Chapter 17 – Awakening of the Dark Art
The plaza of Fevay had turned into a battlefield.The air reeked of metal and smoke, banners were torn apart, and the cracked stones beneath them trembled with every clash.Morde and Riyo stood on opposite ends of the square — as if the entire world had narrowed down to just the two of them.
Every strike, every swing of their weapons tore deeper into the ground, shaking nearby walls and echoing through the ruins.
"Soon you'll die!" Morde roared as he advanced, his shadow surging behind him like a living storm. "Facing me was your greatest mistake!"
A shiver ran through Riyo's body.For a brief moment, a dangerous thought crossed his mind — Am I… losing?That doubt burned away into fury. He clenched the hilt of his blade tighter, turning fear into strength.
They clashed again. Riyo fought with desperate precision, pushing his body past its limits, while Morde struck like a machine powered by something darker — a force that seemed to whisper from beneath the earth.
High above, in the Tedya Valley, Kai sat cross-legged, eyes closed, surrounded by thin air and cutting wind.His master stood beside him, watching each breath, each pulse of energy.
"Good," the old man said, his tone cold and firm. "You've reached the fourth stage. But now you must harden what you've built. That means repeating everything under harsher conditions."
Kai frowned. "But getting here was already hard… how can it be worse?"
The old man smiled faintly. "We'll climb to the top of the valley. There, I'll give you five hours. Complete all tasks within that time, and you'll earn the right to reach the fifth stage."
"The fifth stage?" Kai's eyes lit up. "You mean… the Domain?"
"Not yet," his master interrupted. "For now, you'll lay the foundation for your ultimate technique. Without your own ultimate art, you'll never survive in this world. Move."
They climbed higher. The air grew thinner, sharper. One misstep here could mean death.
"Stay focused!" his master barked. "If you fall here, you'll never stand again in the real world.And Kai—" he paused, his voice lowering, "Morde is fighting right now."
Kai's eyes snapped open. "What? Morde? Against who?"
"A warrior named Riyo," the old man replied. "Strong enough to challenge him… but Morde carries something inside that won't allow defeat. That worries me."
"What do you mean—'inside him'?" Kai asked, but his master only turned away.
"Focus on your training. Sit there, by the stone. You'll practice breath control for one hour. The energy here is suffocating, which is exactly why I brought you. Begin."
Kai obeyed, closing his eyes again.Morde is fighting. Then I have no time to rest.He inhaled deeply, shaping every breath into strength.
Back in Fevay, chaos ruled.Riyo lifted his sword to his shoulder, gathering every ounce of energy he had left.The shattered weapons and metal fragments scattered across the ground began to rise — spinning and fusing together around him.
"Everyone, fall back!" the head scout shouted. "At least twenty-five meters! That energy is unstable!"
The soldiers obeyed, retreating fast as the metallic storm thickened around Riyo.He pulled it inward, condensing the fragments into a massive sphere of compressed metal.
"Nihai Tekniği…" he whispered, his voice trembling with exhaustion. Then he screamed—"Annihilating Metal Sphere!"
At the same time, Morde spread his hands. His eyes turned pitch-black. Shadows pulsed around him like a heartbeat.
Every battle makes you stronger, a voice whispered in his mind."Then lend me strength," Morde replied, his tone cold.
Four black arrows emerged from his shadow — Dark Art.
The two forces collided.The metal sphere roared forward like thunder, while the dark arrows streaked through the air, cutting reality itself.When they met, the explosion ripped through the city — sky and ground trembled together, leaving a massive crater at the plaza's center.
When the dust cleared, Riyo was on his knees, drenched in blood, barely breathing.His soldiers gasped. "Lord Riyo… he's—he's defeated?"
Morde stood in silence, his breath heavy. Yet one arrow still hovered behind him.
The head scout, thinking Morde was out of energy, shouted, "Now! Everyone, attack!"He charged forward——but the last arrow split in midair.
One half pierced the scout's chest.The other curved sharply toward Riyo.
The scout's eyes widened. "Wha… what is this…?"He collapsed instantly, lifeless.
Riyo looked up weakly, barely whispering: "You're strong… but you'll still lose one day…"Then his eyes faded, his body went still.
Morde knelt slowly."I'll fight even fate itself," he muttered. "Even destiny will kneel before me."
Meanwhile, three hunter boats docked quietly at Fevay's shore.Their leader spoke quickly, greed glimmering in his eyes. "We get in, kill Morde, take the 30 million Bel, and we're gone. Don't underestimate him."
But someone else was already there — Neros.
He stepped out from the shadows, eyes glowing faintly. "Who are you?"
The hunter leader froze, recognizing the man instantly. "You're Neros… from Impernos."He smirked. "Doesn't matter. Move aside — you can't stop us."
Neros tilted his head slightly. "I won't allow you to enter Fevay."
The leader growled and gave the signal.The hunters attacked in unison — but before they could even close the distance, Neros raised his hand.
Two chains of pure ash and flame erupted from the ground, slicing through the air.The hunters screamed as the chains pierced their chests and burned through their bodies.
The last hunter fell to his knees, blood spilling from his lips. "D… Diana…" he whispered before falling silent.
Neros lowered his hand, staring at the fading ember of life before him. "Diana…" he repeated softly. "I won't forget that name."
Back in Tedya Valley, the old master finally spoke. "Enough," he said."Time flows differently here — one hour here is two outside. You've passed the first test."
Kai opened his eyes. "An hour already? I didn't even feel it."
"Now," the old man continued, "for your final trial of this stage:You'll break that rock — three times the size of the one you shattered before.Do this, and you'll complete the fourth stage."
Kai stood up, his fists clenched. "Let's begin, master. I have something to show you."