Shattered Moonlight

The night sky above the battlefield was painted in a veil of darkness, the crescent moon barely peeking through the shifting storm clouds. The air crackled with tension as Shin Noragetsu stood in the ruins of an ancient temple, his grip tightening around his katana. Across from him, a lone figure emerged from the shadows—a warrior clad in midnight armor, his presence exuding an eerie stillness.

Shin's eyes narrowed. This was no ordinary opponent. The aura around the man was heavy, almost suffocating, as if the very space around him bent to his will. A disciple of Tenka.

"You've come far, Noragetsu," the warrior spoke, his voice deep and measured. "But your path ends here."

Shin didn't respond. Words were unnecessary. He lowered his stance, his blade gleaming under the fractured moonlight. The ground beneath them trembled as the warrior unsheathed his own weapon—a massive cleaver, its edge pulsing with void-infused energy.

Then, in a flash, they clashed.

Shin's katana met the cleaver with a sharp ring, the impact sending a shockwave through the temple ruins. He twisted, redirecting the force of the strike, but his opponent was relentless. The warrior struck again, faster this time, forcing Shin to weave through the onslaught of blows. Sparks flew as steel met steel, their movements a blur against the storm-lit sky.

The enemy was powerful—too powerful for brute force alone. Shin had to be precise. Calculated.

Leaping backward, he exhaled, feeling the void stir within him. He extended his hand, and the abyss answered. Shadows coiled around his fingers, forming dark tendrils that lashed toward his foe. The warrior dodged, his movements fluid, but Shin anticipated it. With a flicker of thought, the void shifted, changing course midair, striking from behind.

The warrior barely managed to deflect the tendrils, skidding back. His armor, once untouched, now bore a single crack across the chest plate. He glanced down, then chuckled. "Impressive," he admitted. "But let's see how far you can push that power."

The air grew colder. Shin's muscles tensed as the warrior raised his cleaver, its void energy intensifying. The ground beneath them shattered, and in an instant, the man vanished. Shin's instincts screamed as he twisted just in time to block an overhead strike that sent a tremor through his arms.

The force sent him sliding back. He barely had a moment to breathe before the warrior pressed forward, his attacks becoming sharper, faster. Shin deflected one blow, then another, but his opponent was relentless.

Then, the cleaver came down again—this time, with enough force to crack the earth beneath them. Shin sidestepped, but a shockwave rippled through the air, throwing him off balance. The warrior seized the opening, slamming a fist into Shin's chest.

Pain exploded through his ribs as he was launched backward, crashing through the remnants of a stone pillar. Dust filled the air. His vision blurred for a second, but he forced himself up, his breath heavy. His katana lay a few feet away, half-buried in rubble.

The warrior strode forward, slow and methodical. "You're strong, Noragetsu. But you lack control. That power of yours—it's wild, untamed." He raised his weapon. "And that is why you'll lose."

Shin coughed, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. He could feel the void pulsing within him, eager, hungry. He had held back, trying to fight with precision, but maybe that wasn't the way to win this battle. Maybe it was time to let go.

Closing his eyes, he exhaled. The void surged through his veins, filling every inch of his being. When he opened his eyes again, they shimmered with abyssal energy.

The warrior took a step forward. And then, Shin disappeared.

For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, in the blink of an eye, Shin reappeared behind the warrior, his katana now in hand. A sharp gust of wind followed—a delayed aftershock of his speed.

The warrior stiffened. Slowly, he looked down to see a deep slash running across his armor, a void-tinged cut searing into his chest. His cleaver fell from his grasp.

Shin stood motionless, his breathing even. He had not just moved faster—he had bent space itself.

The warrior let out a low chuckle, his legs giving out beneath him. "So… that's your answer," he murmured before collapsing to the ground.

The storm overhead began to wane, the clouds parting just enough to let the moon's fractured light spill over the battlefield. Shin stood amidst the ruins, his katana still humming with void energy.

He had won. But deep down, he knew this was only the beginning.

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