The battlefield lay in ruins, a chaotic landscape of cracked earth and smoldering craters that stretched as far as the eye could see. Zaria stood amidst the destruction, his aura of crimson Zowa still pulsing powerfully around him. He smirked, his confidence unwavering as he surveyed the devastation he had unleashed. Tendaji had taken the brunt of his attack, a blast powerful enough to tear through stone and steel. Surely, he believed, no one could have withstood such an onslaught.
But as the dust and smoke began to clear, a figure emerged from the haze, standing tall and unscathed. Tendaji's silhouette grew sharper, and he stepped forward, the quiet intensity of his presence somehow more terrifying than the chaos that surrounded him. Zaria's smirk faltered as Tendaji lifted his head, revealing eyes unlike any Zaria had ever seen. His pupils now bore a vivid blue cross, glowing like stars in the depths of a stormy sea—a vision that radiated power and wisdom beyond comprehension.
"What… what is this?" Zaria stammered, an involuntary shudder running through him.
Tendaji's voice was calm but unbreakable, his gaze unwavering. "These are the Blue Tiger Eyes. With them, I can see every move you'll make… ten minutes before you make it."
Zaria felt his confidence fracture. Desperate to overpower his enemy, he summoned a barrage of energy blasts, each one forged from his crimson Zowa. The blasts tore through the air, blindingly fast and impossibly destructive, but Tendaji sidestepped each one, his movements smooth and unhurried. To Zaria's horror, Tendaji seemed to be in complete control, dodging the attacks as if they were mere child's play.
Tendaji's gaze was fixed on Zaria, his Blue Tiger Eyes analyzing every twitch, every flicker of energy, as though he were reading Zaria's intentions like the pages of an open book. He advanced steadily, each step driving Zaria further into desperation.
Zaria's fury burned hotter as he doubled down, hurling a cascade of energy waves that streaked through the sky, their path ablaze with raw power. Yet, Tendaji moved through them effortlessly, his dodges perfectly timed, his steps precise. It was as if he existed outside of time, watching Zaria's every move long before it was even conceived.
"No! Stand still!" Zaria bellowed, his voice laced with frustration.
But Tendaji's response was silence—a silence more powerful than any retort, an assurance that Zaria's efforts were utterly futile. Finally, Tendaji moved in a blur, closing the distance between them in an instant. With a sudden, brutal motion, he drove his knee into Zaria's abdomen, a blow so powerful that Zaria felt the air crushed from his lungs. His vision blurred, and before he could recover, Tendaji's fist connected with his jaw in a fierce uppercut that sent him reeling back, crashing to the ground.
Tidiane, who had been watching with a knowing smile, crossed his arms as he observed the ease with which Tendaji dismantled his opponent. "Now you understand why Tendaji is the strongest demon hunter," he said coolly. "It's not just power—it's control, mastery, and vision."
Struggling to his feet, Zaria glared at Tidiane, frustration and confusion written across his face. "What… what does that mean?"
Tidiane's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Just wait. You haven't even begun to understand what Tendaji is truly capable of."
Tendaji remained silent, his gaze focused solely on Zaria. The once-proud warrior before him was no longer a threat but a lesson—a lesson in humility, precision, and restraint. As Tendaji stepped forward, his Blue Tiger Eyes locked onto Zaria's every movement, piercing through the last remnants of his pride and bravado.
Desperation clouded Zaria's mind, and in a final, reckless attempt, he gathered every ounce of his remaining Zowa, his hands blazing with crimson energy as he forged a massive sphere of darkness between them. His eyes burned with desperation, his voice breaking as he summoned his last stand. "You think this is over? I'll show you… what real power is!"
But Tendaji's expression remained calm, his Blue Tiger Eyes focused and unyielding. Without a word, he raised his hand, his aura intensifying as he readied himself to counter the attack. In his eyes, Zaria's defeat was already sealed.
Zaria hurled the dark sphere with all his might, the blast tearing through the air like a comet. The ground shook as it surged toward Tendaji, a trail of destructive energy in its wake. But Tendaji's gaze illuminated the path to victory. In one fluid motion, he deflected the sphere, redirecting it into the earth where it erupted in a cataclysmic explosion that sent shockwaves across the battlefield.
Before Zaria could comprehend his failure, Tendaji appeared before him, his Blue Tiger Eyes shining with an unstoppable resolve. He raised his hand, energy crackling around it as he prepared his final move—a technique that transcended mere strength.
"This is the end, Zaria," Tendaji declared, his voice like the final toll of a bell. "Your lesson is complete."
With a single, devastating strike, Tendaji's palm met Zaria's chest, releasing a pulse of energy that shattered what remained of his Zowa, extinguishing his aura in an instant. Zaria's body went limp, collapsing to the ground in defeat, his strength, his will, his pride—all shattered.
Tendaji stood over him, his gaze unreadable. For a long moment, he regarded Zaria's fallen form, his expression contemplative. Finally, he turned to Tidiane, his Blue Tiger Eyes fading back to their natural state, their light softening as the intense energy around him subsided.
Tidiane approached, nodding with deep respect. "Incredible, Tendaji. This power… it's beyond vision. You've mastered something beyond even the strongest demon hunters."
Tendaji's gaze turned thoughtful, his voice calm. "The Blue Tiger Eyes… they're more than just a weapon. They reveal truths, strengths, and weaknesses. But they also reveal the soul, and Zaria's was a soul lost to darkness."
Together, they looked down at Zaria—a warrior who had once threatened everything they held dear, now humbled and defeated. And yet, both knew that while they had achieved victory in this battle, the journey ahead would only grow more challenging. For as long as shadows lurked in the world, they would stand ready to face whatever darkness arose.
In the distant hills, a new dawn began to break, casting light over the battlefield. Nyemba had its champions, and with Tendaji's Blue Tiger Eyes as their guide, the kingdom would be safe from any threat that dared to rise.