As told by Trask
The world was spinning. My body ached, my mana reserves were nearly depleted, and the Shadow's power—once a comforting surge of strength—now felt like a chain tightening around my neck. I could feel the toll it was taking on me, the corrosive energy eating away at my very essence. But I couldn't stop. Not now. Not when I was so close to proving myself.
Trevor Maymum, the 2nd Lord of the Hazel, had arrived. Of course, he had. ArchenLand's top guns, sent just for me. I should have been flattered, but all I felt was rage. Rage at their arrogance, their condescension, their belief that they could end me so easily.
Trevor squatted down in front of Daruis, who was kneeling, battered and bruised. "Wow, you are really banged up," Trevor said, his tone light, almost teasing. "Probably more banged up than the other guys."
Daruis simply grunted in agreement, his breathing heavy.
"I don't get it though," Trevor continued, tilting his head. "Why were you holding back? This battle should have ended the instant it began."
I froze.
"If I had gone all out from the start," Daruis replied, his voice strained but steady, "there would be no ArchenLand left. Besides, that isn't quite the route to take if you also want to get information from the opposition."
Trevor closed his eyes and nodded, as if he understood. "Yet, I felt your mana all over ArchenLand. You used King's Benevolence, didn't you? No wonder you're terribly low on mana for someone believed to have the largest mana pool amongst us. However, even with such a low reserve, you could have ended this squabble instantly if you wished."
Daruis was silent at this statement, and Trevor narrowed his eyes at him.
Did he want to be defeated? I wondered. The thought infuriated me even more.
"Stop ignoring me, you stupid Bull and Monkey!" I screamed, my voice echoing across the battlefield. Trevor flinched, startled by my outburst. He had a comedic, hyperactive personality, but right now, I wasn't in the mood for his antics.
"I'm so sorry," Trevor said, his tone dripping with mock sincerity. "I almost forgot you were there."
"You filthy ape," I spat. "Trevor Maymum, 2nd Lord and #2 amongst the Hazel. So ArchenLand sends its top guns just for me. I'm flattered."
But inside, I was calculating. Facing one heavily weakened Narn Lord was one thing, but facing two? I couldn't win this fight. Not even with the Shadow's help. But maybe, just maybe, I could buy enough time to escape.
"Fısıltı!" I said, calling upon the Shadow's power once more. My body shifted, the green tinge of the Shadow's amp returning, but I could feel the strain. My body was reaching its limit.
"That just now..." Trevor began, his eyes narrowing.
"Yes," Daruis confirmed. "He's being powered by the Shadow. That's the Arya of Emotion at work."
"How do we stop it?" Trevor asked.
"Only the Arya of Creation can purify the Fısıltı Çivisi—the Shadow's anchor. If it's extracted from the opponent, nothing can destroy it. The only thing that can is the Arya of Destruction—because its destructionis beyond destruction. However, your Arya has the capacity to disrupt its workings and render it powerless. But the only way to truly disable the Fısıltı Çivisi is if it's extracted from its bearer. And the only way to extract it..."
"Is by destroying the bearer," Trevor completed, his voice grim.
"Is that your plan?" I asked, my voice trembling with rage. "You think you can kill me? My entire clan failed at it. I personally killed the former #6 in my clan! I decimated the Grand Order of the North after they refused me entrance! You Narn Lords are nothing but pebbles!"
Trevor simply swung his prehensile tail, his expression calm. "Are you sitting this round out?" he asked Daruis.
"Nah," Daruis said, standing up and balancing the Baltacek on his shoulder. "It's about time we brought this to an end."
Trevor smiled a cocky smile and lunged at me. "Very well then! Let's play!"
I rushed forward as well, the two of us crashing together. I immediately noted that Trevor's staff had faded, replaced by a false one. "The False Staff technique of the Maymum Clan," I sneered. "You mock me?"
"Nah," Trevor replied, his grin widening. "More like you're not worth using the True Maymum Staff against."
His words infuriated me, and I released another flurry of pincer scythes. Trevor backed up slightly, his movements fluid and precise.
"Elemi: FlameStaff!" he called out. The false staff transformed into a flaming weapon, which he used to deflect my scythe attacks effortlessly.
Daruis rushed in from behind, the hammer end of the Baltacek aimed at my back. The blow connected, sending me flying. Before I could recover, Trevor was already in front of me, the flaming staff smacking me across the face repeatedly. I channeled mana into my pincers, fighting back with everything I had.
"First and 3rd Climb: Yanardağ Yumruğu + Rüzgar Gölgesi!" Trevor shouted. His movements became faster, leaving afterimages in his wake. The flames from his staff grew stronger, fueled by the wind. I could barely keep up, my body struggling to deflect the relentless attacks.
Trevor made a move, slipping out of my view. Before I could react, a huge glowing ball of mana appeared before me. My eyes widened in fear. Daruis had formed a mana sphere in his hand, pulsing and spiraling with energy.
"50% Output: Mana Blast," Daruis said calmly, flicking the sphere toward me.
It was too fast, too close. The impact was devastating, equal to our earlier clash. The smoke cleared, revealing me standing—barely. I had blocked the hit with my pincers, but they were now stumps, and I was panting heavily.
This is bad... I thought, my mind racing. My body is already at its limit. The Shadow's power is taking a toll, and the damage I'm taking isn't helping. I'm low on mana. I can't regenerate my arms or molt out of this skin.
Before I could formulate a plan, I was suddenly enveloped in earth, trapped up to my neck.
"What?!! What is this?!" I shouted, struggling against the hold.
"4th Climb: Çamur Hapsi," Trevor said, his voice calm. "Sorry, can't have you running off."
Daruis appeared from the smoke, his expression grim. "Let's finish this," he said, twisting the Baltacek to its hammer side and rushing toward me.
I tried to escape, but I noticed my mana was being drained rapidly. "Yeah, you can't get free because even the energy to break free is taken," Trevor said. "It's over, Child of Shadow. You couldn't survive this one."
A look of fear crossed my face as Trevor raised his staff. "75% Output: Wukong's Wrath!" His flaming staff transformed into a thunder staff, shooting straight up into the rain clouds that had gathered overhead. The lightning shot down, and Daruis received it with the Baltacek, channeling its power.
"It's over, Trask," Daruis said, his voice heavy. "I hope you find peace in the afterlife."
"Combo Strike: Thor's Rampage!" they shouted in unison.
All I saw was light and then....
------
The resulting explosion of light swallowed the entire region, including Valoria. Daruis managed to channel most of the destructive force into the center, but the shockwave still caused a powerful earthquake that shook all of ArchenLand and could be felt as far as Narn.
When the light cleared, there was a crater larger than the two mountains we had previously obliterated. Daruis stood in the center, his body battered but resolute. Before him Trasks charred, withered body. The Icicle of the Shadow emerged, floating away, but Trevor shifted into his Grand Maymum form, his staff glowing with an ethereal amber light.
"Kargaşa..." he said, and the Icicle turned into a daisy flower, slowly landing on the spot where Trask had fallen.
Daruis stood there, observing the spot for a while. "We have to go, Daruis," Trevor said. "The others must be waiting."
Daruis closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Yeah... Let's go."I