The domain went quiet.
The silence was almost eerie, a sudden shift from the chaotic battle that had been raging just moments before. The air felt heavy, thick with the tension of the moment, as if the very space around Luke was holding its breath, waiting to see what would happen next.
Luke was breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling with each labored breath. His fist was still clenched, and steam was rising from it, a visible reminder of the raw power he had just unleashed. The impact he had made against the Spectral was significant, but it had come at a great cost. His body was battered, his muscles screaming in protest with every movement, but his eyes remained focused, filled with a determination that refused to waver.
"The… domain… probably nullifies healing, considering how I can't regenerate my arm…" Luke said to himself, his voice rough and strained from the effort of speaking. His gaze shifted down to where his arm had been severed, the wound still fresh and bleeding. The sight was both terrifying and sobering, a stark reminder of the reality of his situation. Without his arm, his ability to fight was severely compromised, and yet he couldn't afford to dwell on the loss.
Thinking quickly, Luke grabbed his belt with his remaining hand and tied it tightly around the stump where his arm had been. The makeshift tourniquet slowed the bleeding, but the pain was intense, a searing agony that threatened to overwhelm him. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to focus, knowing that he couldn't afford to let the pain distract him from what he needed to do next.
"The Spectral's healing has to be supplied from somewhere…" Luke muttered, his mind racing as he tried to piece together the puzzle. The Spectral's ability to heal so rapidly was unnatural, something that had to be fueled by a specific source within the domain. If he could just figure out what that source was, he might have a chance to neutralize it. His thoughts were fragmented, scattered by the pain and exhaustion, but he clung to the one idea that kept him moving forward: he didn't need to kill the Spectral. He just needed to incapacitate it long enough for Yoji's plan to work.
Luke got into a fighting stance, his body tense and ready despite the pain. His remaining hand was clenched into a fist, every muscle in his body coiled like a spring, ready to unleash whatever strength he had left. "I don't need to kill it… I just need to neutralize the Domain so Yoji can take over the Spectral's body," Luke said aloud, as if speaking the words would make them true. The plan was risky, almost suicidal, but it was the only plan they had. There was no turning back now.
At this point, the Spectral had already healed from their previous clash and was charging towards Luke at full speed. Its movements were fluid and relentless, a blur of motion that seemed almost unnatural in the dark, eerie domain. The creature's eyes gleamed with a cold, malevolent light, and there was a sense of arrogance in its movements, as if it believed itself to be invincible.
Luke braced himself, his body tense as he prepared for the next attack. His mind was sharp, focused on the task at hand. He had already lost an arm, and his body was pushed to its limits, but he knew that he couldn't afford to hesitate. When the Spectral was close enough, Luke threw a punch with all the strength he could muster. The impact was solid, the force of the blow sending shockwaves through his own body, but the loss of his hand made it difficult to deliver the full power he intended. The Spectral barely flinched, and Luke could feel the frustration mounting within him.
"AYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH!!!" The Spectral screamed, a sound that was both animalistic and otherworldly. The shriek echoed through the domain, reverberating off the walls of the space around them. The sound was deafening, causing Luke's head to throb with pain. Before he could react, the Spectral lunged at him, shoving both of its hands into Luke's chest with brutal force. The sharp claws tore through flesh and bone, penetrating his lungs. Luke gasped, blood spurting from the wound as he struggled to breathe. Each breath was a battle, the pain in his chest so intense that it nearly drove him to his knees. His vision began to blur, dark spots dancing in front of his eyes, but he forced himself to stay conscious. He couldn't give up. Not now.
The Spectral looked down at Luke, a twisted smile spreading across its face as it relished in his suffering. It seemed almost surprised, however, when it noticed that Luke was still fighting back. Despite the searing pain in his chest, Luke was raising his left hand, his fingers trembling with the effort. He crossed his index and middle fingers, a small but deliberate gesture that seemed almost out of place in such a dire situation. The Spectral's eyes narrowed in suspicion, its grin fading as it sensed that something was about to happen.
Luke held his hand up at face level, his eyes locking onto the Spectral's with an intensity that sent a shiver down the creature's spine. With his last bit of air, Luke managed to mutter, "Sacred Ability: Sacred Exchange."
The words barely left his lips before the air around them crackled with energy. The atmosphere seemed to shift, growing heavier as if charged with electricity. The Spectral suddenly found itself unable to move, its body frozen in place as if trapped by an invisible force. The energy swirling around Luke intensified, forming a barrier that enveloped the Spectral, holding it within its confines. The Spectral's eyes widened in realization as it began to understand the gravity of the situation. It struggled desperately against the barrier, but no matter how hard it fought, it couldn't break free. The power of Luke's Sacred Ability was too strong, binding it with a force that was beyond its comprehension.
The white domain around them began to lose its color, the vibrant hues fading to a dull gray as the energy of Luke's Sacred Ability took hold. The world around them seemed to contract, the walls of the domain closing in as the Spectral was drawn deeper into the trap that Luke had set. There was a sense of finality in the air, a feeling that this was the beginning of the end.
Flashback
Luke's mind drifted back to a conversation he had with Yoji not long ago, a memory that seemed almost distant now. They had been preparing for this moment, knowing that the fight against the Spectral would be their greatest challenge.
"You don't need to kill the Spectral, just incapacitate it," Yoji had said, his voice calm and reassuring. "If you can neutralize its power, even for a short time, I'll be able to take over its body and finish the job."
Flashback over
The memory faded, and Luke was once again fully present in the domain, the weight of Yoji's words giving him strength. He knew what he had to do. The Spectral had entered Luke's Sacred Ability, and now it was only a matter of time before the plan came to fruition.
The domain creaked under the strain of the energy contained within it, the walls groaning as if they were on the verge of collapse. Luke could feel the pressure building, the energy swirling around him like a storm. His body was pushed to its absolute limits, every muscle aching from the effort of maintaining the barrier. He was bleeding from the mouth now, the taste of iron sharp on his tongue. The pain was excruciating, but he knew it was a necessary price to pay.
Luke's Sacred Ability, Sacred Exchange, was a powerful but dangerous tool. It allowed him to temporarily fry the brain of anyone trapped within the domain, rendering them incapacitated. The downside, however, was that the ability also inflicted damage on Luke himself, though to a lesser extent. The strain of using the ability was immense, and Luke could feel the toll it was taking on his body. His vision blurred, his limbs trembled, and he could feel the warmth of blood trickling down his chin.
Meanwhile, outside the two domains, Anakiss was standing, watching the events unfold. He had been observing the battle from a distance, waiting for the right moment to make his move. Anakiss was a creature of immense power, and he knew that his opportunity was coming. He could see the overlap between the two domains, the point where they intersected, and he knew that this was his chance.
Anakiss walked forward with purpose, his eyes fixed on the spot where the domains overlapped. He knew that when two domains were overlapping, a gate would temporarily open, allowing passage between them. It was a rare occurrence, but Anakiss was well-versed in the intricacies of such battles, and he intended to take full advantage of the situation.
Meanwhile, inside the domain, Luke could hear a loud creaking noise, the sound of the domain straining under the pressure of the energy it contained. He looked up, his vision still blurred, and saw a figure walking towards him. For a moment, he thought it might be the Spectral, breaking free of its bonds, but as the figure drew closer, he realized with a sinking feeling who it was.
It was Anakiss.
"Guess who~" Anakiss said, his voice dripping with mockery. But before he could say anything else, he suddenly began to vomit blood, the red liquid spilling from his mouth in thick, dark streams.
"M-MY BRAIN!" Anakiss screamed, his voice filled with agony. The effects of Luke's Sacred Ability.
To Be Continued!