The Vengeful Shadow 

As Dorven regained consciousness from the force of the massive strike, he was stunned. For the first time in many years, he felt pain and a sharp, real pain that made him realize he was not invincible. 

He couldn't believe that someone had managed to hurt him, and the shock of it left him momentarily speechless.

He looked up at me with a mix of frustration and fear, his eyes wide as he saw me preparing for another powerful strike. My fist was raised high, ready to deliver a crushing blow. 

In a desperate move to escape, he immediately sank into the shadows on the ground, vanishing from sight just as my fist came crashing down.

As he successfully escaped from my strike, the force of my blow caused the floor to crack even more, sending sharp shards of stone flying in all directions. 

The ground trembled beneath his feet, and he could see the widening fractures spreading out from the impact point, a testament to the sheer power behind my attack.

Dorven used the shadow to swim through the ground, his form blending seamlessly with the darkness. 

He reappeared far away from me, hidden within the shadows, his breathing heavy and labored as he tried to recover from the encounter. From his concealed position, he watched me warily, ready to make his next move.

His face was covered with blood from the strike, and panic mingled with confusion in his eyes. He couldn't comprehend how I was still alive, his mind racing to make sense of the impossible sight before him. 

Desperation seeped into his movements as he wiped the blood away, his body tense and ready for whatever might come next.

As Dorven was in the middle of his desperate escape from the shadow, he suddenly felt a familiar and terrifying aura closing in on him. The sensation sent chills down his spine, a creeping dread that tightened his chest as the ominous presence drew nearer.

Unexpectedly, as he glanced upwards, he saw me hovering above him, my fist raised high and poised to deliver a powerful strike. 

He was shocked, unable to comprehend how I could see him hiding within the shadows as he tried to escape. His eyes widened in disbelief, realizing his usual methods of evasion were utterly ineffective against me.

"WHAT!? HOW DID HE—"

Dorven's words were cut off when my strike narrowly missed him as he swiftly dodged. It was a close call that made him almost lose a leg, the force of the blow sending shockwaves through the ground and leaving him breathless with fear.

Suddenly, the impact from my strike forced him out of the shadow, his body trembling as he stumbled back into the light. 

Fear gripped him as he realized he was exposed, and the terror of another imminent strike from me loomed over him like a dark cloud.

As he emerged from the darkness below, his mind buzzed with a whirlwind of questions, each one more perplexing than the last.

"How is this possible!? In all my years of wielding this power, never have I encountered such a powerful EmoCryta user!"

"And how… did he become even stronger than before!? Didn't I steal every last bit of his strength?"

Dorven's thoughts raced with disbelief and frustration, his mind grappling with the unexpected turn of events.

"Oi… don't tell me.. this kid still had more power in him!?"

Dorven's astonishment was palpable, yet amidst the chaos of the moment, he resolved to employ his innate vision abilities, peering deep into the recesses of my heart in search of the elusive EmoCrysta.

In a state of disbelief, Dorven's eyes widened in shock as he scrutinized the state of my EmoCrysta power, only to be met with an unexpected revelation—despite his previous assumption of having depleted it entirely, a staggering 27% remained, accompanied by an astounding display of speed and agility that defied all logic.

In his mind though of how unbelievably powerful my EmoCrysta was. Suddenly, my body dashed toward him in an instant with the face of emotionless lock into his eyes determined to kill him.

Reacting swiftly with his quick reflexes, Dorven desperately summoned multiple shadow hands from beneath him, intertwining them with his physical hands in a desperate attempt to block the impending strike. 

However, despite his efforts, he realized it was too late.

A gauntleted hand, encased in a powerful Black and Red Aura, strikes forward with immense force to Dorven's cross-arms. 

The impact sent him hurtling toward the wall at the speed of a bullet, crashing into it with a resounding thud that left a massive crack in the stone. 

After the powerful strike from me, Dorven coughed up a large amount of blood, the crimson liquid spilling from his mouth and staining the ground. His eyes were covered by shadow in pain, his body trembling from the impact.

His eyes were almost lifeless as he slumped against the wall, unconscious and pinned down by the sheer force of my strike. 

With his head hanging low and blood dripping from his mouth, he looked utterly defeated, his once menacing aura now completely vanished.

I walked towards him, with a huge dark red aura swirling around me with each step. My eyes were locked on him. 

But suddenly… he sneered.

A twisted grin spread across his bloodied face. Struggling, he began to laugh.

"This is… too… interesting." 

He wheezed, his voice filled with a mix of pain and exhilaration. 

"YOUR POWER IS TOO AMAZED! AKI!"

He laughed again, the sound echoing through the room, a sinister promise of the battle yet to come.

A sudden click sounded from Dorven's finger. The ring he wore began to emit a bright purple light, its intensity growing with each passing second.

"Finally… it's done." 

"I will show you… the power of FEAR can do…"

Dorven's voice was a rasping whisper, yet it held a chilling confidence. 

"FearCrysta: Umbramortis."

His eyes glinted with a mixture of malice and anticipation as the light from the ring bathed the room in an eerie glow, the air crackling with ominous energy.

He pulled the ring from his right-hand finger, using his thumb to slide it off and position it in the center of his palm. With a determined grip, he crushed the ring into his hand.

Suddenly, a blinding purple light erupted from his right hand as the ring shattered. A huge dark purple aura began to swirl around him, enveloping his body. 

The aura intensified, pulsating with a malevolent energy as it grew stronger and more concentrated.

As the transformation progressed, his form started to change, his power increasing exponentially. 

He was becoming something far more powerful than before, a force ten times more formidable, ready to unleash his newfound strength. His skin started to transform into a dark, shadowy substance, erasing any trace of human flesh. 

His right hand became encased in multiple crystals that grew and spread, covering his entire suit and body with a menacing black armor radiating a sinister purple aura.

His face was shrouded in an impenetrable black shadow, rendering it completely faceless. Meanwhile, his hair grew longer, floating and swirling around him as if alive, adding to his terrifying new appearance.

Finally, as the transformation was completed, his entire body and armor became enveloped in a shadowy, dark smoke. 

The only feature visible on his otherwise faceless visage was a sneering grin, etched in eerie clarity amidst the swirling darkness.

The immense aura emanating from the transformation sent a shiver down the spine of every inhabitant of the town, spreading an ominous feeling of dread.

As the terrifying pressure spread throughout the town, panic and confusion gripped the hearts of people in every corner. 

Their minds raced with questions, and their hearts pounded with fear as they sensed the overwhelming power surging from the direction of the church.

I stood in front of him, unfazed, my face emotionless but filled with the hatred coursing through the EmoCrysta within me.

From afar, Siana watched the battlefield, making this the most horrific moment she had ever experienced. As she saw the transformation clearly, she widened her eyes and could not believe it.

As her mind raced, she recalled the pages of "War History Of The Legendary Hero" from 20 years ago. Among the tales of ancient battles and legendary powers, one story stood out vividly. 

There was a power wielded by the villain of the story, a transformation eerily reminiscent of what she was witnessing with Dorven, and it was called…

"Umbramortis, The Vengeful Shadow."

"Let's continue where we left off..."

A deep, ominous voice emanated from his sneer lips.

In the blink of an eye, I dashed towards him, ready to strike with my gauntlet, but just as I was about to land the blow, a massive dark shadow hand erupted from the ground and grabbed me tightly, immobilizing me in its powerful grip.

The shadowy hand gripped me tightly, pulling me down with such force that the ground beneath me cracked. I struggled to break free, my body straining against the unyielding grip, but it was tighter and stronger than before.

Suddenly, Dorven raised his hand above his head and then lowered it with deliberate force. As if responding to his command, another massive shadowy hand emerged from the wall behind him. 

It moved with incredible speed, striking me with a powerful blow. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the air, creating a resounding boom. The sheer power of the attack left me momentarily breathless, as the hand covering me felt like a massive weight pressing down.

The moment went silent, a heavy stillness filling the air. Dorven's voice broke through the quiet, a deep, scary tone echoing from his sneering mouth as he looked down at me.

"I know that's not enough for you..."

Suddenly, multiple lines of red glowing slashes appeared on the shadowy hand that was gripping me. The slashes radiated a menacing energy, slicing through the shadowy hand and causing it to shatter into pieces. 

As the remnants of the hand faded away, I was revealed, gripping my dagger tightly. The weapon glowed with a fierce black and red aura, matching the intensity of my gaze.

Dorven smiled once more, a twisted excitement gleaming in his eyes. He seemed thrilled by the challenge, eager to see what more I had to offer. Without warning, he raised his hand high into the air and clenched his fist tightly.

"Fascinating…" 

He sneered, his voice dripping with anticipation. As his fist tightened, the ground beneath us began to tremble, and the shadows around him grew darker and more menacing, ready to unleash another wave of his terrifying power.

Dorven's clenched fist summoned a hundred horrifying shadowy figures from the ground. These eerie entities, covered in dark, skeletal bodies, with long, sharp fingers, crawled out from the earth like a nightmare brought to life. 

Their movements were unsettling, each twitch and jerk sending shivers down the spine. Their eyes glowed with a sinister light as they emerged, the eerie illumination casting long, terrifying shadows. 

They rose in unison, a nightmarish army ready to do Dorven's bidding, their presence filling the air with an overwhelming sense of dread. 

As they advanced, the ground seemed to tremble beneath their weight, the atmosphere growing heavier with each passing second.

The shadowy figures started to rush towards me at a high speed, their dark forms blurring as they advanced. 

With my dagger glowing black and red, I swiftly slashed through each one of them, the blade cutting through their shadowy bodies effortlessly. 

One by one, they faded away into wisps of darkness, disappearing as quickly as they had appeared. Despite the overwhelming numbers, I moved with precision and determination, ensuring not a single figure reached me.

With an emotionless expression on my face, I continued slashing through the shadowy figures, each step bringing me closer to Dorven. 

The battle grew more intense with every moment, my focus unyielding as I sought an opening. Finally, spotting an entry, I dashed toward him, ready to strike. But even then, he still smiled.

Out of the blue, two huge shadowy hands appeared from his back, gripping tightly against both sides of me, immobilizing me right in front of him.

"How arrogant..." 

He sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. With a swift motion, he pulled his fist back and then punched me with immense force, sending me flying across the room to crash into the far wall making it crack. 

As I was pinned against the wall, Dorven suddenly appeared before me, gripping my head and forcefully dragging it down the wall to the ground. 

With a swift motion, he flung me upwards, then dashed towards me in an instant, delivering a powerful punch to the ground that shook the floor in the blink of an eye.

Siana saw the brutal attack and was stunned with worry. Her heart raced as she started shouting my name, her voice echoing with desperation and fear.

As my face was pressed into the ground from Dorven's powerful strike, I struggled to get up, my body trembling from the effort. Suddenly, he floated down slowly, landing softly before me.

He looked down at me, a sneer etched onto his faceless, shadowy visage. His right arm began to transform, morphing into multiple sharp black tentacles that writhed menacingly.

"Hehehe… Oi, Aki, don't tell me that you can't lift a finger against me?"

Dorven mocked, his voice dripping with condescension.

In the blink of an eye, two sharp shadowy hands came out from his back and struck into my back one by one, piercing through and leaving gaping holes. Blood splattered onto the ground, and pain surged through my body.

"COME ON, AKI, YOU STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO."

Dorven taunted in a deep, menacing tone, his sneer never leaving his faceless shadowy visage.

Even without showing any emotion or painful expression, I struggled to get up, my body wracked with agony as Dorven's sharp shadowy hands continued to strike at me non-stop.

As Siana witnessed the horrifying torture inflicted upon me, her heart felt like it was crashing, shattering with each blow as she watched me suffer. 

Panic surged through her, and she desperately tried to find a way to help me while Dorven's focus remained on his relentless assault. Her mind raced, searching for any means to intervene, to stop the torment I was enduring.

"Even if I can't do anything, I can't just stand here and do nothing! I must find a way…" 

She thought as her mind raced with urgency.

Suddenly, she noticed broken pieces of glass scattered nearby. With her legs tied up, walking was impossible; she had no choice but to crawl towards them. 

Determined, she began inching forward, feeling every painful movement from her injuries. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she gritted her teeth and pushed through the agony, knowing she had to reach the glass as quickly as possible before the situation worsened.

At last, she reached the shattered glass. With trembling hands, she grasped a shard, wincing as it cut into her palm. Desperately, she began sawing at the rope binding her wrists, each movement sending jolts of pain through her. 

Tears streamed down her face as she glanced over at me, still suffering under Dorven's relentless torture. Driven by sheer determination and anguish, she's trying desperately to break free and come to my aid.

Finally breaking free from the ropes that bound her, Siana swiftly sliced through the last of her restraints. 

With a sense of urgency, she reached into her small bag, fingers fumbling until she found the smoke potion she had saved for emergencies—a last resort to temporarily blind an opponent.

"Aki… you've saved me countless times. Now, it's my turn to return the favor." 

She murmured, her voice trembling with determination.

Nervously contemplating her next move, Siana steeled herself. With a deep breath, her eyes suddenly glowing a vivid cyan, she screamed and sprinted towards the scene of horror where Dorven relentlessly tormented Aki. 

The eerie glow in her eyes reflected her resolve, a mix of fear and determination as she rushed forward, her heart pounding with each step she took closer to the chaotic battleground.

Gripping the potion tightly, she raised it high above her head, her heart racing with fear and hope intertwined.

"Please, God… let this be our last chance." 

She prayed silently, her eyes locked on the target ahead, ready to unleash the potion and disrupt Dorven's sinister assault.

As the smoke potion shattered, enveloping the surroundings in a dense haze, Dorven was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected tactic and halted his relentless assault.

"Heh… that's pretty bold of you, huh? Little princess..."

Dorven said with a smirk that hinted at both amusement and condescension.

"Guess I have to…"

His words cut off, his expression twisting in a mix of annoyance and curiosity…

Siana found herself enveloped in the dense smoke, the pain from her injuries surged, overwhelming her senses. 

Struggling to control the agony that coursed through her body, she sank to the ground, her movements restricted by the wounds that threatened to immobilize her. 

With each labored breath, she clung to a flicker of hope that the potion she had thrown would prove effective against Dorven, despite her physical limitations.

Thankfully, the smoke spread rapidly, blanketing the area in a dense haze. In her mind, Siana began to feel a sense of unease during the unnerving silence that followed.

"I think staying still might be safer—"

Before she could finish her thought, a figure bolted out through the smoke toward her with lightning speed, catching her off guard.

It was Dorven, his dark silhouette looming menacingly as his sharp hand closed around her face.

"...TO KILL YOU FIRST." 

Dorven declared with chilling finality.

At that moment, she is speechless and realizes that her plan has failed, as she closes her eyes and thinks this might be her last moment.

A splashing sound echoed through the air, breaking the tense silence that had enveloped the scene…