The air around Zack shimmered, thick with a dark, oppressive energy. The very fabric of reality seemed to warp, bending to the will of the Apostle of Envy. In the blink of an eye, the beautiful white and golden flower garden of the Academy was replaced by the all-too-familiar halls and spires of Aether Academy. But Zack knew better. This was not reality—it was an illusion. A very deadly one.
Envy's power had taken hold, transforming the surroundings into something that only Zack and the Apostle could perceive. The faces of the creature twisted and contorted, each expression reflecting a deep, seething rage. Envy's voices echoed through the air in a dissonant chorus.
"Why are you so perfect!? I'm so jealous of you!!!"
The words rang out, filled with frustration and jealousy, but Zack was unfazed. He'd been through this countless times, but each time, the pain was still real. The Apostle of Envy's jealousy was its strength. The more it fed on its resentment, the more powerful it became. And right now, its target was Zack.
Without warning, the Apostle attacked. Massive boulders, pulled from the earth itself, crashed toward him with terrifying speed. Zack leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly rocks, but Envy wasn't finished. The ground trembled, and a colossal fist of dirt and stone formed above Zack, swinging toward him with crushing force. He dodged again, but the energy of the illusion was beginning to wear on him.
Envy's many arms shot out, absorbing the very plants around them—transforming them into energy, feeding its power. The more it absorbed, the stronger it became. It was relentless, its jealousy unyielding.
Zack fought back, each strike of his spear precise, but Envy matched him blow for blow. The Apostle's form shifted and twisted, its faces contorting with rage.
Zack gritted his teeth. He knew the pattern, had seen it so many times before. He couldn't let Envy gain more power. If it did, he would lose.
With a desperate lunge, Zack aimed for the heart of Envy's form, his spear slicing through the air. But Envy was faster. The Apostle's arm shot out, knocking Zack's spear aside. Zack barely managed to dodge the counterattack, but the blow still grazed his side, sending him stumbling back.
Pain lanced through his body, but Zack didn't falter. He couldn't.
He'd been through this too many times before. He knew how to survive. But even as he launched another strike, Envy grew stronger. The more it lashed out, the more its rage amplified.
Zack's breath came in ragged gasps. His movements were slowing. He was running out of time, and the Apostle's power was reaching a terrifying peak. Envy's face twisted in a final, furious scream, and Zack braced himself for the worst.
Just as he thought it was over, a new presence entered the scene.
A ripple in the air. A shift in the fabric of the illusion.
From the edge of the battlefield, a figure stepped forward. Cloaked in darkness, its presence cold and suffocating. Zack turned to see the new arrival: the Apostle of Despair.
Despair's power was different. Where Envy's jealousy drove its power forward in violent bursts, Despair was calm, controlled, almost… patient. Despair's very existence radiated a quiet, suffocating sense of hopelessness.
The Apostle of Despair walked toward Envy, its movements slow and deliberate. Envy, still fuming with rage, seemed to hesitate for a moment, the twisting faces on its form flickering with uncertainty.
"Enough, Envy," Despair's voice was low and measured, a stark contrast to the chaotic frenzy of the Apostle it addressed. The sound of its voice alone was enough to quell some of Envy's fury.
Envy's many faces turned toward Despair, and for a moment, Zack could almost see a flicker of hesitation, as if Envy was… afraid.
Despair's aura washed over Envy like a dark tide, and the Apostle of Envy slowly started to calm, its rage subsiding, though its jealousy still bubbled beneath the surface.
"I've had enough of this," Envy muttered, its voice cracking with frustration, but its tone was no longer filled with fury. "I've had enough of you."
Despair raised a hand, and a dark portal slowly began to open behind it. The air around Zack grew even colder, the weight of hopelessness pressing against his chest.
"Let us leave, Envy. We've done enough," Despair spoke once more, its words final.
Envy gave one last glance at Zack, its many faces contorting with that same, unyielding jealousy. But after a tense pause, Envy finally relented, stepping backward toward Despair. The two Apostles turned toward the portal, and in an instant, they were gone. The illusion shattered, and the oppressive atmosphere lifted.
Zack stood in the now-empty garden, his body aching from the fight. He hadn't won—not truly. He hadn't defeated Envy. But for now, the Apostles had retreated.
For now, the world was still.
Zack's breath came in shallow gasps as he let his spear drop to the ground, his mind racing. What had just happened?
Despair. The Apostle of Despair had intervened, and Envy had stepped back. It was a rare occurrence. Zack had seen both of these Apostles before in countless lives, but he had never witnessed them acting together. And now, the question lingered in his mind.
Why?
The battle wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
But for the first time in what felt like forever, Zack felt a glimmer of hope. He had survived this encounter—barely—but he had survived. And that, for now, was enough.
Zack collapsed on the ground as the illusion Started to fading away from his gaze and Zack slowly close his eyes before unconsciously lay there.
To be continue...