All members of Nocturne Eclipse moved in unison. Their shadows darted from every direction, encircling the mysterious man who had just emerged from the darkness portal.
Swords clashed. Spells ignited. Shadow techniques erupted. The sky darkened under a rain of deadly attacks.
Yet...
The man merely raised a hand.
Clang! Boom! Wussh!
Every strike was effortlessly blocked. He didn't take a single step.
"Annoying," he muttered calmly—flatly, with no emotion. As if they weren't adversaries at all, but bothersome insects.
Then... he raised his hand higher.
A purple-black aura exploded from his form. The air seemed to compress. The ground trembled. The sky groaned, as if in agony.
"Domain Rupture."
An invisible shockwave tore across the battlefield.
BOOOOOM!!
Like an unseen storm, every member of Nocturne Eclipse was thrown aside. They crashed into walls, pillars, floors, and rubble. Crackling sounds. Shouts. Dust and debris flying everywhere.
Many couldn't rise. Others groaned in agony. But amid the chaos...
There remained one still standing.
Neera.
Her body shook. Her knees nearly gave out. Yet she held on, bracing herself with the tip of her blade. Blood dripped from her hand; her left arm trembled violently. Yet... her eyes remained sharp.
"I'm... not... finished yet..." Neera hissed, clenching her sword's hilt tighter.
The man stepped forward leisurely. Darkness oozed from every footprint he left.
"You're... interesting," he said quietly. His tone calm. Yet its chill felt like a blade.
He raised his hand again—ready to finish the fight.
But then...
A cold breeze brushed aside the rubble. And from behind the debris… footsteps echoed.
Slow. Firm.
"Well done... you lasted this long."
Voice calm. Deep. But laced with unnatural pressure.
Neera lifted her head, breathing raggedly—but her smile was faint.
"...Master White Reaper."
Kazuki stepped from the shadows. His face expressionless, yet his eyes pierced through the gloom.
He stared straight at the enemy. Yet in his mind, he smirked.
"Fufufu... Everything unfolds according to the script."
The man narrowed his eyes as he studied Kazuki.
"Hmm? Who are you? Another child in a costume?"
Kazuki didn't speak. Shadows crawled slowly around his feet. A dim violet glow sparked in his eyes.
The wind swirled. Invisible aura vibrated in the space around.
Then he spoke.
Softly. Sharply. Like lines written centuries ago.
"My name is... White Reaper."
"The formless figure... who travels between shadow and light."
Silence fell.
The sky seemed to hold its breath.
Two figures stood facing each other, like entities from different worlds.
The man chuckled softly.
"What joke is this?"
With a snap of his fingers...
CRAK!
A massive portal ripped open in the sky. Black cracks spiraled like a vortex. And from within...
Demonic monsters crawled forth. Their skin charred. Eyes burning red. Gigantic bodies emanated hellish stench.
Kazuki merely glanced sideways.
His expression remained neutral—bordering on boredom.
He raised a hand slowly.
A purple-white glow enveloped the battlefield. Soft. Warm. Yet possessing tremendous power.
Wounds across the Nocturne Eclipse members began to heal. Their breaths steadied. Neera gaped.
"Lord... Kazuki..."
Kazuki didn't turn.
His hand extended, and from the empty air...
ZRRK!
A shining white sword materialized in his grasp. White Blade.
He swung it downward lightly. Its tip kissed the ground.
Then... he grinned.
"Interesting."
"The real stage has just begun."
The monsters roared. The sky grew darker.
Meanwhile, Kazuki advanced alone. His shadow stretched long—swallowing the terrain in his wake.
And the whisper of the midnight wind...
Spoke of a legend being forged now in blood and shadow.
War erupted.
Nocturne Eclipse, now recovered, surged forward against the monsters.
Shadows and spells exploded mid-air. Shouts. Clashing steel. Roars of magic.
But it was all backdrop.
The real spotlight remained on a single battle:
Kazuki vs. the Mysterious Man.
Two auras collided. The air trembled. The sky turned oppressive.
The man spat blood, wearing a mocking grin.
"My name is... Zerath. I—am the one who will bring the world crashing from the gods' throne."
Kazuki remained silent. No reaction at all.
Then...
ZRAK!!
White Blade moved. So fast... the wind itself was left behind.
CRAAASH!!
Zerath was flung back, smashing into a palace pillar until it shattered.
Kazuki stepped forward calmly. Twilight light outlined his silhouette—as if from another dimension.
He stood before Zerath. His face serene. Almost bored.
"Get up." "I haven't even begun."
Zerath froze. Stunned.
What... WHAT is this!? I activated high-level body augmentation! But he moves like a shadow god…!
Kazuki plunged the sword into the ground. A violet aura draped his form.
And in his mind...
"The script unfolds as planned. But... it's not done yet. There's one final act left."
Zerath roared. He raised both arms toward the sky. A purple-black flame engulfed his body.
[Active Skill: Eternal Core]
His wounds healed instantly. His breath steadied. His aura surged fiercely.
"HAHAHAHA!! NOW I AM ETERNAL!! YOU WILL NEVER DEFEAT ME!!"
Silence followed. Even the monsters quivered.
Kazuki... remained still.
His eyes glowed violet. Calm. Cold.
He lifted his sword slowly.
"I see."
Swoosh!
Kazuki vanished.
Zerath flinched, panicked.
"Huh!? H-He... disappeared!?"
Then...
DUGGH!!
A kick struck his jaw from behind.
Zerath was launched into the air.
"ARGHHH!!"
He tumbled, struggling to remain upright.
His breath rattled. His eyes wild.
He... he moves like shadow! I can't read his movements! This is... not human!!
Below...
Kazuki stood unmoving.
Then, he tilted his head slightly and spoke quietly… in his mind:
"He claimed he was eternal…"
"…But unfortunately, I am not bound by logic."
A living script beyond rules.
The sky cracked. And the story... had just begun its darkest chapter.