The Shadows of the Forest
The wind rustled through the dark forest as Dzeth stood firm, facing Razou, who had an intense glare filled with anger.
"You humiliated me, Dzeth. Do you think I would just let that slide?" Razou's voice was sharp, his aura flaring violently.
Dzeth remained calm. "I didn't intend to humiliate you. I was just doing what was necessary."
"Necessary?!" Razou clenched his fists. "You think just because you got stronger, you can look down on me?!"
Without warning, Razou activated Awakening: Universe Movement. His body flickered, vanishing in an instant.
Dzeth narrowed his eyes. He could still sense Razou's presence, but the movements were far more erratic than before.
"He's faster than before." Dzeth thought.
Then
WHOOSH!
A powerful kick came from behind. Dzeth barely dodged, but before he could counter, Razou disappeared again, reappearing from the side with a punch aimed at his ribs.
BAM!
Dzeth blocked with Heavenly Dagger, but the impact still pushed him back.
"Not bad," Dzeth muttered, regaining his stance.
"That's not all."
Razou disappeared again. This time, his speed had tripled.
Dzeth realized something Razou's technique was evolving mid-battle.
-
Adapting to the Unseen
For the first time in a while, Dzeth felt pressure.
Razou was moving unpredictably, attacking from angles even his future vision struggled to track.
"I see... He's bending his own movements mid-air, disrupting my predictions."
Razou appeared in front of him with a spinning kick aimed at his head.
Dzeth ducked, but before he could counter
BOOM!
A second kick came from the opposite direction, slamming into Dzeth's side.
He skidded backward, but before he could even breathe
Razou was already above him.
"You can't escape me, Dzeth!"
BAM!
A downward strike sent Dzeth crashing into the ground, forming a crater beneath him.
Silence.
"Is that all?!" Razou shouted.
But then
A golden light shimmered.
Dust and debris cleared, revealing Dzeth standing tall, his Heavenly Dagger glowing with an overwhelming aura.
"Alright... I've seen enough." Dzeth said, his voice cold.
Razou narrowed his eyes. "What?!"
Dzeth's body suddenly felt lighter.
He finally understood something Heavenly Dagger wasn't just a weapon, it was something more.
And now, he was about to show it.
-
Unleashing the Hidden Power
Dzeth gripped Heavenly Dagger tightly.
His energy surged not Limitless Energy, but something new.
"Let's see if you can keep up with this, Razou."
Dzeth vanished.
Razou's eyes widened. "Impossible...!"
Before he could react, Dzeth was already behind him.
SLASH!
A deep cut appeared on Razou's arm.
"He's faster than me now?!"
Razou gritted his teeth and attempted to counterattack, but Dzeth had already moved three steps ahead.
Another slash.
Then another.
And another.
Dzeth wasn't just dodging he was completely overwhelming Razou with a newfound level of speed.
Razou tried using Universe Movement, but
BOOM!
Dzeth parried his attack effortlessly and sent him flying with a single strike.
Razou crashed into a tree, blood dripping from his lips.
"H-How... did he get this strong?!"
Dzeth walked towards him, his expression calm yet terrifying.
"Your technique is fast, but it lacks something important."
Razou struggled to stand. "And what's that?!"
Dzeth lifted Heavenly Dagger, pointing it directly at him.
"Control."
In an instant
Dzeth appeared right in front of Razou, his blade stopping just inches from his neck.
"I win."
Razou froze, his body trembling.
For the first time, he truly felt powerless.
-
The Aftermath
A few moments later, Dzeth stepped back, lowering his weapon.
"You don't need to fight me, Razou. Use your strength for something better."
Razou clenched his fists. "Tch..."
He hated to admit it, but Dzeth was far ahead of him now.
Without another word, Razou turned away and disappeared into the forest.
Dzeth let out a deep sigh.
"That was... exhausting."
Suddenly, he felt something strange.
The power of Heavenly Dagger it had awakened something inside him.
"This blade... it's more than just a weapon."
He looked at his hand, feeling a new kind of energy coursing through him.
What exactly was Heavenly Dagger?
That question lingered in his mind as he made his way home.
Little did he know, his battles were only just beginning.
-
The Scientist's Next Move
Elsewhere, in a hidden laboratory, the mysterious scientist observed everything through his monitors.
"So… the boy is evolving even faster than I anticipated."
He grinned.
"This makes things interesting."
The scientist turned to a large containment chamber behind him. Inside was a figure, its body pulsing with immense energy.
"Soon… he will face something far beyond his understanding."
The scientist pressed a button.
The chamber began to open.
-
Chapter 13 End. . . .