The ground trembled under the weight of Yuto's unleashed power, a palpable darkness swirling around him like a storm. Tendrils of shadow licked at the air, distorting the very fabric of reality. Hiro's eyes widened in disbelief as Yuto's form was swallowed by the Abyss. He had seen power before, but this… this was something else entirely.
Hiro gripped his halberd tighter, taking a step back, his confidence suddenly faltering. "What... what the hell is this? What have you become?"
Yuto's voice was distant, almost inhuman, resonating from somewhere deep within the abyssal void that had taken hold of him. "I warned you, Hiro. But you wouldn't listen. Now, you'll understand."
In a blur of motion, Yuto vanished from Hiro's sight, only to reappear an instant later, his sword arcing toward Hiro with impossible speed. The clang of metal echoed through the street as Hiro barely managed to block the strike, his halberd shuddering under the force. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, cracking the pavement beneath their feet.
Hiro's arms trembled as he struggled to hold his ground. "You think this power makes you invincible? You're just a puppet to whatever darkness you've tapped into!"
Yuto's glowing eyes locked onto Hiro, the inky blackness swirling in their depths. "I'm no puppet. I control this."
He pressed forward, his attacks relentless. Each strike came faster, more precise, as if Yuto was no longer constrained by the limits of his own body. His sword, now darkened by the Abyss, moved like a shadow, slicing through the air with deadly intent. Hiro found himself on the defensive, struggling to keep up with the speed and ferocity of Yuto's assault.
Hiro grit his teeth, his muscles straining with each parry. "You're losing yourself! You think you can handle that power, but it's eating you alive! I can see it!"
Yuto's face remained emotionless, his voice as cold as the dark energy swirling around him. "You talk too much, Hiro. If you won't stop, I'll make you."
With a burst of speed, Yuto slammed his sword down, the force of the blow shattering Hiro's halberd in two. Hiro's eyes widened as the broken weapon clattered to the ground, his mind racing. He barely had time to react before Yuto's hand shot out, grabbing him by the throat. Yuto lifted him effortlessly off the ground, the Abyss pulsing through his veins as dark tendrils coiled around Hiro's body.
"You're finished," Yuto said, his grip tightening.
Hiro gasped, his fingers clawing at Yuto's hand, but the strength behind Yuto's grasp was like iron. For the first time in the fight, Hiro felt true fear. He had underestimated this boy, this child who now held him in the grip of something far beyond his comprehension. And now, he was paying the price.
But Hiro wasn't one to give up easily.
With a defiant snarl, he reached deep within himself, summoning the last remnants of his Soulbound power. His body erupted in crimson light as his Anima, a hulking, armored spirit named Raijin, materialized behind him. The spirit roared, its eyes glowing with raw energy as it slammed a massive fist down toward Yuto.
Yuto didn't flinch.
The dark tendrils of the Abyss whipped out, meeting Raijin's fist head-on. The impact created a shockwave that rippled through the street, shattering windows and sending debris flying. For a moment, the two powers struggled against each other, locked in a battle of pure force. But Yuto's Abyss, fueled by the unholy darkness within him, quickly overpowered the spirit.
Raijin let out a guttural growl as the tendrils of darkness wrapped around its massive frame, constricting it like a serpent. The spirit fought back, but the Abyss was too strong. Yuto's voice cut through the chaos, cold and merciless.
"You can't win, Hiro. This is the end."
Hiro's eyes widened in panic as Raijin was dragged into the void of the Abyss, its form dissolving into nothingness. The light that had once surrounded Hiro faded, leaving him vulnerable, dangling helplessly in Yuto's grip.
"Yuto!" Takeshi's voice rang out from the sidelines, filled with desperation. "Stop! This isn't you!"
Yuto's gaze shifted, locking onto Takeshi for a brief moment. His expression flickered, the human side of him struggling beneath the weight of the Abyss' power. But the darkness was relentless, and it pulled him deeper, tightening its grip on his mind.
"I have to end this," Yuto muttered, almost to himself.
Rika stepped forward, her eyes full of concern. "Yuto, if you go any further, there's no coming back. You're not just killing him—you're losing yourself!"
For a moment, Yuto hesitated. He could feel the Abyss inside him, whispering, tempting him to finish the job. To crush Hiro and prove his strength. But beneath the cold whispers, he could also hear Takeshi and Rika's voices, calling out to him, trying to pull him back from the edge.
Yuto's grip on Hiro's throat loosened slightly, his mind torn between the two forces. The Abyss wanted blood, wanted to consume everything in its path. But Yuto—deep down, Yuto didn't want to be a monster. He didn't want to lose who he was.
"Yuto!" Takeshi shouted again, stepping closer, his hand outstretched. "Come back! This isn't you!"
Yuto's breathing grew ragged as the darkness inside him writhed, fighting for control. His eyes flickered, the blackness dimming for a brief moment as the human part of him clawed its way back to the surface. He could feel the Abyss fighting against him, resisting, but for the first time, Yuto pushed back.
"No…" Yuto muttered, his voice strained. "I won't… lose… myself."
With a growl of exertion, Yuto released Hiro, letting him fall to the ground in a heap. The darkness around Yuto swirled violently for a moment before slowly receding, the tendrils of the Abyss withdrawing back into his body. Yuto stumbled back, his breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps as he fought to regain control.
Hiro lay on the ground, coughing and gasping for air, his face pale with fear and shock. He looked up at Yuto, his eyes wide. "You… you should've killed me."
Yuto, his face still twisted with the remnants of the Abyss' influence, glared down at him. "Maybe I should have. But I won't become like you. This war isn't worth losing myself."
Rika and Takeshi rushed to Yuto's side, their expressions a mixture of relief and concern. Takeshi placed a hand on Yuto's shoulder, squeezing it gently. "You did it, Yuto. You stopped yourself."
Yuto didn't respond immediately, his gaze still locked on Hiro, who was now struggling to his feet. The Crimson Order warrior wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, his pride clearly wounded.
"This isn't over," Hiro spat, his voice shaking with rage and humiliation. "You may have won this fight, but the Crimson Order will never stop. We'll crush anyone who stands in our way, Voidspawn or not."
Yuto's eyes hardened. "Then I'll stop you. All of you."
Hiro sneered, turning away with a stumble. "We'll see about that."
As Hiro retreated into the shadows, Yuto's shoulders sagged, the weight of the battle—and the Abyss—bearing down on him. Takeshi and Rika exchanged worried glances, but neither said a word. They could see the toll the Abyss was taking on Yuto, and they knew this was only the beginning.
Yuto looked up at the darkened sky, his mind racing. He had won the battle, but the war was far from over. And as long as the Abyss lived inside him, he wasn't sure if he could win the war within himself.
"Let's go," Yuto muttered, sheathing his sword. "There's more we need to do."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, the shadows of the Abyss still lingering in his steps.