Chapter 10 – Ardyn's Awakening and the Final Strike
The battlefield was drenched in blood, the air thick with the scent of burning flesh and the metallic tang of death. Ardyn stood before Darana, his vision hazy, his body pushed to the brink. His veins burned with poison, his strength fading, but his determination remained unshaken. The battle wasn't over yet.
Darana, her Bloodflame radiating like a raging inferno, prepared another devastating Hell Ball, a concentrated sphere of scorching energy that could incinerate anything in its path. Her body burned at an unimaginable temperature, warping the very air around her.
"This is your end, Izzo," she sneered, her voice dripping with venom.
Ardyn, barely able to stand, willed himself to move. His body screamed in protest, but his instincts, honed by years of hardship, forced him forward. The blood of Izzo does not know fear.
The moment Darana hurled the Hell Ball at him, Ardyn vanished. The attack struck the ground where he once stood, causing a massive explosion that shattered the land beneath. Smoke and debris filled the battlefield.
From within the dust cloud, a voice echoed—"Vanishing Veil."
Darana's eyes widened in shock as Ardyn reappeared behind her, launching a brutal kick to her spine. She staggered forward but quickly spun, her fist cloaked in flame, aiming for his head.
But Ardyn was ready. He caught her wrist mid-air, the heat searing his flesh, but he didn't flinch. He twisted her arm violently, forcing her to her knees.
"You're strong," he admitted, blood dripping from his lips, "but not strong enough."
Darana snarled and countered with Silent Mirage, creating multiple afterimages of herself to confuse him. Ardyn slashed through the clones effortlessly, only to be caught off guard by the real Darana, who launched a devastating knee strike into his ribs. The impact sent him flying backward, crashing into the ruined ground.
Zion, Steel, and Kai watched from a distance, their faces filled with concern.
"He's slowing down," Kai muttered.
"He's poisoned," Steel said. "But… look at his eyes."
As Ardyn struggled to his feet, his eyes glowed a deep, eerie red. His breath was heavy, but his will had never been stronger.
"Izzo bloodline…" Lord Ezra muttered, watching intently. "Let's see what you do now, boy."
Darana grinned at Ardyn's suffering. "This is where you break, Izzo." She raised her arm, summoning a deadly Blood Thorn Arrow infused with lethal poison.
"This arrow will end you."
Ardyn clenched his fists. His mind raced back to his childhood—the ridicule, the hatred, the moment his own mother tried to kill him because he didn't resemble the typical Izzo warrior. The moment his brother was slaughtered before his eyes.
I won't die. Not yet.
Something inside him awakened. His blurred vision suddenly sharpened, his heartbeat steadied, and the pain… it vanished.
His golden blood ignited—a rare phenomenon among the Izzo clan. His senses heightened beyond human limits.
Darana fired the Blood Thorn Arrow. It shot through the air, whistling like death itself.
But Ardyn caught it.
With nothing but his bare hand.
Silence.
Darana's confidence shattered. "I-Impossible…"
Ardyn snapped the arrow in half, his gaze now filled with something terrifying—absolute clarity.
"I am Izzo," he whispered. "And I will surpass my limits."
He dashed forward with newfound speed. Darana barely had time to react before Ardyn's fist connected with her gut, sending shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. She coughed up blood, her body folding over his fist.
Ardyn grabbed her by the collar, lifted her off the ground, and slammed her into the dirt, creating a crater beneath her.
Darana gasped, her limbs failing her. "H-How…?"
Ardyn didn't answer. He raised his sword.
"This is your end."
Darana screamed as Ardyn unleashed his ultimate technique—Soul Extraction. His blade slashed through her body—not just her flesh, but her very soul.
A blinding golden light erupted as her essence was erased from existence. In an instant, Darana Ezra was no more. Not even a trace of her soul remained.
The battlefield was silent. The flames extinguished.
Ardyn stood there, his body frozen, his energy spent.
Then, he collapsed.
Zion and Steel rushed forward. "Ardyn!"
Kai clenched his fists. "Damn it, no…"
The others gathered around him, panic filling their faces. But there was no pulse. No breath.
Ardyn Izzo was dead.
Lord Ezra, who had watched the entire battle unfold, slowly stepped forward. He gazed down at Ardyn's lifeless body.
Then, he smirked.
"This boy… Minamoto was right. He truly is special."
Ezra knelt down and placed a hand over Ardyn's chest. A golden glow surrounded his fingers as he whispered an ancient technique—Resurrection.
Zion and the others watched in shock. "Wait… what is he doing?!"
The golden light engulfed Ardyn's body. His wounds closed, his breathing returned. His fingers twitched.
Then—his eyes shot open.
The next chapter of his journey was about to begin.