The night itself seemed to tremble as Veyrin's shadow spears shot forward, their razor-sharp tips glistening with an unnatural darkness. Each one carried enough power to shatter stone, to pierce through even the strongest of defenses.
Kai's body screamed in protest, but he forced himself to move. His grip tightened on his sword as he pushed off the ground, throwing himself to the side. The first spear tore through the space where he had been a moment ago, embedding itself into the earth with a deafening crack.
Lyra wasn't far behind. She raised her hands, summoning a shimmering barrier of blue light. The second spear slammed against it, sending violent ripples through the shield. Lyra gritted her teeth, pouring more magic into her defense, but cracks were already forming in the energy wall.
"Kai, I can't hold it much longer!" she warned, her voice strained.
Kai's mind raced. Veyrin was stronger than anything he had ever faced. Solis was down, Lyra was struggling, and the artifact inside him was reacting strangely—as if it couldn't decide whether to resist or embrace the dark power before it.
No. I have to push forward. I have to fight.
He turned toward the incoming spears, lifting his sword high. The artifact flared, pulsing with energy. Then, just as the third and fourth spears shot toward him, Kai swung his blade with everything he had.
A shockwave of blue light erupted from his weapon. The spears disintegrated upon impact, the energy washing over them like a storm crashing against the shore. The sheer force of the attack sent cracks through the battlefield, forcing even Veyrin to take a step back.
For the first time since the battle began, the Shadow Reaper's smirk faltered. "Impressive," he murmured, tilting his head. "You're resisting the darkness… but I can feel it inside you, growing stronger with every strike."
Kai didn't respond. He steadied himself, panting slightly. The energy coursing through him was unlike anything he had ever felt—wild, powerful, but still untamed.
Veyrin's smirk returned. "You remind me of someone," he mused, his crimson eyes narrowing. "A warrior who once stood against me. He, too, believed he could resist the abyss. And yet, in the end, he fell."
Kai clenched his jaw. "That won't happen to me."
"Won't it?" Veyrin's voice was almost a whisper now, laced with an unsettling certainty. "We shall see."
Then, in the blink of an eye, he vanished.
Kai barely had time to react before Veyrin reappeared right in front of him, his midnight blade descending like a guillotine. Instinct took over. Kai raised his sword just in time to block, but the impact sent a jolt of agony through his arms.
The sheer force of the strike sent him skidding backward, his boots digging trenches into the ground.
"Kai!" Lyra cried out.
Veyrin didn't let up. He moved with inhuman speed, striking from every angle, his attacks relentless. Kai did his best to parry, but each blow chipped away at his defense. His muscles burned, his vision blurred. He was fast—but Veyrin was faster.
Then, just as Kai faltered for a fraction of a second, Veyrin's knee slammed into his gut.
The air was driven from Kai's lungs as he was sent flying. He hit the ground hard, rolling across the shattered battlefield. Pain exploded through his ribs.
Veyrin stood over him now, his blade hovering inches from Kai's throat.
"It's over," Veyrin declared.
Kai gasped for breath, his body refusing to move.
Was this it?
Was this how his journey ended?
No.
Somewhere deep inside him, something stirred.
The artifact pulsed—once, twice—then suddenly flared with a blinding light.
Veyrin's eyes widened. "What—"
A massive surge of energy erupted from Kai's body, knocking Veyrin backward. The ground trembled as golden-blue flames ignited around him, swirling like a celestial storm.
Kai's breath came in ragged gasps as he slowly rose to his feet. His wounds still ached, but he felt something new inside him—something powerful. The artifact was no longer resisting him. It was responding.
For the first time, Kai wasn't just wielding the artifact's power.
He was commanding it.
Veyrin narrowed his eyes, taking a step back. "…Interesting."
Kai raised his glowing sword. "Let's finish this."