Lenny's massive, gelatinous form thundered through the forest, each step shaking the ground like an earthquake. Theodore darted ahead, weaving through the dense trees, his breath ragged but focused. His mind worked furiously, every leap calculated, every dodge purposeful.
"Running won't save you, boy!" Lenny bellowed, his voice a warped, mocking echo through the forest. "And here I thought you were finally ready to fight me! What a disappointment!"
Theodore ignored the taunts, his sharp crimson eyes scanning the landscape ahead. He wasn't running out of fear—he was leading Lenny somewhere. Deeper into the forest, away from the ashes of their previous battlefield and far from the others.
"I don't know what kind of fool you take me for," Lenny sneered, his gelatinous body rippling as he hurled a massive ball of acidic slime at Theodore.
The projectile tore through the air, sizzling as it came closer, but Theodore reacted swiftly. Grabbing onto a tree branch, he used his momentum to swing himself out of the path of the acid. The ball crashed into the ground behind him, dissolving the grass and bark it touched.
With a final leap, Theodore propelled himself high into the air, twisting mid-flight to glance back at Lenny with a smirk. "You shouldn't have followed me," he said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "You must think I'm running because I'm scared of you, but you've played right into my hands."
Lenny came to a halt, his twisted features contorting in confusion. "What do you mean?"
They were in a new clearing now, far removed from the chaos they had left behind. Tall trees surrounded the area, and a tranquil lake glimmered under the sun. The scene was eerily peaceful, a stark contrast to the violence that had brought them here.
Theodore landed gracefully, standing his ground in front of the serene water. "Thanks to you," he began, his voice calm but laced with an edge, "I've realized what I've been lacking. Watching you fight, seeing how you use your magic—it taught me something. You've been overwhelming us with sheer power, not because you're smarter or better, but because you've embraced your nature completely. That dark magic you're using—it isn't even yours, is it?"
Lenny's grin faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered. "You're stalling, boy," he scoffed, waving a massive hand. "All this talk of lessons and realizations. You're out of mana, and all you're doing now is wasting my time. Prepare to die!"
Theodore smirked, his crimson eyes glinting dangerously. "You're so predictable, Lenny. That's the thing about monsters—they're ruled by their instincts, not their minds. You've stopped thinking. That's why you've already lost."
Lenny's patience snapped, and he lunged forward, his body rippling grotesquely as he prepared to crush Theodore. But Theodore didn't move. He stood his ground, his aura flickering faintly.
"You know," Theodore said quietly, almost to himself, "you were right earlier. I've been afraid. Afraid of my own power, of what I really am. I've been clinging to this 'normal' magic, trying to force myself to fit into a mold that was never meant for me. But thanks to you, I understand now."
Lenny paused, sensing the shift in the air. The oppressive aura surrounding Theodore wasn't fading—it was changing, twisting into something darker, more potent.
"I don't need to hold back anymore," Theodore said, his voice dropping to a near growl. His crimson eyes turned pitch black, the glowing red pupils burning like embers in the void. "You wanted to see my real self? Fine. Let me show you."
Theodore placed a hand over his chest, gripping tightly as a wave of energy began to radiate from his core. His entire body trembled as veins of dark mana surged through him, crackling with raw power.
"What are you doing, boy?" Lenny demanded, his voice laced with unease.
Theodore didn't respond. He gritted his teeth, his body wracked with pain as he activated a forbidden technique he had read about in the academy library: Soul Boost Amplification. It was a desperate move, one that tapped directly into his life force to amplify his power. It would temporarily double his mana and strength, but at a cost—crippling his body, or worse, killing him outright.
Purple flames erupted around Theodore, spiraling wildly as his mana surged. His mana circles—six in total—shattered visibly around his heart. Two of them broke entirely, leaving him with just four. His aura, once faint and flickering, now roared to life, black and purple intertwining in a sinister dance. Blood trickled from his eyes, ears, and mouth, but Theodore didn't falter.
"I'll say this one more time," Theodore growled, his voice resonating with power. "You've already lost."
Lenny took a cautious step back, the confidence in his expression waning. "You're a fool, Theodore ! Do you think sacrificing your life will make a difference? You're still no match for me!"
Theodore smirked, his face pale but determined. "Maybe not. But if I'm going down, I'm taking you with me."
"This kid really did it… and now he's weaker than before?" Lenny muttered, his confidence faltering. But then he felt it—an overwhelming surge of dark mana, screaming and swirling violently from Theodore. The sinister energy sent chills coursing down Lenny's spine. His arrogant smirk faded into unease.
"What is this mana?" Lenny whispered, trembling. "It's different… more sinister than anything I've ever felt. Where the hell did this kid get such power?"
Theodore, clutching his chest, slowly stood upright, his crimson eyes glowing like embers. His lips curved into a menacing grin. "Hey, Lenny, how about we make this fair? Dark mage to dark mage. Allow me to introduce you to my family. They've been dying to meet you."
Lenny froze, his unease growing into outright dread as a thick, swirling mist coiled behind Theodore, taking the shape of a massive, towering door. Its surface pulsed with dark energy, ancient and malevolent. Through the door's cracks, Lenny could see shapes moving—thousands of shadowy entities clawing and writhing, their slanderous whispers spilling into the air. Their voices carried curses and incoherent mutterings, each word dripping with malice.
"What… What is this?" Lenny stammered, his voice quaking. For the first time, fear etched itself deeply into his expression. "Why am I trembling?!"
The door creaked open slightly, revealing rows of red, glowing eyes and sharp, inhuman teeth. The shadowy figures' elongated limbs stretched unnaturally, their claws gleaming like obsidian.
"This is my first time using this skill," Theodore said with a chuckle, his voice eerily calm. "But I think I'll get used to it. Now, Lenny, say hello to my family. I doubt they'll be pleased to make your acquaintance."
Lenny's body tensed as he felt a suffocating pressure wash over him. The commander of the shadowy entities pushed forward, emerging from the swirling door with grace and power. His form was humanoid but shrouded in pure darkness, like a living void. His armor glinted faintly with an otherworldly sheen, and his presence alone seemed to make the ground beneath him crack.
"My lord," the shadow commander said, bowing deeply to Theodore, his voice reverberating like distant thunder. "It has been far too long."
"Yeah, it's been a while," Theodore replied, his voice tinged with a rare warmth.
But the moment was short-lived. The shadow entities behind the commander hissed and growled furiously, their rage directed at Lenny.
"Unforgivable!"
"You dare harm our lord!"
"You will pay for this, mortal!"
The whispers grew louder, deafening, until a figure cloaked in veils of shadow—a priestess—stepped forward. With a fluid motion, she extended her hands toward Theodore. A soft glow emanated from her fingertips as she began to heal his battered body.
Theodore felt the pain ebb away as his wounds closed. He glanced at his arms, now free of blood, and flexed his fingers. "I guess I'm good now," he muttered, his smirk returning. Wiping the dried blood from his eyes and ears, he turned to Lenny, his expression dark. "You're going to pay for everything. Shadows, come forth!"
At his command, the massive door swung open fully, releasing a flood of shadow entities. They poured out like a tidal wave, their forms fluid yet solid, their claws slicing through the air as they charged.
"Damn it!" Lenny screamed, his voice cracking as panic overtook him. "What the hell are those things?!" He stumbled backward, summoning more slime soldiers in a desperate attempt to hold them off. But it was futile.
The shadow entities descended upon the slime soldiers with terrifying efficiency. They tore through the gelatinous creatures like they were nothing, their claws rending through the slime's cores with ease. Lenny's reinforcements crumbled before his eyes, and his panic deepened.
"I'll kill him!" Lenny roared, his voice trembling with desperation. "I'll kill you, Theodore, and present your corpse to my messiah!" He charged toward Theodore, only for the shadow commander to intercept him with blinding speed.
The impact of their clash sent a shockwave rippling through the clearing, splitting the ground beneath them. The shadow commander fought with calculated precision, matching Lenny's monstrous strength blow for blow.
"Impossible!" Lenny spat, his eyes wide with disbelief. "How can this thing keep up with me?!"
From the sidelines, Theodore watched the battle unfold, his smirk growing wider.
The shadow priestess stepped closer, her voice soft yet laced with amusement. "He has been training for weeks in the abyss, awaiting your call, my lord. He is no ordinary shadow."
Theodore raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "So that's why he's this strong… That explains a lot. He's like Belial hiding their power ."
Lenny, now overwhelmed, summoned more slime soldiers in a frantic bid for survival. But the flood of shadows from the door was endless. Fifty shadows were already on the battlefield, and judging by the door, there were hundreds more waiting to join.
The battlefield became a chaotic frenzy. Shadows moved with unparalleled speed, their sharp claws tearing through the slime soldiers with ease. Their movements were almost artistic, a deadly dance of precision and brutality.
The shadow commander finally found his opening. With a swift, decisive strike, he pierced through Lenny's gelatinous body and tore out the core at its center.
"No! Damn it!" Lenny screamed as his body began to dissolve, his monstrous form crumbling into nothingness.
Theodore stepped forward, his expression cold as he looked down at the defeated man. "This is what happens when you underestimate me, Lenny. You thought you were the predator, but you were always the prey."
As Lenny's body disintegrated completely, the shadows roared in unison, their voices echoing through the forest like a haunting chorus. The battle was over, but the memory of it would linger—a testament to the day Theodore embraced the abyss.