The winds outside the temple died down, but within Xion, a storm raged stronger than ever. The dark energy surged through his veins like venom, whispering promises of limitless power and control. Xion kept walking, his mind focused on the next step. He didn't expect to find his target so soon.
"Found you, dummy."
Xion froze. The voice was sharp, familiar, and smug.
Turning, he saw Nexus leaning casually against a tree, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. "Who are you calling a dummy?"
"You," Xion replied as Nexus smirked, though his voice carried a cold edge. "I'm literally facing you, talking to you. Who else would I mean?"
Nexus straightened, his expression hardening. "nexus, This day will be your last, and I'll carve scars into your soul that you'll remember in hell!"
Nexus' smirk faded as he raised his hand. Energy coalesced around him, forming a shimmering barrier that encased Nexus. The ground beneath their feet trembled, then ruptured as an earthquake ripped through the area. The force was far greater than before, the ground splitting apart into jagged chasms.
A thick cloud of dust rose, blinding Nexus. He coughed, trying to find his footing, but the next thing he knew— BAM!
A devastating kick sent him flying, the impact so strong it shattered the barrier Xion had created. Nexus slammed into a tree with a deafening crash, the bark splintering on impact. Blood dripped from his mouth as he struggled to recover.
Before he could catch his breath, Xion was on him again. Another brutal kick struck Nexus, driving him to the ground with bone-crushing force. Xion loomed over him, his once-glowing eyes now pitch black, swirling with malevolence.
"You're different," Nexus muttered, coughing up blood.
Xion didn't reply. He stepped closer, his presence suffocating, as though the weight of the Ethereal Stream itself bore down on Nexus.
This isn't just him, Nexus realized, his heart pounding. The Ethereal Stream… it's taken over him.
In an instant, Xion disappeared from sight. Nexus scrambled to his feet, scanning the area desperately. Then— CRACK!
Xion appeared behind him, delivering a blow so fast and precise that Nexus didn't even have time to react. He was sent hurtling into another tree, which shattered under the impact.
Dark energy radiated off Xion like a storm, twisting and coiling around him. He raised a hand, and the ground beneath Nexus erupted in a column of black flame, forcing him to leap aside.
"You're wasting my time," Xion said, his voice unnervingly calm yet dripping with malice. "I don't need to kill you to move forward, but I'll make sure you never stand in my way again."
The air around Xion crackled as the Ethereal Stream's power surged through him. For a brief moment, the light and darkness seemed to war within him, the opposing forces battling for dominance. But when Xion's eyes met Nexus' again, there was no sign of struggle—only cold, ruthless determination.
This wasn't a fight anymore. It was a warning.