Ch(7):-The cracking of reality

Ryuusuke's arms shook as he barely held his ground against the harbinger's monstrous form. The creature's shadowy tendrils lashed out like whips, each strike landing with bone-shattering force, and the sound of them slicing through the air was deafening. The very ground beneath Ryuusuke cracked open, the rift spreading wider with each collision of their powers.

The harbinger's laughter echoed across the battlefield, its voice distorting with dark delight. "You truly believe you can win, don't you? But look at you—your power is still in its infancy. You cannot fathom what I have become!"

Ryuusuke's eyes burned with defiance as he dodged another strike, leaping to the side with a grace that felt alien to his own body. His energy surged with every step, but it wasn't enough. The harbinger was simply too strong, and each attack chipped away at his stamina. Every time Ryuusuke thought he might gain ground, the creature regenerated faster than he could destroy.

The harbinger swung its massive arm down, and Ryuusuke blocked the attack with his blade, the impact forcing him to his knees. Pain shot through his body, but he refused to fall. He gritted his teeth, pushing himself back to his feet. His energy flickered, desperately reaching for more power, but the constant strain was beginning to take its toll.

"You're nothing," the harbinger sneered, towering above him. "All the power in the multiverse, and still you are weak. You think you can stop me? I am the end of all things!"

Ryuusuke's breath quickened, his heart pounding in his chest. He was growing desperate. What had happened to the power he had felt earlier, the raw energy that surged through him like a tidal wave? Why couldn't he access it now?

Because you're still afraid.

The voice echoed in his mind, and for the briefest moment, Ryuusuke felt a strange warmth, like a reminder. A voice from deep within him, something primal, something buried under the weight of his doubt and fear. He understood then—his strength wasn't just in the energy that flowed through him, but in his ability to accept it, to let go of the limits that held him back.

With a determined growl, Ryuusuke closed his eyes for a heartbeat, centering himself. The battlefield seemed to pause, the chaos around him falling into stillness as the world's fabric trembled in response to his change. It was as though the universe itself was holding its breath.

And then—he let go.

The energy inside him erupted like a volcano, flaring to life with a force that shook the very foundations of reality. It was not just his strength this time—it was the energy of the omniverse itself, coursing through his veins, flooding his body, and reshaping his existence.

The harbinger recoiled as Ryuusuke's power exploded outward, sending shockwaves that cracked the skies and shattered the ground. The golden aura around him expanded, burning away the darkness around him, pushing the tendrils back like a tidal wave.

Ryuusuke's eyes glowed with an otherworldly intensity as he raised his hand. The air vibrated with the raw force of his will.

"Enough of this," Ryuusuke growled, his voice low and powerful.

He thrust his palm forward, and a massive sphere of energy erupted from his hand, hurtling toward the harbinger. It collided with the creature with such force that the very air seemed to warp and twist, as if reality itself couldn't contain the immense pressure.

For a moment, it seemed as if time stopped. The harbinger, stunned and weakened by the blast, staggered back, its once-immense form flickering with instability.

Ryuusuke, breathing heavily, stood tall as his energy continued to radiate around him, a beacon of power. His body was straining, but the surge of energy he had unlocked kept him going.

The harbinger's form began to crack, its body unable to withstand the pressure of the attack. Its eyes widened, no longer filled with arrogance, but with the raw fear of a creature who had underestimated the power of the very thing it sought to destroy.

"You… you are beyond… what I imagined," the harbinger rasped, its voice growing weaker.

Ryuusuke took a step forward, his presence overwhelming. "And you are a fool to think you could break me."

With a final scream, the harbinger collapsed, its massive form dissolving into pure shadow and dissipating into nothingness. The arena around them, once shaking with the harbinger's power, began to calm as the tension in the air slowly lifted.

Ryuusuke stood in the center of the battlefield, breathing heavily, his golden aura flickering like a dying flame. The world around him felt quieter now—empty, almost as if the very fabric of reality was recovering from the trauma it had just endured.

He looked over at Kaito, who had finally finished off the last of the shadow creatures. His eyes were wide with disbelief, a mix of awe and respect evident on his face.

"You… you did it," Kaito said, his voice filled with awe. "That was insane. I've never seen anything like it."

Ryuusuke lowered his hand, the golden light fading as his power subsided. The weight of exhaustion hit him all at once, his body trembling from the effort of holding that much energy. But despite his weariness, a strange sense of satisfaction settled in his chest. He had done it. He had taken down the harbinger.

But even as the battle came to an end, Ryuusuke's mind raced. The harbinger had been a test, one that he had barely passed. But what else awaited him? The true challenge was only just beginning.

He turned his gaze to the sky, the storm clouds still swirling ominously above. Somewhere out there, a greater force was pulling the strings—one that would test everything Ryuusuke had just discovered about his power, his purpose, and his destiny.

"I'm not done yet," Ryuusuke whispered to himself.

And somewhere in the distance, unseen by him, a pair of glowing eyes watched, intrigued by what had just transpired.