Chapter 146: Rakash, the Devil of Despair

As the oppressive aura thickened, the once lifeless body of Captain Hato began to twitch and stir. His skin, now a grotesque shade of blood-red, stretched taut over his bulging muscles. The transformation was monstrous, but the horror intensified when the creature spoke, its voice dripping with disdain.

"Ummph," the entity groaned, its tone laced with displeasure. "These mortals have provided me with such a worthless vessel to possess."

Its glowing eyes swept across the room, finally resting on Ruchir and his group. The intensity of its gaze was suffocating, like a predator sizing up its prey.

"Are you the mortals who summoned me?" it asked, a sinister curiosity in its voice. But then, as if realizing something, it sneered. "No, no… filth like you, with even a trace of righteousness energy, could not have summoned me."

Ruchir felt a cold sweat break out on his brow. His mind raced, trying to piece together what was happening.

Who summoned this devil? he thought, his heart pounding in his chest. Garret, standing nearby, was equally troubled, though his thoughts took a different turn.

Just our luck, Garret cursed internally, to end up in a situation like this!

The creature, now fully aware of its surroundings, straightened up, its horns gleaming ominously in the dim light.

"Let me introduce myself," it said, its voice dripping with malevolence. "I am the one you may call… Rakash, the Devil of Despair."

Garret couldn't help himself. Even as fear gnawed at him, a spark of irreverence flickered in his mind. Rakash, huh? he thought.

More like Raka-who? But he wisely kept his thoughts to himself, unwilling to provoke the entity.

Rakash's lip curled into a cruel smile as he looked around the ruined chamber. "It seems I was summoned to cause havoc, no? So why don't I take a little stroll above… and stretch these wretched limbs in the fresh air?"

Just as Rakash began to rise, intending to break through the ceiling and unleash his havoc on the world above, Professor Aanya acted. "I won't let you leave!" she shouted, her voice brimming with resolve.

Without hesitation, she launched herself forward, her hands glowing with the righteous energy of her Dao of Slaying Ghosts. A beam of light shot out from her palms, aiming straight for Rakash.

Rakash halted mid-ascent, his eyes widening slightly with surprise. He effortlessly deflected the attack with a casual flick of his wrist, the light dissipating harmlessly into the air.

He turned to Professor Aanya, a twisted grin spreading across his face. "Interesting," he hissed, his voice dark and mocking. "So, you bastards think you can stop me?"

Garret and Robert, who had been silent up until now, couldn't help but exchange a glance. Robert, always the stoic one, leaned in slightly towards Garret. "I've got a bad feeling about this," he muttered under his breath.

Garret, despite the terror coursing through his veins, couldn't resist a quip. "A bad feeling? More like a death wish. But hey, at least he's got a sense of humor."

Robert's lips twitched, but he remained focused. This isn't the time for jokes, he thought, but even he couldn't deny the absurdity of the situation.

They were facing a devil, one that was far beyond their comprehension or strength.

Rakash, unaware of their internal exchange—or perhaps uncaring—raised his hand. Red-violet energy seeped from his fingertips, crackling and hissing as it coiled around his arm like a living thing.

The energy pulsed with malevolence, a force of destruction that seemed to hunger for release. "Let's see how you pitiful mortals intend to stop me," Rakash taunted, his voice a low, dangerous rumble.

Professor Aanya stood her ground, her expression set with determination. But deep down, she knew this fight would push her to the brink.

I must protect them, she thought, her mind briefly flickering to her students, injured and struggling behind her. I cannot let this monster reach the surface.

Rakash began to gather his energy, preparing to unleash a devastating attack.

The air around him crackled with raw power, the temperature dropping as the violet-red energy pulsed and swirled. The room trembled, the walls groaning under the pressure of the malevolent force.

But even in the face of such overwhelming power, Garret's irrepressible nature surfaced.

"Hey, Robert," he whispered, his voice tense but with a hint of his usual bravado, "if we survive this, remind me to never mess with anything that has horns."

Robert shot him a sidelong glance, his usual calm exterior masking the anxiety gnawing at him. "I'll be sure to add it to the list," he replied dryly, though his eyes never left Rakash.

Just as the tension reached its peak, Rakash unleashed a devastating wave of energy, the force of it tearing through the air like a tidal wave.

The room exploded with light and sound, the walls cracking under the strain.

But Professor Aanya was ready. With a battle cry, she countered with her own magic, a brilliant barrier of light forming in front of her.

"You will not pass!" she declared, her voice ringing with the righteousness of her cause.

The two forces collided with a thunderous impact, the room shaking under the sheer power of the clash. Light and darkness battled for dominance, the energy swirling in a violent storm of magic.

Garret and Robert watched in awe as the two forces fought for supremacy, their hearts pounding in their chests.

Ruchir, still weak and struggling to remain conscious, could only watch as his mentor fought with everything she had.

But as the dust settled, it became clear that the battle was far from over. Rakash stood tall, his body radiating with an aura of dark energy, a wicked smile playing on his lips.

"Is that all you've got?" he taunted, his voice dripping with condescension. "Pathetic."

___

Ruchir staggered, his legs trembling as he tried to keep himself upright. His body ached with every breath, the toll of transferring his righteousness energy to Professor Aanya leaving him in a state of weakness he had never experienced before.

The frustration gnawed at him—he was a fighter, someone who had trained his entire life for moments like this, and yet, now, he was powerless. His mind screamed in defiance, unwilling to accept that he could do nothing as his friends and mentor battled against a force of unimaginable darkness.

Why am I so useless? Ruchir thought bitterly, his fists clenching at his sides. He could see Professor Aanya struggling against Rakash, her magic barely holding the monstrous devil at bay.

Every strike she launched, every spell she cast, was effortlessly dodged or deflected by Rakash, who moved with a smug confidence that only fueled Ruchir's frustration.

Garret, who had been trying to muster his courage, finally snapped under the pressure. "How can we fight such a monster?" he shouted, his voice laced with a mixture of fear and anger.

His usual bravado was gone, replaced by the raw terror of their situation.

Rakash, overhearing Garret's outburst, smirked. The expression was chilling, a predator savoring the fear of its prey. This vessel is pathetically weak, he thought to himself, his glowing eyes narrowing as he analyzed his current state.

If only this body was stronger, I could have finished off this annoying girl and destroyed this place... then I could bring true chaos above.

He turned his attention back to Professor Aanya, who was still standing, her resolve unbroken despite her exhaustion.

"You're all so pathetic," Rakash sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "You think you can stand against me? Allow me to show you the futility of your efforts."

With a single, fluid motion, Rakash unleashed an attack, a wave of red-violet energy that crackled through the air with malevolent intent. "Dark Abyssal Surge!" he roared, the energy spiraling towards Professor Aanya with deadly precision.

Professor Aanya summoned a shield of light, the barrier shimmering as it clashed against Rakash's attack. But the power behind the Dark Abyssal Surge was too much.

The shield shattered like glass, the fragments dissolving into the air as the energy struck her. Professor Aanya was thrown back, crashing into the ground with a force that sent tremors through the chamber.

"No!" Ruchir gasped, his heart sinking as he watched his mentor fall. She lay motionless, her body battered and bruised. The impact had knocked the wind out of her, and she struggled to push herself up, her arms trembling with the effort.

Garret and Robert stood frozen, their faces pale as they realized the gravity of the situation. They were facing a foe far beyond their capabilities, a being that could easily destroy them all.

Garret's mind raced with panic, his usual humor failing him in the face of such overwhelming power. I'm going to die, he thought frantically, and there's nothing I can do to stop it.

Rakash, seeing their fear, chuckled darkly. "Now, enough of this nonsense," he said, his voice cold and merciless. "I've played with you long enough. Even if this body is weak, I can still muster enough power to end you all."

He raised his hand, dark energy pooling in his palm as he prepared to deliver the final blow. "Infernal Descent!" he intoned, his voice echoing through the chamber as the energy coalesced into a massive, searing orb.

He thrust his hand forward, the orb hurtling towards Ruchir and his companions with the force of a falling star.

Garret's heart pounded in his chest as he watched the attack approach. His legs felt like jelly, and he could barely move.

This is it, he thought, a grim resignation settling over him. I'm really going to die.

Ruchir, despite his weakened state, felt a surge of guilt. I should be doing something. I should be protecting them… But his body refused to cooperate, leaving him helpless as the orb of destruction neared.

Professor Aanya, lying on the ground, clenched her fists, her frustration mounting. I've failed them. I've failed my students.

She tried to rise, but her body was too battered, too broken to move. All she could do was watch as the orb descended upon them.

Just as the attack was about to strike, a figure suddenly appeared in front of them, materializing out of thin air with a speed that defied comprehension.

The figure raised a hand, and with a simple gesture, effortlessly diverted the Infernal Descent to the side. The orb exploded harmlessly against the wall, the shockwave rippling through the chamber but leaving Ruchir and the others unscathed.

Everyone stared in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief.

The figure, still shrouded in a mysterious aura, stood tall and resolute, their features obscured by the shadows. But the power radiating from them was undeniable.

Rakash, his smug expression faltering, let out a low, amused chuckle.

"Interesting," he murmured, his eyes narrowing as he regarded the newcomer. "It seems you mortals have a few surprises left."

The figure remained silent, unmoving, as if daring Rakash to make his next move. The tension in the air was palpable, the room heavy with anticipation.

Ruchir, Garret, and Robert could barely believe what they had just witnessed.

The impossible had happened—someone had stopped Rakash's attack, and with such ease that it bordered on the absurd.

But who was this mysterious savior? And more importantly, could they truly stand against the devil that had nearly brought them to their knees?

The battle was far from over, and as the dust settled, the stakes only seemed to grow higher.