The air was thick with tension as the battlefield fell silent for a heartbeat, the tremors of the earlier clash still lingering beneath the surface. Wu-Ji's grip tightened on his staff, and King D's eyes narrowed, his daggers gleaming in the fading light. Both were on high alert.
Suddenly, the silence was shattered by the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps. A shadowy figure emerged from the mist, his movements deliberate and confident. The temperature seemed to drop several degrees as Yorogumo—the number one player of Korea, the embodiment of death and power—made his entrance.
Wu-Ji's eyes widened. "You..."
Yorogumo's smile was all teeth, a predator's grin that sent a chill down Wu-Ji's spine. "I see you two are still playing in the kiddie pool. How quaint."
King D didn't flinch, though there was a flicker of recognition in his gaze. "Yorogumo. So, you've come to finish what you started?"
Yorogumo tilted his head, examining both of them with an almost amused expression. "Finish? No. I've come to make this interesting." His fingers twitched, and the atmosphere seemed to warp with his energy. His body was cloaked in a dark aura, powerful enough to distort the very fabric of reality around him.
Wu-Ji gritted his teeth. He could feel the pressure building—Yorogumo was no mere opponent. He was a living nightmare, and this would be the fight of their lives.
"Three against one," Wu-Ji muttered, tightening his stance. "Seems unfair."
Yorogumo chuckled darkly. "Don't worry, I won't need the odds to win."
---
Gok's Temporal Swing
Just as Yorogumo's energy swelled, a blinding flash of light suddenly cut through the darkness, and the air seemed to warp around them. Time itself bent, slowed, and twisted.
"Temporal Swing!"
A voice—familiar and commanding—echoed through the battlefield.
From the distortion of time, Gok appeared. His long, graying hair, now tangled and wild, flowed like an untamed river as he stepped forward, a heavy aura surrounding him. His body was older, the lines of time etched into his face, but there was no mistaking the fire that still burned within him.
Yorogumo's expression faltered for a split second, his eyes narrowing in disbelief. "Gok? But… you should be…"
"I'm not finished yet," Gok interrupted, his voice laced with an authority that shook the very ground beneath them. With a swift motion, he swung his Infinite Blade, the weapon shimmering with an ethereal glow.
The sword struck the air itself, distorting reality in a perfect arc. The Temporal Swing—a move that bent time to its wielder's will—cut through the battlefield like a divine strike. The swing seemed to ripple in every direction, a wave of power washing over everything, shattering the illusion of safety that Yorogumo had created.
System Announcement
Before anyone could react, a sudden, booming announcement echoed from the very fabric of the system, filling the battlefield with its ominous tone.
"System Override: Phase 3 Initiated. Special Combat Rules Applied."
The atmosphere crackled with an unnatural energy. Yorogumo's smug grin faltered as the system's voice continued.
"Three-Way Battle Mode Activated: Limitless Energy Drawn. No Retreat or Escape Allowed. Combatants will be transported to separate arenas upon defeat."
A sickening laugh escaped Yorogumo's lips, though there was a touch of wariness now. "So, the system wants to play, huh?" He flexed his fingers, summoning an enormous torrent of energy, his entire body pulsating with dark, twisted power.
"I've dealt with the system before," Gok said, his eyes flashing with determination. "But it's been a while since I've faced you, Yorogumo."
King D's eyes flicked between the two, his stance ready. "Let's make this quick. The longer we stand here, the worse things get."
---
The Battle Begins
Without another word, the three players collided in a blur of motion. Yorogumo's dark aura expanded as he charged forward, his body a blur of shadows and twisted limbs. He slashed with his claws, each strike distorting the air, aiming for Gok and Wu-Ji.
Wu-Ji reacted instantly, his Zodiac Monkey form enhancing his reflexes. He used his staff to parry Yorogumo's claws, the force of the impact sending shockwaves through his body. "You're going to need more than that," he taunted, his eyes glowing with a fierce light.
King D, not one to be outdone, lunged from the side, his daggers flashing. He aimed for Yorogumo's side, but the number one player of Korea was fast—too fast. With a graceful twist of his body, Yorogumo blocked King D's strike and countered with a series of rapid slashes.
Gok watched them for a moment, his sword still crackling with temporal energy. "You think I'm going to let you play alone?" With a single swipe of the Infinite Blade, the air warped once again, and Gok closed the distance between himself and Yorogumo in an instant.
Yorogumo's grin faded as Gok's sword came down with the full force of temporal power. The strike was so fast, so precise, it seemed to tear through time itself. Yorogumo barely managed to dodge, but the force still sent a ripple through his body, his power momentarily disrupted.
"You're fast, but not fast enough," Gok said, his voice a low growl.
The battle raged on, a deadly dance between the three powerful beings. The air crackled with energy, each strike sending shockwaves that reverberated across the battlefield. Gok's Temporal Swing twisted reality, King D's daggers danced through the air like lightning, and Wu-Ji's staff moved with the precision of a master.
But Yorogumo wasn't going to be defeated so easily. With a roar, his body expanded, his power surging to new heights. He unleashed a torrent of dark energy that shattered the ground, forcing Gok, Wu-Ji, and King D to retreat.
"You're all fools if you think you can defeat me!" Yorogumo screamed, his power darkening the sky.
---
The Turning Point
Gok didn't back down. His eyes burned with a relentless determination. "This isn't about defeating you, Yorogumo. It's about making sure you never get in the way again."
With a mighty swing of the Infinite Blade, Gok unleashed a blast of temporal energy so intense that it split the very fabric of space, distorting time and space itself. Yorogumo was caught in the blast, his body flickering between reality and the void.
"Temporal Collapse!"
The world seemed to hold its breath as the ground quaked and the air warped, creating an explosion of energy that sent shockwaves throughout the battlefield. Yorogumo's body flickered once, twice—then vanished into the void.
The battle was over. But something lingered in the air, an unspoken dread.
---
The Aftermath
As the dust settled, Wu-Ji, King D, and Gok stood side by side, their breathing heavy but controlled. The system's announcement echoed in their minds, the reality of what had just happened sinking in.
Yorogumo was gone. But the fight wasn't over. They all knew that this was just the beginning.
Gok turned to King D, his voice low. "That was just a glimpse of what's to come."
King D nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. "And I'm not sure we're ready for it."
But Wu-Ji, ever the optimist, cracked a smile. "Doesn't matter. We'll deal with it—together."