The battleground was a desolate, forsaken wasteland, scarred by endless war and dark magic.
The sky above was a swirling mass of storm clouds, crackling with unnatural lightning that cast flickering shadows across the terrain.
Pools of black and crimson blood stained the cracked earth, seeping into the ground like the veins of some ancient, wounded beast.
Dead undeads, twisted and decayed, lay scattered around—rotted corpses with vacant eyes staring into the void, their bones jutting from mangled flesh.
The air reeked of decay and dark sorcery, a place where hope seemed to have been drained along with the life force of the fallen.
In the midst of this chaos, Bolt's electric sword hummed with a fierce, thunderous energy, the blades crackling with sparks as he turned sharply to face In-Su. His expression was stern, eyes blazing with anticipation.
He waited, as if sensing the impending clash.
In-Su stepped forward, his face a mask of seriousness and annoyance. His sharp, fang-filled grin caught the flickering light as he tilted his head slightly, a cool, commanding presence.
"Bolt... You've been waiting for me, right?" His voice was low, almost a dangerous whisper, edged with menace. "I can see how restless you are."
Bolt tightened his grip on his storm-charged sword, the crackle of electricity growing louder.
His voice rumbled deep and steady. "Don't talk too much. Let's get this over with. I'm already tired of this whole problem."
In-Su's eyes flickered with a dark resolve.
"You're tired of this problem? I've been living with problems my whole life. I think you can handle it," he retorted, black magic swirling around his hands.
Shadows coiled like serpents, forming a dark sword that shimmered with ominous power.
He sighed, a mixture of frustration and determination. "But you're right… Let's just do it."
"Everyone, move back," In-Su commanded, his voice echoing with authority. "This is definitely going to be messy."
Behind him, Terranox whispered to Emberion, Zephyria, Aquaris, and Elara, sensing the chaos on the horizon.
Elara raised her hands, summoning a shimmering icy barrier around them—an enchanted shield of glowing blue frost, shimmering like crystalline glass, protecting them from the impending storm of dark magic and violence.
The air crackled with tension as Bolt and In-Su faced each other, their weapons poised and ready.
In-Su's eyes gleamed with anticipation, waiting silently for Bolt to make the first move.
The battleground seemed to hold its breath, the dark sky swirling ominously above them.
Bolt's voice echoed through the chaos, sharp and commanding. "You think you're enough to stop me, In-Su? Think again!"
In-Su smirked, his fangs glinting menacingly. "You talk too much, Bolt. Let's see if your blade can back up your words."
Suddenly, Bolt lunged forward, lightning surging along his sword as he swung with a thunderous roar.
In-Su reacted instantly, dodging with a swift, fluid motion, the shadows swirling around him like a cloak.
He ducked under Bolt's strike, the sharp edge missing by a hair, sparks flying as the blades narrowly missed each other.
"You're slow," In-Su taunted, voice cool and mocking. "Is that all you've got?"
Bolt snarled, lightning crackling brighter as he pressed his attack. His strikes came faster, more aggressive, each blow designed to overwhelm.
In-Su dodged again, the shadows helping him evade the furious onslaught, but he wasn't just passive.
When the moment was right, In-Su struck back, his dark sword slicing through the air with deadly precision.
"You're just a fool hiding behind magic and electricity," In-Su spat, voice sharp as his blade. "This ends now."
Bolt's eyes widened as In-Su's attack closed in. The two clashed, blades colliding with a deafening clash of power.
Sparks and dark energy exploded outward, the force of their fight shaking the very ground beneath them.
Bolt pushed forward, his strength waning but his fury driving him. In-Su, sensing weakness, suddenly shifted his stance, unleashing a swift, devastating counterattack.
Bolt's footing faltered.
The force of In-Su's strike was too much—his body was sent flying backward with a violent force, crashing into the debris-strewn ground.
Dust and blood mingled as Bolt skidded to a halt, stunned, struggling to recover from the blow.
In-Su's voice echoed over the battlefield, cold and victorious. "Looks like you're not strong enough after all."
Bolt struggled to rise, blood trickling from his lip, eyes blazing with stubborn defiance. "This isn't over… I'll come back… stronger."
The fight was far from finished, but the first clash had already tipped the scales—In-Su standing victorious, yet knowing the battle still raged on beneath the stormy sky.
In-Su's eyes burned with suspicion and fury as he stepped closer, voice low and menacing.
"Tell me what really happened, Bolt. Don't hide behind your lies anymore. I want the truth—what did you do?"
Bolt clutched his side, blood seeping through his wounds as he staggered back, eyes blazing with frustration.
"I… need a minute, what truth are you talking about?" he rasped, voice strained but defiant. His body trembled—not just from pain, but from the weight of secrets he had long buried.
In-Su's gaze sharpened, the shadows swirling around him growing darker. He stepped forward, voice trembling with a mix of anger and sorrow.
"You were lying, Bolt. I know the truth. You didn't sacrifice yourself. My brother did. He summoned that power, not you. You couldn't handle it—so you ran, hiding behind lies."
Bolt's face twisted with rage, eyes burning with unspoken pain.
"No," he snapped, voice fierce. "That's not true. I didn't run. I was trying to protect everyone. I—"
In-Su's expression darkened, cutting him off with a growl. "Protect? Or hide? You think I don't see through your excuses? My brother gave everything—his life—so you could live. And what did you do? You let him die!"
Bolt's fists clenched tightly, trembling with fury. "You don't know what I've been through! I carry that burden every day. I didn't want to see him die, but I failed—"
"You failed because you're weak," In-Su spat, voice cold and relentless.
"Weak and selfish. You've been hiding your guilt, pretending you're the hero. But heroes don't hide from the truth."
Bolt's voice cracked as he shouted, "I'll kill you for what you're saying! I swear—"
In-Su's eyes flashed with fury, and with a swift, dark slash, he lunged forward, blades clashing again.
The air exploded with a surge of rage and pain as they fought—each blow charged with raw emotion.
Bolt fought with everything he had, swinging wildly, driven by anger and grief, while In-Su matched him with a furious, righteous fury.
"You think you can just erase the past?" In-Su snarled, pushing Bolt back.
"You think your anger can undo what you did? No. You're going to pay for it. Every second you hide, every lie you tell, it's all going to end with your blood."
Bolt roared, striking back with a ferocity born of heartbreak. "I won't let you win! I won't let your hatred define me!"
Their blades collided again, sparks flying, as they fought with the desperation of those who had long been burdened by secrets.
The storm above raged on, mirroring the chaos in their hearts—each clash a testament to the pain, anger, and unresolved truths tearing them apart.