Chapter 6- The Confrontation

"Aeternus Eclipsa Lunaris..."

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

As he spoke, his black wings unfurled with a mighty rustle. He raised one hand high, from his palm, dark, swirling ancient symbols began to materialize. They glimmered in a sickly black hue that seemed to suck the light from the air. They hovered around him like a constellation. The symbols began to pulse, vibrating with raw, destructive magic.

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

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

Kaito-san's eyes widened as the darkness spread, a deep, unsettling fear creeping 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, began to eclipse. The serene glow turned blood-red, casting an ominous glow. It was as if the very fabric of reality itself was starting to warp under Crimson's twisted spell.

The world around felt wrong. Every second felt heavier, as if the air was thickening, pressing in on us from all sides. The ritual was nearing its peak, and all I could do was just watch.

But in the middle of the ritual, a dark lightning strike was shot at him. But without a second thought, he stopped it with just his bare hands.

I turned my gaze towards 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," Hayato called 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 raced and a surge of determination coursed through me. I couldn't just stand here and watch. I have to help him. I rushed to his side, ready to face whatever was coming. We weren't backing down. Not today.

"Raiden Seishin...Yamirashi Raikiri!"

He exclaimed with his sword raised high. A dark, ominous lightning gathered at the sword's tip and started swirling with intensity. With a fierce look in his eyes, he swung it down, unleashing a violent, thunderous strike. It easily had the feel of an A-class move similar to my Shinenryū no Hōkō.

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

Kaito-san's eyes went wide as he watched 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 began to settle, I saw Crimson encased in a dark, swirling orb. It seemed like a defensive spherical barrier. But thanks to Hayato, Crimson's ritual was interrupted, buying us precious time.

The orb shattered, and Crimson emerged from inside.

"Impressive, young one," he said. "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 replied 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 replied. "But..." he added, "To honor your determination, I shall award you with something worthy."

Crimson extended his hand forward, and a dark purplish circle began to materialize above his palm, swirling ominously. The air around it pulsed 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 unleashed the beam—a massive destructive force, easily ten times stronger than the Oxyno. It struck Hayato head-on, blasting the surroundings with ethereal force.

The attack came so fast that even Hayato, being the fastest among us, couldn't react on time. He got hit head-on by the beam. I watched in horror as his unconscious body was flung backward, crashing to the ground.

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

A chill of fear spread through us. One strike from Crimson had taken down the strongest soldier among us. How could we face him now? The weight of uncertainty pressed on me, but I knew we couldn'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!" I said.

"Hmm? What do we have here."

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

"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." He replied.

"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 blabbering."

"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 took my stance. The fists burned with flames. I was ready to make him regret every word he'd said.

I brought both hands forward, flames swirling around me like a furious storm. The heat grew intense, crackling in the air as I focused every ounce of my power into the attack. After a thorough charge, I unleashed it—

"En Seishin...Shinenryū no Hōkō."

The Roar of the Divine Blazing Dragon.

A massive, fiery dragon made of pure flame shot forward. Its body crackled and twisted and the roar deafened as it surged toward Crimson, burning everything in its path.

It was a great power, but it came with its price. My hands were scorched again from the flames. It was the strongest attack I had, and if it didn't hit, I'd be pretty disappointed.

"Interesting." He grinned. "Let's have a head-on meeting Mr. Dragon. Your blaze or my shadow?"

As the dragon surged toward Crimson, he unleashed the same destructive beam from before. The two forces clashed in midair causing a blinding flash of light filling the battlefield. The ground trembled beneath me and a shockwave ripped through the air, sending dust and debris flying in all directions.

Soon the explosion faded. Crimson's beam tore through the dragon's flames and headed towards me. My heart raced as i saw the beam hurtle toward me, unstoppable and fast.

Fear, frustration, and anger manifested inside me, but i 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 closed my eyes and was ready to tank the attack. I must survive it. These are the only thoughts swirling in my mind right now.

As the beam inched closer, only inches away from me, something unexpected happened. The intense force of the beam suddenly began breaking apart into tiny shimmering fragments that sparkled in the air.

"What—?"

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

The petals glowed softly as they scattered through the darkened air. The sight was strange and surreal, a graceful contrast to the destructive power I had just witnessed.

For a moment, I stood there, stunned by the unexpected beauty. I was trying to comprehend what had just happened.

"What on earth just happened?"

I looked up following the petals, and saw a lady standing on a nearby rooftop. Her crimson-red hair fell to her shoulders, shining in the moonlight. Her smooth skin and piercing ruby eyes made her look both beautiful and intimidating. She wore a dark, flowing outfit, adorned with intricate patterns, resembling something mystical. Her presence...I don't know felt like a relief for some reason. Is she an ally? Is she human? Vorixa? Or another humanoid Oscuro? Many questions arose in my mind.

"Who-who are you?"