"My name is Zero, the leader of the Shadow Mystics. The one who lurks in the dark and protects the world from darkness."
The words hung in the air as I stood there, arms spread wide, the energy radiating off me in waves.
Lord Afro's glowing red eyes narrowed,
"You really think you can stand in my way? You're nothing but a fool who doesn't understand true power!" Afro spat, his dark aura swelling around him like a storm.
I smirked, tilting my head. "True power, huh? Is that what you call it? Draining a bunch of helpless guys and living off their energy like some glorified leech?" I crossed my arms, casually walking towards him. "And I thought I had low standards."
Afro's lips curled into a snarl. "You dare mock me!?" His voice echoed throughout the chamber as he clenched his clawed hands, and I could feel the air around us grow denser with the dark energy he was emitting.
I grinned wider. "Oh, I'm not just mocking you, pal. I'm making fun of every sad excuse for a 'lord' you pretend to be."
Without warning, Afro lunged at me, his claws extended like daggers. I barely had time to dodge as he swiped at the air where I'd just been standing, but I was fast. I sidestepped easily, throwing in a little spin for dramatic effect.
"You missed, Lord of nothing!" I said with a laugh, but Afro wasn't stopping. He came at me again, his movements swift and deadly. His claws sliced through the air, shattering the glass nearby as he tried to strike me.
I ducked under one swing and then jumped back as another swipe came dangerously close to my chest.
The ground beneath us cracked with each of his powerful blows, sending vibrations through the entire underground chamber.
"Is that all you've got?" I taunted, dodging his next attack and then landing a solid punch right into his ribs.
The force of the hit sent him stumbling back a few steps, but Afro quickly recovered, glaring at me with those fiery red eyes.
"Not bad," he growled, and then came at me even faster.
The room exploded into chaos as we clashed—blow after blow, kick after kick.
I could feel the intensity of his strikes, but I was in my element, blocking, dodging, and countering with my own attacks. Every time he swung his claws, I moved just in time, the sharp edges slicing through the air but never hitting their mark.
The ground beneath us cracked with the force of our battle, pieces of stone flying into the air.
Glass domes shattered all around us, and the remaining men and women who had been watching from the sides started running, screaming in terror as the chaos spread.
Even above ground, the vibrations shaking the entire sorority house.
Gamma, standing somewhere there, clutched her chest, her eyes filled with worry. "Master Zero…" she whispered under her breath, her hands trembling with every vibration.
As we fought, Afro's claws slashed through the ground, leaving deep gashes in the stone floor.
His strength was undeniable, but I could feel myself gaining the upper hand. With each of my punches and kicks, he was growing more frustrated, more reckless.
Afro growled, his voice a low rumble. "I won't be mocked by a mere child!"
"I mean, you're doing a pretty good job of making yourself look ridiculous," I shot back, my voice casual even as I dodged another of his vicious swings. "You're all bark, no bite."
Afro roared in anger, his claws glowing with dark energy as he charged at me again, but this time,
I was ready.
I sidestepped his attack and threw a spinning kick that landed squarely on his chest. He flew backward, crashing into the wall with a thunderous crack.
But he didn't stay down for long.
Afro growled, pushing himself to his feet. His red eyes glowed even brighter, his fury feeding into his power. "You think this is a game?" he spat, the dark energy swirling around him even more intensely now. "I will end you!"
"Yeah, yeah," I said, cracking my neck casually. "I've heard that one before."
He lunged at me again, this time faster and with more force. I dodged his first swipe but felt his second claw graze my arm, cutting through my sleeve. "Ooh, that was close!" I said, glancing at the tear in my long robe.
The fight continued, faster and more violent. Each blow we exchanged sent shockwaves through the room, causing the glass in the remaining domes to explode, sending shards flying everywhere.
The ground beneath us was a wreck, large cracks running through it like a spiderweb.
The air was thick with energy and debris, and the walls of the underground chamber were starting to crumble under the sheer force of our battle.
Afro's rage was palpable, and I could feel him getting desperate. His attacks were growing more aggressive, more intense. But I was still in control, dancing around his swings, landing jabs and kicks wherever I could.
"Come on, Lord Afro," I said, dodging another one of his swipes. "I thought you were supposed to be the big demon. This is kind of disappointing."
His eyes burned with hatred as he swung at me again, this time connecting with a powerful kick to my side.
*THUD*
The force of the blow sent me flying backward, slamming into the wall with a heavy thud.
For a moment, the dust and debris hung in the air, obscuring the battlefield.
Afro let out a victorious laugh, his voice echoing through the chamber. "Did you really think you could defeat me? I am Lord Afro! I have drained the energy of countless men! I will devour your strength and rise to power once more!"
As the dust settled, I stood up, brushing off the debris from my jacket as if nothing had happened. I walked forward, completely unfazed by the attack. "Wow," I said with a chuckle. "That's the best you've got?"
Afro's laughter died in his throat as he watched me walk forward, completely unharmed. "What... what are you?"
I grinned, the energy surging through me again. "Oh, I'm just getting started."
"You shouldn't be moving after that." Alfro said, looking confused.
"I let my guard down there a little bit I guess." I said, ignoring his question. "Time for round two, Mr. Lord of Nothing."
I raised my hand, and in a flash of blue energy, a thin, black sword appeared in my grip. The blade shimmered with a dangerous gleam, a stark contrast to the darkness surrounding us.
Afro's red eyes narrowed, and with a snarl, he extended his claws even further. They grew sharper, longer, glowing with dark energy as he prepared for the next round.
The ground shook beneath our feet as the tension in the air thickened. The energy between us crackled like lightning, ready to explode.
"I'm going to tear you apart!" Afro roared, his voice filled with fury.
I smiled, twirling the sword in my hand. "Bring it on."