Ultimate Cultivation

In the woods of the forest there was a fight going on, not just any fight, a Semi-Gold rank fight. This fight was destroying all the trees around them, each swing had many trees completely destroyed from the clash. You couldn't see this fight with the normal naked eye, only with the steel naked eye which was highly valuable but couldn't help in this solution. The two old men that had white hair looked old, but they didn't have anything that said they were old except for their white hair. Their skin that was perfectly fine, like it had never been touched in their life. After many more swings and a strong collision with the two staring at each other while trying to push their two swords with all their strength. But they looked evenly matched and didn't look like they had anymore tricked up their sleeves. 

"Not bad Shin, you have gotten better than last time. You could even last for 5 minutes against me before, but now look at you, you had gotten way stronger!"

Shin, the man with the most unique clothes between the two was breathing pretty heavily. 

"Damn you Kain! I will take revenge!" 

Kain, the one with the most common wear that you usually wear for a normal civilian. The two looked at each other waiting for the other to move and attack, but the two didn't move knowing each other pretty well. After a bit, shin with an enraged face charged in with a fire dragon following him in the process. Kain, who looked prepared and expected of this from Shin did his own charge. A water dragon followed suit too, waiting to be unleashed like the fire dragon. Before the two could clash, they saw a figure that fell from the sky and landed perfectly between their attacks. Shin and Kain were surprised but they couldn't just stop their attack because the random stranger came out of nowhere and came between them, doesn't mean they would hesitate to kill this man in front of them. The man hood which perfectly hid his face only showing his plunge mask, his eyes turned completely blood red at that moment of the attack almost clashing. The man grabbed the two swords and the two thought this man was a stupid idiot who wanted to die quickly, but when the sword made contact the two swords broke instantly. Shin and Kain were dumbfounded, but they still got some composure and fled by jumping far back. Shin asks the man with some fear and anger.

"Who the hell are you!"

Kain and Shin looked at the figure waiting for a response, but they got absolutely nothing on what they wanted from the man.

"I am Conversant"

The two looked at him like he was an idiot, Kain had to say something but before he could say anything the man was already in front of him. The two couldn't see his movements at all, the man who was in front of Kain said simply.

"I'm going to make you die from your own grave." 

When the two heard this, they were confused but then they laughed like they had a head injury. But in response to their laughter, the man grabbed the man neck and they both went through a Dark purple portal. They both disappeared in that instant and Shin looked around confused until he felt some pain from his stomach, he thought he was hungry or something until he looked and saw a hole. A hole that bypassed his whole body and stomach, before Shin could even process what the hell was happening, he fell flat on the ground and died. When The man threw Kain in front of something, but dirt got in the way, while the man slowly walked to Kain. When Kain got the dirt off from his hand and saw a gravestone with his name, "Kain hooper". Kain was shocked beyond belief but before he could react, the man grabbed Kain head and slammed it on the dirt of his own grave. The man grabbed the tomb stone easily and lifted it up with one finger. When Kain opened his eyes again, he felt something go through his mouth then throat. It felt like stone, and then Kain realized what the man was doing but it was far too late. The man kicked the gravestone once and the tomb stone went through his organs to near his butt, the remaining part of the stone was still noticeable in his mouth. Kain body fell down lifeless, the stone still in his body. The man went through the portal and saw Shin there with the noticeable stomach hole, the man just smiled with some blood red color glowing in his eyes and mouth. The man walked away but seemed to remember something and turned around.

"Oh, I forgot, my name Pezo and don't steal my banana next time."

That's when Pezo disappeared with his powers and he was far gone, with the body with a massive hole in his stomach, and another man killed with his own grave in another dimension. 

FLASHBACK:

"You are sure Pezo? I can't just give you this for free." A man was standing there who had average clothes, with red eyes and bright blonde hair. He had two Earlin's on each ear, that had special patterns and a unique texture. 

"Yeah, I'm sure Alazne. I'll pay you somehow" A voice that was deep and cold that would cut your friendly behavior almost instantly if you talked to this man. 

Alazne raised an eyebrow, the glint of curiosity mingling with wariness in his crimson eyes. "A golden banana... Eternal youth, huh? I've heard of relics that might grant such power, but to actually find one is a whole other story."

Pezo's lips curved in a slight, knowing smile. He reached into his cloak and withdrew the golden fruit. It shimmered with an otherworldly light, its surface smooth as polished metal yet faintly pulsing with life.

"This isn't just some relic," Pezo replied, his voice low and cold. "I crossed seven kingdoms, defeated legendary beasts, and even fought off the Golden Guardians to obtain this."

Alazne's gaze was fixed on the banana, entranced by its glow. It was said that those who ate from the golden banana would stop aging altogether, their bodies frozen in their prime. But rumors whispered that its magic was darker, that it required a toll—a balance in blood.

"And yet you don't seem interested in keeping it for yourself," Alazne murmured, snapping his gaze back to Pezo. "Eternal youth in the hands of someone like you could mean..."

"Chaos?" Pezo finished, his voice barely above a whisper. "Perhaps. But I don't need eternal youth to deal with the likes of Kain and Shin." His red eyes flared, hinting at the depths of his raw, unchecked power. "This is a safeguard. A reminder that there are things beyond strength—beyond death—that I can control."

Alazne chuckled, crossing his arms. "So, what, Pezo? You're keeping this as a trophy?"

Pezo's grip tightened around the golden banana. "I'm keeping it as a deterrent. Those who challenge me do so knowing I could erase them in an instant. But now they'll wonder if they even stand a chance against time itself."

A flash of cold understanding crossed Alazne's face. "Ah. So that's why you're paying me with it. You need someone else to guard this treasure while you're... busy."

"Exactly." Pezo handed it over with an indifferent shrug, but his gaze bore into Alazne's. "Consider it my insurance. Keep it safe, or you may find that eternal youth won't be the gift you hoped for."

Alazne took the golden banana, feeling its strange warmth against his hands. He knew the cost of wielding such an artifact, but the allure was undeniable. As he tucked it away, he offered Pezo a half-smile.

"Fine. I'll guard it. But remember, Pezo: should you ever need this again, the price will be high."

Pezo's expression didn't change, though his eyes gleamed with a faint amusement. "Let them try to steal it, Alazne. Just remember—this isn't just a treasure. It's a curse for any fool who underestimates it."

With that, Pezo turned, his cloak billowing as he vanished into the shadows, leaving Alazne alone, clutching the golden banana.

Alazne watched Pezo disappear into the shadows, the weight of the golden banana heavy in his hand. He felt a shiver of unease—a creeping intuition that this relic was more than it appeared. But the allure of eternal youth drowned out his reservations. He placed the golden banana in a small, enchanted lockbox that no ordinary thief could crack, hiding it deep within his chamber.

For weeks, Alazne continued his usual dealings, guarding the precious artifact as promised. But soon, he noticed odd things happening around him. His skin began to feel warmer than usual, as if an unnatural heat radiated from his core. The change was subtle at first, but it grew each day.

Then, one night, he woke up drenched in sweat, his heart pounding. He stumbled to a mirror and gasped. His eyes, once sharp and bright red, had faded to a sickly pink. His face looked gaunt, drained—as though something was siphoning his very life.

Desperate, Alazne opened the enchanted lockbox and took out the golden banana, holding it in trembling hands. Its glow was different now, pulsing faintly like a heartbeat. He felt an irresistible urge to consume it, convinced it would restore his vitality.

But as he raised it to his mouth, a voice echoed in the room—a deep, cold whisper that seemed to come from nowhere.

"Are you prepared to pay the toll, Alazne?"

He froze, his heart racing. "Who's there?"

Silence answered him, but a faint shadow seemed to flicker across the room, lingering near the banana. As he watched, it formed into a figure with hollow eyes and a skeletal grin. The shadow was a warning, an entity bound to the artifact.

"You desire eternal youth," it whispered. "But all life has its price. The golden banana does not grant without taking."

Alazne's mouth went dry as he understood. The banana didn't just grant eternal youth—it devoured the life force of anyone who attempted to wield it.

Suddenly, the shadow lunged at him, its skeletal hands sinking into his chest. Alazne cried out as an intense, searing pain engulfed him, his strength draining. The more he resisted, the more it hurt, as if his very soul were being siphoned.

He stumbled back, collapsing against the wall, gasping for breath as the shadow receded. The golden banana lay on the ground, its glow brighter than ever, as if it had just fed.

A chilling thought crept into Alazne's mind: This was why Pezo didn't need it.