Chapter 6- The Confrontation

"Aeternus Eclipsa Lunaris..."

A chilling incantation echoes from Crimson's mouth. Each syllable feels like dripping with dark power and the words themselves carrying an ancient weight.

As he speak, his black wings unfurl with a mighty rustle. He raises one hand high, and from his palm, dark, swirling ancient symbols begin to materialize. They glimmer in a sickly black hue that seems to suck the light from the air. They hover around him like a constellation. The symbols then begin to pulse, vibrating with raw, destructive magic.

The sky above seems to tremble and the moon begins to darken slowly, as if drawn into Crimson's will. The distant stars fade from view, and the entire city fell silent.

"What... what is he doing?" My voice trembles.

Kaito-san's eyes widen as the darkness spread, a deep, unsettling fear creeps into his thoughts. "This is it... the ritual... he's bringing the moon itself under his control."

The moon, once a peaceful beacon in the night sky, has begun to eclipse. The serene glow has turned blood-red, casting an ominous glow. It is as if the very fabric of reality itself is starting to warp under Crimson's twisted spell.

The world around is... feeling wrong. Every second feels heavier, as if the air is thickening, pressing in on us from all sides. The ritual is nearing its peak, and all I can do is just watch?

But... in the middle of the ritual, a dark lightning strike suddenly shoots at. But without a second thought, he stops it with just his bare hands.

I turn my gaze toward the source of the lightning, and there he is—Hayato, standing tall, facing Crimson with unwavering resolve. The power in his stance is clear.

"Don't just stand there," He calls out with his cold yet sharp voice. "We're not done yet. You want to see the storm? Let's show him what it really means."

His usual calm is replaced with a fire that mirrored my own. My heart is racing. A surge of determination courses through me. I can't just stand here and watch. I have to help him. I rush to his side, ready to face whatever is coming. We aren't backing down. Not today.

"Raiden Seishin...Yamirashi Raikiri!"

Spirit of Lightning...Abyssal Thunderstrike.

He raises his sword high. And with that, a dark, ominous lightning gathers at the sword's tip and starts swirling with intensity. With a fierce look in his eyes, he swings it down, unleashing a violent, thunderous strike. It easily has the feel of an A-class move similar to my Shinenryū no Hōkō.

The lightning shoots forward, splitting the air with a explosion that shakes the ground beneath us. The force of it sends a shockwave that has made everything around smoky and dusty. We are... unable to see wether the shot landed or not.

Kaito-san's eyes go wide as he watches the aftermath of Hayato's strike. "That strike… It's dangerously powerful, yet somehow beautiful in its own way. I'm certain that the destructive force behind it surpasses even the Oxyno. I honestly didn't expect something like that from someone so young. This much strength at his age... He's undoubtedly a prodigy. A true genius for the Lightning Spirit."

As the dust begins to settle, I see Crimson encased in a dark, swirling orb. It seems like a defensive spherical barrier. Shit... that strike didn't even scratch him. But thanks to it, Crimson's ritual is interrupted thus buying us precious time.

The orb then shatters, and Crimson emerges from inside.

"Impressive, young one," he says, "A strike of such power, yet so foolishly timed. But I commend your resolve. It's rare to see such performance of power from someone so... inexperienced."

"Enough of your nonsense," Hayato replies with irritation flashing in his eyes. "Don't hide up there like a coward. Come down and fight!"

"I commend your challenge, but it is not feasible. I can no longer afford to squander any more time. The moon has already reached its zenith." Crimson replies. "But... "To honor your determination, I shall award you with something worthy."

Saying that, he extends his hand forward. And a dark purplish circle begins to materialize above his palm, swirling ominously. The air around it is pulsing with an eerie and destructive energy.

"Let's see if you can handle this... A true test of your resolve."

With a swift motion, he unleashes the beam—a massive destructive force, easily ten times stronger than the Oxyno. It strikes Hayato head-on, blasting the surroundings with ethereal force.

The attack came so fast that even Hayato, the fastest among us, couldn't react on time. He gets hit head-on. And all I can do is watch in horror as his unconscious body flungs backward, crashing to the ground.

Kaito-san along with Shizuka-san immediately rushes over in order to get him healed.

A chill of fear spreads through us. A single strike from Crimson has taken down the strongest soldier among us. How can we face him now? The weight of uncertainty is pressing on me, but I know we can't back down.

"Oh, was the first reward too overwhelming for you? I had planned to bestow a second one, but I see now it might be too much for you to endure."

"Hey!"

"Hmm? What do we have here."

"Hasn't anyone told you that you blabber a lot?"

"Well, well, here I thought you were just a mannequin, standing there looking all stiff. But the little pup finally finds his voice now. How delightful."

"Shut up, don't underestimate me."

"You'll have to do more than talk to stop me. But go ahead, entertain me—let's see if your actions can live up to that bravado."

"Oh, trust me, you'll be begging me to be quiet soon enough. But for now, I'll let my actions speak louder than your endless yapping."

"Oh, how charming. A little fire in you after all. But don't mistake your anger for power, boy. It won't save you from what's coming."

"I won't mistake fire for anger, Crimson. But you know what's ironic? I can actually use the fire in my anger as my power."

With that, I take my stance. Ready to fight. The fists burn with flames. Yes. I am ready to make him regret every word he'd said.

I bring my both hands forward, flames swirl around like a furious storm. The heat grows intense. Crackling the air as I focus every ounce of my power into the attack. After a thorough charge, I unleash it—

"En Seishin...Shinenryū no Hōkō."

Spirit of Lightning... The Roar of the Divine Blazing Dragon.

A massive, fiery dragon made of pure flame shoots forward. Its body crackles and twists and the roar deafens as it surges toward Crimson, burning everything in its path.

It is a great power, but it comes with its price. My hands are scorched again. But I don't care. It is the strongest attack I have in my arsenal, and if it don't hit, I'll be pretty disappointed.

"Interesting." Crimson grins. "So... let's have a head-on meeting Mr. Dragon. Your blaze or my shadow?"

As the dragon surges toward Crimson, he unleashes the same destructive beam from before. The two forces clash in mid-air causing a blinding flash of light that fills the battlefield. The ground trembles beneath and a shockwave ripples through the air, sending dust and debris flying in all directions.

Soon the explosion fades. And what I see freezes me. Crimson's beam tears through my dragon's flames. "No way!"

And now it is heading directly towards me.

What do I do? What can I do? My heart races as I helplessly watch the beam hurtle toward me, unstoppable and fast.

Fear, frustration, and anger manifests inside my brain, but i have to refuse to let it show. No way I'm going down like this. I have to fight. I have to protect everyone. I have to win.

I close my eyes and am ready to tank the attack. I must survive it. I have to save the world!

...

...

...

As the beam inches closer, only inches away from me, something unexpected happens. The intense force of the beam is now suddenly breaking apart into tiny shimmering fragments, sparkling in the air.

"Wha—?"

They ain't just any fragments — they look like delicate, glimmering rose petals, swirling and dancing in the air with a beauty that is almost making me forget the chaos around me.

The petals glow softly as they scatter through the darkened air. The sight is strange and surreal. It's a graceful contrast to the destructive power I have just witnessed.

For a moment, I stand there, stunned by the unexpected beauty. I try to comprehend what just happened.

"What on earth just happen?"

I look up following the petals, and see a lady standing on a nearby rooftop. Who is she?

Her crimson-red hair fell to her shoulders, shining in the moonlight. Her smooth skin and piercing ruby eyes are making her look both beautiful and intimidating. She is wearing a dark, flowing outfit, adorned with intricate patterns, resembling something mystical. Her presence...I don't know feels like a relief for some reason. Is she an ally? Is she human? Vorixa? Or another humanoid Oscuro? Many questions are arising in my mind right now.

"Who-who are you?!"