The Abyssal Beast loomed over Yuto and Shiro, its grotesque form radiating malice. Thick tendrils of darkness slithered around its massive body, a pulsating mass of corrupted Anima. Its red eyes glowed like embers in a furnace, fixating on Yuto, drawn to the unstable, chaotic power of Abyss within him.
Yuto stood frozen for a second, overwhelmed by the sheer presence of the creature. It was unlike anything he had ever faced before. This wasn't just another Voidspawn; this was a manifestation of the Abyss itself—an enemy born from the same darkness that fueled his own Anima. The air grew heavy, thick with tension, as the Beast took a step forward, each movement causing the earth to tremble beneath their feet.
"Yuto!" Shiro's voice broke the silence, sharp and urgent. "Snap out of it! If we don't move now, we're dead!"
Yuto blinked, shaking himself out of his trance. He turned to Shiro, who was already in battle stance, Ravenous coiling around him like a living shadow. Shiro's expression was serious, but his eyes showed no fear—only determination.
"Right. We take this thing down, or we're done for," Yuto muttered to himself, trying to suppress the fear gnawing at his insides. Abyss stirred within him, whispering dark temptations in his mind, its voice a soft, sinister hum.
"You're wasting time," Abyss hissed. "Let me out. Let me consume this thing. You're too weak to handle it on your own."
"I'm not listening to you," Yuto growled under his breath. He clenched his fists, feeling the dark tendrils of his own Anima swirl around his arms. The energy was there, waiting, eager to be unleashed. But Yuto wasn't going to lose control. Not again.
"Fine," Abyss purred. "Then die. It makes no difference to me."
The Abyssal Beast roared, a guttural, otherworldly sound that echoed through the ruined warehouse. Its eyes locked onto Yuto, and without warning, it lunged forward with terrifying speed, its claws extended and ready to tear him apart.
"Move!" Shiro yelled.
Yuto barely had time to react. He dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the Beast's massive claws as they slashed through the air where he had been standing. The ground where the claws struck exploded into a cloud of debris, sending chunks of concrete flying in every direction.
"It's faster than it looks," Yuto muttered as he scrambled to his feet. His heart was racing, and he could feel Abyss pushing against the boundaries of his control, eager to take over.
"No time to hesitate!" Shiro shouted, already moving. He dashed forward, Ravenous flaring out its dark wings as it struck at the Beast's side with lightning speed. The creature snarled in pain, but its skin—if you could even call it that—was unnaturally tough. The wounds barely bled, and what little damage Ravenous had inflicted began to heal almost instantly.
"Damn it, it's regenerating!" Shiro cursed, jumping back to avoid a retaliatory strike from the Beast. He turned to Yuto, frustration in his voice. "We need to hit it harder! I'll distract it—find an opening!"
Yuto nodded, though doubt gnawed at him. "Find an opening," he muttered under his breath. "Easier said than done, Shiro..."
The Abyssal Beast turned its attention back to Yuto, its red eyes narrowing. It let out a low, menacing growl, clearly sensing the power of Abyss. Yuto could feel its hunger—an insatiable desire to devour the darkness within him. This creature wasn't just a Voidspawn; it was something more. Something closer to Abyss.
"It recognizes me," Abyss said in Yuto's mind, almost amused. "It knows what I am. And it's afraid."
"Afraid?" Yuto asked, skepticism clear in his voice. "Doesn't look like it's backing down to me."
"Fear can make creatures desperate," Abyss replied, its voice dripping with malice. "Let me show you."
"No!" Yuto snapped, shaking his head. He could feel the pull of Abyss growing stronger, the temptation to let the dark entity take over rising with each second. But he couldn't. He wouldn't let Abyss consume him.
Instead, Yuto focused on the energy swirling within him, trying to harness just enough of Abyss's power without losing control. Dark tendrils of shadow stretched from his arms, coiling and shifting like serpents, ready to strike.
Shiro shot him a glance, his eyes narrowing. "Are you ready for this?"
Yuto forced a grin, though his heart was pounding. "As ready as I'll ever be."
"Good. Then let's take this thing down," Shiro said, his voice filled with resolve.
Without another word, Shiro charged toward the Abyssal Beast, Ravenous moving with him in perfect sync. The creature let out a deafening roar and swung one of its massive arms down toward him. Shiro ducked, narrowly avoiding the strike, and Ravenous slashed at the Beast's side again, faster this time, cutting deep into its flesh. But once again, the wounds began to close almost immediately.
"It's healing too fast!" Shiro shouted over the chaos. "We need something stronger!"
Yuto nodded, though his mind was racing. Stronger... He needed to hit it with something that could break through its regeneration. He could feel the raw power of Abyss bubbling up inside him, ready to be unleashed. But he had to be careful. If he lost control again, there was no telling what would happen.
"Shiro! Keep it busy!" Yuto called out, stepping back to focus. His hands shook as he concentrated, trying to shape the dark energy into something more powerful—more destructive.
"I'm on it!" Shiro replied without hesitation. He dashed around the Beast, slashing at its legs, its back, anything to keep its attention off Yuto. Ravenous struck out with a series of rapid, precise attacks, aiming for weak points, but it was like trying to cut through solid stone.
Yuto gritted his teeth as the dark energy swirled around him, forming jagged tendrils that crackled with malevolent power. He could feel Abyss pushing against the edges of his mind, urging him to let go, to give in.
"You can't defeat that creature without me," Abyss whispered, its voice silky and insistent. "Let me out. Just for a moment. I can end this in seconds."
"No," Yuto growled, his voice low but firm. He wasn't going to give in to Abyss. Not yet. Not until he had no other choice.
But the Abyssal Beast wasn't giving them any time to think. It swung one of its massive arms toward Shiro, who narrowly dodged the blow, but the Beast was relentless. It let out another deafening roar and slammed its other arm into the ground, sending a shockwave of dark energy rippling through the air.
"Yuto!" Shiro called out, his voice strained. "Whatever you're planning, do it fast! I can't keep this thing off forever!"
Yuto clenched his fists, his mind racing. He could feel the raw power of Abyss thrumming within him, ready to be unleashed. And maybe… maybe Shiro was right. He couldn't afford to hold back any longer.
"Alright," Yuto muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the chaos. He took a deep breath, then another. And then, he let go.
The dark energy surged through him like a tidal wave, crashing against his senses, filling every inch of his body with power. The shadows around him thickened, coiling and writhing like living creatures, and Yuto could feel Abyss's presence growing stronger—more insistent.
"Yes... that's it," Abyss purred, its voice echoing in Yuto's mind. "Let the power flow. You can feel it, can't you? The strength... the freedom."
Yuto gritted his teeth, trying to keep control even as the power threatened to overwhelm him. His vision blurred for a moment, and he could hear Abyss laughing in the back of his mind, but he pushed forward. He wasn't going to let Abyss win. Not now.
"Shiro!" Yuto shouted, his voice filled with a newfound confidence. "Get back!"
Shiro didn't hesitate. He darted away from the Abyssal Beast just as Yuto unleashed a torrent of dark energy. The tendrils shot out from his arms, faster and more powerful than before, and slammed into the Beast with a force that shook the ground.
The Abyssal Beast let out a pained roar as the tendrils wrapped around its body, digging into its flesh and pulling it toward the ground. For the first time, Yuto saw real damage being done—the creature's skin was tearing, its muscles shredding under the sheer force of the attack. Dark ichor spilled from its wounds, pooling on the ground beneath it.
"Yes! That's it!" Abyss roared in triumph. "Tear it apart! Show it the power of the Abyss!"
Yuto pushed harder, pouring everything he had into the attack. The Beast thrashed and roared, but it couldn't break free. The dark tendrils tightened around it, constricting its movements, and for the first time, the creature seemed vulnerable.
"Now, Yuto!" Shiro yelled from the sidelines. "Finish it!"
Yuto gritted his teeth and summoned one final surge of energy. The tendrils coiled tighter, and with a deafening roar, the Abyssal Beast's body began to collapse in on itself. The darkness consumed it, tearing it apart piece by piece until there was nothing left but a pile of blackened ash.
Yuto fell to his knees, breathing heavily. The power of Abyss slowly receded, and he could feel the dark presence fading back into the recesses of his mind. But even as the Beast was destroyed, Yuto knew this battle was far from over.
Shiro approached him cautiously, Ravenous still at the ready, though the immediate threat was gone. "Yuto..." Shiro's voice was quiet, filled with concern. "Are you... alright?"
Yuto looked up, his eyes still glowing faintly with dark energy. He took a deep breath, then nodded.
"Yeah," he said, though his voice was shaky. "I'm fine."
But deep down, Yuto wasn't sure if he was telling the truth.