The world within the expansion of space had now become a battlefield of two different dimensions.
Zero's **"Cursed Temple: Eternal Frost"** had collided with Shadow's "Eternal Shadow" field.
The sky above was cracking, the ground was breaking into ice and shadow.
Zero clenched his hands. His fingertips were aching from the cold.
But his eyes were still unwavering.
Shadow, on the other hand, remained motionless. His eyeless face was expressionless, but his dark aura was beginning to shake.
"Your power… has grown more than I thought."
"But you are still inadequate."
The shadows suddenly rose.
Zero sensed something coming—his sixth sense… but this time it was too late.
Shadow suddenly appeared in front of him, throwing a dark fist towards his stomach.
Zero defended, but it was inadequate. The shadows deeply penetrated his body, and he was thrown to the ground.
The ground mixed with ice, soaked in blood.
Zero fell to his knees, a mixture of sweat and blood dripping down from his forehead.
"I expected more," Shadow said, walking closer.
"You're even stronger than Kai, but you can still… break."
Zero suddenly laughed as he looked down.
"Interesting… Every time I fall down… I get back up even harder."
He suddenly slammed his left hand down.
Ice particles began to climb up Shadow's ankles.
For the first time, Shadow… backed away.
Zero rose to his feet, his left shoulder injured, but his eyes sparkling again.
"You can control the shadows, but I can… freeze the darkness."
Shadow opened his hands, reshaping the surrounding area.
The shadows began to dance again.
But this time, Zero was ready too.
They faced each other in the center of the field.
One was the essence of darkness.
The other was the will that had brought that darkness to heel.
A few seconds of silence…
And then… the clash.
Fists, ice spears, shadow swords, echoing vibrations.
Each attack pushed the limits of the field.
Zero took another blow to the stomach, took a step back.
But then he didn't jump back—he lunged forward.
"Frozen Fang!"
He attacked with a sharp force like an ice claw.
Shadow pulled back, but his left side was scratched.
For the first time…he was injured.
They both stopped.
They were breathing.
The fields were trembling.
Zero knelt, blood flowing from his chest.
Shadow began to retreat without looking back.
"That's enough…for now. But I'll be back. And then…this will won't be enough."
Zero didn't answer.
He just whispered to himself:
"Until then…I'll grow stronger."