As Kevin and Garon's fight raged on, in another part of the fortress, Roy faced off against his own formidable opponent—Malakar. The tension between the two was palpable, the air charged with both power and intent. Roy's eyes were cold, his focus unbreakable as he watched Malakar, who stood with a wicked smile, his hands glowing with dark energy. This was the same power that Garon had used, but unlike Garon, Malakar controlled it with precision and purpose. Malakar had been waiting for this, and the battle-hungry look in his eyes only served to fuel Roy's determination.
"I must say, you're brave for standing against me," Malakar sneered, his voice carrying a chilling edge. "But bravery will not be enough to defeat me."
Roy said nothing, his killing intent already radiating around him, killing intent swirling like a living entity. He tightened his grip on his daggers, feeling the pulse of his intent flow through him, sharpening his senses. Without another word, Roy lunged forward, his body moving with incredible speed as he closed the gap between them. His daggers flashed, aimed at Malakar's throat, but Malakar was ready.
Malakar sidestepped, his hand swiping downwards, fingers hardened like claws. The force of his strike sent a shockwave through the chamber as Roy narrowly evaded, twisting his body to avoid the blow. The ground cracked beneath Malakar's feet, the impact of his claw-like hand leaving deep gouges in the stone floor.
Roy darted back, his eyes narrowing. He could feel the oppressive power radiating from Malakar, a heavy, dark energy that seemed to press down on him like an invisible weight. It wasn't just strength—it was malice, a deep desire to see his opponent suffer. Roy knew that Malakar was his strongest opponent yet, but he wasn't about to let Malakar intimidate him.
With a sudden burst of speed, Roy launched himself at Malakar again, his daggers moving in a flurry of precise strikes. Malakar blocked each one with his hardened hands, the metallic clang of daggers against flesh reverberating through the chamber. Sparks flew as their powers clashed, and for a moment, the room was filled with nothing but the sound of their battle—a deadly dance of skill and power.
Malakar grinned, his eyes gleaming as he saw an opening. He lunged forward, his hand swinging upwards, aiming for Roy's chest. Roy twisted his body, the edge of Malakar's claw grazing his side, the pain sharp but manageable. Roy gritted his teeth, using the momentum to bring his dagger down, slashing at Malakar's exposed arm. The blade connected, drawing a line of blood, but Malakar seemed unfazed, his smile widening as if enjoying the pain.
"Good... very good," Malakar hissed, his voice dripping with excitement. He took a step back, his dark aura flaring. The energy around him seemed to grow darker, more concentrated, and Roy could feel it—the sheer power that this man possessed. But he wasn't deterred.
The two opponents circled each other, the air between them almost crackling with intensity. Roy could feel his killing intent growing, a black mist emanating from him. He focused, channeling all of his energy into his next move. With a roar, he lunged forward, his daggers slicing through the air. Malakar responded in kind, his hands glowing as he met Roy head-on.
Their clash shook the chamber, the impact sending shockwaves that rattled the stone walls. Roy's daggers struck with precision, each movement aimed at a critical point, while Malakar's clawed hands moved like whips, each strike carrying enough force to shatter bone. The two moved like shadows, their forms blurring as they danced around each other, each seeking an opening, an advantage.
Roy's daggers were a blur of steel, his strikes relentless. He aimed for Malakar's vital points—the neck, the heart, the joints—but Malakar was equally fast, his hands intercepting each blow, deflecting the strikes with an unnatural strength. Malakar's grin never wavered, his eyes filled with a dark glee as he relished the battle. Roy could see the madness in his eyes, the bloodlust that drove him.
Malakar lashed out with a powerful strike, his clawed hand aiming for Roy's head. Roy ducked, the claws missing him by inches, the air whistling from the force of the swing. Roy used the opening to move in close, his dagger plunging towards Malakar's side. The blade connected, and Malakar let out a hiss of pain, his eyes narrowing in anger. He retaliated with a backhanded strike that sent Roy skidding across the chamber, his back hitting the stone wall with a thud.
Roy gasped for breath, the impact sending a sharp pain through his ribs. He forced himself to his feet, his eyes never leaving Malakar. The dark energy around Malakar seemed to pulse, his aura growing thicker, more oppressive. Roy knew he had to finish this soon—he couldn't let Malakar's power continue to grow.
With a deep breath, Roy steadied himself, his killing intent intensifying. The black mist around him seemed to swirl faster, enveloping him in a shroud of darkness. Through this battle, Roy was learning how to control his killing intent. Although he didn't fully understand how he had developed this ability, he was becoming more accustomed to it, using it to stop Malakar's movements and reduce his defenses. Killing intent wasn't about increasing his own power; it was about overwhelming his opponent, making it harder for them to act effectively. He charged at Malakar, his daggers poised, ready to strike. Malakar met him, his hands glowing with dark energy, the two clashing once more in a battle of sheer willpower.
The chamber echoed with the sound of their battle, the clang of steel against claw, the crack of stone beneath their feet. Roy moved with purpose, his strikes deliberate, each one aimed to bring Malakar down. But Malakar was relentless, his attacks growing more vicious, more powerful. He fought like a man possessed, his eyes gleaming with a manic light.
Roy could feel his body straining, the exhaustion beginning to set in, but he pushed through it, his focus unwavering. He couldn't afford to falter now. Not when Kevin was counting on him, not when so much was at stake. With a final burst of energy, Roy lunged forward, his daggers aimed at Malakar's heart. Malakar's eyes widened, and for a brief moment, Roy saw something—fear, uncertainty.
But it was only for a moment. Malakar's expression hardened, and he brought his clawed hand up, blocking Roy's strike with a force that sent shockwaves through the chamber. The impact threw Roy back, his feet skidding across the stone floor. He barely managed to stay on his feet, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Malakar laughed, the sound echoing off the stone walls. "You fight well, boy," he said, his voice filled with a twisted admiration. "But you'll need more than that to defeat me."
Roy wiped the sweat from his brow, his eyes narrowing. He could feel the fatigue, the pain, but he wouldn't give up. Although Roy was stronger than Malakar in terms of pure power, Malakar was using two advantages to even the field or even gain an edge. The first was his killing intent, just like Roy's, which hindered Roy's movements and reduced the effectiveness of his strikes. The second was the dark energy he wielded—though before reaching the Qi Cultivation stage, aura usually doesn't increase in the body, Malakar had used the sacrifices to reach a state between Qi Cultivation and Muscle Forging. This gave him a powerful aura that not only enhanced his own abilities but also counteracted and reduced the intensity of Roy's killing intent.
The fight dragged on, both opponents pushing each other to their limits. Malakar's dark energy surged, his attacks growing more powerful, and Roy struggled to keep up. He could feel the toll it was taking on him—every movement was harder, every strike left him more drained. But despite the mounting injuries, Roy's focus didn't waver. His body ached, blood stained his side from several deep gashes, but his resolve was unbroken.
Malakar was beginning to wonder how long he could keep up the act. He had initially thought he would overpower Roy and win the fight quickly. He did have an edge in the battle over Roy, but it wasn't enough to defeat him outright. Now, his energy reserves were running low.
Roy noticed a shift in Malakar's aura—a flicker, a weakening. The dark energy that had empowered him for so long was beginning to deplete. Roy's eyes widened slightly, hope rekindling within him. He knew this was his chance, his opportunity to turn the tide of battle.
With renewed determination, Roy launched himself forward, his daggers slashing with a precision honed through months of training. He struck again and again, forcing Malakar to defend as the dark energy continued to wane. Malakar's expression twisted with frustration, and Roy could see the desperation in his eyes.
Suddenly, Malakar roared in fury, and with a final surge of energy, he blasted the chamber. The walls cracked, stones falling from above, dust filling the air. Roy was thrown back, his body hitting the ground hard. Coughing, he struggled to rise, his eyes searching for Malakar.
He saw him, retreating towards an opening in the collapsing chamber. Roy pushed himself up, his legs trembling but his determination undiminished. He couldn't let Malakar escape.
Roy gave chase, following Malakar out of the fortress and into the dense forest surrounding it. The sun was beginning to rise, the first rays of light breaking through the canopy. The forest was quiet, the chaos of their battle left behind in the crumbling fortress. Roy moved swiftly, his eyes locking onto Malakar's fleeing form. He could feel every injury, every bruise aching with each step, but he refused to let the pain slow him down. His side throbbed, and blood stained his clothing, but none of that mattered. He had to end this.
Roy managed to catch up, grabbing Malakar by the arm and forcing him to stop. Malakar struggled, but Roy's grip was ironclad, despite his injuries and exhaustion. With a sudden burst of rage, Roy drove his fist into Malakar's stomach, causing him to double over and fall to his knees in pain.
Malakar looked up at Roy, his eyes filled with disdain even as he knelt on the forest floor, clutching his stomach in pain. He sneered, his earlier shock now replaced with cold arrogance.
"You think you can stop me, boy?" Malakar taunted, his voice dripping with contempt. "All those lives I took, all the suffering I caused... it was all for power. And I don't regret a single thing. Power is all that matters. I'd do it all over again without hesitation. Those people were nothing—just tools to be used.""
Roy tightened his grip, his expression darkening. "This ends now, Malakar. Your cruelty ends today."
Roy's expression hardened, his breath ragged as he pushed forward, the weight of his injuries slowing him but not stopping him.
Malakar laughed, the sound echoing through the forest, cold and empty. "You still think there's a right and wrong in this world? You're naive, Roy. Strength is the only thing that decides fate, and the weak exist to serve the strong. The sacrifices, the suffering—it's all just part of the game."
Roy's eyes burned with determination, his voice steady despite his exhaustion. "I don't care what's right or what's wrong. I'll do what I think is right, and I don't care what anyone says."
With that, Roy's grip on his dagger tightened. He drove it into Malakar's chest with a force fueled by all the pain and anger from the battle. Malakar's eyes widened in shock as Roy twisted the blade, his breath caught in a painful gasp. Roy pulled the dagger out, letting Malakar fall to the ground. He watched as the life drained from Malakar's eyes, his body collapsing in the dirt. There was no remorse, no regret in Roy's gaze—only the cold satisfaction of ending a threat that had taken so much from so many.
As Malakar's body slumped lifelessly, Roy felt his own strength give out. His legs buckled beneath him, and he fell to the ground, exhaustion finally overtaking him. He had been barely standing before, and now the battle's toll was undeniable. Blood stained his clothes, his vision blurred, and his breath came in shallow gasps.
While all of this was happening, Kevin had been watching from the side. When the chamber had exploded, Kevin was immediately on alert and followed them here. He had arrived just in time to see Malakar on his knees, and recognizing the gravity of the moment, he didn't interrupt Roy.
Now, as Roy collapsed to the forest floor, Kevin rushed over. He knelt beside his friend, his eyes filled with concern. "Roy... it's over." Kevin said softly, placing a hand on Roy's shoulder, offering him comfort as the first rays of sunlight bathed the forest in a gentle glow.