The Final Battle (Part III)

The battlefield was steeped in an oppressive silence. Dust and debris lingered in the air like ghosts, illuminated faintly by the fractured glow of Void-tainted energy spiraling around the shattered terrain. At the center of this maelstrom, two figures stood—a clash of mortal arrogance and primordial wrath.

Deleo, now fully inhabiting Val's body, radiated power, his shadows curling and flickering with an ominous life of their own. Across from him, Obsidian's tainted energy pulsed erratically, his form barely contained by the malicious power that corrupted him.

The moment hung, tense and fragile.

Then, Deleo vanished.

It was instantaneous—a flicker of shadows, faster than sight. Before Obsidian could process the movement, Deleo reappeared directly behind him, his presence a chilling void.

Deleo's movement was so precise, so instantaneous, that Obsidian barely registered the shift before an open-palmed strike slammed into his side.

THOOM!

The sound reverberated across the battlefield like an explosion, a mixture of bone-cracking force and the sharp 'whoosh' of displaced air. Obsidian's body hurtled through the air like a cannonball, his cloak whipping violently around him.

He struck the ground hundreds of meters away with a deafening crash, his impact carving a jagged trench into the earth. The drag marks stretched far, chunks of debris flying as his momentum tore through stone and soil. Dust and dirt erupted into the air, obscuring the distant horizon in a haze.

Deleo reappeared where Obsidian had landed, a few steps away from the carnage. He stood motionless, a living shadow amidst the swirling debris, his cloak fluttering gently despite the absence of wind. Slowly, deliberately, he began walking toward the dust-covered figure of Obsidian.

Each step was calculated, echoing faintly against the ruined ground. The rhythm of his movements was unhurried, confident, almost mocking.

Obsidian groaned, his hands digging into the earth as he pushed himself up. His body trembled, the Void-tainted energy around him flaring erratically, as though struggling to recover from the blow. Through the haze of dust, his glowing eyes locked onto Deleo's advancing figure.

"You…" Obsidian hissed, his voice rough, tinged with disbelief.

He teleported instantly, vanishing into a swirl of Void-tainted energy and reappearing several meters away. But no sooner had his feet touched the ground than Deleo was there again, standing in his path, his posture calm and composed.

"How—?" Obsidian growled, stepping back instinctively.

Before he could finish his thought, Deleo teleported once more, his form flickering into view just inches from Obsidian's new position. The sudden proximity made Obsidian stumble, his composure wavering for the first time. His Void-tainted energy flared defensively, but Deleo didn't strike. He simply stood there, silent, his mask shrouded in shadows.

Obsidian snarled, teleporting again, further this time. Yet when he reappeared, Deleo was already there, waiting.

The dance repeated—Obsidian teleporting, Deleo following with inhuman precision. Each time, Deleo materialized a fraction of a second after Obsidian, his stillness a stark contrast to the growing panic etched into Obsidian's movements.

Finally, Obsidian faltered, his breathing ragged as he glanced around the battlefield, his eyes wild. He gritted his teeth, his voice strained with suppressed fury. "Impossible… No one moves faster than me."

Deleo tilted his head faintly, his voice a low rumble that carried across the shattered field.

"You seem baffled, mortal."

His tone was layered with disdain, ancient and absolute, as though addressing a wayward child. The air itself seemed to shudder at the weight of his words.

Obsidian roared in frustration, his Void-tainted energy surging around him. "Enough!"

He lunged forward, his form a blur as he launched a flurry of attacks—wild strikes of jagged Void tendrils and concussive blasts aimed to overwhelm. Each strike was accompanied by a sharp crack or a guttural roar, the raw energy tearing through the air with ferocity.

But Deleo didn't retaliate. He moved with calculated ease, sidestepping the attacks as though they were in slow motion. Each strike missed by inches, tearing into the ground or the fractured remnants of the battlefield.

Obsidian's fury grew with each failed attempt. His Void-tainted energy burned brighter, hotter, as though fueled by his frustration. He began employing hit-and-run tactics, teleporting mid-strike to attack from different angles, but Deleo evaded them all with seamless fluidity.

For every teleportation Obsidian used, Deleo matched it. Every strike was dodged, every attack rendered useless.

Watching from afar, the soldiers who had retreated to the perimeter stared in awe and confusion. The battle before them was incomprehensible, a clash of godlike forces beyond anything they had ever seen.

In HQ Command, the live feed of the battle flickered on the main screen. The cameras struggled to keep up with the speed of the combatants, capturing only flashes of dark energy and the aftermath of devastating strikes.

General Luis stood at the center of the room, his expression as hard as stone. Though outwardly composed, his sharp eyes betrayed the unease he felt as he observed the clash.

Dr. Lewis, seated nearby, adjusted his glasses. His normally steady hands trembled faintly as he typed furiously at his console, analyzing the readings from the battle. The Void energy signatures were off the charts, unlike anything previously recorded.

"This… power," Dr. Lewis murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Val—no, Deleo—he's… toying with him."

The analysts exchanged wary glances, their screens flashing with fragmented images of shadows clashing with Void-tainted energy.

Back on the battlefield, Obsidian's attacks grew more frantic, his Void-tainted energy crackling violently as he struck at Deleo again and again. The once-arrogant leader now resembled a desperate predator, his confidence eroding with every failed strike.

Deleo, however, remained eerily composed, his movements precise and unyielding. He continued to evade, his shadowy form flickering with each teleportation, his presence a haunting reminder of his mastery.

Obsidian snarled, raising both arms as Void-tainted tendrils erupted from the ground, converging on Deleo from all sides. The attack tore through the air with a deafening 'whoosh', creating a cage of destructive energy.

This time, Deleo didn't evade. He stood still, his shadows coiling tightly around him as the tendrils closed in.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he deflected the entire attack.

The tendrils shattered like brittle glass, their remnants dissolving into harmless wisps of energy. The sheer force of Deleo's counter rippled outward, creating a shockwave that sent Obsidian stumbling backward.

Obsidian's eyes widened in disbelief as he steadied himself, his breaths ragged. His energy flared once more, and with a guttural roar, he unleashed another devastating strike—a swirling vortex of Void-tainted energy that tore through the battlefield, uprooting debris and reducing everything in its path to ruin.

Deleo raised his hand, his shadows forming a protective barrier around him. The vortex struck with a deafening 'boom', but when the dust cleared, Deleo stood unscathed, his shadows dissipating smoothly.

For the first time, a flicker of panic crossed Obsidian's face.

Deleo took a deliberate step forward, his voice low and cold, resonating with ancient authority. "You wield my power with the subtlety of a brute, mortal. But now, you will see how it is truly wielded."

Obsidian clenched his fists, his expression twisting with rage. "You are nothing but a relic! A relic I will erase!"

He lunged again, his attacks growing more erratic, more desperate.

But Deleo's response was unwavering. Each movement, each defense was a masterstroke of precision, his shadows flowing like water, effortlessly neutralizing every strike.

As the battle raged on, the truth became clear.

Deleo wasn't fighting. He was toying with him.

"Enough!" Obsidian bellowed, his voice raw with frustration.

With a violent motion, he unleashed a massive wave of Void-tainted energy, a chaotic surge that consumed everything in its path. The attack crackled and hissed, its corruption rippling outward in waves that scorched the earth and warped the air.

Deleo's form shimmered, shadows pooling at his feet before spreading outward like an ocean of darkness. With a flick of his wrist, the shadows rose, forming a towering barrier that absorbed the brunt of the attack. The collision sent arcs of energy spiraling into the air, their brilliance briefly illuminating the devastation below.

But Deleo didn't stop there.

Before the remnants of the attack could dissipate, he teleported behind Obsidian with a swiftness that defied comprehension.

This time, he didn't evade. With a single, precise motion, he drove his palm into Obsidian's back, sending him hurtling forward.

CRASH!

Obsidian's body collided with the ground, carving another jagged trench into the already-ruined battlefield. The sound of impact was deafening, a combination of fractured earth and the crackle of unstable Void-tainted energy.

Deleo teleported again, reappearing a few steps from where Obsidian had landed. His posture remained calm, his form shrouded in shadows that seemed to ripple with anticipation.

As the dust began to settle, Obsidian rose slowly, his movements unsteady. His cloak was tattered, and the once-commanding aura of his Void-tainted energy seemed to flicker with uncertainty. He turned sharply, his eyes glowing with fury, only to see Deleo standing there—motionless, waiting.

Deleo's voice emerged, chilling and deliberate, cutting through the chaos like a blade.

"You lash out blindly, like an animal cornered. Do you now comprehend what you face, mortal?"

Obsidian's frustration boiled over into blind rage.

With a roar, he unleashed a devastating attack—a vortex of corrupted energy that spiraled outward, consuming the battlefield in a tempest of destruction. The ground splintered beneath the force, and the very air seemed to scream with its intensity.

Deleo didn't move. He raised a hand, his shadows swirling around him like a living shield. The vortex collided with his barrier, the resulting shockwave creating a deafening 'BOOM!' that sent ripples of energy cascading outward.

As the dust cleared, Deleo stood unscathed, his shadows dissipating with an almost lazy ease. His voice emerged, calm and unyielding, but laced with an edge that chilled the air.

"You fight as one who has stolen power, not earned it. You wield it without respect, without understanding. This is why you will fail."

Obsidian snarled, refusing to concede. His Void-tainted energy flared again, brighter and more chaotic than before. He lunged forward, his movements frantic as he struck with everything he had.

Deleo parried with the same effortless precision, his shadows deflecting every blow. Each of Obsidian's attacks left the ground cratered and smoking, but none came close to touching Deleo.

Then, Obsidian unleashed a new technique.

His Void-tainted energy coiled tightly before erupting into jagged, crystalline shards that shot forward with deadly precision. The shards ripped through the air, their edges humming with destructive intent.

Deleo's eyes narrowed beneath his mask, a faint frown forming as he watched the shards approach. He sidestepped the first wave with ease, his movements smooth and deliberate. But as the second wave surged forward, he made no effort to evade.

Instead, with a flick of his wrist, Deleo shattered the shards mid-air.

The fragments dissolved into harmless wisps of energy, their brilliance snuffed out in an instant. The gesture was almost dismissive, an act of power so casual it left Obsidian momentarily frozen.

Deleo took a step forward, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

"You are weak, mortal."

Obsidian roared in defiance, launching himself forward once more, his Void-tainted energy flaring to its peak.

But Deleo was ready.

As Obsidian struck, Deleo caught his arm mid-swing, his shadows coiling tightly around the limb like unbreakable chains. The force of the impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, but Deleo didn't flinch.

With an almost casual motion, he tossed Obsidian aside.

THUD!

Obsidian hit the ground hard, skidding across the fractured terrain until he came to a stop. His Void-tainted energy flickered, the once-imposing aura now reduced to a dim, unstable glow.

Deleo stood tall, his form framed by the swirling remnants of shadows. He looked down at Obsidian, his voice cold and resonant, carrying the weight of millennia.

"Understand this, mortal. Power is not yours to take. It is mine to grant."

Obsidian struggled to rise, his hands clawing at the earth. His breaths were ragged, his body trembling under the weight of Deleo's presence.

And in his silence, the battlefield seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the next clash.