Averia's first strike had landed perfectly. The surprise in Elvis's eyes was evident, but he quickly ordered his lightning dragon to charge toward Averia's dragon descending from above. His cunning and confidence were still visible on his face, as if he had already decided that he would turn this fight in his favor.
As Elvis's lightning dragon soared into the sky towards Averia's, Averia unleashed another powerful attack. From his colossal dragon, a massive fireball erupted, roaring through the air as it hurtled toward Elvis. The ball was so immense and deadly that its heat could be felt from miles away.
Yet, Elvis remained untroubled. He signaled his dragon to ascend, dodging the incoming fireball, as though he didn't care that such a terrifying attack was headed his way. His eyes were focused upward, a quiet smile playing on his lips. He knew his greatest shield was still standing behind him—the black shadow.
As the fireball surged toward Elvis, the black shadow behind him suddenly moved to shield him. It instantly transformed into a thick cloud of dark smoke and formed a solid wall, absorbing the fireball entirely. A satisfied smile spread across Elvis's face, as if he had always known the shadow would protect him. But from a distance, Averia was watching and silently smiling to himself.
With a faint smile on his lips, Averia thought, *"This is exactly what I wanted."*
He had already realized that as long as that black shadow was behind Elvis, he couldn't land a direct strike. Removing the shadow's power was his top priority. As soon as the shadow came forward to defend Elvis, Averia put his plan into action.
Suddenly, Averia vanished into thin air, blending with the wind itself. Elvis's eyes darted around, confused for a moment, but Averia was nowhere to be seen. In the blink of an eye, Averia reappeared directly behind Elvis. Before Elvis could react, Averia swung his sword with all his strength, striking Elvis's back.
The sharp blade tore through Elvis's flesh, leaving deep, bloody wounds. Blood gushed from his mouth, and his screams echoed through the skies. His strength rapidly drained, and the terrifying energy from his curse mark halted abruptly. Writhing in agony, Elvis collapsed to his knees, pain clearly etched across his face.
As soon as Elvis fell, his lightning dragon dissipated into thin air, as though it had never existed. The sky was now clear, but its thunderous echoes still lingered in the air. Elvis was so weakened that he could barely hold himself up.
Averia pulled his sword back with a triumphant smile, looking down at Elvis. His eyes gleamed with victory, and a smirk danced on his lips. He laughed loudly and said to Elvis, **"I told you, this fight isn't just about strength, Elvis. It's also a battle of wits and willpower, and today, I've defeated you in both."**
Elvis, now on his knees, groaned in pain as he lifted his head. His eyes still burned with anger and defiance, but there was nothing he could do but accept his defeat. His face reflected a mix of fear and helplessness.
*"You... can't defeat me,"* Elvis muttered weakly, his voice trembling, as though all the strength inside him had drained away.
Averia swung his sword through the air and replied, **"I told you from the start, this isn't just a contest of power. With two strikes from my dragon, I've driven away your shadow of darkness. Now, there's no way left for you to escape, and I've succeeded in striking you down."**
There was a strange sense of satisfaction in his eyes, as if he had just won the greatest battle of his life. Averia's face was now calm, but the victorious glow in his eyes remained. Sheathing his sword, he leaned closer to Elvis and chuckled, **"Your black shadow can't save you anymore, Elvis. This is the beginning of your end."**
Elvis's breaths were still heavy, and the pain and anger were clearly visible in his eyes. He lay on the ground, feeling the deep wounds in his back, realizing that Averia's special sword had weakened him immensely. But Elvis couldn't allow himself to be defeated; he still had faith in himself. Just then, a fleeting image of his wife, Arena, appeared before his eyes, as though this truly was the end for him. But as the image of Arena slowly began to fade from his sight, it filled Elvis with a sudden surge of strength.
Summoning every ounce of willpower left in his weakened body, Elvis began to stand once again. Averia watched in shock-no one had ever risen after being struck by his mysterious sword. But Elvis was no ordinary being; he was the Lord of Darkness. Placing one knee on the ground, Elvis struggled but managed to rise, fixing his gaze on Averia.
**Averia saw Elvis rise to his feet once again, and a cold smile danced across her lips.**
"You really are a weak man, Elvis," Averia laughed. "Look at you... finished in just one strike."
Elvis tried to steady his weakening breath. His gaze slowly moved to his curse mark. The hand that once pulsed with dark energy now looked dry and lifeless. **"Where has my strength gone?"** Elvis asked himself, but the answer didn't come from his inner turmoil. It came from the dark shadow standing behind him.
**"Averia's sword doesn't just cut the body, Elvis,"** the shadow said in a deep, menacing voice. **"Her sword drains all of your power. The strength that once flowed through you is now gone."**
Elvis paused, listening intently to the shadow's words. His eyes burned, but more than the pain, it was the realization of his defeat that consumed him. The shadow had another peculiarity—it was completely connected to his soul and body. **"I don't need to say anything... you can hear my every thought,"** Elvis thought to himself.
**"Yes, I can hear you,"** the shadow replied. **"I am bound to your soul."**
**"Is there no way to get my strength back?"** Elvis asked finally, his voice sounding weak and broken.
The shadow responded in a slow, cold tone, **"There is one way, Elvis..."**
**"Tell me, what do you need? I've already given you my soul,"** Elvis said in a weary voice, as though he had no other choice left.
The shadow chuckled softly and said, **"Your soul already belongs to me, but now your body will also be trapped within me. If I merge with your curse mark, I can reawaken the strength in your body. But remember... once your purpose is fulfilled, your body will be completely mine. After that, your soul will sink forever into the depths of darkness. No heaven, no hell... just endless darkness, from which you will never return."**
Elvis took a deep breath and thought. His heart was heavy, but his willpower had yet to waver. Despite the burning pain in his eyes, he looked at the shadow and said, **"If that's the only way, then I'm ready."**
A strange gleam appeared in the shadow's eyes, as though it had fully anticipated his next step. **"Then prepare yourself, Elvis... this is the beginning of your final journey,"** it said.
As the shadow began to merge with Elvis's curse mark, his strength slowly returned. A faint spark of lightning flickered once again in his lifeless fingers. Confidence started to show in Elvis's eyes once more, but this time, there was also fear in his soul, for he knew that his body would soon belong entirely to the shadow.
**"Watch closely, Averia..."** Elvis thought to himself, **"I will defeat you, but the price I'll pay is losing myself."**
As soon as the shadow fully merged with Elvis, a surge of black smoke began to rise from the depths of the battlefield where Averia and the remaining soldiers were fighting. The smoke slowly spread across the battlefield, drawing the life force and remaining energy from the bodies of the surviving soldiers.
Screams echoed all around, but the soldiers couldn't move from their places. Their energy and souls were being sucked into the black smoke, which then began flowing directly into Elvis. Within moments, Elvis's wounds completely healed. Dark lines appeared beneath his eyes, and his pupils vanished entirely. His eyes were now filled only with darkness, as if nothing human remained in them.
**"What... what is happening?"** Averia muttered to herself, a shadow of fear descending over her eyes.
A vortex of black smoke began to form around Elvis, swirling faster and faster. Every wave of the smoke was being absorbed into his body, as though he was drawing in every soul around him. The souls of all the remaining soldiers on the battlefield had now transformed into the smoke and merged with Elvis.
Now, only Averia stood in the battlefield. Everyone else had vanished, and Averia could feel the terrifying darkness swirling around him. He covered his eyes, unable to bear the searing power of the darkness.
**"Elvis...,"** Averia whispered, as if he now understood that the Elvis he once knew was gone. **"You... are no longer human..."**
He tightened his grip on his sword, but the fear and dread were clear in his eyes.
Elvis had now fully transformed into a demonic form. A terrifying energy radiated from his body, surrounded by black smoke, and his dark eyes were locked onto Averia.
**"Your end is near, Averia,"** Elvis's voice had now deepened into a resonating, echoing tone. **"You thought defeating me would be easy, but now look—before you stands not a man, but the god of darkness."**
Averia took a step back, but then steadied himself, saying, **"No matter how much power you gain, Elvis, I will still face you. I will not fear your demonic form!"**
But there was a noticeable lack of confidence in his words that had been there before. He now realized that the battle he thought he was winning was actually against a darkness beyond human limits.
Elvis raised his hand, and black lightning began to surge from his fingers toward Averia. **"You will witness your own end, Averia. This time is no longer yours, but belongs to my darkness."**
The battlefield had now transformed into a void, and Averia stood alone, preparing for his final fight, though deep down, he still harbored fear—he had witnessed Elvis's transformation from man to demon and had no idea how to defeat him.