The air grew still, a heavy silence settling over the chamber. Joseph could feel the tension building, the shadows gathering like a storm ready to break. He wiped the sweat from his brow, his heart pounding in his chest, but his grin remained steady. "Alright, shadow boy," he muttered to himself. "Round two, I guess. Let's see what you've got."
The enemy was still hidden in the shadows, a faint outline of a figure lurking at the edge of the dim light. Joseph squinted, trying to make out any details. "Come on," he taunted, his voice echoing through the cavern. "I know you're out there. You're not just gonna stand there all day, are you?"
A low growl emanated from the darkness, and Joseph's grin widened. "There it is! I knew you had some fight left in you!"
Without warning, the figure emerged, stepping into the light with a speed that caught Joseph off guard. This time, the enemy was different—its form was sharper, its movements more fluid. Shadows seemed to drip off its body like liquid, pooling around its feet. It raised its head, revealing a pair of glowing red eyes that burned with an unholy intensity.
Joseph whistled, impressed despite himself. "Okay, you've definitely been hitting the gym. I respect that."
The enemy didn't respond. Instead, it raised a hand, and the shadows around it seemed to coalesce, forming a massive, jagged blade. The blade crackled with dark energy, humming with a power that made the air around them tremble.
Joseph took a step back, his eyes narrowing. "Alright, that's new. But I've got a few tricks up my sleeve too." He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the familiar surge of energy welling up inside him.
The figure lunged forward, swinging the blade with a force that could have sliced a mountain in half. Joseph moved quickly, dodging to the side, but the blade's dark energy brushed past him, leaving a searing pain on his arm. He winced, gritting his teeth. "Okay, that one actually hurt…"
He jumped back, putting some distance between himself and the enemy. "Alright, time to get serious," he muttered under his breath. His grin faded, replaced by a look of focused determination. He planted his feet firmly on the ground, his body tensing as he felt the energy build within him. "You wanna play rough?" he shouted. "Then let's play rough."
Joseph raised both hands, and a powerful, golden aura began to radiate from his body. The air around him seemed to shimmer, the ground vibrating under his feet. "Dominating Energy!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the chamber. "This is my power!"
The golden aura grew brighter, expanding outward like a sunburst. The shadows around him seemed to recoil, retreating from the sheer force of the energy he was emitting. Joseph's grin returned, wider than ever. "Yeah, that's right. You feel that? That's the power of Dominating Energy! And it's about to dominate you."
The enemy hesitated for a moment, its red eyes flickering with uncertainty. But then, it charged forward again, its blade raised high. Joseph didn't flinch. He stepped forward, his fists crackling with golden energy. "Bring it on!"
The enemy swung its blade, but Joseph moved like a blur, ducking under the strike and delivering a powerful uppercut to the figure's jaw. The impact sent shockwaves through the chamber, and the figure staggered back, its hood falling away to reveal a face twisted with fury.
Joseph didn't let up. He followed up with a series of rapid punches, each one infused with the golden energy of his power. "Dominating Energy: Overload Barrage!" he shouted, his voice filled with confidence.
The blows landed with devastating force, each punch sending ripples through the air. The enemy tried to counterattack, but Joseph was too fast, too agile. He ducked and weaved, his movements almost a dance as he avoided the dark blade and continued his relentless assault.
Finally, with a roar, he brought both fists down in a powerful double-handed slam, unleashing a burst of golden energy that exploded outward. The enemy was thrown back, crashing into the wall with a force that shook the entire chamber.
Joseph panted, his body trembling with exertion, but his grin was unwavering. "How's that for a light show?" he called out, still breathing heavily. "Bet you didn't see that one coming, huh?"
The enemy struggled to stand, its form flickering like a dying flame. It glared at Joseph with those burning red eyes, but there was a hint of fear in its gaze now. Joseph took a step forward, his fists still crackling with energy. "You done?" he asked, his tone almost teasing. "Because I've got more where that came from."
The enemy hesitated, its gaze shifting from Joseph to the exit, as if considering its options. Then, with a final snarl, it dissolved into shadows, retreating back into the darkness from where it came. The shadows melted into the walls, leaving only silence in their wake.
Joseph stood there for a moment, catching his breath. His shoulders heaved, sweat dripping down his face, but he was grinning from ear to ear. "Yeah, that's right! Run back to your shadowy hole!" he called after it. "Tell your friends about me!"
He laughed, shaking his head. "Man, that was intense," he muttered to himself. "I think I'm getting the hang of this 'hero' thing."
Just as he was about to relax, he felt a presence behind him. He turned quickly, his fists still glowing with golden energy. His eyes widened as he saw Kai standing there, watching him with an unreadable expression.
"Kai?" Joseph blurted out, his grin fading. "What are you doing here?"
Kai's gaze was intense, his face serious. "I could ask you the same thing, Joseph," he replied, his tone calm but firm. "What are you doing… and why did it take you so long to finish that fight?"
Joseph chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Ah, you know… just warming up, I guess. Didn't want to make it too easy."
Kai's expression softened, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Still the same old Joseph," he murmured, stepping closer. "Always turning everything into a joke."
Joseph grinned, relieved to see Kai's smile. "Hey, if I don't, who will?" he replied, spreading his arms wide. "But seriously… how did you find me?"
Kai's smile faded slightly, and his gaze turned serious again. "I felt a surge of power. A familiar one. I came to check it out… and I find you here, causing trouble as usual."
Joseph's grin grew. "Trouble? Me? Never! I was just… you know, doing my thing."
Kai shook his head, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Well, whatever you're doing, you're lucky I found you before someone else did."
Joseph's grin softened into a genuine smile. "Yeah, I guess I am," he said quietly, a rare moment of sincerity in his voice. "It's good to see you, Kai."
Kai nodded, his expression serious again. "Come on, let's get out of here. We have a lot to talk about."
Joseph glanced around the dark chamber one last time, then nodded. "Yeah… let's go."
As they turned to leave, a faint whisper echoed through the darkness, barely audible but filled with malice. "This isn't over…"
Joseph shivered, but he kept his grin. "Sure, buddy, keep telling yourself that," he muttered under his breath as he and Kai disappeared into the shadows, leaving the chamber behind.