The skies had turned black. The once-beautiful horizon was now nothing but a jagged line of shadow. The air itself seemed to buckle under the weight of the dark figure's power, as though reality itself was losing its grip. Reazeal stood at the center of this chaos, his body weary from the brutal onslaught of energy, but his resolve never faltering. The battle raged around him, a tempest of light and dark, of creation and destruction. Every blow he landed seemed to disappear into the abyss, swallowed by the overwhelming power that the dark figure wielded.
"You cannot win, Reazeal," the dark figure's voice echoed, smooth and cold like the chasm of the void itself. He was standing taller than ever, his very form distorting with unnatural energy. "Your struggle is futile. This world is mine. The light you cling to is but a fleeting illusion. You will fall, and I will remake it all in my image."
The words crashed into Reazeal's mind like a thunderclap, threatening to break his concentration. But despite the doubts creeping at the edges of his mind, Reazeal stood firm. His grip tightened around Duskcarve, the blade that had come to represent both his purpose and his darkest fears. He had embraced the power within him—the power of the Beast—but it was not just the power that made him strong. It was his will to fight, to protect, to never surrender, no matter the cost.
"You are wrong," Reazeal replied, his voice a low growl of determination. "I will not let you destroy everything I've fought for. I will not let you turn this world into your prison."
The dark figure's laugh was cold and mocking, a sound that sent shivers down Reazeal's spine. "Foolish. The world was never free. It was always mine to control. And now, you will witness the full extent of my power."
With a wave of his hand, the dark figure summoned a massive storm. Lightning crackled through the sky, the very air around them vibrating with destructive energy. The ground beneath Reazeal's feet shattered, opening deep chasms that threatened to swallow him whole. But Reazeal was not shaken. His senses were razor-sharp, his mind clear as he pushed forward, the weight of the battle heavy on his chest but his heart unyielding.
The storm grew stronger, lightning bolts ripping through the air and striking the ground, each blast threatening to obliterate everything in its path. The dark figure's laughter echoed as the forces of nature twisted and turned to his will. Yet, even as the tempest raged around him, Reazeal felt something stir within him—something deep, primal, and ancient. It was the Beast, the source of his power. But it was more than just an ally now. It had become a part of him, a force that could no longer be denied or controlled by anyone but him.
With a roar, Reazeal unleashed the full force of his power. The storm of darkness that had been closing in on him faltered as his energy collided with it, creating a shockwave that sent tremors through the very earth. Lightning crackled around him, but now, it was his power that guided it. The energy surged through his body, his veins glowing with the dark fire of the Beast within him. The blade in his hand pulsed with this newfound strength, its edge shimmering with an unholy light.
"Is this all you have?" Reazeal challenged, his voice echoing with the fury of the storm. "You think this will stop me?"
The dark figure's expression flickered with something resembling annoyance, but then, a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "You underestimate me, Reazeal. I am not just a being of darkness. I am the end of all things. The beginning and the end."
The ground cracked again as the dark figure raised both hands, summoning a massive sphere of pure energy that hovered above him. The sphere was alive with raw, chaotic energy, pulsing with a power that threatened to rip the very fabric of existence apart. Reazeal's eyes narrowed. He knew that this was the final attack, the moment where everything would be decided. There would be no turning back.
The dark figure smirked, his voice filled with contempt. "This is the end for you, and for everything you hold dear. Say goodbye to your world, Reazeal."
Reazeal didn't hesitate. He raised Duskcarve high, channeling every ounce of his strength and every fragment of the Beast's power into the blade. His muscles burned, but his mind was focused. This was the moment that would define him, the moment when he would either become a legend or fall into the abyss like so many before him.
The sphere of energy shot forward, hurtling toward him with the force of a collapsing star. But Reazeal was ready. With a battle cry, he swung the blade down, the impact of his strike resonating through the very air. The clash between Reazeal's dark power and the energy of the sphere created a cataclysmic shockwave that sent the battlefield into chaos. Lightning exploded across the sky, and the very ground beneath their feet cracked and splintered, torn apart by the force of their clash.
For a moment, everything was silent. The air was thick with the energy of their battle, and for a brief second, time seemed to stand still. Reazeal's body was on the verge of collapse, his muscles trembling under the strain of the blow. But he did not give in. His eyes burned with determination as the blade held firm, holding back the crushing force of the dark sphere.
"You cannot win!" the dark figure screamed, fury radiating from his every word. "You are nothing! I am eternal!"
But Reazeal only smirked, his grip on Duskcarve tightening as the power of the Beast surged within him. "Then let's see how eternal you really are."
With a final, overwhelming effort, Reazeal pushed forward. The dark sphere cracked, splitting open like a shell under the force of his strike. The blast of energy that followed was deafening, a roar of destruction that echoed across the land. But as the light of the explosion began to fade, Reazeal stood, battered and bruised but victorious. The dark figure, now weakened and disoriented, staggered back.
"This is not the end," the dark figure growled, his eyes burning with hatred. "You may have won this battle, Reazeal, but the war is far from over."
But Reazeal's voice was calm, almost serene, as he took a step forward. "Then I'll be ready."
---
Lysara's Despair
Lysara watched from the distance, her heart in her throat. She had seen Reazeal fight through impossible odds, but this battle was unlike any other. The dark figure's power had been overwhelming, and for a moment, it seemed like Reazeal might not survive. But now, as the dark figure faltered, Lysara allowed herself a brief breath of relief.
Yet something inside her twisted in dread. The fight wasn't over. Even though Reazeal had won, the darkness that threatened their world had not been fully extinguished. She could feel it—a malignant force lurking beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to strike.
She clenched her fists, determination rising within her. She would stand by Reazeal's side, no matter what came next. But for now, they had won this battle. And that, for a fleeting moment, felt like enough.
---
End of Chapter 17.