You don't seem very clever, Death," Cain remarked as he confidently slid his glowing red sword into its sheath.
"Defeated by us would be a real shame," Yami added with a smirk.
With determination, the three of them charged at one another. Death swung his scythe in a horizontal arc, but Cain and Yami swiftly ducked and slid under, landing a kick on Death's feet. In an instant, Cain unleashed his sword's power, "Crimson, Slash!!" The blade transitioned from red to a deep crimson, a display of sheer might. This ability was not only powerful but also capable of stealing life itself, even from the deceased.
The speed of the attack made it nearly impossible to evade; Death's left hand was severed, yet he managed to dodge despite his injury.
Yami remained composed, readying his own strike. "Devils Yell!" he proclaimed, causing the very ground to tremble and leaving Death temporarily dazed and deafened.
"As I said, this won't be an easy fight for you," Yami declared, his tone laced with confidence.
"Such foolish humans," Death retorted, unfazed. "You think I'm afraid of you two? This skirmish is irrelevant. When our life deity triumphs, you will both suffer immensely. You'll be mere pawns, just as you've deemed yourselves. Don't worry; your existence won't be entirely meaningless as long as you follow orders."
"Impressive speech. So, this fight doesn't matter to you? Does that mean you're afraid of us? You've essentially indicated that it's either our victory or your defeat," Cain said, his voice steady and self-assured.
"Here we go again," Death replied sharply. "Just because this fight may not hold significance for me doesn't mean I'm scared. It could very well be that you two meet your end at my hands. Remember, I am still the deity of death. I possess the power to end your lives, and I will find a way to do so."
The bumpy dirt road shook slightly underfoot as Cain stepped forward, his red coat billowing in the wind. The glow of his sword beat steadily, starting faint, then swelling with a deeper shade. Yami followed closely behind, shadows swirling at his feet as if drawn by an unseen force.
On the opposite side of the road, Death observed them with calm, almost human eyes, remaining remarkably still with his cloak hanging down on either side.
Without any prior warning, Cain surged ahead, propelling himself from the ground as his sword traced a line of crimson light through the dust. Death shifted his weight, the scythe rising fluidly from his cloak in a practiced maneuver. When their weapons clashed, sparks flew.
But Cain didn't hold back, he pressed forward.
The brilliance of his sword intensified.
Death tilted his head slightly in response.
Yami glided in next to him, moving like a second shadow. His footfalls were silent, and the air around him dimmed as he drew near, sending out a low vibration.
Death reacted swiftly.
With a silent arc, the scythe flew through the air, no flourish, just raw precision. Cain nearly stumbled as he countered the strike. The force of it was enough to cleave a patch of grass beside him without actually making contact.
Yami seized the opportunity.
Placing a hand on the ground, darkness pooled and spread outwards. Death's shadow elongated and twisted into claw-like shapes that reached toward him. This was no mere illusion; it was tangible pressure, dense and overwhelming.
Death's expression barely shifted,only a slight frown marked his face. His shadow resumed its original form as if nothing had occurred.
Cain surged forward again.
His sword now shone bright red, pulsing with urgency. Each of his strikes felt more powerful, more deliberate. Death matched his movements with fluidity, no wasted energy, no second-guessing. The scythe met Cain's blows as if it were already anticipating their trajectory.
Cain lunged for a low strike.
Death evaded with a swift step back, and the ground beneath Cain cracked as the scythe's handle thudded beside him. Rolling away, he barely avoided a sweeping attack that sliced through the air soundlessly.
Yami raised his hands high.
A sharp, resonating wave radiated outward, compressing the air around them.
It struck Death from three directions at once.
Death staggered back, a single step of retreat.
Cain took advantage of the moment, his sword glowing fiercely as he swung down with all his strength. This time, Death couldn't completely evade the blow; a thin trail of dark blood oozed from his shoulder as he slid back, his boots dragging in the dirt.
His eyes narrowed in intensity.
The air grew cooler.
With a swift motion, Death lifted his scythe; instead of swinging, he shifted his grip. An invisible edge sliced across Cain's cheek, drawing blood without any visible effort. Yami yanked Cain back, shadows spiraling protectively around his arm.
Death advanced with steady steps.
Cain's sword flared brightly, crimson veins pulsing down the blade. Taking a deep breath, he charged forward, each step hitting the dirt with a firm rhythm. Yami flanked him from the opposite side, his dark aura shimmering across the ground.
They crashed together at the center.
Cain's vibrant blade.
Yami's oppressive shadows.
Death's silent scythe.
The collisions sparked electricity, kicked up dust, warped shadows, and distorted the earth around them.
Death retreated slightly across the grass while Cain pursued him relentlessly. Yami moved in from the side, his presence thickening the atmosphere.
Death raised one hand, palm facing outward.
The ground quaked beneath them, just enough to disrupt their balance.
Cain stumbled.
Yami shifted his stance.
With a quick twist, Death spun his scythe in a tight circle before bringing it down.
Dirt erupted around them.
Cain was thrown backwards, skidding several steps across the road. Yami landed next to him, leaving shallow marks in the earth as he landed. Emerging from the cloud of dust, Death became fully visible as he approached.
He was silent as a whisper.
Cain wiped the blood from his cheek and tightened his grip on his sword. Yami cracked his knuckles, energy swirling around him in thin, flickering layers.
Death raised his scythe once more, his eyes steady and inscrutable.