Chereads / Soulbound Warriors / Chapter 49 - Internal War

Chapter 49 - Internal War

Yuto stood in the center of a vast, shadowy plane, his breath coming in short, rapid bursts. This place felt familiar yet distant—a realm that was both part of him and utterly foreign. The endless darkness stretched in every direction, with no end in sight. And in front of him stood Abyss, his dark reflection. But this wasn't just a twisted image of himself; it was something much more menacing. Abyss loomed larger, his features distorted into a malicious grin, and his aura radiated pure malevolence.

"You think you can keep me locked away forever, Yuto?" Abyss taunted, his voice dripping with venom. "This is my domain now. You've fought for control, but you'll never truly win."

Yuto clenched his fists, sweat dripping down his brow as he prepared himself for the battle. "This is my mind. You're just a parasite, and I'm going to take back what's mine."

Abyss chuckled, the sound low and mocking. "You've barely scratched the surface of your power. You've held me back for so long, afraid of what I am. But deep down, you know the truth. You need me, Yuto. Without me, you're nothing."

Yuto's eyes narrowed. "You're wrong. I don't need you. I'll win this fight on my own."

With a sudden burst of speed, Yuto launched himself at Abyss, swinging his fist toward the dark entity's face. Abyss reacted in kind, raising his arm to block the punch before twisting his body to deliver a swift knee to Yuto's gut. The impact sent Yuto stumbling back, but he quickly regained his footing, gritting his teeth as the pain surged through him.

Abyss smirked, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Is that all you've got? You're barely holding yourself together."

"I'm not done yet," Yuto growled, rushing forward again.

This time, he feinted a punch and spun around, bringing his elbow crashing down toward Abyss's neck. Abyss blocked it again, but Yuto followed up with a swift kick to the side, catching Abyss off guard. The kick landed with a satisfying thud, causing Abyss to stagger back slightly.

But Abyss didn't falter for long. He straightened up, shaking off the hit as if it were nothing. "I told you, Yuto. You're only delaying the inevitable."

Before Yuto could respond, Abyss was on him again, closing the distance with blinding speed. His fists were like iron, pummeling into Yuto's defenses with relentless force. Yuto barely managed to block the blows, his arms aching with the effort as Abyss continued his onslaught. The sheer power behind each hit was overwhelming.

Abyss swung a powerful punch aimed directly at Yuto's face. Yuto ducked just in time, the force of the blow causing the air to ripple around him. He countered with an uppercut, but Abyss sidestepped, grabbing Yuto by the wrist and twisting his arm painfully.

"You're so predictable," Abyss sneered, tightening his grip. "You think brute force is going to save you?"

Yuto grimaced in pain but refused to give in. He twisted his body, using the momentum to break free of Abyss's hold, and delivered a sharp kick to Abyss's shin. Abyss let out a grunt of irritation but barely faltered, immediately retaliating with a backhand that sent Yuto sprawling across the ground.

Yuto rolled to his feet, gasping for air as he wiped the blood from his mouth. "I won't let you take over… You won't win."

"You say that," Abyss said, his voice dangerously calm. "But we both know this fight is meaningless. You're fighting your own power. The longer you resist, the weaker you become."

Yuto glared at him, fists still raised. "I'm not just fighting for myself. I'm fighting for everyone I care about. You'll never understand that."

Abyss cocked his head, his smirk widening. "Ah, the selfless hero routine. How noble. But what happens when your loved ones realize what you really are? When they see that monster lurking inside you?"

Yuto's chest tightened, a flicker of doubt creeping into his mind. What if… what if they really do see me as a monster?

Abyss seemed to sense the hesitation and seized on it. "You've seen the way they look at you. Takeshi, your friends… they're afraid of you. Afraid of what you'll become."

"Shut up!" Yuto roared, charging forward with renewed fury. His fists flew, each punch driven by anger and frustration. But Abyss dodged and weaved through his attacks effortlessly, laughing as Yuto's rage grew.

"Anger won't help you, Yuto," Abyss mocked, ducking under a wild punch. He grabbed Yuto by the collar and slammed him into the ground with bone-crushing force.

Yuto groaned, the impact knocking the wind out of him. He tried to get up, but Abyss was already on top of him, pinning him down with a knee to his chest.

"You're weak," Abyss whispered, his face inches from Yuto's. "You always have been. But with me, you could be unstoppable. You and I—together—we could rule both realms. You just have to give in."

Yuto struggled beneath the weight, his body screaming in protest. His mind raced as Abyss's words echoed in his head. Am I really too weak? Am I fighting a battle I can't win?

But then, a memory flashed through his mind—Takeshi's face, filled with determination as he called out to him. "You're stronger than this, Yuto. Don't give up now."

Yuto clenched his teeth, his resolve hardening. No. I can't give up. He summoned every ounce of strength he had left and pushed back against Abyss, throwing him off with a burst of energy.

Abyss staggered back, surprise flickering across his face for the first time. Yuto scrambled to his feet, breathing heavily but standing tall.

"I don't care what you say," Yuto said, his voice steady despite the pain. "I won't let you control me. I'm not weak. I'm not afraid of what I am anymore."

Abyss's eyes narrowed, the playful grin fading as his expression darkened. "Then you leave me no choice."

In an instant, Abyss surged forward, his movements faster than before. Yuto braced himself, blocking the first punch, but Abyss followed up with a brutal knee to his ribs that sent Yuto crashing to the ground again. Abyss didn't stop. He grabbed Yuto by the throat, lifting him off the ground effortlessly and slamming him against an invisible wall that had materialized out of the darkness.

Yuto gasped for air as Abyss tightened his grip, his fingers like cold steel around Yuto's neck.

"You think you can fight me forever, Yuto?" Abyss hissed, his voice a low growl. "I'm a part of you. Every time you feel fear, every time you doubt yourself, I grow stronger. You'll never be free of me."

Yuto's vision blurred as he struggled to breathe, his hands clawing at Abyss's arm. His strength was fading fast, and for a moment, it seemed like Abyss might be right. But then, something inside Yuto stirred—something deeper than the fear, deeper than the doubt. A spark of determination that refused to be extinguished.

With a burst of energy, Yuto slammed his elbow into Abyss's side, forcing him to loosen his grip just enough for Yuto to twist free. He dropped to the ground, gasping for air, but he didn't waste any time. He spun around, delivering a powerful roundhouse kick that caught Abyss across the jaw, sending him stumbling back.

Abyss wiped his mouth, his eyes burning with fury. "You're persistent. I'll give you that."

Yuto didn't respond. He was done talking. This fight wasn't just about power—it was about control. And he wasn't going to let Abyss take it from him.

The two of them clashed again, their fists flying in a brutal exchange of blows. Yuto's body ached with every punch, but he kept pushing, kept fighting. Every hit he landed felt like a small victory, a step closer to reclaiming himself.

Abyss, however, was relentless. His movements were faster, sharper, each strike carrying the weight of the darkness that had been festering inside Yuto for so long. But Yuto wasn't the same person he had been when this fight started. He had faced his fear, his doubt, and he had come out stronger.

As the battle raged on, Yuto could feel the tide turning. Abyss's strikes were still powerful, but they lacked the precision they had at the start. He was growing frustrated, and Yuto could sense it.

Finally, after what felt like hours, Yuto saw his opening. Abyss lunged forward with a wild punch, but Yuto sidestepped, grabbing Abyss's arm and twisting it behind his back. With a swift, decisive move, Yuto drove his knee into Abyss's side, forcing him to the ground.

Panting heavily, Yuto stood over his fallen reflection, his fists still clenched. Abyss lay on the ground, his body trembling with rage.

"This isn't over," Abyss snarled