Yuto barely had time to catch his breath before Nyx launched forward, the ground beneath its feet cracking as it propelled itself toward him. His body still ached from his battle with Abyss, but there was no time to dwell on that now. Nyx moved faster than Yuto anticipated, its shadowy form blurring as it closed the distance in an instant.
"Too slow, boy!" Nyx's voice echoed in his ears, dripping with disdain.
Yuto barely raised his arms in time to block as a wave of dark energy struck him square in the chest. The force of the impact sent him flying backward, slamming hard into a pile of debris. Dust and rubble filled the air as Yuto groaned in pain, trying to shake off the daze.
"Dammit..." Yuto muttered, struggling to stand. He could feel the sting of battle weighing heavily on him. His limbs were sluggish, his body aching from the previous fight. But he couldn't afford to stop now. Not with this new threat looming over him.
"You're already struggling?" Nyx sneered, slowly walking toward him, each step deliberate and taunting. "I expected more from the one who defeated Abyss. You disappoint me."
Yuto clenched his fists, refusing to let Nyx's words get to him. "I'm not done yet," he growled, forcing himself to stand tall. "I'll fight until I can't move anymore."
Nyx tilted its head, the shadowy tendrils around its body twisting and writhing. "You fight with such stubbornness... It's almost admirable. But stubbornness won't save you from what's coming."
Yuto took a deep breath, feeling the remnants of his Anima Requiem still coursing through him. He couldn't let himself be overwhelmed. Not again. He had to stay focused.
"What... what are you?" Yuto asked, wiping the blood from his lip as he stood his ground. "You're not just another Voidspawn, are you?"
Nyx chuckled darkly, the sound sending a shiver down Yuto's spine. "Oh, I'm far beyond the likes of Abyss and the other Voidspawn you've faced. I am a harbinger of despair itself, the essence of true darkness. Abyss was merely a tool, a piece of the greater whole."
Yuto's eyes widened. "Abyss was just... a tool?"
Nyx's smirk widened, revealing a set of sharp, gleaming teeth. "That's right. You thought Abyss was your ultimate enemy, but in truth, he was only a puppet. I am the hand that pulls the strings."
Yuto's heart raced. This was worse than he thought. If Abyss was only a pawn, then what kind of power did Nyx possess?
"Then I'll defeat you too!" Yuto shouted, summoning all of his energy once more. The souls of the past warriors whispered in his ear, urging him on. His Anima began to glow again, faint but present.
Nyx's eyes glinted with amusement. "You're welcome to try, but I think you'll find it's not as simple as that."
Without warning, Nyx's form dissolved into a mass of swirling shadows, disappearing from Yuto's sight. Yuto spun around, trying to track the movement, but the darkness seemed to move too fast.
"Where—" Before he could finish, Nyx materialized behind him, delivering a sharp blow to his side. Yuto grunted in pain, staggering forward from the force of the strike.
"You can't even keep up," Nyx taunted, its voice surrounding Yuto from every direction. "This is the difference between us. You're fighting with borrowed strength, but I am the darkness itself."
Yuto gasped for breath, clutching his side as he tried to regain his composure. He knew he was outmatched in terms of speed and power, but he couldn't give up. Not yet.
"I won't let you... break me!" Yuto shouted, summoning more of his Anima energy. He concentrated hard, trying to reach the spirits of the fallen Soulbound warriors. He needed their strength now more than ever.
"Kaito," Yuto whispered, closing his eyes. "Lend me your power."
A warm sensation filled his chest as the connection to his brother's spirit surged within him. For a brief moment, Yuto could feel Kaito's presence beside him, guiding his movements.
"Remember, Yuto," Kaito's voice echoed in his mind. "The darkness isn't your enemy. It's a part of you. Learn to control it."
Yuto's eyes snapped open, determination flooding his veins. "Anima Requiem!" he shouted, his aura blazing brightly as he charged toward Nyx, sword of light in hand.
Nyx raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You're trying again? Bold, but futile."
Yuto swung his sword with all his might, the blade slicing through the air with a radiant glow. But Nyx merely sidestepped the attack, moving as fluidly as water. Before Yuto could react, Nyx struck again, this time hitting him square in the stomach with a punch that sent shockwaves through his body.
Yuto coughed, blood splattering onto the ground as he crumpled to his knees. His vision blurred, the edges darkening as pain wracked his body.
"I told you," Nyx said, standing over him. "You cannot defeat me."
Yuto clenched his teeth, gripping the hilt of his sword even tighter. "I... I won't give up!" He forced himself back to his feet, wobbling but refusing to fall. His breath was ragged, but his spirit remained unbroken.
Nyx's eyes narrowed, watching Yuto with something akin to curiosity. "What drives you to continue? You've already lost."
Yuto met Nyx's gaze, his eyes burning with defiance. "I fight because... because I have people to protect. I have friends who believe in me. A brother who believed in me. I won't let them down!"
Nyx paused for a moment, its expression unreadable. "Sentimentality... It's such a fragile thing. And yet..." Nyx's voice trailed off, its eyes narrowing in thought.
Taking advantage of the brief moment of hesitation, Yuto pushed forward again. He charged at Nyx, swinging his sword with everything he had left. This time, his movements were more controlled, more precise. Each strike carried the weight of his determination.
Nyx dodged the first few swings with ease, but Yuto's relentless assault began to push it back. There was a new intensity behind each attack, a fire that hadn't been there before.
"What is this?" Nyx muttered, a flicker of uncertainty crossing its face.
Yuto's strikes became faster, more fluid, as if he were finally tapping into something deeper. His connection to the spirits of the past warriors grew stronger with each passing second.
"I'm not fighting alone," Yuto said through gritted teeth, his eyes blazing with determination. "I have their strength, their will. And together, we'll take you down!"
Nyx's expression darkened, its playful demeanor replaced by something far more dangerous. "I see... You're beginning to understand, but it's too late."
In an instant, Nyx's form exploded into a whirlwind of shadows, engulfing the entire area. The ground trembled as the darkness expanded, consuming everything in its path.
Yuto braced himself, his sword glowing brighter as he stood his ground. The darkness swirled around him, trying to pull him under, but Yuto held firm, his Anima energy pushing back against the encroaching shadows.
"I won't be swallowed by despair!" Yuto shouted, his voice echoing through the void. "I'll fight until the very end!"
Nyx's voice resonated from the shadows, its tone cold and menacing. "Then let's see how long your light lasts."
The battle was far from over. Yuto knew that Nyx was unlike any opponent he had faced before, but he couldn't let that stop him. He would keep fighting, no matter the odds.
As the darkness closed in, Yuto's determination burned brighter than ever. He would protect those he loved, and he would overcome the shadows—no matter the cost.
The fight between light and dark continued, with Yuto standing at the heart of it all, refusing to give in to the overwhelming despair that threatened to consume him. But as Nyx's true power began to unfold, Yuto realized that this battle would test not only his strength but the very core of his soul.