—Are you the leader? What is it you want? —Danes asked, his body still tense, eyes locked on the man with the violet hair.
—I want peace —he replied, his voice firm and calm—. The world needs peace. And I will give it to them.
Danes understood instantly. His presence, his tone, the way the other masked figures looked at him… yes, it was him. The leader.
—Achieving peace is far beyond our reach. As long as humans breathe, there will be war —Danes said, keeping his composure, ready for another attack.
—You're wrong, Guardian. We can all live in peace. Guardians and Arkanos alike. But the leaders… the powerful ones… they are the ones who seek war. Out of ego, ambition, and fear. I will break that cycle. I will give them the peace the world has failed to build.
—Your words sound righteous, but your actions say otherwise. You destroyed an entire city. You killed innocents… and still speak of peace?
—Peace demands sacrifice, Guardian. They are inevitable casualties.
—Then you're not talking about peace —Danes shot back—, you're talking about control. If you want peace, don't destroy those who long for it.
The masked man took a step forward. —BOOOM!— A dark energy rippled through the air like a deep hum, making the ground tremble beneath his feet.
—Guardian… you think like a human. And though your power is remarkable, you're still chained to your morality. To understand me, you would have to think like a god.
—I'm afraid I don't believe in gods —Danes replied.
—Then allow me to show you one.
The masked figure who had revived the giant before stepped forward. —CRAAACK!— He struck the ground with both palms, and a black flash spread like a shockwave. In seconds, the landscape ravaged by battle began to rebuild: shattered trees stood tall again as if pushed by an invisible tide of time, stones returned to their places, craters vanished. The forest was whole once more, as if nothing had happened.
—Do you see, Guardian? I have the power to destroy… and to rebuild. Unlike you.
Danes took a step back, his gaze darkening.
—That's impossible —he whispered.
—It's reality. Surrender… or die —the leader decreed.
Danes frowned. Something ignited inside him. Not fear, but pure determination.
—I want to see you try —he said. Then he raised both hands and shouted—: Fifth Core Release… Shadow Distortion!
—BWOOOSH!— A dense darkness surged from his back like a living wave. A figure emerged from the shadow, taking form: an exact replica of the monster he had faced earlier. Same stance. Same height. Same lethal energy.
The masked figures tensed.
—Interesting —the leader said with a faint smile—. You've replicated your opponent… through observation?
—Through experience. I learned every one of his moves while we fought. Now they're mine.
The original giant roared and charged with even greater fury. —DOOOM!— The ground split under his steps.
Danes stood his ground. His living shadow intercepted the blow, and the collision sent a surge of energy exploding with a —BAAANG!—
Without warning, another masked figure appeared at his side. He wielded a massive sword radiating violent light. —SWOOOSH!— Danes dodged on instinct, but the sword unleashed a shockwave that caught him full-on. —KAA-BOOOM!— The impact flung him through the air like a broken puppet.
As he fell, a third one raised his palm and unleashed a spiraling blast of dark energy that roared with a deep, distorting hum, bending the air around it.
Danes gritted his teeth. He thrust his hands forward and shouted:
—Fourth Core Release… Divine Wall!
—SHIIIING!— A golden wall of light burst into existence before him, solid and blinding as the sun. The spiraling blast struck it with a —BRAAAAM!— that shook the entire forest. Still, the wall held.
Danes landed on his feet amid shattered leaves and torn earth, panting.
—They're strong… but not invincible —he spat with a half-smile—. Still, I must be careful. One wrong move, and I'm dead —he thought.
Before him, the three masked figures stood aligned.
The shadow he had summoned readied itself for the counterattack.
The real fight was only just beginning… and even the air itself seemed to wait for the next explosion.