Chapter 47: The True Face of the Enemy
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The battlefield was eerily quiet after Dabi's devastating attack. The only sounds were the crackling embers of his Thunderstorm Flames and the faint rustling of the wind. Reniel stood still, glaring at Dabi with barely contained rage. His once confident demeanor was now replaced with irritation as his minions lay defeated.
"You're just full of surprises, aren't you?" Reniel hissed, his voice sharp. "But I'm done playing with you."
Dabi's breaths were heavy, but he remained composed. His siblings stood safely behind him, his friends flanking his sides. Despite the small reprieve, Dabi knew this wasn't over. He still felt the dark energy swirling around Reniel, ready to unleash something even more dangerous.
Suddenly, Reniel raised his hand, and a strange dark mist began to form around him. The ground trembled as a massive portal tore open behind Reniel. From the depths of the portal, monstrous figures began to emerge—these were no ordinary beasts. They were terrifying creatures of darkness, twisted forms that radiated raw, malevolent power. Their presence sent a chill through the air.
Dabi clenched his fists. "He's calling in reinforcements," he muttered under his breath.
"Dabi!" Kira called out, her sword ready. "We'll take care of the smaller ones. You focus on Reniel!"
Zen and Remi nodded, standing firm as they prepared for the onslaught of monsters. Fen and Whity positioned themselves protectively in front of Eli and Mira, ready to defend them with all their might.
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The Fight Intensifies
As Reniel's creatures charged forward, Dabi summoned all his power. His Elemental Mastery surged to life as he unleashed a combination of Thunder and Wind, creating a storm of cutting lightning bolts that shot across the battlefield. The thunder cracked loudly, tearing through the air and striking down several monsters at once.
His friends, meanwhile, fought fiercely alongside him. Kira's blade cut through the beasts with precision, while Zen conjured barriers to shield them from the monsters' attacks. Remi's magic bound the enemies with vines, slowing their advance.
But Reniel stood calmly amidst the chaos, a sinister grin forming on his face.
"You really think you can win, Dabi?" Reniel said mockingly, raising both hands. "You may have some fancy tricks, but you'll never match the true power of the Vantore family."
Suddenly, the air grew colder as Reniel activated his Shadow Dominion ability, a skill that allowed him to manipulate shadows into powerful, living entities. The shadows writhed and twisted, forming into monstrous shapes that dwarfed even the strongest of beasts Dabi had faced so far.
These shadow creatures were much faster and more dangerous than the previous monsters. They lunged at Dabi with ferocious speed, forcing him to react quickly.
Dabi threw up a Space Control barrier, but the shadows phased through it, their intangible forms slipping past his defenses. One of them slashed at Dabi, its sharp claws grazing his arm. He grunted in pain but quickly retaliated with a blast of Thunder, dispersing the shadow momentarily.
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System Notification
Ding! You have reached Level 49!
Ding! You have gained 3 Stat Points!
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With each level gained, Dabi felt his power surge, but the threat in front of him was growing exponentially. He could no longer rely solely on brute force—Reniel's Shadow Dominion creatures required a different approach.
Dabi narrowed his eyes, concentrating as he activated his Dimensional Rift ability. With a wave of his hand, he opened a small rift in the space around him, trapping one of the shadow creatures inside before it could strike. The rift swallowed the creature whole, closing behind it with a snap.
Reniel's grin faltered for the first time.
"So, you've learned to use space magic, too?" Reniel muttered, his eyes narrowing. "Impressive. But you're still not ready for what comes next."
Before Dabi could respond, Reniel suddenly dashed toward him, his speed blinding. In the blink of an eye, Reniel was right in front of Dabi, launching a flurry of shadow-infused strikes. Dabi barely managed to deflect the blows with his Space Control, but Reniel's speed was overwhelming.
Just as Reniel was about to land a finishing blow, a burst of energy erupted between them, forcing Reniel to retreat.
Dabi glanced up in surprise to see the Headmaster of Astral Heaven Academy, Raghnall Ferrin, standing at his side. His imposing figure radiated power, and his eyes were fixed on Reniel with a deadly calm.
"That's enough, Reniel," Raghnall said coldly. "You've crossed the line."
Reniel scowled but didn't back down. "This doesn't concern you, Headmaster. This is between me and that weakling."
Raghnall's eyes narrowed. "Dabi is a student of this academy. You will not harm him or his family."
Reniel's lips curled into a sneer. "Do you really think you can stop me?"
Without warning, Reniel summoned more dark energy, preparing to launch a massive attack. But before he could finish, Raghnall raised his hand, and an overwhelming force of pure energy erupted from his palm, colliding with Reniel's attack and completely disintegrating it.
The sheer power of the headmaster's attack sent Reniel flying backward, crashing into the ground several feet away.
Reniel groaned in pain as he struggled to get up, his face twisted in anger. "You'll regret this," he spat. "The Vantore family won't forget this insult."
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A New Enemy Emerges
As Reniel retreated, the battlefield fell silent once again. But just as Dabi began to catch his breath, a sudden rumbling shook the ground beneath them. From the shadows, several figures emerged—men clad in dark armor, their presence exuding immense power. They were the elders of the Vantore family, each one at Level 250 or higher.
The leader of the group, an imposing figure with a dark aura swirling around him, stepped forward. His eyes were cold as they locked onto Dabi. "You've made a grave mistake, boy," he said, his voice deep and menacing. "You've crossed the Vantore family, and for that, you will pay."
Dabi's heart pounded in his chest. These were no ordinary opponents. He could feel the overwhelming power radiating from them—power that far surpassed his own.
But before the Vantore elder could strike, Raghnall stepped forward, his own power flaring. "If you want to fight, you'll have to go through me," the headmaster said, his voice calm but firm.
The tension in the air was palpable as the two sides prepared for what was to come.
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