The world had been reduced to chaos.
The throne room was gone, replaced by a jagged wasteland of broken stone and flickering shadows. The walls had crumbled, the floor shattered into uneven fragments that floated in a void of swirling black and red. The sphere itself seemed to groan under the weight of the battle, its unnatural reality fracturing with each clash of power.
Rowan stood in the center of it all, bathed in the glow of his crimson aura. His eyes burned with an unnatural red light, his grin stretched wide and unrelenting. He didn't speak, didn't taunt or laugh. There was only silence, broken by the low hum of the energy radiating from his body.
Across from him, the pale man floated above the ruins, his dark mantle flickering like a dying flame. The once-regal figure was barely holding himself together now, his translucent skin cracked and fractured, his glowing eyes dim. But his grip on his dark blade was as steady as ever.
"You are a force of destruction," the pale man said, his voice calm despite the strain that lined his features. "A madness given form. I cannot allow you to leave this place."
Rowan tilted his head, his crimson gaze locked onto the pale man. He didn't respond. He didn't need to.
The pale man raised his blade one final time, the shadows around him surging to life. They twisted and coiled, forming a massive, jagged spear of darkness that radiated pure, malevolent energy.
"This is the end," the pale man declared. "If I fall, I will fall knowing I faced the strongest."
Rowan's body shifted slightly, his aura intensifying as the red energy around him began to swirl violently. The air grew hotter, heavier, charged with raw power.
The pale man moved first.
The spear of darkness shot forward, its jagged tip aimed directly at Rowan's heart. The force of it split the ground beneath it, tearing through the already shattered floor as it raced toward its target.
Rowan met it head-on.
With a burst of speed, he surged forward, his fist glowing with blinding crimson light. The spear and the fist collided in an explosion of energy, the impact shaking the entire sphere. The resulting shockwave tore through the void, ripping apart what little remained of the battlefield.
But Rowan didn't stop.
He pushed through the spear, his fist breaking it apart piece by piece until nothing remained. His body was a blur of red light as he closed the distance between himself and the pale man.
The pale man swung his blade in a desperate arc, the dark energy surrounding it flaring to life. Rowan ducked under the strike, his movements impossibly fast, and drove his fist into the pale man's chest.
The sound was deafening.
The pale man's body crumpled under the force of the blow, the cracks in his skin spreading like a web of light. He staggered backward, his dark blade slipping from his grasp and dissolving into nothingness.
Rowan stood over him, his crimson aura beginning to fade. His eyes remained fixed on the pale man, his expression still locked in that wide, threatening grin.
The pale man coughed, a faint, broken sound. He fell to his knees, his head bowed as he stared at the cracked floor beneath him.
"You…" he began, his voice barely above a whisper. "You are the strongest I have ever faced."
Rowan's aura flickered once, twice, and then disappeared entirely. The crimson glow in his eyes faded, replaced by their usual sharp, calculating gaze. His wide grin softened into a faint smirk, the last traces of his transformation vanishing.
The pale man raised his head slightly, his hollow eyes meeting Rowan's.
"My name," he said, his voice steady despite the pain that wracked his body, "is Huan Yu."
Rowan tilted his head, his expression unreadable.
Huan Yu took a slow, shuddering breath, his form beginning to dissolve into faint, glowing particles. "You have earned my respect… and my name. Carry it with you."
He lowered his head again, his hands resting limply on the fractured ground.
And then he was gone.
Rowan stood in silence, his gaze fixed on the spot where Huan Yu had knelt. The world around him began to shift, the broken remnants of the throne room dissolving into light. A soft hum filled the air, growing louder as the sphere's interior unraveled.
A moment later, Rowan was standing outside.
The cool night air hit him like a wave, a stark contrast to the oppressive heat of the sphere. His body swayed slightly, his legs unsteady beneath him. Blood dripped from countless cuts and bruises, staining his torn and battered clothes.
A voice called out to him.
"Rowan!"
Kyra stood at the edge of the clearing, her sharp eyes widening as she saw his condition. She ran toward him, her movements quick and frantic.
Rowan stumbled forward, his steps heavy and uneven. He didn't say a word as he reached her, his body slumping slightly as his legs finally gave out.
"Rowan!" Kyra caught him, her arms wrapping around his shoulders to steady him. Her voice was strained, a mix of relief and panic. "You idiot, what the hell happened in there?"
Rowan didn't answer. His head tilted forward, his white hair falling into his face as his body went limp. He was unconscious.
Kyra lowered him gently to the ground, her gaze darting across his injuries. Her brow furrowed, her expression tense.
Footsteps approached from behind.
A group of figures emerged from the shadows, their silhouettes sharp and imposing. They were other Awakened, their expressions a mix of curiosity and apprehension as they looked down at Rowan's beaten form.
One of them, a tall man with a scar running across his cheek, crossed his arms and let out a low whistle. "Whatever was in that sphere must've been a monster," he said, his tone laced with respect. "To leave him like this…"
Another figure, a younger man with a nervous expression, glanced at Rowan, then at Kyra. "Is he… going to be okay?"
Kyra glared at them, her sharp eyes blazing. "Of course he's going to be okay," she snapped. "He's Rowan Barlowe. He doesn't know how to lose."
The scarred man smirked. "Yeah. But still…" He knelt down, his gaze lingering on Rowan's battered form. "Whatever he fought in there wasn't just strong. It was something else entirely."
Kyra didn't respond. She looked down at Rowan, her expression softening slightly.
"You're crazy, you know that?" she muttered, her voice barely audible.
The group fell silent, their gazes fixed on the unconscious figure before them. The night stretched on, the air heavy with unspoken tension.
And in the distance, the sphere pulsed faintly, as if acknowledging the battle that had just taken place within its depths.