Rio and Jin stood side by side, facing Valas, who seemed to defy the very laws of nature. The ground cracked beneath the weight of his power, and the air was thick with a dark, ominous energy that promised disaster.
Rio:
"Things just got a lot more complicated, didn't they?"
Jin:
"And you always choose the hardest battles."
The quip between them was an attempt to ease the tension, but both knew that this confrontation with Valas would not be an ordinary fight.
A Battle Charged with Energy
Valas raised his hand, surrounded by a vortex of shadow energy, and spoke with an arrogant tone:
"Two of this world's finest warriors, and yet you're just children daring to challenge a power far beyond your grasp."
Rio exchanged a brief glance with Jin. That single moment of eye contact was enough to coordinate their next moves.
• The First Charge: Rio was the faster of the two, utilizing his essence manipulation to create a bright flare that blinded Valas for a split second. In that moment, Jin surged forward from behind with a direct strike of his sword.
• Valas's Counterattack: But he was faster than they expected. In the blink of an eye, the shadow vortex around him disappeared and reappeared behind Jin, leaving a shallow wound on his shoulder.
The System Intervenes:
A message appeared in Rio's mind:
"One strategy will not suffice. Use coordination to break his defense before launching a direct assault."
Narrowing his eyes, Rio shouted:
"Jin, we need to exhaust him first!"
Without looking back, Jin immediately understood the plan. The two began executing a series of rapid, consecutive attacks, giving Valas no room to retaliate. Every strike was calculated to force him into using his shadow energy for defense.
Jin's Inner Conflict Amid the Battle:
Throughout the fight, Jin's mind was flooded with thoughts. Watching Rio fight so fiercely stirred complicated emotions within him—a mix of admiration and fear.
Jin's thoughts:
"This fool… always pushing himself to the limit, as if life were just a game."
The Turning Point:
Valas, beginning to lose control of his energy due to the relentless assault, unleashed a massive wave of shadows toward Rio and Jin.
• Rio: He channeled his essence to create a powerful light barrier, barely managing to hold it together.
• Jin: Seizing the opportunity, he surged forward through the barrier's opening, delivering a strike that forced Valas to retreat for the first time in the battle.
Fools! If you think this is all I have, let me show you true power!"
The energy around him began to gather once more, but this time it was different. The shadows grew darker and denser, and a long, pulsating blade of lethal energy materialized in his hands.
Rio's Internal Struggle with the System:
System:
"You cannot defeat him without sacrifice. There is a technique that can end him, but it will consume all your energy."
Rio, panting heavily:
"You always ask for the impossible… but that's what I'm best at."
Rio and Jin decide on a final plan to weaken Valas. While Rio prepares to unleash the dangerous technique suggested by the system, Jin advances to engage Valas in direct combat to buy time.
Valas watches them with a sly grin as the text appears in Rio's mind:
"Prepare yourself. This may be your final move."
The battle had reached its peak. The ground beneath their feet had turned to ash, and the air was charged with an indescribable energy.
Rio and Jin stood side by side, gazing at Valas, who seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment.
Rio:
"Jin, this isn't an ordinary battle. If we fail here, there'll be no one left to stop him."
Jin, with a cold smirk:
"You're saying this as if failure is an option."
Valas:
"So, you're truly insistent on standing in my way? Let me show you what true power means!"
He raised his shadow-infused sword and unleashed a massive wave of energy toward them.
Rio and Jin exchanged a quick glance.
Rio:
"I just need five seconds. Keep him occupied."
Jin, sarcastically:
"You ask for a lot."
The Joint Movement:
• Jin charges at Valas: His movements were swift and precise, using every ounce of his combat experience to distract his opponent.
• Valas tries to counter: But Jin dodged his attacks expertly, relying on agility and maneuverability rather than direct confrontation.
Rio, in the background:
He began activating the technique suggested by the system. The essence energy around him started to condense, forming a vortex of light.
The System Speaks to Rio:
"This technique is not just an attack; it's a turning point. Using it now will deplete most of your energy for an entire day. Are you ready?"
Rio, with a courageous smile:
"Not like I have another choice, do I?"
The Critical Moment:
• Valas roars in fury:
"I've had enough of this! I'll end you both now!"
He launched a devastating attack toward Jin, but Rio intervened at the last second, replacing his defensive energy with a counterstrike.
Rio unleashed an immense surge of energy toward Valas, breaking through his defenses entirely and causing a massive explosion that shook the entire area.
After the Explosion:
The smoke was thick, and silence blanketed the battlefield. Jin, barely standing, scanned the rubble for Rio.
Jin, shouting:
"Rio! Where are you?!"
The sound of faint footsteps emerged from the smoke. Rio appeared, clutching his injured shoulder, with a faint smile:
"I told you I just needed five seconds."
Valas on the Ground:
He lay motionless but wasn't dead yet. Raising his head weakly, he looked at Rio and Jin:
"You… are no ordinary warriors. But this… is not the end."
With a sinister smile, his body vanished into a vortex of shadows.
Jin:
"You were about to sacrifice yourself again, weren't you?"
• Rio:
"If I hadn't, you would've done it yourself. Can't let you steal the spotlight every time."
Jin chuckled softly but felt a deep worry within. Rio collapsed from sheer exhaustion.
Valas had been defeated, but his survival meant the danger wasn't over.
• Rio and Jin began reassessing their strategy for the battles to come.
The system displayed a new message to Rio:
"The next battle will be harder. Valas was just the beginning. Prepare yourself."
Rio stared at the message and sighed:
"Of course, there's always something harder."