Yahageshii panted heavily, his flames igniting again and again, struggling like a drowning man gasping for air, but to no avail. In the endless realm of darkness, his fire could not dispel even a sliver of the shadow—it only seemed lonelier. Every punch he threw struck nothing, the sound of fists tearing through air echoing emptily without ever finding their mark.
In contrast, Watcher's attacks were as precise as they were ghostly. Each swing of his blade left deep wounds on Yahageshii's body. Darkness coiled like a venomous serpent, corroding the injuries with its power, and the pain spread like needles piercing every nerve. The ground was soaked with dark red blood, blending into the oppressive shadow, suffocating all hope.
Yahageshii's breathing grew heavier, a low rasp escaping his throat. His legs trembled, each step a monumental effort as if he might collapse at any moment. Yet his gaze remained steadfast, burning with an unyielding fire. Clenching his teeth, he forced himself to stand tall, his inner fury battling against the abyss of despair.
"Pathetic," Watcher's cold voice sneered from within the darkness, punctuated by the occasional glint of his blade slashing through the air, leaving fresh wounds.
Suddenly, a sharp cry pierced through the gloom: "Stop!"
Yahageshii froze, the voice familiar and heart-wrenching. Harutemi! His chest felt like it had been struck by a boulder, his rage surging to its peak. He turned with all his might toward the source of the voice, growling hoarsely, "Harutemi?! What are you doing here?! Get out of here!"
But Harutemi did not retreat. Her eyes were red and swollen, her trembling hands desperately pulling rocks from the earth to shield both Yahageshii and herself. Massive chunks of stone emerged from every direction, forming a barrier around them.
"You won't touch him!" she cried, her voice shaking yet defiant.
Watcher only chuckled coldly. His dark blade flickered through the air, slicing through the rocks effortlessly, shattering them into countless fragments. He strode forward with the leisure of a predator toying with its prey.
"Foolish little girl." His gaze pierced through the darkness, locking onto Harutemi.
Harutemi gritted her teeth, forcing herself to suppress her trembling. Though her power was far from enough to stand against Watcher, her steps did not falter. Overwhelming fear warred with fury inside her, manifesting as a stubborn resolve. She threw her arms forward, summoning more rocks from the ground, forming another sturdy barrier between them.
Watcher paused momentarily, an amused glint in his eyes. "Interesting. But this feeble effort… how long can it last?" His blade rose, and with a sweep, a dark arc of energy slashed through the air, shattering the stone wall.
Shards of rock rained down like a storm. Harutemi cried out, shielding her face instinctively with her arms. At that moment, Yahageshii's fiery form burst through the darkness. His flames roared like an erupting volcano, incinerating the falling debris into ash.
"Don't you dare lay a finger on her!" Yahageshii bellowed, his voice like thunder shaking the ruins. Fire consumed him entirely, transforming him into a blazing inferno, his fists moving like meteorites streaking through the night. Each strike radiated a fiery wrath, determined to burn through every obstacle.
But it was like fighting in a dream. His moves, though ferocious, were chaotic and aimless, as if blinded by his rage. Every step faltered without direction; every punch hit only void. His roars reverberated, his fists cutting through the air, but the boundless darkness remained unshaken, devouring all his attacks.
Watcher sneered. Effortlessly sidestepping Yahageshii's enraged onslaught, he moved with the speed of a phantom, circling behind his opponent in a heartbeat. With one swift motion, he kicked Yahageshii to the ground, the impact echoing through the ruins.
"This is all you've got?" Watcher's voice dripped with derision as he planted his foot firmly on Yahageshii's back. Seizing his right arm, he smirked cruelly. "If you insist on struggling, let me take away your precious firepower once and for all."
CRACK.
A sickening sound of bone breaking tore through the battlefield. Yahageshii's scream was raw and guttural, filled with anguish. "Aaaahhhh!"
The darkness surged like venom, seeping into the fracture, amplifying the pain tenfold. His arm fell limp, devoid of feeling, the once-glowing flames extinguished. Yahageshii collapsed in the dirt, his blood pooling beneath him, his face ashen and his body trembling uncontrollably. It was as though the shadows themselves sought to consume him entirely.
"Yahageshii!!!" Harutemi's voice broke through the night, her cry laced with desperation and heartbreak.
Watcher turned slowly, his gaze falling on Harutemi with cold disdain. "Don't worry, little girl. You're next."
Harutemi didn't respond. She stared at Yahageshii's bloodied form lying motionless on the ground, tears streaming down her face. Her entire body trembled, but she clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles white. The remaining rocks around her began to float again, faintly trembling in sync with her emotions.
Even as despair loomed, her resolve began to ignite.