Dune exhaled, tightening his grip on his sword. The six Zetens surrounded him, their expressions unreadable, their movements calculated.
*Is there any way i survive this? Probably not.*
The first to step forward was a broad-chested man whose skin gleamed like polished metal. There was something unnerving about the way he moved, calm, steady, unshaken.
Dune lunged, blade flashing toward the man's throat
*Clang!*
Pain shot up his arms as the sword rebounded off his opponent's skin like it had struck solid iron.
The man smirked. "Not gonna be that easy."
Before Dune could react, the second Zeten melted into the shadows. Instinct screamed, Dune twisted just as a dagger slashed across his ribs. A shallow wound, but enough to draw blood. "Shit!"
A pulse of energy crackled through the air, Dune barely turned before the third Zeten hurled glowing green Neba fireballs toward him. He dodged the first using nebastep, ducked the second, but the third clipped his shoulder, sending him stumbling.
A shockwave tore through the battlefield, slamming into Dune like a wrecking ball. He barely used Nebastep to dodge before he was blasted backward, crashing into the dirt.
Pain flared in every muscle as he struggled to his feet. *They are good. And they cover for each other.*
The armored one led the charge. The shadow-user struck when Dune was distracted. The energy wielder kept them moving. The brute forced him off balance.
*This isn't just a random group.*
Dune's eyes flickered between them. Their movements weren't rushed or chaotic. They adjusted, adapted. One glance between them, a subtle nod, silent communication.
*is Enren a loyalty? are these his guards?*
Dune clenched his teeth. *But how? He's just another trial participant… right?*
*No. He probably knew, knew he'd take this trial. He was prepared from the start.*
Rage burned through Dune's veins, but before he could act, the armored Zeten lunged. A fist crashed into his gut. A shadowy blade raked across his back. A blast of energy struck his leg, making him falter. "Damn it… they don't even give me space to dodge!"
The fireballs exploded again, the force sending him sprawling. Dune coughed blood onto the dirt. His body screamed in protest as he forced himself up, his vision blurring.
He saw movement from the corner of his eye, the shadow-user was closing in, dagger ready.
Dune moved on instinct. Predictable attack like this?
He used Nebastep and spun around instantly, his blade flashed, The Zeten gasped as steel tore through his chest.
*Such an obvious attack.* He staggered, eyes wide, before crumpling lifelessly to the ground. "Die!" A single kill. But it wasn't enough.
Before Dune could take another breath—
A sword pierced through his back. Another drove into his chest. The third sank deep into his neck. His body stiffened. Blood spilled from his lips. The world tilted.
His sword slipped from his grasp, clattering against the blood-soaked ground. His last thought burned through his fading consciousness.
He died.
Enren gritted his bloody teeth, fury twisting his face.
"Damn it..." he growled. His fingers clenched into fists, shaking with frustration. "Father, your so-called protectors can't even do a simple job… Useless idiots. I was so close to taking her ability." His gaze flickered to Nely, who lay on the ground, coughing.
His lips curled into a sneer.
"This vessel is finished," he muttered. "But should I still take her ability? I have enough Neba to kill her. I should kill her."
He took a step forward. Then another.
Nely glanced up at him, her expression was weak, pained… and then she smirked.
Enren's brows furrowed. "Huh?" Something was wrong.
Before he could react, a sharp, gut-wrenching pain bloomed in his stomach. His entire body jolted. A wet, sickening shlick echoed in the cavern. He gasped, his breath hitching, his mouth filling with blood. He looked down.
A blade.
A sword had sprouted from inside him, its tip protruding from his gut, glistening red. His mind blanked.
"What... what the hell is this?!" A scream tore from his throat as the sword ripped through his insides, tearing through muscle and organs. Blood poured down his legs as his knees buckled.
He turned his head slowly, his body shaking, eyes wide. Nely stood there, her hand glowing an eerie green. She was smiling.
His vision blurred.
"How—" he choked, but before he could finish, Nely pulled, and the sword inside him moved.
Enren screamed. The raw pain ripped through his nerves as the blade twisted, tearing apart his stomach. It dragged through his body, ripping and shredding him from the inside, before flying out of his back, slick with his own blood, returning to Nely's waiting grasp.
His body convulsed. His breath came out in short, ragged gasps.
"B-Bastard… how did—" His voice cracked as the pain overwhelmed him. But then, realization dawned.
His eyes widened.
"…Water."
Nely chuckled darkly. "Finally realized it, huh?"
Enren's body trembled, his own blood soaking the ground beneath him. "How… did you know?" He coughed violently, red dripping from his lips. "That I would betray you…?"
"I trusted you at first, I can't help it, i have a huge heart," she said, twirling the bloodied sword in her hand. "But I started having doubts. Your story. Your power. And most importantly your body. Dune wouldn't have noticed it because he's not a Zeten. But me?" She smirked. "I could feel it."
Her gaze turned sharp, piercing. "This isn't your real body, is it, Enren?"
His breath hitched. For a moment, there was only silence. "…Heh." A weak, bitter chuckle left his lips.
"You got me," he admitted, blood dripping from his mouth. His voice, once so arrogant, was now frail, broken. "This isn't my real body… it's someone I took during the trials. My ability lets me take over a vessel and their abilities… slowly, over time. But it drains almost all my Neba."
He coughed again, his knees threatening to give out. "That's why I used my guards. They fed me Neba to keep me stable, so I could finish my takeover…" His jaw clenched. "Your boy ruined everything.*"
His golden eyes flickered. "If I had taken your body… I would have turned your ability into something far greater. I would have turned it into—"
"—Nothing."
Nely cut him off, stepping forward, the dim light of the cave casting a shadow over her face. She stared down at him like a predator. Cold. Unfeeling.
"Tell me, Enren." Her voice was eerily soft. "Do you feel pain in this body?"
He frowned, confused.
Then, Nely's hand glowed again. Inside Enren's body, something shifted. His entire body seized as pain exploded from within. More blades erupted from inside him, stabbing him from the inside out. His ribs cracked, his organs shredded apart, his spine twisted violently.
Enren howled… A raw, guttural scream that echoed through the cavern as blood gushed from his body.
Nely watched. Expressionless.
"So you do feel pain," she murmured. "Good, remember this feeling."
She stepped closer, crouching to his level.
"I had used this ability before too, you know." Her voice was calm. Unhurried. "When I first met Dune… I cooked fish for him."
Enren's breath came in ragged, shallow gasps.
"I snuck my Neba into his stomach," she continued, tilting her head. "If he ever betrayed me… if he ever turned against me… I would activate it. And turn it into acid." Her lips curled. "I would burn him alive from the inside."
Enren's eyes widened. Then, he laughed. A broken, choked sound. "You're… wicked, girl."
Nely simply stood. Her sword gleamed in the dim light, still dripping with his blood.
"Next time, Enren…" She raised the blade. "It'll be your real body."
And then A flash of silver. A spray of red. Enren's head hit the ground with a sickening thud. The moment it happened, his face changed into someone else.
Nely exhaled. Blood dripped down her arms, pooling at her feet. Her vision blurred, exhaustion finally taking its toll. Slowly, she collapsed onto the ground, staring up at the jagged ceiling of the cave.
Footsteps.
She barely turned her head before a familiar voice broke the silence.
"…You look rough."
She smirked weakly. "You look even worse."
Dune stood there, glancing at Enren's corpse, then back at her. His expression shifted slightly, then his eyes widened.
Dune let out a slow exhale. "Yeah, well… I'm never eating your cooking again."
Nely chuckled. Then stood, wobbling slightly.
"…Sorry for not trusting you, Dune."
Dune nodded. "Yeah. That was your fault."
Her eye twitched. "What? At least say "it's okay!" What the hell is wrong with you?"
Dune shrugged. "Nope."
Nely clenched her fists. "Aghh! You are so damn annoying!"
Dune smirked. "You did try to poison me, you know."
Nely glared. "…maybe i should do it again."