The masked warrior with the giant sword was the first to lunge. His weapon tore through the air with a deadly whistle, but Danes' living shadow stepped in firmly, blocking the blow and kicking up a cloud of dust that shrouded the battlefield for a moment.
From the flanks, three more enemies arrived almost at the same time. Two others descended from above, falling like projectiles, aiming to crush Danes with a combined strike.
But he didn't back down.
With precise, furious movements, Danes spun on his axis, dodging a spear of fire and blocking a punch of dark energy with his hardened forearm. He slammed his fist, brimming with power, into an opponent's chest, sending him flying into a tree.
Another tried to grab him from the right — Danes twisted his arm and slammed him into the ground, burying him several meters deep.
Every punch he threw exploded with a small shockwave. His technique was brutal, fast. Despite being outnumbered, Danes dominated close combat with an almost animalistic ferocity.
The masked warrior with the massive sword attacked again. He swung violently, and the air around him cracked. The slash was coming straight for Danes.
But just before impact, the living shadow the guardian had summoned stepped forward and took the blow head-on. The collision unleashed a wave of energy, tossing dirt and branches into the air like a contained explosion.
—Good work —Danes murmured.
He had barely caught his breath when the other masked fighters moved in. Three already in the fray, plus two more joining, launched a coordinated, brutal assault.
The five closed in at close range, surrounding him. One appeared behind and locked his arms, immobilizing him. At that exact moment, the spiral wielder — the one with the dark palm — extended his hand. A new crackling spiral of energy formed, spinning with more power than before.
The other four positioned themselves at equidistant points, just meters away from Danes. From their hands, weapons, and eyes, they began charging different long-range abilities: searing flames capable of consuming everything in their path, stingers of light, compressed sound waves, and an ice spear. All aimed directly at Danes.
The guardian took a deep breath. His heart pounded like a drum.
—If I take these attacks head-on… I'm dead —he thought for a brief instant.
Energy surged around him. Everything was about to explode.
Then, he shouted:
—Ninth Core Release… Zero Dimension!
A rift of light tore reality open, as if the very air had been cut. In an instant, Danes' body vanished. Everything froze.
The combined attack struck empty space — he was gone.
In an ethereal plane of black and white, without gravity or direction, Danes floated.
There was no sound, no temperature — only a hollow calm.
—Here, I can think… regain my focus —he said to himself—. But I don't have much time… this technique drains too much of my core's energy… if I stay too long… I'll die.
He looked at his hands. Still steady. His energy wasn't depleted yet. He began to picture his counterattack. But something… interrupted his concentration.
A crack split open in the colorless air.
Four dark figures emerged from it — the masked warriors.
—They… entered my dimension!? —Danes exclaimed in shock.
One of them let out a dry laugh.
—Big mistake, guardian… we can follow you anywhere.
Danes clenched his teeth… then smirked.
—No… the mistake… was yours. Here, my power is absolute.
His eyes gleamed. His aura erupted like a comet.
—Tenth Core Release: Full Combat Mode… activate!
He lunged at them. In this dimension, his speed multiplied. Every strike became a beam of energy. One after another, he struck with overwhelming force. These weren't just blows — they were bursts of concentrated power, explosions of pure technique.
The masked fighters could barely react.
Within seconds, they were all left floating, unconscious or on the verge of collapse.
Danes exhaled sharply. He opened a new portal and stepped out of Zero Dimension.
Back in reality, his body reappeared over the scorched grass.
The leader was waiting. He didn't flinch at the sight of his fallen warriors.
He spread his arms.
An invisible energy spread out like an ethereal prison. Danes was trapped — his body wouldn't move. He was paralyzed.
—This is… an absolute seal —he thought—. I can't break free…
His eyes shifted forward.
The healer — the masked one who had restored everyone before — was approaching slowly. His intent was clear: revive the defeated warriors.
Danes swallowed hard. His mind raced. He couldn't allow it.
Then… he smiled.
—Exactly as I planned…
In the blink of an eye, the guardian vanished from his prison — and reappeared behind the healer.
—What…!?
Danes, eyes blazing with energy, roared:
—Secret Technique… Extinction Strike!
His fist connected squarely with the center of the healer's back. The explosion was short, sharp — but final. The masked figure's body crumpled like an empty sack, lifeless, drained of all energy.
—One down —Danes said, lowering his arm and locking eyes with the leader.
The tension in the air grew heavier. The guardian hadn't just survived… he had begun to win.
And the leader knew it.