Dance of Death

Zami's silver eyes locked onto the Wailing Dread as it loomed in the darkness, its multiple crystalline eyes glinting coldly. The distorted wails radiating from its warped mouth made the very air tremble, the vibrations digging into his chest like claws.

The creature raised its segmented arms, jagged crystals glowing faintly as it summoned a pair of spinning scythes. The scythes gleamed with an unnatural, radiant energy, their edges slicing through the air with a shriek that echoed off the chamber walls.

Zami's breathing steadied as he gripped his katana tightly. His muscles tensed, his mind focused. He activated *Adrenaline Surge*, feeling the rush of heightened speed and strength course through his body. *I've killed vessel before. I can kill this one too.*

The Wailing Dread struck first, its scythes spinning like twin vortexes of death as it lunged forward. Zami darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly arcs. He retaliated immediately, using *Multiple Slash* to unleash a flurry of rapid strikes, his katana a blur of motion.

The blades collided with the scythes, sparks flying as the force of the strikes pushed Zami back. Phantom snakes poured from the Wailing Dread's cape, their translucent bodies undulating as they weaved through the air. Zami twisted his body mid-step, slashing through the snakes with precision.

Chains lashed out next, wrapping around his leg and yanking him off balance. Zami gritted his teeth, activating *Muscle Tension Break* to loosen his muscles and free himself. As he landed, he pivoted and launched *Hawk Drop*, the devastating kick cracking the ground beneath him and forcing the Wailing Dread to stagger.

"Your persistence is... commendable," the Wailing Dread hissed, its voice vibrating with an otherworldly resonance. It opened its maw wider, releasing a high-frequency sound that made Zami's ears bleed.

The sound disoriented him, but he pushed through the pain, activating *Flow State*. The world around him faded into a blur, and only the Wailing Dread remained. Every motion of its scythes, every twitch of its chains, became clear and predictable.

Zami lunged forward with *Stab Technique*, his katana breaking the sound barrier as it pierced the air. The blade struck the Wailing Dread's shoulder, shattering one of the crystals and eliciting a guttural roar from the creature.

The Wailing Dread retaliated with a spinning scythe, but Zami ducked under the arc, his movements impossibly fluid. He countered with *1-In Various Punch*, his fist striking repeatedly at the creature's torso. The strikes weakened its balance, but the Wailing Dread's phantom snakes coiled around Zami's arm, forcing him to retreat.

"Enough," the creature growled, spreading its cape wide. The chains lashed out in a storm, while the phantom snakes swarmed Zami from all directions.

He responded by combining *Blood Cell Explosion* with *Multiple Slash*, his katana igniting with fiery intensity as he spun through the onslaught. The flames scorched the snakes and severed the chains, leaving the Wailing Dread exposed.

But the strain of using the explosive technique took its toll. Blood dripped from Zami's arm, the veins visibly burnt beneath his skin. *It doesn't matter,* he thought grimly. *I'll die anyway.*

He reached into his pouch, pulling out the Bone Monarch shard. The dark fragment pulsed in his hand, radiating a sinister energy. Zami channeled that energy into his katana, the blade glowing with a mixture of white and black light.

With a burst of speed, he closed the distance between himself and the Wailing Dread, activating *Precision Strike*. His katana plunged into the creature's chest, the shard's energy erupting in a violent shockwave that tore through the chamber.

The Wailing Dread let out an ear-shattering cry, its form flickering as cracks spread across its body. But just as Zami thought he had won, the creature's remaining scythe struck him across the torso.

He staggered, blood pouring from the wound. The Wailing Dread, even in its death throes, unleashed one final attack—a surge of high-frequency sound that shattered the ground beneath them.

Zami collapsed, his vision fading as the world turned to darkness.

And then, he opened his eyes.

The chamber reset before him, the Wailing Dread standing tall, unscathed. Zami stood at the edge of the battlefield, his body whole but his memories of the battle vivid.

Karesh's voice echoed in his mind. "You died. Again. Are you learning nothing from this?"

Zami ignored the voice, his silver eyes narrowing as he gripped his katana. His muscles were tense, his cloak still soaked in the blood of his previous encounter.

"This time," he muttered to himself, his voice low and calm, "I'll end it."