Zeb advanced toward the woman with a deliberate, almost haunting calmness. Each step he took scorched the earth beneath him, leaving behind smoldering footprints that etched a path of destruction. The ground hissed and sizzled, tendrils of smoke curling upward as if recoiling from his presence. A dark, viscous substance oozed from his body, dripping steadily and forming inky pools that seemed to absorb the very light around them. His eyes were voids of endless black, devoid of emotion—cold, unblinking portals to an abyss. Then, in the blink of an eye, his body shimmered and vanished, dissolving into the shadows.
"Where did he go?" the woman whispered, her voice barely audible over the crackling of scorched earth. Her eyes widened, darting frantically as she scanned the landscape. Every sense was on high alert, her muscles tense, ready to react. She had been watching him intently, yet he had slipped from her sight as if swallowed by the darkness itself.
A sudden, explosive force slammed into her ribcage from behind. The impact was like a sledgehammer, driving the air from her lungs and igniting a fiery pain that radiated through her torso. Zeb had reappeared, delivering a devastating kick with a precision that spoke of both speed and power. The blow sent her hurtling through the air, her body twisting uncontrollably as she soared above the ground. She crashed down, skidding across the terrain as sparks erupted from beneath her heels, the friction igniting small flares along her path.
Grinding to a halt, she collapsed to one knee, her hand instinctively clutching her ribs. "They're broken," she muttered through gritted teeth, wincing as sharp agony lanced through her with each breath. A thin trail of blood escaped the corner of her mouth, which she wiped away with the back of her hand. Her eyes flickered with a mixture of pain and begrudging respect. "That was a powerful kick."
Across the distance, Zeb stood motionless, his posture eerily rigid. The black substance continued to drip from his body, pooling at his feet and seeping into the cracked earth. His abyssal eyes remained locked onto her, expressionless and unwavering, exuding an aura of menace that sent a chill down her spine.
Narrowing her eyes, she drew a deep breath and extended her hand. "Enough playing around," she hissed. With a swift, fluid motion, she summoned her vine sword. The weapon materialized in her grasp, its blade woven from intertwining vines and studded with razor-sharp thorns that gleamed wickedly. Holding the sword aloft, she commanded, "Drink!"
At her word, thick red vines erupted from the hilt, coiling around her forearm like hungry serpents. The thorns bit into her flesh without mercy, piercing her skin to draw forth streams of blood. The rich crimson liquid coursed through the vines, traveling down to saturate the blade. The sword, once a vibrant emerald green, darkened to a deep, sinister red, pulsing with newfound energy as it absorbed her essence.
A surge of power flowed back into her, the pain in her ribs dulling as the sword's enchantment took effect. Her eyes glinted with a fierce determination. "Now that I know you're not weak," she declared, her voice cold and resolute, "I won't hold back anymore."
The woman dashed straight toward Zeb with blinding speed, her crimson blade poised to strike. As she closed the distance, she swung the sword in a lethal arc aimed directly at his neck. Zeb's eyes remained locked onto hers, unblinking, his body eerily still. Just as the blade was about to make contact, a protective layer of the black substance surged forth from his skin, forming an impenetrable shield. The sword clanged against it, deflecting it and causing sparks to fly.
Undeterred, she didn't pause her assault. Using the momentum from her swing, she kicked off the ground and vaulted into the air. Twisting gracefully, she descended upon him from above, aiming a downward slash at his shoulder. The black aura reacted instantly, extending upward like a dark tendril to intercept the attack. The force of the collision sent a shockwave rippling through the air, rustling the nearby trees.
"How are you doing this?" she hissed, frustration seeping into her voice. Landing a few feet away, she narrowed her eyes, assessing him. "No defensive ability should react without the user's command."
Zeb remained silent, his expression unreadable. The inky substance continued to ooze and swirl around him, almost as if it possessed a will of its own. His eyes, still voids of endless black, reflected no emotion.
"Very well," she muttered. Gripping her sword tightly, she slammed it into the ground. "Rise!" she commanded. Vines erupted from the earth around him, thorny and twisting, lunging to ensnare his limbs. They wrapped around his ankles and wrists, tightening with each passing second.
But as the vines constricted, the black substance reacted violently. It pulsed and expanded, dissolving the vines upon contact. The remnants fell away, smoldering into ash before they touched the ground.
Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible!"
Without warning, Zeb vanished again. The woman spun around, anticipating another attack from behind. Instead, he reappeared right in front of her, mere inches away. Startled, she stumbled backward. He raised his hand slowly, and a surge of dark energy blasted forth, hitting her square in the chest. She was propelled backward, crashing through several trees before skidding to a halt.
Gasping for breath, she struggled to her feet. Her chest burned where the energy had struck, her clothes ripped and smoking. "What... are you?" she whispered.
She clenched her jaw, anger flaring. "I won't be defeated!" Gathering her remaining strength, she began to chant under her breath. The ground trembled as a massive glyph formed beneath her feet, glowing with crimson light.
The glyph exploded in a blaze of light, and from it emerged a colossal beast formed of intertwined vines, roots, and stones. The creature towered above the treetops, its eyes glowing a fierce red.
"Crush him!" she commanded, pointing at Zeb.
The giant roared, raising a massive arm before bringing it down with devastating force. Zeb didn't move. Just as the colossal fist was about to obliterate him, the black aura around his body expanded, forming a protective dome. The impact created a shockwave that flattened the surrounding foliage, but when the dust settled, Zeb stood unharmed within a crater.
He looked up at the beast, eyes narrowing. With a swift motion, he extended his arm toward it. The black substance shot out like a spear, piercing the creature's arm. The beast howled in pain as the corruption spread, dark veins snaking across its form.
"No!" the woman screamed. She could feel her control over the summon waning.
Zeb clenched his fist, and the dark energy exploded within the beast. The giant shattered into fragments, disintegrating into the air like dust carried away by the wind.
Breathing heavily, the woman fell to her knees. Her energy was nearly depleted, and the realization of her impending defeat began to sink in.