Yuto's body trembled as he forced himself to stand, his legs barely holding him up. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, his vision hazy as the searing pain in his ribs refused to subside. Every breath felt like a blade twisting in his chest, but he wasn't done—not yet.
The Voidspawn, Abyss's so-called brother, stood calmly in the distance, dark energy swirling around him like a storm ready to engulf everything. His grin stretched wide across his face, eyes glowing with a cruel hunger. "Look at you, Yuto. You're nothing but a walking corpse, clinging to life. Just let go."
Yuto wiped the blood from his lips with the back of his hand. "Not happening."
Without another word, he surged forward, black flames erupting from his feet as he launched himself at the Voidspawn. His fists glowed with dark energy, each step cracking the ground beneath him. He aimed a devastating right hook, but the Voidspawn effortlessly sidestepped it, catching Yuto's arm mid-swing.
With a malicious grin, the Voidspawn yanked Yuto forward, slamming his knee into Yuto's stomach. The impact was like a sledgehammer, and Yuto gasped as the wind was knocked out of him. He barely had time to react before the Voidspawn twisted his body and hurled him across the battlefield.
Yuto crashed into the ground, skidding along the dirt and gravel before slamming into a boulder, shattering it on impact. Groaning, he coughed violently, blood splattering onto the rocks. His entire body screamed in agony, but still, he refused to stay down.
"You're stubborn, I'll give you that," the Voidspawn said, slowly walking toward him. His voice was laced with amusement, but beneath it was a growing irritation. "But stubbornness alone won't save you."
Yuto staggered to his feet, using the shattered remains of the boulder to support himself. His legs wobbled, but he clenched his fists, the black flames flickering back to life around him. "You talk too much," he spat, his voice hoarse but defiant.
The Voidspawn's eyes narrowed. "Then let's see how long you can keep talking."
Without warning, the Voidspawn vanished, moving faster than Yuto could track. A split second later, Yuto felt a fist slam into his back, sending him lurching forward. Before he could recover, another punch connected with his jaw, then another to his ribs. Each hit was like a wrecking ball, relentless and devastating.
Yuto was thrown back, his body tumbling through the air like a rag doll. But before he hit the ground, he twisted in mid-air, planting his feet and skidding to a stop. He gritted his teeth, refusing to let the pain consume him. He had to fight—he had to.
The Voidspawn materialized in front of him again, his movements almost casual. "Impressive. You're still conscious."
Yuto didn't respond. He simply lunged forward, aiming a wild punch at the Voidspawn's face. The Voidspawn dodged with ease, but Yuto wasn't done. He spun, following up with a kick to the side, but again, the Voidspawn evaded.
"You're too predictable, Yuto," the Voidspawn mocked as he blocked another punch with one hand. "You can't win like this."
"Shut up!" Yuto roared, his anger fueling him as he launched a barrage of attacks—punches, kicks, elbows—all aimed at overwhelming his opponent. But the Voidspawn was faster, stronger, and more skilled. He dodged and blocked every strike effortlessly, his mocking grin never fading.
Yuto threw a wild uppercut, but the Voidspawn caught his fist, twisting Yuto's arm painfully. With a cruel smirk, the Voidspawn brought his knee up, smashing it into Yuto's ribs. The sickening crack echoed through the battlefield as Yuto's body crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath.
The Voidspawn loomed over him, his expression darkening. "This is pathetic. You're not even worth my time."
Yuto's vision blurred as he struggled to stay conscious. The pain was unbearable, his body broken and battered. But in the back of his mind, he could feel it—the Abyss, calling to him. The dark power within him, begging to be unleashed.
No... Yuto thought, gritting his teeth. I can't... lose control.
But the Voidspawn wasn't giving him a choice. He raised his hand, dark energy gathering in his palm as he prepared to finish Yuto off. "Goodbye, Yuto."
Yuto's heart pounded in his chest as he saw the Voidspawn's attack charging up. He was too weak to move, too broken to fight back. Was this really it? Was this how it ended?
No!
Suddenly, a surge of power erupted from deep within him, black flames roaring to life around his body. Yuto's eyes snapped open, glowing with the same dark energy as the Abyss. His mind screamed in resistance, but his body—his soul—had already made the choice.
The Voidspawn's eyes widened in surprise as Yuto's body was consumed by the Abyss's power. "What—"
Before he could finish, Yuto moved. Faster than he'd ever moved before, faster than even the Voidspawn could react. Yuto's fist connected with the Voidspawn's chest, sending him flying backward with a shockwave of dark energy.
The Voidspawn crashed into the ground, skidding to a halt as he clutched his chest, gasping in shock. "You... you're using it?"
Yuto stood, his body radiating with dark flames, his eyes cold and distant. His voice, when he spoke, was deeper, almost inhuman. "You wanted a fight? Here it is."
With a roar, Yuto charged, his movements a blur of speed and fury. The Voidspawn barely had time to react before Yuto was on him, delivering a series of crushing blows—each one more devastating than the last. Yuto's fists slammed into the Voidspawn's body with brutal precision, breaking through his defenses.
The Voidspawn tried to fight back, throwing wild punches, but Yuto blocked them with ease. He ducked under one swing and countered with a vicious uppercut to the jaw, sending the Voidspawn stumbling backward. Yuto followed up with a spinning kick to the side, the impact creating a shockwave that shook the battlefield.
The Voidspawn gasped for air, blood dripping from his mouth as he struggled to stay upright. "This... this power..."
Yuto didn't respond. He simply pressed the attack, his fists and feet moving in perfect harmony. He unleashed a relentless combination of strikes—punches, kicks, elbows—each one landing with bone-crushing force. The Voidspawn was overwhelmed, unable to keep up with Yuto's newfound speed and power.
With a final roar, Yuto delivered a devastating punch to the Voidspawn's chest, sending him flying into the air. The Voidspawn crashed to the ground, creating a massive crater on impact. He lay there, motionless, his body broken and battered.
Yuto stood over him, his dark flames still flickering around his body, his eyes glowing with the Abyss's power. But something was different. Yuto's breathing was steady, his expression calm. He was in control—barely.
The Voidspawn coughed weakly, blood staining his lips. "This... isn't over, Yuto... You may have... won this fight... but the Abyss... will consume you... in the end."
Yuto clenched his fists, the dark flames around him flickering out as he forced the Abyss's power back. He took a deep breath, his eyes returning to normal. "Maybe," he said quietly. "But not today."
With that, Yuto turned his back on the Voidspawn, his body aching from the battle. The fight was over—for now. But the war was far from won.