Kazuki's fists crackled with dark energy, his stance firm, eyes locked on Nolan. He didn't waste a moment; he dashed forward, his feet barely touching the snow-covered ground. The air around them was thick with frost, and the eerie silence of the arena heightened the tension.
Nolan stood on his cloud, watching Kazuki approach with a calm, almost amused expression. He swung his hand casually, and an icy spike erupted from the ground. It shot forward, piercing Kazuki's torso and leaving a gaping hole.
Kazuki's eyes widened as pain exploded through his body. He screamed but didn't falter. Gritting his teeth, he grabbed the icy spike with his bare hands, shattering it into pieces. As the ice melted away, the hole in his body began to close, flesh knitting itself back together. Nolan's golden eyes narrowed in intrigue.
"Regeneration?" Nolan mused, stepping down from his cloud. "Interesting... But impressive tricks won't defeat me."
Kazuki didn't respond. Instead, he charged again, his dark magic surging around him like a storm. This time, he was faster, stronger, his movements more precise. Nolan barely dodged, slipping to the side as Kazuki's fist slammed into the snow wall. His arm sank into the soft, powdery surface, the impact sending tremors through the arena.
"You've got an interesting body," Nolan said, a smirk playing on his lips as he landed lightly on the ground.
Kazuki pulled his arm free and locked eyes with his opponent. "I've faced worse."
Nolan's smile didn't fade. "Then prove it."
He raised his hand, and his body shimmered, dissolving into a liquid state. Kazuki froze, eyes darting around. "What the...?"
A chilling presence materialized behind him. Before Kazuki could react, a solid form emerged from the liquid—a perfect replica of Nolan. He struck Kazuki in the neck, sending him sprawling across the arena. As Kazuki tried to rise, huge spikes of ice erupted from the ground, encircling him like spears.
Kazuki's wounds began to heal again, but his clothes were in tatters. He forced himself upright, his eyes blazing with determination. Nolan stood amidst the ice, his arms crossed. "Show me more, Kazuki Takashi."
Kazuki clenched his fists, memories of his new move flashing through his mind. Sparks of lightning danced around his hands, merging with dark magic. He formed a spear of pure energy, the shape crackling with power. "Let's see how you handle this. Hand of Zeus!"
He hurled the lightning spear. Nolan's eyes widened, and he barely dodged, the spear sizzling past him and striking the snow wall, leaving a smoking crater.
Kazuki didn't wait. He coated his feet in lightning, propelling himself forward with blinding speed. The moment Nolan dodged, Kazuki closed the distance, transferring the energy back to his fists. He swung, his dark magic-coated fist connecting squarely with Nolan's face. The impact sent Nolan flying, snow scattering in all directions.
Kazuki didn't let up. He sprinted to where Nolan's body was falling, sliding across the icy surface. He positioned his fist low, preparing for an uppercut. "This ends now!"
He released the punch, but just as his fist connected, Nolan's body shimmered again, dissolving into liquid. Instead of reappearing behind him, Nolan reformed on his cloud, floating above the arena.
Kazuki's punch struck empty air, but the force of the blow caused the entire snow arena to tremble. A massive shockwave of lightning and dark magic exploded outward, shaking the ground and sending waves of snow flying. Kazuki's eyes darted around, searching for Nolan.
A slow, deliberate clapping sound echoed through the arena.
Kazuki looked up. Nolan was seated on his cloud, now transformed into a throne of ice, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement. "Impressive. If that punch had landed, it would have done some serious damage. But..." He spread his arms wide, the air around him shimmering. "A deal is a deal, right?"
He leaned back into the throne, his posture regal. "You've managed to knock me down—or at least, you came close. So, I'll honor my promise. Ask me three questions, Kazuki Takashi."
Kazuki's breathing was heavy, but he stood tall, his mask concealing the fierce glare beneath. "Why are you doing this? Controlling the people of Mirkdusk?"
Nolan's smile faded slightly. "Power. Influence. Mirkdusk is just a small piece of a much larger plan. You'll understand soon enough."
Kazuki clenched his fists. "What happened to the real people here? Are they still alive?"
"Of course." Nolan waved a hand dismissively. "They're merely... asleep. Dreaming my dreams. Once I no longer need them, they'll wake—if I allow it."
Kazuki's dark energy flared. "And Selena? What do you know about her? Why does she want to be accepted again?"
Nolan's eyes gleamed with a mixture of curiosity and something darker. "Selena always wanted to belong. Our family... let's just say it's complicated. She thinks you're her key to redemption."
Kazuki's heart pounded. The pieces were falling into place, but the full picture remained elusive. He didn't trust Nolan, but the information was valuable.
"Your time is up," Nolan said, standing. The cloud-throne dissipated. "Remember, Kazuki this is not the only time we'll meet!."
With that, he vanished, leaving Kazuki standing alone in the snowy arena, the echoes of their battle fading into silence.
TBC