FIGHT BETWEEN BROTHERS

Haytham, Sting, Ken, and Rick stood poised, the air thick with anticipation for the impending clash. Each of them radiated power, their forms honed to their absolute peak. It was Ryloc who shattered the tense silence first, a malevolent aura of violet fire erupting around him as he settled into a battle stance.

Before anyone could react, Ken blurred into motion, a silver streak aimed directly at Ryloc. His blade flashed, a swift and deadly fendente, but Ryloc met the attack with an effortless parry, the clang of steel echoing in the desolate space. Ryloc retaliated with a counter-strike, his own blade a blur of dark energy.

Yet, just as the blow was about to land, Sting shimmered into existence behind Ryloc, his form coalescing from the very shadows. His own attack was swift and silent, a phantom strike aimed at Ryloc's back. But Ryloc, his senses honed by battle, reacted instantly, his blade whipping around in a fiery arc.

The violet-tinged steel passed right through Sting, a testament to his shadow-based abilities. Sting pressed his advantage, his own blade now aimed at Ryloc. But the demonic figure merely laughed, a guttural sound that sent shivers down their spines. In the blink of an eye, a towering pillar of dark flames erupted around Ryloc, forcing Ken and Sting to leap back to avoid the searing heat.

Rick, who had been observing the initial exchange, finally made his move. He planted his feet firmly, drawing upon his inner energy, a fierce light igniting in his eyes. With a bellow that echoed through the arena, he unleashed his signature technique: "White Tiger Technique!"

He launched himself forward, a white blur against the dark landscape, his fist aimed with pinpoint accuracy at Ryloc's chin. The blow landed with a resounding impact, yet Ryloc remained standing, unfazed. His left foot shifted, anchoring him to the ground as his right fist blazed with violet fire, lashing out at Rick. Rick managed to raise his arms in a desperate parry, but the sheer force of the blow sent him skidding backward.

Ryloc's demonic form pulsed with raw power, an oppressive aura that weighed heavily on their spirits. Sensing an opportunity, Sting extended his influence, the shadows of the arena deepening and swirling under the eerie glow of the three purple lava circles. Tendrils of darkness snaked across the ground, lashing out at Ryloc from every conceivable angle.

Ryloc's eyes darted around, tracking Sting's movements as he flitted from one shadow to another with uncanny speed. Just as Sting prepared to strike, a terrifying grin spread across Ryloc's face. With a roar, he unleashed a cataclysmic explosion of violet fire, a wave of pure destructive energy that engulfed the arena. Sting was caught in the blast, sent hurtling backward, but his resilience was evident as he swiftly regained his footing.

"From the fight with Yardrach, I understood my weakness," Sting declared, his voice low and determined. "Opponents with wide-range abilities… I won't give you the chance to use any!" A palpable aura of shadow enveloped Sting, a dark smirk playing on his lips.

Rick and Ken watched intently, their own power simmering beneath the surface, ready to be unleashed. Haytham, however, remained still, his gaze fixed on his brother, analyzing every nuance of his abilities.

Sting swung his blade in a seemingly empty gesture. For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then, a crimson line appeared on Ryloc's chest, a visible wound blooming as if from nowhere. "This is my new technique," Sting announced, his confidence radiating. "I call it 'Cut Off the Shadow.' When I swing, I create a shadow blade that strikes the shadow of my opponent, inflicting a real wound."

Sting's smile widened, but Ryloc merely touched the bleeding gash, his expression unreadable. "Not bad, little shadow dancer," he said, his voice laced with amusement. "But if your power is shadow, it will be useless against me."

In an instant, Ryloc unleashed a blinding wave of purple light, emanating directly from his fiery aura. The intensity was so great that it banished every trace of shadow from the arena, bathing the desolate landscape in an eerie violet glow. "Come then, heroes," Ryloc taunted, his voice echoing with demonic power. "Let's see your resolve now!"

Sting instinctively took a step back, momentarily blinded by the light. But before doubt could take root, Haytham placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't falter, Sting," he said, his voice firm. "We will not lose."

Haytham stepped forward, his own blade glinting in the unnatural light. He pointed the tip towards his brother, his gaze unwavering. "It's just you and me now, Ryloc!"

Haytham shifted his stance, a subtle ripple in the air around him as he manipulated the flow of time. In the blink of an eye, he launched a series of lightning-fast dashes, his movements blurring as he unleashed a barrage of crimson energy blasts from his gun. The projectiles streaked towards Ryloc at impossible speeds.

Ryloc struggled to parry the relentless assault, his blade flashing defensively, but several of the energy bolts managed to strike him, leaving trails of scorched flesh. Seizing the opportunity, Haytham lunged forward, his blade aimed for a decisive strike. But Ryloc, despite the barrage, reacted with uncanny speed, his own blade meeting Haytham's in a shower of sparks. He retaliated with a swift fendente of violet fire, forcing Haytham to narrowly evade.

From the flanks, Ken and Rick launched their own assault, hoping to overwhelm Ryloc. Ken's blade danced with lethal precision, while Rick's fists crackled with raw power. Yet, Ryloc met their combined attack with effortless ease, parrying Rick's powerful punch with his bare right hand and deflecting Ken's swift slash with his sword, all without breaking a sweat.

Seeing an opening, Sting made another lightning-fast dash, his blade aimed for a vital point. But Ryloc, his senses seemingly omnipotent, reacted instantly. With a powerful leap, he soared into the air, his demonic wings unfurling, casting long, ominous shadows despite the pervasive violet light.

Hovering above them, Ryloc pointed his sword towards the dark sky. In an instant, countless pinpricks of light materialized, shimmering like malevolent stars. Then, with a downward thrust of his blade, Ryloc unleashed his terrifying attack. "Meteorites of Demonic Light!"

The pinpricks of light transformed into enormous projectiles of violet energy, hurtling towards them like celestial bodies falling from the heavens. Ken, Sting, and Rick stared in stunned silence at the sheer scale of the attack, their faces pale in the eerie light.

But Haytham's voice cut through their awe, a rallying cry of defiance. "Don't give up! Not now!" He planted his feet, drawing upon the deepest reserves of his dark energy, a swirling vortex of power gathering around him. With a guttural roar, he unleashed his own ultimate technique: "Dark Dimension-Cut Multi-Repeat Slash!"

He launched himself skyward, a dark comet against the violet backdrop, his movements exceeding the limits of human perception. With supersonic speed, he sliced through the descending meteorites, each strike a precise and devastating blow. He carved a path through the celestial onslaught and, in a final, desperate maneuver, managed to graze Ryloc's side with his blade.

Ryloc plummeted to the ground, a dark stain blooming on his flank. He struggled to rise, his movements sluggish, his breathing ragged. "I… I won't give up… not yet!" he gasped, gathering the last vestiges of his power, a dangerous energy beginning to coalesce around him, threatening a final, devastating explosion.

But before he could unleash his desperate gambit, Rick moved with blinding speed, his fist slamming into Ryloc's jaw with a sickening crunch. Sting followed up instantly, the hilt of his blade connecting with Ryloc's temple. Finally, Ken delivered a swift and brutal punch, sending Ryloc sprawling on the ground, his body limp.

The wound inflicted by Haytham had clearly taken its toll, weakening Ryloc beyond recovery. He lay still, unable to rise. Haytham turned to his companions, his expression grim. "You two go on ahead," he said, his voice heavy. "I need to talk to my brother."

Without a word, Sting and Ken nodded, their faces etched with concern. They turned and moved towards a pristine white door that had materialized in the distance, the oppressive violet lava slowly receding, the unnatural light fading.

Haytham and Ryloc were finally alone in the fading light. Haytham's voice was thick with emotion as he spoke. "You… you should be dead. How is it possible that you're in the VR WORLD? And why… why are you on the side of that primordial glitch?"

Ryloc's response was weak, each word an effort. "When… when that horrible accident happened… our parents… they died, remember?"

"Yes," Haytham choked out. "They died in the flames… but you… you should have died too."

"The truth is… they saved me," Ryloc whispered, his voice barely audible. "But… I'm in a coma. The only way… for me to have consciousness… was to enter this game. The doctors… they tried this way… and now… I live here… in this world. I… I waited so long… to meet you again."

Tears welled up in Haytham's eyes, blurring his vision. "Why, Ryloc? Why did you ally yourself with those monsters? What… what is your purpose?"

"I… I didn't know… what glitches were… back then," Ryloc confessed, his voice fading. "Tarvaror… he took me in… implanted a glitch seed… in my body. He… he taught me everything… I know about this world. I… I thought… if I was with him… I would see you again… and I knew… it would end like this. Now… I'm dying… but we'll meet again… in the future… even if… I'm a glitch. I… I hope… you become stronger… little brother."

As he spoke his final words, Ryloc's body began to dissolve, pixel by pixel, turning into shimmering dust that drifted away on the nonexistent breeze. A faint smile lingered on his face until nothing remained.

Haytham stood there for a long moment, his heart heavy with grief and a burning rage. He finally clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with a newfound resolve. "I swear it, brother," he vowed, his voice raw with emotion. "I will avenge you. I will eliminate Tarvaror!"

With newfound determination hardening his gaze, Haytham turned and strode towards the pristine white door, leaving behind the remnants of his fallen brother. His path was clear, his purpose forged in the crucible of loss. The fight against Tarvaror had just become personal.