The temple grounds trembled under the weight of their battle. The winds howled like a chorus of angry spirits as Xion and Nexus clashed with unrelenting ferocity. Every strike was a storm, every movement a ripple through reality itself.
Xion lunged forward, his fist glowing with raw energy. Nexus ducked, his reflexes razor-sharp, and countered with a blast of dark flames that erupted from his palm. The flames engulfed Xion, but he emerged unscathed, his blackened eyes radiating a chilling aura.
"You're slowing down, Nexus," Xion taunted, his voice cold and steady. He dashed forward, his speed blurring the air, and delivered a series of rapid punches. Nexus blocked the first two but was overwhelmed by the third, which sent him staggering back.
"You talk too much," Nexus spat, blood dripping from his mouth. He extended his arms, summoning tendrils of shadow that snaked toward Xion like vipers.
Xion smirked and raised his hand, bending reality itself. The tendrils froze mid-air, disintegrating into ash as he stepped through them. With a flick of his wrist, the ground beneath Nexus erupted into jagged spikes, forcing him to leap into the air.
But Xion was waiting. He appeared above Nexus in an instant, his leg already arcing downward in a devastating kick. Nexus barely managed to raise a barrier, but the impact shattered it, sending him hurtling back to the ground with a deafening crash.
Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring Nexus from view. Xion landed softly, his black aura swirling around him like a living entity.
"Is this all you've got?" Xion said, his tone dripping with disdain.
The ground shook again as Nexus rose from the rubble, his eyes blazing with determination. "You haven't won yet."
With a roar, Nexus unleashed a surge of dark energy, the shockwave flattening everything in its path. Xion braced himself, his feet digging into the ground, but even he was forced to slide back. Nexus didn't let up, darting forward with a sword of shadow in his hand.
Their battle escalated to new heights. Every strike of Nexus's blade was met with a counter from Xion, who bent reality itself to shield and strike. The temple's ruins became a battlefield of chaos, the very fabric of existence warping around them.
The fight raged on, neither side relenting. Xion's strikes grew more savage, each blow fueled by the dark power coursing through him. Nexus fought valiantly, but the toll of the battle was evident in his labored breaths and the blood staining his clothes.
Suddenly, a voice cut through the chaos. "That's enough, Xion."
Aurelia appeared, her radiant presence a stark contrast to the destruction surrounding them. She stepped forward, her eyes filled with a mix of resolve and sadness.
Xion turned to her, his darkened eyes narrowing. "Aurelia. Perfect timing."
Aurelia held her ground, unfazed by his menacing aura. "Good. Now, next mission. Xion, you have to become the best superhero."
Xion let out a bitter laugh, his aura flaring. "Why?"
Aurelia frowned. "What do you mean, why? The world needs you—"
"Didn't you see my black aura?" Xion interrupted, his voice rising with anger. "What do you think this is about? Saving the world? Huh? You think I can just wake up one day and decide to save humanity?"
He clenched his fists, the ground beneath him cracking under the weight of his power. "When people killed my one and only parents, the system gave me a choice: restore balance or destroy it. And I chose destruction."
Reality itself seemed to warp around Xion as his anger boiled over. Aurelia's expression softened, though her resolve remained firm. "I'm not sure that's what the system meant."
Xion sneered. "Don't patronize me."
With a snap of his fingers, Aurelia suddenly shrank, her form becoming small and vulnerable. Before she could react, Xion conjured a barrier around her, its edges shimmering with lethal intent.
"Xion, stop this!" Aurelia shouted, her voice echoing within the barrier.
But Xion's face was devoid of mercy. With a flick of his hand, the barrier began to compress, its force threatening to split Aurelia in half.
"Why should I?" Xion said coldly, his eyes glinting with malice. "This is my world now."
The storm within Xion raged, threatening to consume everything in his path.