28 The adveristy of battle (2/2)
”Enough!” Riyku would release a roar, the shadows around him spiking out several times as if to continuously push the three guys back. The foundation of the box shook to some extent. 'Riyku! Riyku!' Seraphina called out through a mental link, yet no response came from the male who was just standing there. The shadows would return to him and slowly slither up his body, closing out his wounds over time while the three guys took to caution while regrouping.
”What the hell?” One of the guys would squint their eyes at Riyku who held this flourish of blackening color skin. An eerie aura was starting to surround him. ”Did he just power up? What kind of bullshit!?” Another guy exclaimed in frustration. ”Dude, that's cheap. What is he, some kind of main character? This is rigged!” Another guy added. ”Shut up! We can still win this. We need to focus!” The first guy shouted which caused his teammates to stop their complaining and focus now. The three of them taking to a guarded stance, each one was at the backside of the other as if to prepare for anything.
Off somewhere else in the waiting area were several figures gathered around. ”So, he truly isn't human.” A feminine voice called out from a pink-haired individual. ”Well ma'am, what do we do? At this rate, he will tear through all who stand before him.” One of the people inquired. ”We stick to the plan. It is only a blessing that we are all in the same block.” The pink-haired woman snickered. ”I want all of you to exploit as much as this man as you can even at the cost of your lives. Otherwise... I'll be sure to take them myself. Of course, if you survive and fulfill your duty, I'll handsomely reward you.” The pink-haired woman would express in a flirtatious manner. ”Yes, Ma'am!” Everyone shouted in sync.
”Idiots...” A stern young voice of a male muttered. ”Your highness, you should not give them such high praise. After all, they are mere scum.” Another voice came out, one more sophisticated and feminine. ”She is right. For what they did, they only deserve their deaths.” The third member of the trio who was resting in a lone spot in the waiting area had agreed. ”Regardless, this Ruthless King. May be who we face against in the finals, so you two better not underestimate him. He does not appear fully human, either.” The male stated firmly. ”For you to speak so highly, he must be quite the powerful foe.” The stern voiced woman would state. ”Indeed, but remember you are not fully human either, My Lord.” The second woman would add and the male would nod silently.
Back to the match, well more so Riyku's sub-conscious Seraphina was calling out to Riyku continuously, yet no answer still came to her. ”Damn it! What happened!? Why did you let it consume you!?” Seraphina shouted, though her answer was given when she heard the snickers of a familiar voice. ”What did you do, Harvester!?” Seraphina growled out towards the abyss around her. ”Nothing. I merely reminded him of who he is. Of what humans have done to him. I showed him the true nature of humanity.” Harvester would call from the darkness around. ”You bastard! You have no right! What you are doing is cruel! This is a chance for Riyku to become different. A chance for him to be free of those damned shackles! So why!? Why do you insist on making him suffer!?” Seraphina would seether with rage now. ”Why? Because he is the trigger. He can not escape Fate nor Destiny. No matter where he goes, be it into the far future, or the distant past. Be it another universe, or another world entirely. He continues to be reborn, continues to live in suffering until he completes his task and triggers the end of all life.” Harvester would state as he made his descent from the darkness. ”You know that more than anyone. The Eighth must decide, Destruction or Salvation.” Harvester narrowed his eyes at Seraphina to glared at him. ”Then you should not be forcing him to pick one over the other!” Seraphina would try slash at Harvester with her claws. Though the man would evade backward to avoid the strike with a snicker. ”I will always side with Destruction, Seraphina. After all, I am his true nature incarnate.” and with that Harvester would vanish completely. Seraphina was left alone in Riyku's sub-conscious, ”Riyku please!” She called out to him yet again.
”Dude, this guy hasn't moved yet. Should we just go after him?” One of the guys stated while keeping his eyes in front of him. ”No. We need to remain cautious if he-- Shit! Where did he go!” The leader of their team shouted, which caused them to remain on high alert. Sadly, they would never anticipate that Riyku would rise from their combine shadows and split the three of them up. ”How did he! GAHHH!” One of the guys cried their last breath which caused his teammates to look at him. The sight was both terrifying and rage engaging since Riyku had pierced the man's chest straight through. Holding the heart of the guy who was dangling around his arm. The heart still seemed to beat, but Riyku would crush it before tossing the corpse at the enemy team as a district so he would repeat the process to the second guy. Which left only the leader now. ”Damn it... Damn you! You... you... Monster!” The guy cried out as he gripped his blade tightly.
No words parted Riyku, but instead, the male dashed towards the Leader.
'Defeat the Shadow King.'
A text box appeared before the Leader's face which would draw his attention away from Riyku for only a moment. This moment was critical since Riyku had reached the male's throat and slammed him into the ground. Raising him and tossing him into the air. ”What the hell!?” The leader choaked out, but before he could do anything tendrils of shadow spiked up to latch against each limb. A scream of pain would pierce through gritted teeth as the sound of bones breaking and skin tearing echoed throughout the box and before long the tendrils completely pulled the body apart the moment Riyku snapped his fingers as if to command them to do so.
The winner was clear as day; however, Riyku would stumble around as the shade of black began to evaporate from his flesh and his eyes slowly closed. It was then that his body collapsed against the ground, ”What...” Riyku would mutter just before blacking out completely.
”Bro, you gonna get up yet!?” A strong masculine voice called out which caused the male to open his eyes; however, the sight was different. The sky was visible clear with stars shining brightly overhead. When his body moved his eye shifted towards a young adult male; probably the one who called out to him. ”What?” The male huffed as he sat up. The imagery was fuzzy in the sense that Riyku himself could not paint the picture of the male. ”You have been sleeping all day man. I know it's your day off, but you should at least help out.” The young adult male replied as he stopped next to the male. His hand moving to his head to scratch the back of it before yawning heavily. ”Dude, seriously?” The guy called out to which the male finally sighed heavily. ”Yeah, yeah. I'll be there. It's not like the festival is going to end anytime soon.” The male would get up and dust himself off. Standing around the same height as the guy beside him. ”Still, it would not be the same without you bro. Come on, let's go.” The guy stated and both of them traveled down the hill to a festive looking village.
The sight went all black and moments later did Riyku's eyes slowly open to the sight of a white ceiling. ”What?” Where?” Riyku muttered as he slowly sat up and looked around to an empty room. 'You passed out. Are you okay, Darling?' Seraphina's voice called from the mental link which caused Riyku to nod softly. ”I am fine, but I don't understand what happened. I was being attacked by those guys, then Harvester started to... Wait, what happened to the match!?” Riyku exclaimed as he stopped his train of thought. 'You won.' Seraphina replied. 'Please, lay back down, Darling. You need to rest up. Right not everyone is going through cycles since you completed her five matches. Get as much rest as you can before your turn comes up again. You need to recover.' Seraphina stated and Riyku nodded before laying back down. His eyes staring at the white ceiling for a moment.
”Seraphina, Did something happen when I blacked out? I recall coming to a brief, moment but everything between the times of being pressured to that point is a complete haze.” Riyku stated softly. 'Nothing you need to concern yourself please, Darling. Get some rest.' Seraphina stated to which Riyku would give in with a sigh of defeat. His eyes would close and he would relax his body before falling into slumber. 'I will protect you... I promise.' Seraphina whispered.
Meanwhile, it seemed things were heating up in all of the blocks. Teams were being dominated one after another. People being killed and some surrendering, there were a few who forfeited the battle before even partaking. A few hours had already passed since Riyku had finished his set. Several teams of all four blocks had been eliminated with how few people there were. Still, there were several handfuls left. It was finally, Kristen's turn. Lira and Vex would follow suit and they entered into the first block. The arena had been cleaned out to a crisp, and even the air filtered nicely. It was like brand new. The three girls glared at a group of roughish figures who snickered and laughed at them.
”We are being underestimated,” Vex muttered with an annoyed expression. ”Well, then why don't we show these punks what we are made up.” Kristen would smash her gauntlets together. Lira taking up the rear would knock an arrow in place; though the arrows seemed to be made of mana rather than the typical ballistic style arrow. Vex would gripe the shaft of her staff in both hands with a nod. ”Lira, cover me!” Kristen shouted as she dashed forward. Lira would adjust her bow into an angle where she would release the bolt high into the sky. Vex would proceed to do minor chants while waving her staff around. ”Let's have some fun!” One of the guys shouted as he raced after Kristen, not paying any attention to the fact that Lira had fired off an arrow into the sky. The arrow would split into several arrows once it reached it's peak height and would descend towards the guy who charged forward. The guy would cry out in pain as he felt the mana arrows pierce through his flesh, ”Thanks, Lira!” Kristen shouted as she darted right past the guy who has now been pinned to the ground thanks to the arrows that pierced his body. One of the second guys would proceed to unleash a barrage of ballistic arrows at Kristen; however, Vex had used her spell to morph the earth beneath that guy which pierced through his body, while simultaneously morphing the earth in front of Kristen to act as a shield for the arrows. Kristen would vault over the wall of earth that had protected her, ”Thanks, Vex!” Kristen shouted before she chased down the final person who was running away from her. ”Where you going!?” She exclaimed as she gave it one final push and tackled the sorry lad to the ground. Straddling the man before decided to pummel his face in with her gauntlets.
In truth, it was a short battle, but one that was won nonetheless. After all, they had four more battles to go. They knew they needed to end these battles quickly, so they could reserve their strength for their final battle. Which is why they wasted no time in taking out the enemy team even if it meant killing them. Just like how the medical team came up to clear out the bodies before, they did the same just now while Kristen would rejoin Vex and Lira. ”Good job, girls!” Kristen expression with a warm smile. ”You too!” Vex and Lira replied to Kristen. ”Good job, Vex,” Lira stated. ”Same to you, Lira,” Vex replied. The three of them giggled for a moment, before taking their position when their next set of opponents appeared on the opposite side of the arena.