The battlefield crackled with tension. The air hung heavy with power, and the ground, scorched and splintered, bore the scars of the earlier battle. Xalin stood alone now, his form glowing with the radiant energy of the Luminary state, his white markings pulsing rhythmically like a heartbeat. The rest of the group—Kell and Lira—lay to the side, barely conscious, their bodies battered but alive.
Roylen, unscathed and exuding an almost regal calm, watched Xalin with a slight smirk. His crimson eyes glowed faintly, betraying his amusement. "They were entertaining," he said, his voice smooth and steady, "but you… you might actually give me something to enjoy."
Xalin didn't reply. He inhaled deeply, steadying himself. The weight of his companions' lives, the stakes of the battle, and the overwhelming power of the opponent before him—all of it bore down on him. But he didn't falter. Slowly, he adopted a wide, balanced stance, his arms raised, palms open, the ground beneath his feet trembling in response.
"I'll stop you," Xalin said, his voice firm. "Even if it costs me everything."
Roylen chuckled softly. "Brave words." In the blink of an eye, he vanished from sight.
---
The Clash of Titans
Xalin's instincts screamed, and he twisted his body just in time. Roylen's palm grazed past his shoulder, but the sheer force of the attack sent a shockwave rippling outward, gouging a trench into the ground. Xalin retaliated immediately, summoning a surge of air to propel himself into the sky, where he conjured a spinning vortex of wind and shadow.
"Air Barrage!" Xalin shouted, launching the vortex downward. The spiraling attack tore through the battlefield like a drill, uprooting trees and sending debris flying.
Roylen appeared at the edge of the vortex, his movements a blur. He deflected the attack with a flick of his wrist, his crimson aura flaring like a shield. In the same motion, he closed the distance between them, leaping skyward with unnatural speed.
"Too slow!" Roylen's fist collided with Xalin's raised forearm, the impact creating a shockwave that sent ripples through the clouds above. Xalin countered, pivoting mid-air and releasing a burst of shadow energy. The black tendrils lashed out, forcing Roylen to retreat momentarily.
Xalin didn't waste the opening. He descended in a spiral, the ground beneath him buckling as he landed. With a swift motion, he raised his hands, drawing a massive column of water from a nearby river. The water twisted around him, its surface shimmering with hints of shadow energy.
Roylen landed across from him, his crimson eyes gleaming with excitement. "Elemental mastery and shadow manipulation… You're an interesting one."
---
Luminary vs. Vampire
Xalin thrust his arms forward, sending the water surging toward Roylen in a towering wave. As the wave reached him, Xalin ignited it with black flames, creating a deadly vortex of steam, water, and fire. The attack roared like a beast, devouring everything in its path.
Roylen remained still, his eyes narrowing. At the last moment, he stepped forward, his body moving faster than Xalin could track. His fist shot out, colliding with the vortex. The sheer force of his strike split the attack in two, the elements dissipating harmlessly into the air.
Xalin's eyes widened, but he didn't stop. He slid forward, the ground cracking beneath him as he summoned a field of swirling rocks. With a shout, he launched the boulders at Roylen, each one glowing with imbued shadow energy.
Roylen dodged effortlessly, weaving through the storm of projectiles with the grace of a dancer. His movements were fluid, almost playful, as if testing Xalin's limits. When one of the rocks came too close, he shattered it with a casual swipe of his hand, the force sending shards of stone scattering.
"You're holding back," Roylen taunted. "Show me your real power, Luminary."
Xalin gritted his teeth. He raised his hand, and the ground beneath Roylen's feet erupted into a geyser of black flames. At the same time, Xalin surged forward, his fist glowing with white-hot light, enhanced by his mastery of Haki.
Roylen's expression shifted slightly, his body tensing as Xalin's fist approached. He raised his arm to block, and the two forces collided in an explosion of energy. The impact created a crater, the shockwave flattening the surrounding trees.
For the first time, Roylen was pushed back, his feet digging into the ground. He looked down at his arm, which bore a faint scorch mark, and chuckled. "Impressive. You're stronger than I thought."
Xalin didn't let up. He unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks, each strike imbued with elemental energy and Haki. Fire, water, earth, and air swirled around him in a dazzling display of power, his movements precise and relentless.
Roylen deflected the attacks, his own strikes moving faster than the eye could follow. Each punch from Roylen felt like a tidal wave, each kick like a battering ram. Xalin managed to dodge or block most of them, but the sheer speed and power of Roylen's assaults left him struggling to keep up.
---
The Turning Point
As the battle raged on, Xalin's body began to glow brighter, the markings on his skin pulsating with increasing intensity. He leapt back, raising his arms as a massive sphere of shadow and light formed above him.
"This ends now!" Xalin shouted, his voice echoing across the battlefield.
The sphere grew larger, its surface crackling with raw energy. Xalin thrust it forward, the attack roaring toward Roylen like a falling star.
Roylen's eyes narrowed. He extended his arm, and his aura flared, forming a crimson barrier around him. The sphere collided with the barrier, and for a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.
Then, the explosion came. A blinding flash of light consumed the battlefield, followed by a deafening roar. The ground shook violently, and a plume of smoke and debris rose into the sky.
When the dust settled, Xalin stood at the edge of a massive crater, his chest heaving, his body glowing faintly. Across from him, Roylen emerged from the smoke, his clothing torn, his crimson aura flickering but still intact.
"Well done," Roylen said, his voice calm despite his injuries. "You've forced me to take you seriously."
Xalin's eyes narrowed as he steadied himself. He could feel his energy waning, but he refused to back down.
Roylen smiled, baring his fangs. "Now, let me show you what true power looks like."