Chapter Seventeen: Smokes of War
The area was engulfed in raging flames as the inferno of war-ravaged everything in its path. Two opposing beastman clans clashed violently in a brutal, bloody battle.
"Naga clan! You dare?" Guro roared furiously while throwing a powerful punch.
Gartan, a beastman with glistening green scales, snorted in disdain.
"You're too weak," he sneered. "Today, your Nura clan will fall. I'll slaughter you all, and my creatures will feast on your slaves' corpses."
His cruel laughter echoed as he and Guro resumed their savage duel, destroying everything in their path.
Dusken stood at a distance, observing the chaos. The Naga clan had invaded the Nura clan, igniting a war at the worst possible time.
The battlefield was swarming with creatures, and the scene was total mayhem, with people dying every second.
Dusken dodged the creature's wild strike as arrows whistled through the air around him.
The reality of the situation dawned on him: the Nura clan, who had captured and bound him along with the other children, was now under attack by the Naga clan.
A tangled web of political hostility had plunged them all into this bloody battle.
Dusken didn't know what to do in this scenario, since escaping was almost impossible. However, he wouldn't care about taking any side in the war, he would just fight till his blood rushed with exhilaration.
He clenched his fists but refrained from summoning his sword or activating his abilities.
Revealing his status as a contestant would be unwise right now; he needed the others to make their moves first. Until then, he had to bide his time.
In his hand, he held a broken arrow, its splintered tip dripping with the creature's blood. Dusken lunged forward, stabbing the arrow into the beast's flesh. The creature screeched, its tail whipping furiously.
Dusken raised his arms to shield himself as the rocky tail collided with him, sending him stumbling backwards.
Pain surged through his body. His bones screamed in protest, and blood seeped from his wounds, but Dusken remained resolute, his blood rushing within.
This was only the beginning, a test of his growing strength. Despite the agony, he couldn't help but marvel at the power he now possessed, even as a mere level one.
He dashed forward again, his right fist aimed at the creature's head. The beast twisted its body, its tail lashing out once more.
Dusken halted mid-stride and kicked the tail with all his might. The impact sent a low thud reverberating through the ground.
Blood dripped steadily from Dusken's bare feet, the tail's earlier strike leaving deep wounds in them.
His mortal body was vulnerable, but his sheer willpower drove him forward. With gritted teeth, he unleashed another punch, slamming it into the creature's massive head.
The monster retaliated, its needle-like claws slashing his shoulder, tearing through flesh and spilling blood. Dusken staggered back, his calm facade twisting into a grimace of pain.
All around him, the battlefield was a cacophony of chaos.
Beastmen tore into each other with unbridled savagery, their natural weapons rendering them deadlier than any human warrior, and this caused the death of many slaves.
Dusken's eyes darted back to his opponent. The beast's bloated belly heaved as its four crazed eyes locked onto him. He took a moment to gather himself, his mind racing.
His talent, the ability to control shadows and darkness, remained a mystery. He had tried earlier, but couldn't control the shadows, neither sense through them.
He had tried everything he could - controlling his own shadow, those of the trees, even the shadows of others - but every attempt had failed.
Frustration burned within him, fueling his determination. The shadows had utterly abandoned him, feeling his call, but refused to answer.
Dusken clenched his fists in unbridled rage as his eyes blazed with a force light.
'Since the shadows turned their back on me, I'll turn back on the shadows.'
Dusken charged at the creature, and it lunged to meet him. Blow after brutal blow was exchanged, neither willing to relent.
Dusken refused to summon his card, waiting for the right moment. His enemy sought survival; he sought its death.
As exhaustion set in, a sudden commotion drew Dusken's attention. A boy, no older than fifteen, bloodied and battered, raised his hand.
Golden particles swirled around him, forming a portal that appeared before the boy.
The battlefield fell silent, all eyes - beastmen, creatures, and humans alike - fixed on the boy. He reached into the portal and pulled out a small card, which transformed into a gleaming battle axe.
The battle axe wasn't large, just enough to fit the size of the young boy.
The golden portal faded, but its significance was clear. This was the signal.
One by one, six more golden portals appeared, each child retrieving a weapon from their own. Their abilities ignited, dazzling the battlefield.
One boy unleashed lasers from his eyes, another defied gravity with air-kicking agility, while a girl dashed across the battlefield with superhuman speed.
The beastman kings, Guro and Gartan, paused their clash, stunned by the spectacle unfolding before their eyes.
"Human child," Guro bellowed, "help my Nura clan push back these vile invaders, and I shall set you free!"
The seven contestants joined the fray, their newfound powers wreaking havoc on the battlefield.
Yet Dusken remained focused on his battle, memorizing their faces. These children would become his rivals in the quest for the legacy of the god of Darkness.
Noting that only seven contestants had revealed their weapons, Dusken returned his attention to the creature before him.
It was dazed, distracted by the golden portals. He seized the opportunity, his fists hammering into its skull.
The beast reeled, screeching in pain, but Dusken wasn't unscathed. His fingers throbbed in pain, but he was unrelenting.
"Time to die, bastard," he growled, a feral grin spreading across his bloodied face.
The creature lunged, and Dusken slid on the wet ground, narrowly dodging. Kicking off the earth, he leapt back into the fight, using his experience of training to anticipate the creature's movements.
Their battle was nearing its end. Both combatants were drained, but Dusken's resolve remained unshaken. He wouldn't summon his card… yet.
The creature lunged again. Dusken met it mid-air, delivering a powerful flying kick that sent them both hurtling backwards.
With a resounding thud, Dusken landed on the ground, his mouth leaking blood as he rose unsteadily to his feet.
It was time.
Dark particles began swirling around Dusken, drawing the attention of everyone on the battlefield.
Unlike the others, his particles were not golden but a deep, abyssal black.
The portal formed, smaller but no less potent than the others. Dusken reached in and retrieved a card, its surface shimmering with an enchanting, dark beauty.
On the card was drawn a longsword,
Tossing the card into the air, it transformed into a longsword, light and perfectly balanced, also at the perfect size for him.
'As expected of a god.' He thought with amusement.
The beast roared, charging once more, but Dusken was ready.
With adequate efficiency and brutal strikes, he carved into the creature, deflecting its claws and evading its tail.
His movements were relentless, his blows merciless as he gave up the defence and went for the ultimate offence.
Dusken panted as he disengaged from the creature. He inhaled and observed his surroundings, a smile creeping up his face.
It was a smile that made all who saw it feel an ominous chill down their spine. The beast's eyes held fear and hesitation.
That smile wasn't an ordinary one. It carried insanity. The madness to see all opponents fall.