Chapter 81

### **Chapter 81: The Clash.

The arrows crackled with energy, their tips glowing like miniature suns as they streaked through the void. The sound of *CRACKLING* lightning filled the air, each arrow humming with power as they fired one after the other, racing toward Shiki. But Shiki was already moving, his body a blur as he darted forward, closing the distance between himself and Draven. The first arrow struck, and a mirror materialized in front of Shiki, its surface shimmering like liquid silver. The arrow disappeared into the mirror with a *WHOOSH*, but the mirror itself cracked and shattered, the sound echoing like breaking glass.

Shiki's expression tightened as he felt the damage ripple through his mirror dimension. The hundred mirrors, invisible to Draven, some were scattered across a hidden realm only Shiki could access. Each mirror that absorbed an attack cracked and broke, the strain evident in Shiki's eyes. "This ability is ranked Ss+," he muttered, his voice low but audible. "And yet, Draven's dual state is breaking it. His power… it's above Ss+ too."

The next arrows came, their speed and intensity increasing. Shiki knew he couldn't afford to use the mirrors again—the damage was too great. Instead, his body vanished completely, leaving no trace of his existence. He had slipped into one of his mirrors, retreating to his hidden dimension to prepare his next move.

Inside the mirror dimension, Shiki stood amidst the shattered remains of his mirrors, his cursed eye glowing faintly. "My eyes don't just grant me visions of the future," he whispered to himself. "They grant me the ultimate fire—the White Flame." He clenched his fist, and a small, flickering flame appeared in his palm. It was pure white, almost ethereal, and radiated an otherworldly heat. "A flame that doesn't exist in the real world… but as long as I burn something here, I can unleash it there. And once it's unleashed, it cannot be extinguished—not even by me."

Back in the void, a mirror manifested beneath Draven. Shiki emerged from it, his body lying flat on the ground but his face tilted upward. His hand shot out, grabbing Draven's leg with a vice-like grip. With his other hand, he released the White Flame. The fire surged forward with a *ROAR*, engulfing Draven's black Sitra Achra warrior. The dark figure writhed as the flames consumed it, reducing it to ash in moments. Draven struggled, pulling himself free from Shiki's grasp and landing a few feet away, his breathing heavy.

Meanwhile, the three remaining arrows hovered in the air, their trajectories shifting as Draven willed them forward. They shot toward Shiki with a *SWISH*, their speed blinding. Shiki, still lying on the ground, had no choice but to summon three more mirrors because if he's stuck between the mirror dimension and the void he cannot make use of any other ability aside the mirror one. The arrows disappeared into them with a *CRACK*, but the strain was evident. Inside the mirror dimension, sixty mirrors shattered, their fragments scattering like shards of glass. Shiki grunted, feeling the toll of the attacks.

Draven's breathing grew ragged. The dual state was taking its toll on him, his body struggling to maintain the immense power. Shiki noticed this and smirked. "First time using the dual state, huh? It's draining you faster than you expected." He blitzed forward, his movements a blur. Draven's white Sitra Achra warrior aimed its bow, firing an arrow coated in yellow lightning. The power was immense, the void itself shaking with a *RUMBLE* as the arrow shot forward.

Shiki knew dodging would be difficult, and sending it to his mirror dimension would leave him vulnerable. Instead, he slammed his hands into the ground and muttered, "Void Release: Earth Motion." The ground beneath them rippled like water, the surface tipping and shifting. Draven lost his footing, and the arrow missed its mark, exploding in the distance with a *BOOM* that sent shockwaves through the void.

But Shiki wasn't finished. He extended his hand, and the White Flame surged forward again, engulfing Draven's white Sitra Achra warrior. The figure burned away, its form dissolving into smoke. Draven clutched his head as the dual state began to dispel, his connection to Jormungdar severed in this void realm. He tried to summon the beast but it was no use—his power was locked away here.

Shiki, too, was feeling the strain. His Shen was nearly depleted, and using two dimensional techniques simultaneously had taken its toll. "Pulling Draven into my void dimension and using my mirror dimension at the same time… it's too much," he muttered. "I'll have to rely on my physical attributes now."

He blitzed forward, his movements precise and deadly. An uppercut kick sent Draven flying into the air with a *THUD*. Shiki reappeared above him, his legs coiling around Draven's body like a serpent. He tightened his grip, pinning Draven as they descended rapidly toward the ground. Draven struggled, his face contorted with effort, but he couldn't break free. With a *CRASH*, Shiki slammed Draven's head into the ground, the impact sending a shockwave through the void.

But instead of Draven's broken body, a cloud of pure smoke erupted from the impact, it was revealed that the Draven Shiki struck was a clone of his ,Shiki's eyes widened as the real Draven now with Shasara Jormungdar blade emerged from the smoke, striking with a *CLANG* against Shiki who responded quickly with manifesting his Gehinnom Blade. The two weapons clashed, sparks flying as both combatants pushed against each other before leaping back to create distance.

Both men were breathing heavily, their cursed eyes reverting to their normal human state. The strain of the battle was evident, their bodies pushed to the limit. Draven stared at Shiki, a faint smile forming on his lips. "You've got no more cards to play," he said, his voice steady despite his exhaustion. "But I do."

He stretched out his white hand, the arm

From Circe and Huey that was implanted into him and it began to transform. Tendrils of root-like appendages sprouted from his arm, each one grotesque and writhing. The tendrils had jagged teeth and predator-like heads, their forms twisted and unnatural. Draven's smile widened as he muttered the technique's name: **Devouring Genesis: The Root of Yggdrasil."."**

The chapter ends with the grotesque roots surging forward, their jaws snapping with a *SNAP* as they lunged toward Shiki.