the devil of envy(1)

The void stretched infinitely in every direction—an endless abyss painted in shades of black and sickly green. Floating platforms of cracked obsidian hovered like shattered remnants of forgotten worlds, connected only by fragile bridges of light that flickered under the crushing weight of the Devil of Envy's domain.

Dakota stood at the edge of one such platform, his figure a stark contrast to the surrounding darkness. His dark cloak billowed slightly from an unseen wind, revealing the faint gleam of his sword resting lazily against his shoulder. The blade pulsed faintly, as if hungry—no, eager—for the battle to come.

Across from him, the Devil of Envy hovered a few feet above the crumbling stone, wreathed in an aura of sickly green energy. His form was humanoid but grotesque—twisted horns curled back from his forehead, and his milky white eyes glimmered with malevolence. Shadows writhed around him like serpents, whispering promises of death and despair.

Devil of Envy (grinning):

"Come now, Creator. Show me the power that shaped this world. Let me see why they fear you."

Dakota's grip on his sword tightened slightly. His expression was cold, indifferent—as if facing a devil was no more bothersome than swatting a fly. A faint spark ignited at his fingertips, crawling lazily up the length of his blade. Within moments, that spark erupted into roaring crimson flames, bathing Dakota in a fiery glow that pushed back against the oppressive dark.

Dakota (coldly):

"You talk too much."

With a sudden burst of speed, Dakota vanished, leaving only a scorch mark where he once stood. The void blurred around him as he closed the distance between himself and the Devil in less than a heartbeat. His flaming sword cleaved through the air with brutal precision, its heat distorting the space around it.

The Devil of Envy barely managed to twist his body, dodging the blade by inches. But even that was enough for the flames to graze his side, searing through his dark aura like a hot knife through butter. A hiss of pain—half-human, half-monstrous—escaped his lips.

Recovering quickly, the Devil retaliated with a blast of green energy, his claws slicing through the air as corrupt magic surged toward Dakota like a tidal wave.

Dakota didn't even flinch. His left hand shot out, palm facing the incoming attack. A towering wall of fire erupted from the void itself, roaring to life with such ferocity that the Devil's magic disintegrated upon contact, leaving nothing but sizzling embers.

Dakota (mocking):

"Is that it? Pathetic."

The Devil's grin faltered, his eyes narrowing with frustration.

Devil of Envy (snarling):

"You arrogant—"

But Dakota was already moving again. He darted forward, flames trailing behind him like a crimson comet. Their blades—one forged from pure flame, the other from shadowy claws—met in a blinding clash of sparks and energy, shaking the very foundations of the void.

The battle raged across the floating platforms, each strike of Dakota's blade sending shockwaves through the abyss. The Devil of Envy countered with savage ferocity, his attacks fueled by envy, hatred, and an insatiable hunger to prove himself superior.

Dakota danced through the chaos with calculated grace. His movements were fluid, precise—wasting no energy, exploiting every opening. The flames that wreathed his sword seemed almost alive, reacting instinctively to each shift in the battle.

The Devil unleashed a barrage of dark energy bolts, each one capable of obliterating a lesser opponent. Dakota deflected them with ease, his sword spinning in controlled arcs, flames devouring the darkness before it could reach him.

In the middle of a vicious exchange, Dakota suddenly halted, parrying a clawed strike with a lazy flick of his wrist. His eyes, cold and piercing, locked onto the Devil's.

Dakota (calmly):

"Does Blazer know I'm the Creator?"

The Devil of Envy froze for a fraction of a second—just enough for Dakota to notice. Then, the Devil's lips curled into a twisted smirk, his fanged teeth gleaming.

Devil of Envy (gleefully):

"Oh, yes. He knows."

Dakota's gaze darkened slightly, though his expression remained unreadable.

Dakota:

"Who told you?"

The Devil chuckled darkly, his laughter echoing like shattered glass through the void.

Devil of Envy:

"You should already know. It's those three."

A sigh escaped Dakota's lips, not out of fear or anger, but pure annoyance.

Dakota (muttering):

"Of course, it's them."

Without another word, Dakota reignited his assault. The temperature in the void skyrocketed as his flames burned hotter, fiercer—each strike now fueled not just by skill, but by simmering frustration. The Devil of Envy's smirk faded as he struggled to keep up, his dark magic crumbling under the relentless onslaught.

Realizing he was being overwhelmed, the Devil of Envy roared in frustration, his body convulsing violently. Cracks formed along his skin, oozing green light as if his very soul was splitting apart.

With a sickening rip, his form twisted and morphed, growing larger, more monstrous. Jagged wings erupted from his back, stretching wide enough to block out what little light remained in the void. His arms elongated, ending in razor-sharp talons, and his mouth stretched unnaturally, revealing rows of serrated teeth. His eyes blazed with blinding white light, devoid of any humanity.

Devil of Envy (snarling):

"You think you've won? You've seen nothing yet!"

The transformation sent shockwaves rippling through the void, shattering several platforms into dust. Dakota stood calmly amidst the chaos, balanced on a crumbling fragment of stone. His flames flickered around him, defiant against the overwhelming darkness.

Dakota (coldly):

"Transformation won't save you."

The Devil charged like an unstoppable force, his monstrous form radiating pure malice. Their clash sent explosions of fire and dark energy spiraling through the void, tearing apart the very fabric of space.

Dakota met each attack with ruthless efficiency, his flames growing brighter with every strike. He wasn't fighting just to win—he was fighting to end this. The Devil's strength meant nothing against Dakota's relentless will.

As Dakota prepared to unleash his final attack—a concentrated beam of flame bright enough to rival the sun—the Devil of Envy screamed, channeling every ounce of his corrupted power.

A massive sphere of dark energy formed above them, pulsating violently like a second, twisted heart. It grew larger by the second, devouring light and heat, threatening to collapse the entire void upon itself. The air grew thick with pressure, making it hard to breathe.

Devil of Envy (grinning wickedly):

"Let's see if you can handle this, Creator!"

Dakota didn't move. His flames continued to burn around him, his sword raised slightly, casting a long shadow behind him. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips—an expression of genuine interest for the first time in the entire fight.

Dakota (smirking slightly):

"Finally… something interesting."

Just as the sphere of dark energy began to descend, shaking the void with its sheer weight, Dakota's flames roaring defiantly against the abyss.