"Ashley, I'm having a nightmare about you, and I don't know what to do an—"
"Hello, friend." The words reverberated in the stillness, emanating from a deep, resonant voice. In an instant, everything in the room came to a halt, as if time itself had frozen just for me and the man before me. He resembled me, yet he was distinctly different. His hair shimmered like spun gold, streaked with wisps of white, and his eyes were obscured by a blindfold, concealing their depths.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice trembling as I gazed upon the enigmatic figure seated upon a shadowy throne.
"I am but a fragment of the little stone you carry," he replied enigmatically. "I am Umbros, the God of Shadows and Darkness. I wield dominion over all that casts a shadow or dwells in darkness. I am one of the brothers of light and dark; I am the dark."
A weight settled upon my chest as I absorbed his words. "I have something to ask," I ventured, curiosity mingling with trepidation. "If you are the God of Darkness, controlling all that lies in shadow, what is it you desire? Why reveal yourself to me now, after all this time?"
His voice was calm yet filled with an unsettling gravity. "I wish I could divulge my intentions, but I am not permitted to spoil the unfolding tale. The reason for my presence is simple: I seek to restore the perfect control you once held over me. You have faltered, allowing me to seize dominion."
"I remember," I said, wiping a tear from my cheek, my resolve wavering in the face of vulnerability. "But what do you mean by 'spoil it'? Why can't you share more?"
"The higher one does not permit me to speak freely," he answered, the blindfolded gaze unwavering. "Should I refer to him as my father?"
"Why do you wear a blindfold, and how can you see through it?" I pressed, my curiosity piqued.
"1. The blindfold shields the eyes of mortals from the madness that lies within my gaze. 2. The darkness is my servant; it is my tool, allowing me to perceive what others cannot," he explained.
"Enough of questions; let the time for action begin," he declared, rising from his throne with an air of authority. "Your path leads to defeating me. Do not fret; I shall only employ 1% of my power, though I still believe it may prove too much for you." With a snap of his fingers, my attire transformed into a lightweight, moisture-wicking black short-sleeved athletic shirt and dark gray tapered joggers.
"Now, that's better," he said with a hint of amusement. "Now, fight back!"
Without warning, he vanished and reappeared before me, delivering a punch that sent me hurtling through the air. "When you engage in combat, be prepared for the unexpected. You must observe carefully; take note of every move," he advised, watching as I struggled to regain my footing.
I rose, battered and bloodied, my face marred as if I had been pummeled by a battalion. Yet, this was nothing compared to the trials I had faced in my past—days fueled by revenge, a thirst for blood, and madness. "You could have at least given me a warning," I muttered, my body beginning to mend itself.
"Oh, things work differently here. Should you perish, you shall return. Wounds will heal, and I did offer you a warning: fight back!" His voice was firm. "Now, enough talk. Show me what you've learned."
Five minutes passed in a whirlwind of chaos and confusion.
"Come on, Soren! You can do better than this! You've died over a thousand times in just five minutes; surely you've learned more than this!" He taunted, a glimmer of impatience in his blindfolded gaze.
As I steadied myself, the fire of determination ignited within me. This was my moment to reclaim the shadows.
I took a deep breath, grounding myself amidst the chaos. The room pulsed with an energy that felt alive, vibrating in rhythm with my heart. Umbros stood before me, a figure of shadows and authority, his blindfolded gaze fixed on me with an intensity that made me feel both small and empowered.
"You're right, Umbros. I've let fear dictate my actions for too long!" I shouted, my voice resonating with newfound resolve. "I won't let you control me any longer!"
With that declaration, I focused on the darkness surrounding us. It was no longer an enemy; it was a part of me. I reached out, feeling the tendrils of shadow curling around my fingertips, responding to my will. I summoned the shadows, weaving them into a shield that enveloped me, reflecting the punches that Umbros threw my way.
"Impressive!" he exclaimed, surprise creeping into his voice. "But can you truly harness the darkness, or will it consume you?"
"Watch me!" I retorted, feeling the adrenaline surge through me. I launched forward, using the shadows to enhance my speed. As I moved, I felt the energy of the room shift, the air thickening with anticipation. Umbros could sense my determination.
In a blink, I was upon him, delivering a swift kick that connected with his side. He staggered, his expression shifting from amusement to a rare glimpse of respect. "Very well! You've learned something!"
But I knew he was still holding back. I had to dig deeper. "What if I don't just fight you, but I embrace you?" I proposed, my words bursting forth with conviction. "What happens when I merge with the shadows instead of resisting?"
"A bold approach, indeed!" Umbros replied, a flicker of excitement in his blindfolded visage. "However, understand that the shadows are not merely allies; they can be treacherous. Are you ready to face that risk?"
I nodded, feeling the weight of the moment. 'It's time to find out." I closed my eyes, centering myself, and drew upon the shadows completely. They enveloped me, wrapping around my form like a cloak, as I surrendered to their essence.
Suddenly, I felt a surge of power coursing through my veins, and with it came visions of the darkness: swirling mist, glimmering stars hidden within the shadows, and a sense of freedom that was both exhilarating and terrifying. I could see Umbros more clearly now, his form shifting in the darkness, revealing a complexity I hadn't noticed before.
"Join me!" I shouted, the shadows coiling around my fists, forming weapons crafted from darkness. "Let's see how powerful we can become together!"
Umbros's laughter echoed throughout the room, a sound that resonated with the very fabric of the shadows. "1Very well, Soren. Let us dance in the dark!"
With a snap of his fingers, the shadows exploded into an array of swirling tendrils, and we were engulfed in a clash of light and dark. Each strike, each movement, was a symphony of power, pain, and revelation. I had become one with the darkness, my punches infused with its strength.
"Now we fight as equals!" Umbros shouted, his voice a mix of thunder and exhilaration. "Show me what you've truly learned! SOREN ASURA!"
The battle raged on, our forms flickering in and out of existence, moving so fast that the room around us blurred. I could feel my body healing even as it took blows, the darkness mending my wounds, feeding me strength. In that moment, I understood—I was not just fighting against him; I was fighting for the mastery of my own fears.
As the chaos reached its zenith, I summoned all my strength for one final strike. I focused on the shadows, channeling every ounce of power I had gained. "This ends now!" I declared, unleashing a wave of darkness that surged forward like a tidal wave.
Umbros met my attack with one of his own, a collision of power that sent shockwaves throughout the realm of shadows. For a moment, everything froze—the room, the energy, even time itself. And then, in an explosion of light and dark, the two forces merged, creating a blinding spectacle.
When the light faded, I found myself standing alone in the stillness, the echoes of our battle reverberating in my mind. I looked around, half-expecting Umbros to emerge once more, but the throne was empty.
"Have I defeated him?" I pondered aloud, my heart racing.
And then, from the depths of the shadows, a soft, familiar voice spoke. "You have not defeated me, Soren. You have merely accepted me."
A smile crept onto my face, and I knew that this was not the end but the beginning of a new journey—one where darkness and light would coexist within me, guiding my path forward.