The mythical Spirit within the Black Soul communicated through telepathy, its voice resonating inside Zyqnax's mind. "Who dares touch my realm?" the Spirit inquired, its tone filled with a mixture of curiosity and authority.
The Spirit stared into Zyqnax's being and perceived something extraordinary. "Ah, I see it now," the Spirit mused, intrigued. "Your potential...it exceeds what I've witnessed in any mortal. You possess a unique spark, a potential that is far beyond the ordinary. Tell me, why have you come into my realm?"
With a voice that mirrored the spirit's composure, Zyqnax responded, "I sought the power you hold, the power that can reshape destinies. I have seen the ruin and chaos caused by this artifact and have come to harness its potential for my own purpose."
The spirit continued, its voice now filled with a sense of history and pride, "I am The Spirit of Chaos, an entity of immense power, born from the primal force of chaos itself. I have existed long before the dawn of creation and have seen the rise and fall of countless civilizations. I dwell within the Black Soul, the artifact that you have come to claim."
The Spirit of Chaos continued to guide Zyqnax, its voice firm yet supportive. "Name me, and we shall bind our destinies together," the spirit instructed. "Let my name be a symbol of the pact we will forge."
With a sense of purpose, Zyqnax pondered for a moment, considering the significance of the name she would bestow upon the Spirit. She closed her eyes, concentrating on the weight of the moment.
"Your name shall be Nexus," she declared, her voice firm and resolute. "For you are the nexus of chaos, the embodiment of power and potential that I seek to harness and control."
Zyqnax, her voice filled with determination and a hint of vengeful resolve, declared her wish to the Spirit of Chaos, Nexus. "My wish, dear Nexus, is to seek revenge against my former master, Kanji," she said, a cruel smile playing on her lips. "I seek to rise above him, to surpass the bounds he placed upon me. Together, we shall unleash the power of chaos and fulfill my destiny of retribution."
Standing amid the vast expanse of the Cestura villa, Kanji faced Kagiroi, a towering figure surrounded by colossal monsters. The villa was abuzz with the presence of these behemoths, their massive forms adding an air of both awe and intimidation to the scene.
As Kanji prepared himself, his thoughts turned to Zyqnax, the girl he had once nurtured and trained. He reflected on the path that had led them to this confrontation.
With a smirk upon his face, Kagiroi posed a thought-provoking question to Kanji. "If everyone in the world, every living being and existence itself, were your enemy, what would you do?"
Kanji, unfazed by the question, responded with a calm demeanor. He gazed back at Kagiroi, his eyes holding a steady resolve. "In the face of such widespread opposition," he began, his voice laced with determination, "I would stand strong and unyielding. I would forge my path, regardless of the obstacles or foes that stand in my way."
Kanji's words hung in the air, his response direct and unhesitating. "They are not people I care for, not entities I would hesitate to eliminate if necessary," he stated, his voice firm and resolute.
Kagiroi, unperturbed by Kanji's reply, continued with his line of questioning. "And what about those who were once loyal to you, like Zyqnax, whom you once nurtured and trained?"
Kanji's annoyance was evident in his expression as he responded to Kagiroi's question about Zyqnax. "That's a personal matter," he stated bluntly, refusing to divulge further details about his relationship with Zyqnax.
Kagiroi observed Kanji's guarded response, a smirk playing on his lips. "Ah, so there's a personal history between you and Zyqnax," he teased, seeking to provoke a reaction.
As Kagiroi continued his approach, he spoke with an air of confidence and authority. "Let me tell you something, Kanji," he began, his tone laced with arrogance. "I am the First Lightborn Hero, the Master of Lightborn heroes spanning across generations. I serve the Omni King and the very gods themselves."
Kagiroi paused, his gaze fixed on Kanji, and then added, "But in the realm of Lightborn heroes, there is one truth that stands above all else - I am the Strongest."
Kanji, with a stoic expression on his face, unleashed the power of his "Kurai Kesshō Buki," executing a handle strike aimed directly at Kagiroi's chin. However, to his surprise and frustration, Kagiroi proved to be immune to physical attacks, causing the strike to have no effect.
Kagiroi's smirk widened as he observed the aftermath of Kanji's attack, the sheer force unleashed creating a scene of destruction. "Impressive force," he commented, his voice dripping with mockery. "But unfortunately, brute strength won't be enough to overcome me, Kanji."
A smirk crept across Kanji's face as he processed the fact that Kagiroi had summoned him from miles away just to challenge him one on one. "You called me here just to challenge me one on one?" he repeated, his tone laced with slight amusement.
Kagiroi, with a confident tone, explained his reasoning. "Yes, I summoned you here for a one-on-one challenge, Kanji," he said. "I wanted to test your strength and see how far you've come. I have watched your growth, and I know your capabilities."
Kagiroi continued, seeking to provoke Kanji further. "Consider this challenge a taste of what's to come," he taunted. "If you can't even defeat me, how do you expect to stand a chance against the Omni King's followers and army of gods?"
Kanji responded, his determination unwavering. "I don't care if I win or lose," he stated firmly. "All I care about is the outcome. Whether I stand victorious or lying defeated, what matters to me is the result."
Kagiroi, quick on the offensive, unleashed his "Drain" skill, attempting to steal Kanji's power using his tentacles. However, Kanji deftly dodged the incoming tentacles, evading their grasp with a nonchalant ease.
Kanji, his brow furrowing slightly in surprise, spoke, his realization evident in his tone. "I knew that Lightborn heroes are blessed by gods, but I hadn't anticipated that even the First Lightborn hero, Kagiroi, would possess abilities like power theft."
Kagiroi, unfazed by Kanji's surprise, responded with a confident smirk. "Ah, you're surprised by my ability to steal power, aren't you?" he taunted. "It's just one of the many gifts bestowed upon me by the gods. You should expect no less from the First Lightborn hero."
Kanji's smirk widened as he revealed the truth about Kagiroi. "You may have blessings from the gods now, but let's not forget your humble beginnings," he taunted. "Once, you were abandoned, with stats even lower than a small human. You had to prove yourself over millennia to earn the blessings you wield now."
Kagiroi's expression darkened, his smirk faltering momentarily as the truth hit home. He hadn't expected Kanji to bring up his troubled past. "Yes, I did rise from the lowest depths," he conceded, his tone betraying a hint of irritation. "But I've proven myself worthy and now stand as the First Lightborn hero. My past is just a reminder of how far I've come."
As Kanji closed the distance between them, their battle turning to close-quarters hand-to-hand combat, he chose to taunt Kagiroi further. He spoke bluntly, bringing up the darkest moments of Kagiroi's past. "Don't think I forgot about your past betrayals," he said, his tone laced with mockery. "Your loved ones, the people you trusted, they betrayed you. They cheated and lied to you. Can you truly say you've left all that behind?"
Kagiroi's expression tightened, his eyes narrowing as Kanji brought up those painful memories. The wounds of betrayal still stung deep within him, a constant reminder of the pain he had endured. "Enough!" he snapped, his voice strained with anger. "My past betrayals are just another test I overcame. I have moved past them, and they do not define me any longer."
Kanji, a smirk playing on his lips, continued, "You may have moved on, but let's not kid ourselves. You still love her, don't you?"
Kagiroi's expression flickered with a mixture of anger and pain, his face contorted with conflicting emotions. Yes, he still harbored feelings for her, even after all the betrayal and heartache. But he refused to show weakness in front of Kanji. "That's none of your business," he retorted, his voice tinged with irritation.
With a smirk on his face, Kanji gathered his power and unleashed a brutal punch infused with the Space authority, sending Kagiroi flying into a mountain, the impact cratering it and sending debris scattering.
Kanji, his expression calm, spoke up, revealing an important caveat about Kagiroi's ability to steal powers. "You've mentioned your ability to steal powers, but let's not forget, you can only use a fraction of what you've taken. Ten abilities out of millions, and even then, for only a few minutes."
In a surge of irritation, Kagiroi hastily rose to his feet, his form enveloped in a flash of light as he activated his "Light step." The transformation allowed him to move with extraordinary speed, his figure blurring with each step as he charged towards Kanji.
As Kagiroi charged towards him with the speed of "Light step," Kanji coolly smirked and unleashed his Time Authority. With a wave of his hand, he froze time, and Kagiroi's body came to a halt mid-motion.
"You may have the blessings of gods, but don't forget who you're facing," Kanji taunted, his voice laced with confidence. "I wield the authority of not just one, but five gods."
Kagiroi, recognizing the futility of his situation, sighed in resignation. He acknowledged Kanji's strength and understood that if he continued, he would face a high chance of defeat. Recognizing the need to avoid further conflict, the First Lightborn hero spoke.
"Fine," he said, his voice filled with defeat. "I accept defeat. You've proven your strength and authority. There is no point in continuing this fight."
As the tension eased, Kanji posed a question to Kagiroi. "Since you're the First Lightborn hero and serve the Omni King and gods," he inquired, "when will they come after me? And what should I expect from them?"
Kagiroi, still recovering from the defeat, responded to Kanji's question. "The army of gods and the followers of the Omni King will come after you when they perceive you as a threat," he explained. "And when they do, you must be prepared for overwhelming power, both physical and magical. Their abilities and forces are vast, and they will do everything in their power to neutralize any perceived threat."
Despite the defeat, Kagiroi attempted to regain some of his dignity and spoke up with a mischievous smirk. "Well, since you've bested me and proven yourself a formidable opponent," he taunted, "I suppose I could offer my assistance. Who knows, maybe having the First Lightborn hero on your side could come in handy."
The room filled with an air of tension as Kanji leaned in close, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. With a serious expression, he revealed a truth that he knew about Kagiroi's origins.
"Does someone know that you're the son of the Demon God Khazad?" Kanji asked, his voice filled with a hint of mockery. "And that I'm well aware of your plans to break him out from the Non-existent realm. Your plans are not as secret as you might think."
Next chapter "Sword Master's"