A Promise

"You seem to underestimate the resilience of a Hunter seasoned in the crucible of countless battles," Kyle remarked, his gaze sweeping across the assembled foes. "A mere herb, even one from the Isles of Paradise, will not so easily diminish my resolve."

"We anticipated your tenacity," Kelly responded, her eyes glinting with a cold determination, "which is precisely why we've prepared additional measures." She gestured towards Harold, who held the crushed remnants of the nullifier orb.

"And these."

A cacophony of snarls and hisses erupted from the shadows. Werewolves, their eyes burning with feral hunger, slithered from the ruined buildings. Venomous snakes, their scales shimmering in the firelight, coiled and struck. Foxes, their cunning eyes narrowed, stalked with predatory grace. Wolves, their fur matted with soot and blood, bared their teeth in silent menace.

"And also this!"

From the rooftops, a volley of arrows pierced the night. Elves, their green armor gleaming in the flickering flames, stood poised, their bows drawn.

"The three races united," Kyle mused, a hint of dark amusement in his voice. "All to eliminate one man. My strength truly is a matter of grave concern."

A flicker of pain, sharp and insistent, lanced through him. The wounds he had sustained in countless battles, the scars that etched his body, seemed to pale compared to their betrayal.

'So, my strength, a mere fraction of true power, has galvanized an alliance of three races,' he thought. 'Or is there a puppeteer, a hidden hand guiding this orchestrated assault? Who possesses the power to manipulate the Elves and Humans?'

He inhaled deeply, the acrid smoke filling his lungs, and exhaled slowly, his gaze hardening. "Regardless."

He fixed his eyes on Harold. "I make a solemn vow. If I survive this night, I will witness the collapse of all three nations. And you, Harold, I will personally relieve you of your head and claim the throne for myself. I will forge a new kingdom from the ashes of the old, uniting the races under my banner. I understand that many will be innocent, but if they stand in my way, i will not hesitate to kill them. So..."

He turned his gaze upon the assembled enemies, their eyes reflecting a mixture of fear and hatred. "Ensure you succeed in killing me. For if I survive, you will witness your kingdoms consumed by flames, and I will be the architect of their destruction."

"Enough!" Harold roared, his face contorted in rage. "Attack! The poison has weakened him. He is vulnerable!"

The demons surged forward, a tide of claws and fangs. The Elves unleashed a barrage of arrows, their tips glowing with arcane energy.

The five Guardians, their eyes burning with a fanatical zeal, joined the assault.

Kyle, his sword a blur of motion, leaped backwards, evading the initial volley of arrows. With a swift, fluid motion, he turned to face the wolves, lunging into their midst.

With a single, precise stroke, he bisected a wolf, its body falling to the ground in two halves. Without hesitation, he pivoted, striking down a fox that lunged from his flank.

Harold watched, his eyes narrowed, as Kyle effortlessly dispatched the demons. 'Even weakened, he is a formidable opponent. I must employ the priest's gift.'

He retrieved a small pouch from his overcoat, extracting a crimson pill. With gritted teeth, he swallowed it. Instantly, his eyes glowed with an intense, red light.

_

Kyle, his movements a dance of death, continued to cut down the demons. A hail of arrows descended upon him.

"Wait for your turn!" He yelled, deflecting the arrows with a swift parry.

He unleashed a wave of energy, shattering the arrows, the energy kept on moving towards the Elves.

The Elves, caught off guard, leaped from their perches, landing on the ground.

"Fools?" Kyle murmured, turning to face them.

The Elves turned, their eyes widening in horror as they saw Kyle charging towards them.

Whoosh X5

With a series of lightning-fast strikes, Kyle moved past them. The Elves froze, their bodies disintegrating into a shower of blood and bone.

"You bastard!" The remaining Elves cried, unleashing another volley of arrows. Kyle, landing on the ground, deflected the arrows with a backhanded swing of his sword.

"What are you waiting for, Harold?" the Elven commander, a middle-aged man with long, inky black hair, yelled, his golden eyes fixed on Harold, whose body was enveloped in golden light.

_

Kyle moved to the side, dodging Carl's fire attacks. Kelvin intercepted him, his sword flashing. Kyle, his eyes burning with a cold fury, met Kelvin's blade head-on.

The impact sent Kelvin staggering backwards. Before he could recover, Kyle's sword was heading to his throat.

Kelvin froze, his eyes wide with terror.

BAM!!!

Kyle stepped back, facing Kelly, who stood protectively in front of Kelvin.

"Never underestimate your opponent," Kelly warned, her voice tight. "Especially when that opponent is Kyle Blade."

She lunged forward, her twin swords slicing through the air.

Kyle, his senses heightened, turned to see Samantha charging from behind, her fists glowing with blue energy. To his right, Amherst advanced, a predatory grin on his face. Kelvin, having regained his footing, joined Kelly's assault.

Kyle sighed, his gaze lifting to the sky, where a massive fireball descended.

"You are persistent."

"Fool! We will not allow you to escape!" Kelly cried, unleashing a torrent of energy from her swords. Kelvin followed suit, his blade crackling with power. Amherst hurled a ball of red energy, while Samantha unleashed a wave of blue energy.

The demons, their eyes glowing with malevolent energy, unleashed energy blasts. The elves enhanced their arrows with magic, sending them hurtling towards Kyle.

"Should I be happy that I'm so important?" Kyle murmured, a grin smile spreading across his face. "Still, you are all beneath me."

Kyle saw the guardians adding more life force to their attacks, while he scoffed and steeled himself.

'All exits are blocked. I must face this head-on.'

He channeled his remaining energy, waiting until the attacks were mere feet away. Then, he unleashed his own power.

BOOOM!!

A thunderous explosion rocked the village, a shockwave rippling outwards. A cloud of dust and smoke obscured the scene.

"Is it over?" Carl asked, his voice trembling.

Whooosh!!

BANG!!

A surge of energy erupted from the smoke, scattering the dust.

"Impossible!" Kelly cried, raising her swords defensively.

BAM!!

The energy wave slammed into the four Guardians closest to Kyle, sending them flying. They crashed to the ground, coughing up blood.

"It Can't be!" Kelly muttered, her eyes fixed on the center of the explosion. A silhouette stood amidst the smoke, unyielding.

"...!!!!!"