[Scene: Ari and Tracey Discover the Lab]
Ari and Tracey step into the dimly lit underground facility, their footsteps echoing. Rows of glass cells line the walls—each containing unconscious, enhanced humans submerged in glowing liquid. Their bodies twitch faintly, as if reacting to unseen magic.
Suddenly, a mysterious boy reveals himself at the center of the room. His gaze is cold, calculating.
Without a word, he lifts his hand.
Twenty Hollowborn—mind-controlled warriors, each radiating intense elemental energy—emerge from the shadows.
Tracey clenches his fists. Ashenfang growls beside him.
Ari narrows her eyes, blade drawn.
The Hollowborn charge.
Despite Ari and Ashenfang's combined attacks, the Hollowborn regenerate quickly, countering with elemental blasts under the boy's precise control. Fire, ice, wind, lightning—it overwhelms them.
Ari sees no other option.
She charges the boy directly—but is overpowered, caught in his trap, and sent crashing through multiple rooms, smashing through walls and pillars. Her body rolls to a stop, bloodied and battered—but her eyes still burn with resolve.
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[Scene: Ari vs. The Mysterious Boy – Combat Begins]
Ari charged.
Her blade hummed with faint light as she closed the distance. The boy didn't move—until the last moment. A simple tilt of his body—and her first slash missed by inches.
He countered with a spinning heel kick.
It connected.
Ari flew sideways, her back crashing into a broken pillar. Dust exploded on impact.
She gritted her teeth, pain flooding her ribs—but she rolled aside just before his foot could stomp down on her skull.
Swipe!
His follow-up punch grazed her shoulder. She ducked, pivoted, and landed two rapid strikes across his side. Sparks flew as her blade connected—his coat sliced open.
He didn't flinch.
He grabbed her by the collar, yanked her up—and headbutted her.
Her vision spun. Blood ran down her nose as she stumbled backward.
He advanced again—calm, silent, merciless.
Ari kicked off a stone slab and launched herself forward. Her blade moved in a flurry—six precise strikes in under two seconds.
He blocked all of them.
Then—his palm glowed faintly purple.
With one devastating strike to her chest, Ari was blasted backward.
She slid across the dirt, coughing violently.
Her fingers curled into the ground. Her breath came hard and fast. Slowly, she rose—light beginning to pulse around her.
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Light Drive: Second Mode.
Her hair floated slightly. Her eyes turned silver-gold. Her body radiated a controlled, focused shine.
She vanished—a streak of white light.
Reappearing behind him—her slash came from above.
The boy raised an arm to block—
CRACK!
Her enhanced strength pushed him back a step.
She didn't stop.
Another strike. Then another.
Her blade glowed brighter with each swing. The battlefield lit up with the intensity of their clash.
She forced him into movement. Her strikes became unpredictable: slashes turned into feints, stabs shifted into spinning arcs.
One finally broke through—cutting across his upper thigh.
His leg buckled slightly.
Ari pivoted, dropped low, and spun—sweeping his legs. As he fell, she leapt—light gathering at her blade's tip—and slammed it down.
He blocked with both hands.
The ground shattered from the impact. A crater formed. Dust billowed high.
Ari landed a few feet away, panting. Sweat mixed with blood along her jawline.
She dashed in again.
He reappeared behind her in a flicker—his speed now matched hers.
Their clash became a blur.
Fist to sword.
Foot to ribs.
She ducked, he elbowed. She kicked, he caught it—but she twisted, using the momentum to slash across his arm.
Another cut.
His expression stayed unreadable—but his movements grew faster, harsher.
He slammed two brutal punches into her abdomen—she gagged.
Her Light Drive held her up—barely.
He reached for her head—she parried, spun, and elbowed his throat.
He staggered.
She jumped back—light gathered in her legs—and she launched forward again, faster than before.
Every strike was blinding.
Ari pushed past her limits.
Her body ached. Her wounds screamed. But she didn't stop.
She sliced across his back—he turned, fist glowing purple—and punched.
Her Light Drive absorbed most of it, but she flew again.
This time—she rolled, bounced, and flipped mid-air—landing in a low crouch.
She took a single breath.
Then launched again, sword trailing white light through the air.
A full-on assault.
Ten slashes.
He dodged most.
Two connected—shoulder and side.
He blurred behind her—struck her back.
She fell to one knee.
Blood dripped from her lip.
She stood again.
They dashed toward each other.
Ari pushed harder—her blade now igniting with radiant light.
SLASH!
They crossed paths. A moment of silence.
Then—his coat tore shoulder to hip.
She dropped to one knee—panting, shaking—but conscious.
He turned—blood now dripping from his side. His breathing was louder.
Both were injured.
Ari raised her hand.
Light surged around her, forming dozens of glowing light-rods—shaped like arrows—orbiting her in a celestial ring.
With a sharp motion—FWIP!
They all launched—a radiant hailstorm streaking toward the boy.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
But before they could strike—
FWOOSH!
A wall of fire erupted around him. The arrows burned up instantly—reduced to ash before they touched his skin.
A flicker of surprise crossed his face.
Then—Ari appeared behind him, her blade glowing white, swinging for his neck.
CLANG!
He raised his arm just in time.
Sparks burst from the clash.
He didn't flinch.
He smiled.
BOOM!
Flames exploded beneath her feet.
Ari gasped—a column of fire erupted around her.
But—
FLASH!
Her light magic neutralized the fire, scattering embers across the chamber.
She flipped back, landing hard, panting. A thin burn marked her side.
She stared at him.
Ari (thinking): He's strong—too strong. This pressure… It's like facing a Vice General… maybe even worse. That fire, that control… He's definitely an S-Rank magic user.
The boy stood calmly—fire fading from his fingertips—eyes locked on her with cold amusement.
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[Scene: Tracey vs. the Hollowborn]
So many Hollowborn attacked Tracey together at the same time. Around him, Ashenfang stood firm, growling with heat rippling off his body.
Tracey: "Ashenfang—Earth Crush!"
Ashenfang slammed his front legs into the ground—BOOM!
The ground shook violently, cracking and breaking. Some Hollowborn lost balance—falling.
Tracey: "Now—Flame Combustion!"
BOOM!
A massive burst of fire exploded outward.
Smoke filled the hall.
Slowly—it cleared.
The Hollowborn were still alive.
Tracey (frustrated): "How in the world are they gonna be defeated, man!?"
He gritted his teeth.
Tracey: "Beast Magic: Half Control!"
He slammed both fists together.
BOOM!
Flames erupted between them.
His fists lit up—engulfed in fire. His feet too.
In a blur, he appeared in front of a Hollowborn and punched its face, sending it flying several meters away.
He spun, landing a flaming leg sweep on another Hollowborn nearby.
Ashenfang joined in—attacking with flame strikes and raw physical power.
Tracey leapt onto Ashenfang's back, then jumped even higher—aiming a fire-infused punch straight into a group of clustered Hollowborn.
CRASH!
They were slammed into the ground.
One lunged at Tracey—but Ashenfang tackled it mid-air with a flaming headbutt.
Tracey panted—he was fading.
Tracey (to himself): I just recently started using this trick… and I still can't hold it long. It gives me flame magic—but it also drains Ashenfang's. Worst part? This form needs magic from both of us. A double drain…
If I don't end this fast… it's not just me. Ashenfang'll go down too. And that… that's not an option.