Crimson : Ashes Beneath the Void (Part - 2)

"Sometimes, the scariest monsters… aren't the ones we fight, but the ones watching in silence, waiting for the right moment to strike."

( In Previous Chapter...

As the two black cloak figures appears... A man named kairo also appeared with a badass entry siding up with Selene. Here the fight is intense. As the fights goes on, finally the figures try to attack a powerful spell. As it continues... )

KAGURI – Crimson Judgment :

Now...

Kairo grips his flame-forged sword, Kagu.

Which is known as Kagutsuchi.

Selene whispers to the kids, steadying her breath behind the shield.

> "As you heard… they call him the Crimson Ghost for a reason. And it's not just a name." Just then —

Kairo lifted his blade, then placed his hand gently on its surface. A silent signal to the storm about to come. The surroundings became silent.

His voice growled through the rising heat.

> "Crimson Blade Style: KAGURI."

He slashed. A single breath. Flames gather.

And the world splits with crimson fire. A crimson arc of flame erupted from his blade, twisting like a lightning as it tore through the air.

BOOOOOOOM!!!

The ground exploded. The ground split open, flames bursting like they were summoned from the depths of hell itself. The shockwave ripped the earth, turning the battlefield into a burning crater. Selene's shield cracked violently, forcing her knees down as she held it steady in front of the kids.

Even she gritted her teeth, sweat dripping from her brow.

> "Tch… You maniac," she muttered, almost impressed.

The two cloaked figures were blasted away, hitting the broken trees, wounded, groaning.

But...

Kairo, now breathing heavily, fell down to one knee.

> "Haa… Haven't used Kaguri in years… Damn, I'm getting old." He looked at his hand, still shaking from the force, and whispered :

> "After a long time... I felt like this... Even a ghost feels pain." He chuckled softly, looking up to the sky.

Marie gasped with joy.

> "We won…?"

Rock raised his tiny fist.

> "We did it!"

Lily cheered, barely able to stand.

Even Selene smiled lightly, standing upright again.

But, That victory smile didn't last long. High above, far from their sight… A dark orb hovered in silence, and even the shadows seemed afraid. In a broken tower, A figure watching everything in silence... A bitter smile playing on his lips.

He whispers :

> "So… they are still alive, after this long years... Thought he was dead back then. " he murmured.

Another figure looking like a shadow having kneeled behind him.

> "You called me? Master..."

The master said coldly:

> "Mark him. Observe the girl too and tell them to get back."

The kneeling shadow cloaked in pure... His eyes showing some dark aura...

The shadow replied:

> "Yes, Master."

Then he vanished, dissolving like ink into the wind.

Oblivion Spiral – The Eyes of Beast in Shadows

Back on the battlefield…

Suddenly, the air crushed down. Like the world held its breath again. Selene dropped to one knee and also shocked by the presence.

> "What a terrible pressure... I didn't even get from the war... Something is coming... Something more dangerous..."

The pressure of presence is too heavy that made Rai, marie and kids into unconsciousness, instinctively. As a dark rift of space opened in the sky. A humanoid shaped figure stepped out. But it didn't look human. Not quite. Something is different about him. He wore a long red robe, face hidden beneath the shadows of his hood. But something about him felt inhuman, ancient… like the concept of "death" given form.

Kairo's eyes narrowed.

He shouts loudly :

> "Selene!!!"

"Take the kids.... Run!!! Now!!!"

Selene looked at him, stunned.

But Selene whispers in tension :

> "But you—"

"That's not someone I can beat. Not alone."

She saw the tension in his jaw. The fear he tried to hide.

> "He's stronger than me…" Kairo whispered in his mind.

The red-robed figure raised a hand. His voice was cold, slow.

> "Retreat."

The two wounded Hunters vanished in smoke, obeying instantly. Kairo growled and rushed to stop them... Then the red robe figure came into the scene.

Kairo whispers with bitter smile :

> "You wanna stop me... Then try to stop me..."

As kairo rushed towards him...

CLANG.

The red-robed man stopped Kairo's massive blade… With just two fingers. Kairo's body froze. His sword trembled.

> "Wha— What is this power…?"

Kairo pulled back, stepping away. Even Selene gets shocked of what she just saw...

> "H- he stopped the Crimson Blade... Impossible... It's a legendary sword... How can he just stop with just two fingers."

As kairo shout again :

> "Selene!!! I told you to run... Taking the kids..."

Selene snapped out of her no thoughts, she grabbed the kids and ran.

When the red robed figure sees them running...

He whispers :

> "Not that easy..."

The robed figure slowly raised a hand toward them.

He chanted as his eyes looks like a dark shine glowing :

> "Void Surge: Oblivion Spiral."

Listening to the chant Kairo's expression changed into tense and shocked...

> "Void Surge you say... Impossible... It's a myth or ancient form..."

A black sphere formed, swirling with stars like a miniature galaxy... Then it exploded forward like a black hole unleashed.

Selene turned mid-run, eyes wide.

> "NO!"

Kairo also in worried state shouts :

> "Selene..."

And changed fastly something in strong sense :

> "Crimson Blade : Kagugu—!!

But his chant was unable to unleash fully because of the presence.

Then—

"SAVE THEM…"

A whisper from the dark.

In a blur, a beast made of shadows crashed into the blast... Golden eyes gleaming like twin moons. It looked like a massive shadow-panther, ethereal and terrifying.

When the moment it enters the scene the red robed figure stuns...

> "Y-you... Why are you here?"

As the shadow panther beast connects his eyes with red robed figure. He sensed some memories of past.

In anger the red robed man totally unleashes the spell. It took the hit. The area burst into darkness for a moment.

Then— Silence. The beast vanished.

Kairo also in confused state :

> "What the hell happened...? That wasn't magic. That was something... Older."

Selene, stunned, caught a glimpse.

> "What… was that?"

But before she could move, she heard something.

> "AAARRRGHH!!"

Rai in his unconscious state, screaming in pain, clutching his chest.

Selene ran to him and caught him before he hit the ground.

> "Rai?! What happened—? Rai!"

She looked at his eyes—

A faint red eyes glowing.

Then—he collapsed, the glow fading from his eyes, slipping into unconsciousness.

Selene's voice trembled:

> "What's happening to you…?"

In the shadows, the red-robed man simply turned and disappeared into the void.

Kairo feeling relief rushes towards Selene:

> "Thank God... Are you alright... Selene."

Selene asks kairo with a questioned face :

> "Did u say that shadow panther, Kairo."

Kairo replies :

> "What are you talking about? I was barely even see what happen... What shadow you say...??"

Selene whispers in her mind :

"What is that shadow...? Kairo can't able to sense it or seen it... I looked into his eyes but the golden eyes of the shadow panther... It's look like it is watching over someone... Like protecting..." He sees towards Rai who is fallen unconscious on ground.

But the question remained:

"Who are this people? What is happening in this world?"

And—

"Do the shadow panther really protecting Rai...?"

"Whatever that thing was... It didn't feel like a monster. It felt like a guardian."

Both Whispers in Silence...

"What... are you, Rai?"

...To be continued.....