Ch(17):-A faithful encounter

The path forward was uncertain, but the weight of the Keeper's words hung heavy in Ryuusuke's mind. Each step he took felt like a ripple through the Nexus, the scars of his recent battle etched into the land around him. The multiverse was vast and unyielding, but Ryuusuke's resolve burned brighter than ever.

Kaito, walking a few steps behind, broke the silence. "You really think we're ready for what's coming? If those Forgotten were just the warm-up, we might've bitten off more than we can chew."

Ryuusuke didn't look back. His voice was calm but resolute. "If we stop now, the Cycle wins. The multiverse stays broken. If that means facing worse than the Forgotten, then so be it."

Kaito sighed, gripping the hilt of his blade. "Man, I hope your optimism rubs off on me someday. Right now, I just want a drink and a place to crash."

As they moved deeper into the Nexus, the landscape began to shift. The jagged rocks and desolate plains gave way to a vast, ancient forest. Towering trees with glowing, crystalline leaves stretched high into the sky, their roots pulsating with energy that felt alive. The air here was thick with power, and each breath carried a sense of unease.

"This place…" Kaito muttered, glancing around. "It feels… wrong."

Ryuusuke slowed his pace, his senses heightened. He could feel it too—a presence, faint but undeniable, watching them from the shadows.

"We're not alone," Ryuusuke said quietly, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

Before Kaito could respond, a faint laughter echoed through the forest. It was soft at first, almost childlike, but it grew louder and more twisted with each passing moment. The laughter seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once, making it impossible to pinpoint its source.

"Who's there?" Kaito shouted, drawing his blades.

The laughter stopped abruptly, replaced by a chilling silence. Then, from the shadows, a figure emerged.

It was a man—or at least, what was left of one. His body was lean and covered in scars, his skin pale as death. His hair was a tangled mess of silver strands, and his eyes burned with an unnatural crimson light. He wore tattered black robes, and in his hands, he held a scythe that seemed to shimmer with the same energy as the forest around them.

"Ryuusuke," the man said, his voice dripping with malice. "The Harbinger of Change. I've been waiting for you."

Kaito stepped forward, blades at the ready. "Another psycho, huh? What's your deal?"

The man ignored him, his gaze fixed on Ryuusuke. "Do you even know what you've done?" he asked, tilting his head. "The worlds you've destroyed? The lives you've erased? You think you're some kind of savior, but all I see is a fool playing with powers he doesn't understand."

Ryuusuke met the man's gaze, unflinching. "If you've got a problem with me, then say it. Otherwise, get out of our way."

The man chuckled darkly. "Oh, I'm not here to stop you. Quite the opposite, actually. I'm here to test you."

Without warning, the man swung his scythe, unleashing a wave of energy that tore through the forest. Ryuusuke reacted instantly, drawing his sword and deflecting the attack. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, and Kaito was forced to leap back to avoid the blast.

"So, that's how it's gonna be," Kaito muttered, readying his blades.

The man grinned, his crimson eyes glowing brighter. "Show me your strength, Harbinger. Let's see if you're worthy of the power you wield."

Ryuusuke lunged forward, his sword blazing with energy as he struck at the man. Their weapons clashed with a deafening roar, sparks flying as the force of their blows shook the ground beneath them. The man moved with inhuman speed, his scythe dancing through the air as he countered Ryuusuke's every move.

Kaito joined the fray, flanking the man with a series of quick, precise strikes. But the man was relentless, parrying Kaito's attacks while keeping Ryuusuke at bay.

"You're strong," the man said, his grin widening. "But strength alone won't save you. Do you even know what you're fighting for?"

Ryuusuke's eyes narrowed. "I'm fighting to break the Cycle. To free the multiverse from its chains."

The man laughed, his voice echoing through the forest. "And you think you're the first to try? The multiverse is a prison, Harbinger. No matter how strong you are, you'll never escape it."

Ryuusuke's aura flared, his sword glowing brighter as he pushed the man back. "Maybe not. But I'll die trying."

The man's grin faded, replaced by a look of cold determination. "Then let's see if you're ready to face the truth."

With a burst of energy, the man leapt into the air, his scythe glowing with a blinding light. He swung the weapon downward, unleashing a massive wave of energy that split the ground beneath them.

Ryuusuke raised his sword, absorbing the attack with a shield of pure energy. Kaito was knocked back by the force of the blast, but he quickly recovered, launching a flurry of daggers at the man.

The battle raged on, the forest around them collapsing under the weight of their power. But as the fight continued, Ryuusuke began to notice something strange. The man's attacks weren't meant to kill—they were meant to provoke.

"He's testing us," Ryuusuke realized, his eyes narrowing. "But why?"

Before he could ponder further, the man suddenly stopped, lowering his scythe. "Enough," he said, his voice calm but firm.

Ryuusuke and Kaito froze, their weapons still at the ready.

"You've impressed me," the man said, a faint smile on his lips. "But this is only the beginning. The real fight lies ahead."

With that, the man vanished, leaving only the faint echo of his laughter behind.

Kaito sheathed his blades, exhaling heavily. "What the hell was that about?"

Ryuusuke didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the spot where the man had stood.

Whoever that man was, he wasn't just another enemy. He was something more—a warning of the challenges to come.

And Ryuusuke knew that the road ahead would only get darker.