Ethan stood firm, golden flames crackling around his body as the forest trembled beneath his feet.
In front of him stood two figures—identical in appearance and equally unsettling.
A boy and a girl, seemingly only a few years older than Ethan. Both radiated a maddening, pressure that warped the space around them. Their jet-black hair shimmered unnaturally under the flickering battlefield light, and their eyes—bottomless voids—seemed to swallow all light and warmth.
Good-looking. Ethereal. But the thing that truly chilled Ethan to the bone was the maniacal grin on both their faces. It wasn’t joy.
It was hunger.
Sadistic, gleeful hunger.
’They look human... but every cell in my body is screaming otherwise.’
The girl tilted her head, a childlike pout on her lips as she glanced at her brother. Then, without warning, her expression twisted into something vile.
"Veyron, looks like Master was right," she cooed sweetly, her voice at odds with the battlefield’s brutality. "This guy does look powerful."
Her eyes gleamed with twisted lust.
"But with that kind of body..." She licked her lips. "Would you mind if, after beating him half to death, I dragged him to my bedroom and had a little fun with him?"
Ethan’s face contorted in revulsion.
Veyron sighed, scratching the back of his head. "You and your weird kinks with pretty guys..."
Then he turned—just slightly—toward the earthen dome sheltering Ethan’s friends.
A glint sparked in his obsidian eyes.
"Oho~ Looks like there are some pretty girls too," he murmured, running his tongue along his lip. He looked back at Ethan and grinned.
"Hey. Those your friends?"
Ethan didn’t answer.
"Would you mind," Veyron said coolly, "if I made some of them my whores?"
That did it.
Ethan’s heart thundered in his chest. A wrath unlike anything he’d ever felt began to rise. Not fear—fury. A sun roaring to break free.
’How... dare you.’
The Celestial Sunblade flared to life in his hand, its radiant edge vibrating with divine fury.
"You talk too much."
He vanished.
CLANG!
Vyera’s bow blocked the incoming slash just in time, sparks cascading across the battlefield.
Her grin widened. "Feisty~ I like that."
BOOM!
Ethan spun, his foot igniting the air as he lunged at Veyron with a flaming arc that sent the boy skidding backwards. But the twins retaliated instantly.
A barrage of arrows infused with darkness—twisting like poisoned serpents—rained down from above. Each one carried a foul energy that hissed through the air, aimed to pierce not just flesh, but soul.
Ethan’s eyes narrowed.
He ducked.
Weaved.
Parried with swift, practiced slashes, his blade igniting in golden fire. Shadows grazed past his cheek, tearing through trees behind him.
Then he struck back.
With a roar, he launched upward—an uppercut cloaked in phoenix fire trailing behind his fist.
"RAAAAGHH—!"
BOOOOM!
Golden flames erupted from his core, engulfing him in divine brilliance. His wings burst outward in a radiant flare, slicing the darkness with sheer light. The battlefield ignited—trees scorched, the earth split, shadows recoiled.
Vyera shielded her face, skidding back with a laugh. "Ooh~ He’s getting serious now."
Ethan didn’t stop.
He surged forward, becoming a comet of flame and fury.
His blade danced, slashing through arrows mid-air, carving flaming arcs into the ground as he blitzed between the twins. His speed blurred.
He struck Vyera across the ribs—sending her crashing through a stone pillar.
Veyron retaliated from behind, but Ethan spun, wings deflecting the incoming blow before answering with a blazing roundhouse that knocked Veyron off balance.
For a heartbeat—just one—Ethan stood tall, divine flames cloaking his form, wings spread wide like a god descending.
It looked like he was winning.
But then...
They started laughing.
Still grinning.
Still unshaken.
They didn’t even look fazed.
"Aww, is that all?" Vyera taunted.
Then they moved.
Together.
Perfect synchronization.
Vyera leapt back, nocking a darkness-forged arrow that shimmered with corrupted intent. Veyron’s sword coiled with void energy.
They attacked in tandem—arrows raining from above, while Veyron charged from below like a reaper with a blade that split the ground.
Ethan blocked, ducked, countered. His blade screamed in protest as it clashed with shadow. He blasted forward, slamming his fist into Vyera’s stomach—sending her flying.
Veyron intercepted him.
Too slow.
Ethan’s palm surged with divine energy.
"Burn."
BOOOOOM!
A radiant flare exploded, swallowing both figures in blinding light. When the dust cleared, Ethan stood—barely upright, breathing ragged.
’S-So fast... too coordinated. They’re reading my movements.’
He growled through clenched teeth. ’No choice. Time to go all in.’
His sword pulsed.
"Dawnbreaker Judgement—First Form: Radiant Edge."
The blade transformed.
Golden light condensed along the edge, humming with celestial power. With one step, Ethan slashed.
A brilliant arc of light tore through the forest, cleaving the battlefield in two. Trees turned to ash. The shockwave sent the twins flying—but they dodged with monstrous reflexes and landed on their feet, laughing.
Vyera twirled her bow. "Ooh~ pretty lights. Got anything stronger?"
Ethan didn’t answer.
His aura blazed.
"Dawnbreaker Judgement—Seventh Form: Solar Cataclysm."
The ground quaked.
His wings stretched wide, forming a blazing halo.
A massive glyph appeared behind him—twelve radiant circles spinning together, each etched with ancient solar runes. The heavens opened above.
Veyron’s smile finally faded. "Tch. Did this guy really awakened just a week ago?"
Ethan raised his sword skyward.
"Burn away, everything."
He swung.
A beam of divine sunlight, compressed into a scythe-shaped arc, slashed downward.
KA-KOOOOOM!
The explosion shook the heavens. The forest evaporated. Even space trembled as time itself bent.
When the light faded, craters stretched miles across. Everything was gone.
Everything—except them.
Ethan blinked in disbelief.
The twins stood within a spherical void barrier, untouched.
Vyera’s dress was singed. Veyron’s arm bled.
But they were still smiling.
"Aww~ that hurt a little," Vyera pouted. "You really are fun."
Veyron’s eye twitched. "I’ll admit... that stung. So now we kill you."
They raised their weapons again.
Ethan’s body wavered.
He couldn’t feel his legs. His divine core sputtered. His vision blurred.
"ETERNAL FEAR!"
A wave of oppressive light burst from him, aiming to shatter their minds.
It hit.
And shattered.
Vyera giggled. "You think that can work on us? We’ve faced horrors your mind can’t even comprehend. We’re blessed by Him—the darkness itself."
"Let us show you," Veyron whispered, "what real power looks like."
Their aura pulsed.
Reality warped.
THUNK!
Ethan gasped.
A black arrow pierced his chest. He tore it free—only to feel the pain spiral through his nerves.
’What...?’
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