The night that should have been enjoyed by many has now turned into a chilling horror; the power of paralysis paradox, a form of black magic with devastating extensive effects, spreads rapidly and is felt within a radius of dozens of kilometers, causing fear to creep across almost half the island. This magic is classified among the ten most powerful ancient sorceries, grouped into the category of black magic, and often carries an aura of misfortune, emptiness, and profound helplessness, threatening the safety of anyone caught within it. This sorcery is not merely a local threat; there are instances from other regions where its influence has had fatal consequences for communities, creating widespread panic and shaking the stability of entire areas.
"A good girl should not be out at night," he said in a firm tone, as if reminding a child lost in the deep darkness. His voice resonated, carrying the weight of a troubling warning. "Because of you, I am forced to act this way," he continued, his eyes shimmering with anger, like flames reflecting both sadness and disappointment. His expression indicated that this decision was not made lightly, but rather as a result of an internal struggle raging within him.
"IDIOT!" Rinoa shouted, her voice echoing, each word spilling from her lips like thunder that shook the air. "You could kill everyone!" she continued, her face flushed with anger, revealing the depth of her raging fury.
"Hmm, that's not my concern," he replied dismissively, his piercing gaze aimed directly at Rinoa's eyes, as if trying to penetrate her very soul. "Whether they wish to live or die is not my responsibility. My task here is to punish the naughty girl," he added, as he stepped forward slowly, each stride intensifying the oppressive atmosphere, his presence resembling a dark shadow enveloping Rinoa.
"Who exactly are you?" Hernandez asked, his tone laden with intrigue, his eyes blazing with anger. "Aren't you supposed to respect other people's privacy and not intrude while we are on a date?" He stood up, his body tense, as if ready to confront the looming dark figure approaching them.
The cloaked figure, with a face hidden in the shadow of his pitch-black robe, felt a boiling rage inside him in response to Hernandez's recent words. The frustration engulfing him seemed to shake the surrounding aura, as if the darkness surrounding him thickened, signaling the unspoken tension in the air.
"Rinoa, this is dark magic," Hernandez whispered hoarsely, his eyes scanning the darkness around them as if trying to catch hidden shadows.
"Yes," Rinoa replied hesitantly, her words seemingly caught in the tension enveloping the night.
"Can you explain to me what kind of magic is this that can ruin our date? I'm so frustrated that the turmoil in my chest has reached a level of 'hunger in the middle of the night'! This is not the time for failed magic experiments!" Hernandez exclaimed.
"Yes, yes, yes. You should just go to sleep instead," Rinoa remarked, turning away to gaze into the extraordinary and mysterious darkness of the night.
"Why?" Hernandez shouted in irritation, his face flushing with frustration.
"You don't understand how dangerous this magic is. Paralysis paradox is a terrifying dimensional magic where the caster can trap a target within a specific radius, creating a bubble of helplessness. There are three categories of areas that can be created by the caster; from my observations, they possess category A, on par with queen iris, which is the most potent and dangerous category. The threat posed by this magic is very real, comparable to the trauma from our past that haunts us, creating shadows of fear and unexpected weakness, as if we are trapped in an endless darkness. A clear example of its effects can be seen in those diagnosed with PTSD, who experience paralysis due to haunting memories that constantly torment their minds. "I can feel your magic," Rinoa whispered, gazing intently at the cloaked figure reminiscent of deep, dark memories.
"A dark and painful past," Rinoa continued, her voice trembling as if each word she spoke was pulling back the painful memories etched into her soul.
"For someone like you, the past may leave no traces, but for those haunted by shadows of their memories, it can lead to the abyss of death," Rinoa explained, highlighting that for some, the past can become an unspoken shackle. Numerous studies have shown that the psychological effects of trauma can drastically alter a person's behavior.
"Mental magic," Hernandez muttered, his eyes scanning the surroundings anxiously, observing the hysterical people with pale faces and foaming mouths, as if trapped in an indescribable horror.
"Yes," Rinoa replied tersely, her voice firm even though her large eyes betrayed the anxiety gripping her heart.
"I've never heard that mental magic could kill someone," Hernandez remarked, his eyes sparkling with astonishment and confusion. His voice resonated in the silence, awakening a dormant curiosity, as if he was trying to comprehend the horror he had just witnessed. His inability to understand this indicated how rarely he dealt with magic capable of manipulating the mind in such a manner.
"Who said that?" Rinoa asked sharply, tilting her head slightly as if assessing the situation. "Do you really think that killing can only be done by stabbing a sword into the heart, crushing the head, cutting the neck, or being hit by destructive magic? Have you ever considered that weakness could become your greatest enemy? From that point of vulnerability emerges a fragility that empties the soul, leading you to be killed by your own self." She explained while remaining vigilant, her eyes fixed on the figure in a black cloak that stood silently in the corner of the room. "Imagine if you had a horrific trauma that froze your entire body, making it as immobile as flesh bitten by a venomous snake, where your muscles do not respond, and your lungs cease to function. You would die in mere seconds," she continued, her tone permeating the darkness around them.
Hernandez was left stunned as he listened to Rinoa's explanation, as if the silence enveloping the area pressed down on him even more. His ignorance trapped him in a void, leaving him unable to respond wisely to Rinoa's poignant words. However, his primary focus now was confronting the daunting figure cloaked in black that stood before him, its shadow seemingly absorbing the surrounding light. He was certain that Rinoa felt the impact of that creature's presence, especially after noticing the strange changes that occurred while they were together, which clearly indicated the traces of dark and mysterious magic.
"You already know about the war that took place ten years ago. Do you intend to kill them by exposing the mistakes they made?" Rinoa asked, her gaze piercing into the figure in the black cloak.
"Ah, finally you've turned your attention to me, my dear," the cloaked figure said in a teasing tone, his voice hoarse yet alluring. His cloak shimmered in the dim light, as if concealing deep secrets.
"For you," he revealed, his voice trembling with meaning as he directed it towards Rinoa.
"I do not know you," Rinoa replied firmly, although a slight tremor of uncertainty lingered at the end of her words.
"You haven't answered me," Rinoa stated, her voice firm yet laced with tension, as if awaiting a response that could alter the course of the night.
"You are quite stubborn," replied the cloaked man, his voice raspy but resolute, creating an atmosphere of unease between them.
"Do you wish to reignite the war once again?" Rinoa questioned, her tone filled with curiosity that threatened to test her patience, as she attempted to discern the intentions behind the cloaked figure. Her sharp gaze scrutinized his face, hoping to uncover answers to the doubt smoldering within her, hinting at the potential for greater conflict in the future.
Somber and upright, he appeared bound by the tension of the night, unshaken by the questions hanging in the air. He raised his hand with a graceful motion, as if trying to grasp the low-hanging moon in the night sky, its cold light reflecting both hope and despair.
After a moment, the figure turned, staring at Rinoa with eyes ablaze with anger, as if holding all the injustices he had ever endured. With a firm and confident step, he turned his back to them, seemingly allowing time to absorb the tense situation before finally turning back. In a tone that was assertive and full of certainty, he pointed towards the group of people lying unconscious on the ground, appearing fragile under the moonlight. "They are selfish people. They are so happy; how can this magic not affect them?" the dark figure said, his voice resonating with a bitter tone that conveyed deep disappointment.
"I do not like the happiness of the world," the cloaked man said with a tone filled with regret, his gaze piercing through the incredible darkness. "If it means sacrificing someone so precious to me, then that happiness is merely an illusion that imprisons the soul."
Rinoa fell silent for a moment, as if time had stopped while she contemplated this. Memories of a loved one's words flashed in her mind. She earnestly hoped that this person could understand the feelings of longing and sorrow that filled her heart.
"I want to share something that may be important," Rinoa said, her voice softly trembling yet filled with meaning, as if carrying a heavy burden she wished to reveal to Hernandez.
"I want to hear," she said, her voice trembling like leaves caught in the wind, filled with deep hope and longing.
"I love someone. That person is so valuable to me, but…."
"In truth, the thing I wish to forget the most is the past. Yet, it's impossible to completely let go. The past is part of me, enveloping every step I take, whether before today or for the future ahead. I only wish for the past to remain a chapter that does not repeat," Rinoa said, her voice choked with emotion as she clenched her fists tightly. With her head bowed, her hair fell over part of her face, trying to hide the expression of pain that gnawed at her soul. Seeing Rinoa in such a state ignited a wave of anger in Hernandez, making the blood pulse beneath his skin. Without a moment's hesitation, he launched an attack at the figure in the black cloak standing calmly before him, seemingly unaffected by the chaos surrounding them.
Buagh!!!
With a surge of emotion, Hernandez stepped forward to strike the figure in the black cloak. However, his passionate blow did not make contact; it felt as if a transparent barrier shielded the mysterious figure, rendering all of Hernandez's attempts to penetrate its defenses futile. Despite pouring all his strength into the attack, he couldn't break through that obstacle.
"What?!" Hernandez exclaimed, astonished and stunned, his eyes widening as he stared at the mysterious figure before him, trying to comprehend how such a phenomenon could occur right in front of him.
"Could you not disturb me?" the cloaked man said in a flat tone, his eyes hidden beneath the hood, glaring intently. Without waiting for a reply, he uttered a shimmering incantation, "Thunder Shoot," which struck the air with a rumbling sound as if the sky itself was crying out.
With extraordinary agility, Hernandez deflected the attack using his hand, causing the flash of lightning to explode with a loud roar to his right, creating a dazzling burst of light accompanied by thick smoke from the explosion. Everything happened in an instant, escalating the tension of the battle to an even higher degree.
"I will get back at you," Hernandez said, his voice filled with rage as he channeled strengthening magic into his hands, creating a hard layer called "Rock Stone" that shimmered with energy. With burning determination, he launched a stunning punch towards the cloaked man, striving to break through his opponent's seemingly formidable defense.
"Hehehehe ... your attack won't hit me," he taunted confidently. In an instant, he grasped Hernandez's hand and spun his body with surprising strength. Hernandez was unable to resist, and with a swift maneuver, he was thrown to the ground, slamming into the hard surface. Before he could rise again, a powerful kick sent him flying, shattering the nearby park bench.
With a booming sound that echoed as if the sky were splitting, a powerful kick unleashed an explosion of energy that was terrifying. Bruak!!!!!!!
"Falcon shoot," the man said firmly, channeling strengthening magic throughout his right leg. As he recited the incantation, a shimmering glowing tattoo began to appear on his leg.
"Hernandez," Rinoa said anxiously, her body trembling and ready to launch a determined counterattack.
"Blade of Wind," Rinoa declared the incantation with a resonating voice, and in an instant, a sparkling green sword materialized in her hand. With confidence, she hurled the sword toward the cloaked man.
However, the cloaked man was also prepared, his face displaying resilience and determination, as if ready to confront a challenge of equal magnitude.
"Fire Bolt!" the cloaked man's voice rang with enthusiasm, and instantly, a flickering fireball ignited at the tip of his outstretched finger. In a split second, the fire surged forth, slicing through the air toward its target with astonishing speed.
The clash between the Blade of Wind and Fire Bolt produced a magnificent explosion that shook the atmosphere around them. Multicolored sparks scattered like fireworks in the night sky, creating a scene that was both beautiful and terrifying as the magical forces made contact.
"Are you okay?" Rinoa asked, looking at Hernandez with a worried expression on her face.
Crack!!!!! Crack..!! The sharp sound of cracking echoed in the air, reflecting the tension that enveloped them. "I'm fine, just leave it to me," Hernandez said firmly, rising from the debris of scattered chairs around him, fine dust swirling in the air like shards of light flying in every direction.
"You need to cast a magic shield immediately," Rinoa urged, her voice filled with urgency. "We're still under the effects of the magic, and the mana output is disrupted." She scanned the surroundings warily, sensing the magical vibrations still enveloping them like a thick fog that weighed down on their thoughts.
"Let me face it alone," Hernandez replied, his firm voice echoing through the thick, mystical fog of magical vibrations. His eyes sparkled with bravery, reflecting a deep determination, as if he was ready to challenge the storm without hesitation. Rinoa could feel the intensity of his words, as if he were channeling all his strength to confront the approaching threat.