reassuring pat. "Good. You've done well."
Serphina blushed slightly, her eyes glowing as she tilted her head. "Yes, Master."
The two of them made their way toward the town, the air thick with the scent of smoke and blood, knowing that whatever came next, they would face it together. The elders were waiting, and Serphina had no doubt the king would send his heroes—but they were too late. No one could stop what had already begun.
The darkness had already claimed the army leader's soul, and with that, the future of their enemies was sealed.