The shadow prevails

The tension in the clearing was electric, as if the entire ashen held its breath. The moon cast an eerie glow over the twisted trees, shadows shifting and deepening as Ryojin and Saelis circled each other. Both fighters bore the marks of their clash—cuts, bruises, and blood streaked their clothes and faces. Their breaths came heavy, but their eyes remained focused, sharp with the intensity of warriors who refused to yield.

Ryojin took a slow, deliberate step forward, shadows gathering at his feet, swirling and writhing like living entities. Saelis mirrored his movement, chaos energy rippling through his blade, its jagged edge glowing with a dark, destructive aura.

They moved simultaneously, launching at each other in a flash of speed that would leave any ordinary observer bewildered. Ryojin's katana sliced through the air in a tight, controlled arc, shadows following his blade's path like an extension of his arm. Saelis countered with a powerful upward slash, chaos energy sparking as their swords met with a resounding clash that sent shockwaves through the clearing.

Their blades slid against each other, each fighter leaning in, forcing their strength into the deadlock. Saelis suddenly twisted his blade, chaos energy surging, sending a ripple of destructive force down the edge of his sword. Ryojin felt the wave of chaos crackle against his katana, but he shifted his stance just in time, redirecting the energy to dissipate through his shadows.

Without hesitation, Ryojin dropped low, sweeping his katana toward Saelis's legs in a swift, brutal arc. Saelis jumped, his body twisting midair as he swung his blade down at Ryojin's head. Ryojin rolled, his shadows reaching up to deflect the descending strike as he sprung to his feet, lunging forward with a thrust aimed at Saelis's heart.

Saelis deflected the thrust, stepping to the side with precision, and countered with a quick slice aimed at Ryojin's ribs. Ryojin barely managed to twist away, the blade grazing him and leaving a thin line of blood that trickled down his side. Gritting his teeth, he retaliated with a spinning slash, his katana a blur as it aimed for Saelis's neck.

Saelis leaned back, the blade missing him by mere inches, and drove his fist forward, chaos energy amplifying his strike. The punch connected with Ryojin's chest, sending him staggering back, the impact reverberating through his body. Pain lanced through him, but he recovered instantly, his shadows coiling around him, solidifying as a protective shroud.

Undeterred, Saelis advanced, his chaos energy gathering and condensing into a concentrated, bladed shape extending from his weapon. He swung it horizontally, sending a wave of destructive energy slicing toward Ryojin. Ryojin raised his katana, shadows pooling and forming a dark barrier in front of him. The chaos wave collided with the shadow shield, exploding in a burst of energy that scattered debris across the clearing.

Seizing the opening, Ryojin's shadows morphed into jagged, clawed extensions along his arms, amplifying his reach and power. He struck with fluidity and precision, each slash of his katana followed by a swipe of the shadow claws, forcing Saelis to retreat and block with increasing difficulty. The chaos commander countered with his own attacks, chaos energy crackling and sparking with each strike, but Ryojin's movements were relentless, like a storm of shadows and steel.

Saelis growled, chaos energy flaring brighter, and drove his blade forward with deadly force. Ryojin sidestepped, pivoting smoothly as he twisted his body to avoid the thrust. In one seamless motion, he drove his shadow claws down, aiming for Saelis's shoulder. Saelis barely deflected the attack, but Ryojin's katana followed immediately after, slicing into Saelis's side, leaving a deep gash.

Blood dripped from the wound, but Saelis's face twisted into a grin, a dark gleam in his eyes. He unleashed a pulse of chaos energy from his body, forcing Ryojin back. As he advanced, his blade radiated a fierce, destructive energy, and with a low, powerful swing, he sent a shockwave of chaos energy slicing through the ground toward Ryojin.

Ryojin leaped to the side, the ground erupting where he'd just been standing. But he didn't stop—his shadows surged forward, coalescing into the shape of a massive beast that charged at Saelis, jaws wide and fangs gleaming. Saelis's eyes widened for a fraction of a second before he summoned his chaos energy to counter, the blast disintegrating the shadow creature in a burst of black mist.

In that split second of distraction, Ryojin closed the distance. His shadows hardened along his blade, reinforcing it as he delivered a powerful, downward slash aimed at Saelis's chest. Saelis barely managed to block, but the force of the blow drove him to one knee, his chaos energy flaring wildly around him as he struggled to hold off the attack.

Ryojin's gaze was cold, unyielding, his shadows thickening and forming dark, spectral figures that loomed behind him. He'd never shown this level of control over his shadows before, and even Saelis's confidence wavered as he felt the sheer intensity of Ryojin's power bearing down on him.

With a final, desperate burst of chaos energy, Saelis broke free from the deadlock, stumbling back. His breathing was ragged, his wounds deep, but he forced himself to stand, raising his blade in defiance. "You… you really are as dangerous as they said," he muttered, his voice barely audible.

Ryojin remained silent, his shadows swirling with an almost sentient malice as he stepped forward. With a single, fluid motion, he raised his hand, and the shadows around him coalesced into a creature—a monstrous, ethereal wolf with burning eyes, its form flickering between reality and shadow. It bared its fangs, snarling as it moved in tandem with Ryojin.

Saelis took a step back, his confidence faltering as the wolf lunged at him. He raised his blade, chaos energy crackling, but the shadow creature's jaws closed around his arm, its fangs sinking deep. Saelis screamed as Ryojin moved in, his katana flashing in a final, decisive strike.

With a swift, merciless slash, Ryojin's blade cut through Saelis's defenses, slicing across his chest. Blood sprayed as Saelis staggered, his eyes wide with shock and pain. He fell to his knees, chaos energy flickering weakly around him, his strength finally spent.

Ryojin stood over him, his shadows retracting, leaving only his katana in his grip. He looked down at Saelis, his gaze cold and unforgiving. "You wanted to know if I was worth the warning," he said, his voice low and deadly. "Now you know."

With that, he turned, leaving Saelis bleeding and broken in the clearing as his shadows dissipated into the abyss.