(CHAPTER 28) SHADOW FORM

(Minites after Karla encountered the demon which was feasting on Hana.)

It was a seemingly ordinary day until a bone chilling scream could be heard piercing through the air, sending waves of panic throughout the campus. Suddenly, a student could be seen sprinting towards the school, screaming at the top of his lungs. "Its a demon attack! everybody run for your lives!" The students froze, their faces etched with fear and confusion.

From the chaos emerged a group of dedicated teachers led by Kain, a stout and resolute educator known for his unwavering commitment to his students. With a commanding voice, he shouted, "Everyone, stay calm! We need to evacuate into the school immediately. Follow me, and stay close together!" He said trying to defuse the situation. "Another demon attack. What's going on out there...and where did Neon go...I hope he's okay." Thought Kain as he wore a worried expression on his face. As all the students could be seen rushing back to the school, one student could be seen barging through and pacing the opposite way. "Woah woah! stop right there Nate!" Yelled Kain holding an arm out which stopped Nate in his tracks. "Tsk, let me go! I was hoping for a demon attack to happen so I could beat them to a pulp. In the last attack, I acted like a scared little kid! Well nows my chance to prove myself!!" Nate bellowed as he bursted with determination. "You idiot! you have absolutely no chance in defeating them! you will only get yourself killed...I will not allow that." Kain explained looking at him with piercing eyes, upon which melted Nates resolve. "just give it up Nate! you know as well as I do that you stand no chance, so stop embarrassing yourself." Keith said as he started to approach them. "What the hell did you just say!" Nate yelled as he raised his hand with the intention to spark an explosion. "What the hell do you think your doing! there is a demon attack going on and the last thing we need is for students to be turning on one another." Kain protested as he grabbed on to Nates wrist. Upon feeling kains grip tighten, Nate winced in pain on which he thrusted his arm backwards freeing his arm from his grasp. "Fine! I won't go but when I get stronger, no one will stop me from pulverising them." Nate said in an annoyed manner. As Nates and Keith's unnecessary conflict ended, the chattering of nearby students could be heard. "I heard from someone that Neons a demon and that he's the one thats attacking the school." "What, that student from room 10? no way, hes just a weakling that never did anything, hes the one that was put in the higher classes for no reason at all. Hes too weak to be a demon." From hearing the words from the students, both Nates and Kains eyes widened. "What the hell, that brat could be a demon....no way!. However, the more Nate thought about it, the more it made sense to him "but maybe that makes sense on why he was put in the higher classes for no reason...if he really is a demon...did the teachers already know about this? Nate thought to himself as he looked at Kain who looked as pale as a vampire. "What the hell! WHAT IS NEON DOING!" Kain thought to himself, worried that the worst may have happened and Neon attacked one of the students. In the corner of his eye, he saw Lucy who was at the back of the line of students who were evacuating into the building. Lucy noticed Kain making his way towards her, upon which she knew what he was about to say. "Hey Lucy, this is bad...I think Neons...." "Yes I know, I've heard the students talk about him being the one thats attacking...this IS bad....they are also suspecting that hes a demon." Said Lucy as her voiced quivered. "I cant take this, I need to find him." Said Kain, his anxiety reaching its climax. "Theres no need Kain, I've sent one of the best and skilled teachers, Master Hiro to deal with the situation, what we need to do is get these students in the school and protect them. once thats done, I'll go and aid Master Hiro." Kain didnt like the idea of Master Hiro being the one to deal with the matter. He was a lot stricter and followed the rules to the letter ; If the attack was Neon's doing, he was afraid that Neon would be killed. As Nate still stood there still dumbfounded, he finally snapped out of the strance he was in and made his way back to the school, still in disbelief on what he had heard....yet he couldn't help but think that it was true. Keith began to follow behind Nate covering his mouth with his hands, with the intention of hiding the sinister grin he wore. "It looks like the plan is working." He said snickering like a man possessed.....

Meanwhile, Neon was in the forest and had just finished with his training unti FH suddenly spoke dramatically, his voice resonating with an otherworldly timbre. "NEON! be on your guard at once....I sense the presence of two demons...one is pretty far away, but the other is lurking nearby.

Upon hearing this, Neon started to sense the demon too. His heart started to race uncontrollably, a mix of fear and disbelief flooding his senses. "d...demons are here, but how....are Riyu and Karla okay!" "tsk, there's no time to be worrying about that now! what we should be worrying about is how to defeat this demon, this one is stronger compared to you, however I do not wanna take over your body just yet, as I want to save it for the other demon I'm sensing....this one is a lot more powerful.....he's an upper rank demon." FH said in a frantic but serious tone. "He's an upper rank!.....that's crazy!" Neon snapped in disbelief.

"You've got sharp senses Open Wound...the demon your sensing is my leader, Mordred the Ranvanger." The demons words could be heard, however, he was nowhere to be seen. "Dammit, he's been circling around us. His auras everywhere...I cant pinpoint his location....be careful Neon." Said FH annoyed at the situation. "How the hell did you get here!" Asked Neon hoping for an answer from the demon. Since im gonna kill you, I guess theres no harm in telling you that theres a traitor amongst you! HAAAHAHAAA. He created a breach in the schools barrier allowing us to enter the school grounds. Kyaaahahha! This turn of events must be quite a shock to you." The demon said as it cackled at the reaction of disbelief Neon gave. " A traitor....it cant be....who would do such a thing. Answer me demon! why did he do it, what twisted game were you playing with him." Neon said angrily. "Oh we did nothing of the sort, he did everything of his own volition. there was just one thing he wanted." Anticipation for the answer choked the surroundings as Neon eagerly waited for the demons words. "What he wanted was to become a demon!" The demon said staring at Neon waiting to see his reaction so he can laugh hysterically at his despair. "Just who the hell would want that...." "I say it's that boy." Said FH convinced of his words. "What you mean Keith? Maybe....but why would he want to become a demon?" the more Neon thought about it, the more it baffled him to the core. "I think its about time we stop this little chit chat off ours and get to fighting" said the Demon, its voice trembling its surroundings. Neon ventured deeper into the shadows, a sinister presence manifested before him—a demon named Malachi, his crimson eyes gleaming with malice. Malachi, a demon of immense power and twisted ambition, had sensed the untapped potential within Neon and sought to extinguish his light.

With a chilling laugh, Malachi unleashed his dark energy, a tempest of shadows that engulfed the surroundings. As the battle commenced, Neon unleashed his demon powers, unleashing waves of destructive energy upon his opponent. Malachi, however, proved to be a formidable foe, countering Neon's attacks with swift and calculated maneuvers. With each passing moment, Neon felt the weight of defeat pressing upon him. But within Neon's being lay a hidden reservoir of untapped potential. In the midst of the fierce struggle, as his body and spirit were pushed to their limits, his latent abilities surged forth. The subconscious within him, an enigmatic force that guided and evolved his powers, responded to the intensity of the battle.

"Due to being pushed in the heat of battle. You have unlocked: shadow form
Overview:
This power allows the user to imitate an element for a variety of purposes (The known elemental forms that users are shown to possess are ice/frost, smoke, or shadow. It's also known to use the dark energy inside the user to conjure the shadow form.) Most use their elemental shadow form for stealth and to infiltrate hard-to-reach places but some can use their power offensively to weaken their enemies.

Ability Rank: low level demon ability

"What the....shadow form?" Neon thought curiously. "Yes! the shadow form! use it, it will help dramatically!" Yelled FH ecstatically.
Neon's heart raced as he instinctively tapped into his own dormant demon powers, a fiery aura igniting around him.

As the clash ensued, Neon fought with all his might, his newfound abilities empowering him to withstand the demons onslaught. Black flames danced from Neon's fingertips, casting an ethereal glow that illuminated the battle unfolding within the landscapes embrace.

Yet, for all his determination, Neon soon realized the extent of the demons power. It's dark energy consumed Neon's flames, extinguishing his inner inferno. The demons strength eclipsed Neon's, overwhelming him at every turn.

Bruised and battered, Neon found himself cornered, his back against a crumbling brick wall. Malachi's malevolent grin widened, relishing the opportunity to snuff out Neon's resistance once and for all.

But in the face of impending doom, a surge of indomitable will surged through Neon's veins. He refused to succumb to darkness, drawing upon his inner resolve and the spark of goodness that still flickered within him. With a fierce determination, Neon channeled his fading strength into one final, desperate act. He unleashed a blinding burst of dark energy, emanating from the depths of his soul. The brilliance enveloped the forest, searing through the darkness and overwhelming Malachi's malevolence.

Caught off guard, Malachi recoiled, his powers weakened by the unexpected surge of radiant energy. Neon seized this fleeting moment, launching himself at the demon with renewed vigor. Blow after blow rained down upon the demon, each strike fueled by Neon's unwavering determination to protect himself and those he held dear.

In a final, resounding clash, Neon's power surged to its peak, delivering a devastating blow to Malachi, however the devastating blow didn't seem to faze the demon in the slightest as it started to laugh maniacally. "Watch out Neon, the demon's going all out now, I can feel his power reaching higher and higher, remember what I taught you Neon. You have the death scythe in your arsenal, use it to your advantage!" Said FH warning Neon to be on high alert. "What, wasn't he going all out before? Dammit, this is gonna be harder than I thought." Neon grunted as he readied himself for his vicious onslaught.

With a thunderous roar, Malachi lunged at Neon, his movements swift and deadly. The demon's strikes were precise and overwhelming, pushing Neon to the brink of defeat. Blow after blow rained upon him, driving him to the ground. It seemed that victory was slipping away, lost in the wake of Malachi's overwhelming power.

But Neon, battered and bloodied, refused to yield. Drawing upon the deepest reserves of his inner strength, he tapped into his powerful force, his Chi, harnessing its power to turn the tide of battle. In a burst of energy, Neon's body surged with an aura of vibrant light, infused with the essence of his life energy.

With renewed vigor, Neon launched a relentless counterattack, his movements fluid and precise. He evaded Malachi's strikes with a dancer's grace, his every action guided by the harmonious flow of his awakened Chi. With each blow, the balance shifted, and Neon gained the upper hand, exploiting the demon's momentary vulnerability.

Sensing the pivotal moment, Neon channeled his augmented strength and summoned a weapon befitting his newfound power—a death scythe forged from the very essence of his indomitable spirit. The scythe materialized in his hands, gleaming with a red aura and pulsating with the weight of Neon's determination. Upon seeing the scythe, the demon lashed out unleashing a barrage of dark energy and destructive waves as it knew this weapon had the power of severing his immortality.

With the death scythe in his grasp, Neon swung with unparalleled precision, negating all the demons attacks and severing the veil between life and death. The weapon cleaved through the air, leaving trails of shimmering red energy in its wake, as Neon pressed his advantage. The battlefield trembled with the raw force of his strikes, each swing an embodiment of his unwavering resolve.

In a climactic clash, Neon's death scythe met Malachi's defenses, shattering the demon's invincibility. "NOOOO! NOT LIKE THIS.....I CANT DIE HEERRREEE!!." bellowed the demon as it shrieked in pain. A blinding explosion of light engulfed the forest as Malachi's malevolence was vanquished, dissolving into ethereal mist.

As the echoes of battle faded, Neon stood amidst the aftermath, his body a testament to the resilience of his spirit. He had risen from the brink of defeat, utilizing his Chi and the strength within to overcome the indomitable force of Malachi. "You did it Neon, you successfully killed your first demon. Well done!" FH said triumphantly. "I finally did it.....I've finally gotten stronger HAHAHA." Yelled Neon excitedly. Until now he never fought with anyone and won, so Neon fighting with a demon of all things and winning all on his own had proved to himself that he wasn't a weakling anymore. "What the hell was that back there....The shadow form...I managed to summon some dark energy that cloaked around my body." Said Neon astounded by his newfound power. "Ah yes the shadow form, it can be used to stealthily move from location to location. However, it can also be used defensively and offensively in battle just like you did. Having this at your disposal will be very helpful."

"Woah! this is so cool haha" He said excitedly. "Aaah! let's not forget Neon, there's still one more demon that needs taking care of." The battle with Malachi may have been won, but a lingering threat loomed on the horizon. As the dust settled, Neon gave chase to the malevolent aura he sensed, his gaze piercing to the distant darkness where the demonic presence lurked.....