The Alpha Darkside Spirit hurtled through the forest, crashing through one tree after another before slamming into a massive rock. The impact shattered the stone beneath it, sending dust and broken branches flying.
Before the dust could settle, Alfie appeared in front of it.
He raised his arm. The dark tattoos crawling across his skin twisted and expanded, forming a massive hammer made entirely of Dark Renshi.
BOOM.
The hammer smashed the Alpha into the ground.
BOOM.
Again.
BOOM.
Alfie continued his assault, delivering more than fifteen brutal strikes. Each blow deepened the crater beneath the Darkside Spirit until the ground around its body lay in ruins.
Finally, the hammer stopped.
Its massive head stretched and narrowed, transforming into a gigantic sword.
Alfie stared at the weapon.
What is this power?
He tightened his grip.
Whatever I imagine becomes real.
The sword shifted slightly in his hands.
I imagined a hammer, and it appeared. Then I imagined a sword, and it changed.
His eyes narrowed.
This power is like an extension of my will.
Alfie raised the massive blade above his head, preparing to split the Alpha in two.
CLANG.
The attack was suddenly deflected.
Two enormous swords extended from the Darkside Spirit's hands, each blade nearly as long as its towering body.
The Alpha grinned.
"I've hit the jackpot."
Greed gleamed in its eyes as it tightened its grip on the twin blades.
"This power, this Renshi. If I devour you, I'll become stronger than every Alpha Darkside Spirit on this cursed planet."
Alfie remained unfazed.
"Then come and try."
The Alpha lunged.
Alfie met it head-on.
CLANG.
Their weapons collided, sending sparks through the forest.
Alfie swung again, but the Alpha blocked. He immediately formed a second sword from the tattoos along his other arm and attacked from a different angle.
The Darkside Spirit barely managed to defend itself.
Yet despite Alfie's overwhelming power, the Alpha possessed something he lacked, years of fighting experience.
And it had another weapon.
Its tail whipped through the air.
WHAM.
The blow struck Alfie in the side, forcing him to stagger.
WHAM.
Another strike drove him backward as the tail continued lashing against his body.
Then it curled toward his legs.
It wasn't trying to hit him.
It was trying to trip him.
Alfie noticed just in time and jumped over it.
But the Alpha smiled.
That was exactly what it wanted.
The Darkside Spirit launched itself into the air, both swords aimed at Alfie's chest.
Alfie's eyes widened.
Too late to dodge.
He formed a shield.
BOOM.
The twin blades slammed into it, spreading cracks across its dark surface.
Alfie fell toward the ground. The moment his feet touched the earth, the Alpha attacked again.
He gritted his teeth and raised both arms.
The tattoos covering his body began to glow.
SHING. SHING. SHING.
Fifteen dark swords emerged from different parts of his body and shot toward the Alpha from every direction.
The Darkside Spirit swung its twin blades in rapid succession.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Six.
Seven.
Seven swords were knocked aside.
The remaining eight struck their targets.
SLASH.
The blades tore through the Alpha's body. Dark blood spilled from its mouth as it stumbled backward.
"Not bad, kid."
The Alpha grinned as its wounds began to heal.
"You were hiding this power all along?"
Alfie stared at it, his expression cold.
"If I'd had this power earlier…"
He tightened his grip.
"I would've never let you hurt my friend."
More blades formed around him, and he unleashed them.
This time, however, every sword came from the same direction.
The Alpha noticed immediately and simply moved aside.
The entire attack missed.
Laughing, the Darkside Spirit soared into the sky.
"Playtime is over."
Its Renshi erupted outward, shaking the ground as rocks tore themselves from the earth and rose into the air.
More rocks joined them, gathering into an enormous mass above the forest.
It continued to grow until a gigantic sphere loomed over the battlefield.
Alfie's eyes widened.
This is bad. It's massive, and it's still growing.
He closed his eyes and concentrated, gathering all the Dark Renshi he could muster.
A massive shield emerged from his shadow. It expanded rapidly until it towered nearly a hundred times his own size.
Then his body began to tremble.
Something's wrong.
He looked down at his legs.
I can't feel my legs.
His breathing grew heavier.
I'm reaching my limit.
The enormous shield hovered before him.
If I block that attack, I won't have enough strength left to fight.
His body shook violently.
I'll die.
Alfie clenched his teeth.
I can't defend.
The giant shield began to dissolve.
I have to strike.
The Dark Renshi twisted and reshaped itself, transforming the shield into a massive bow. Its jagged surface resembled black lightning frozen into solid form.
Alfie pulled back the bowstring.
A single arrow began to take shape as Dark Renshi gathered around it, growing denser with every passing moment.
He poured every remaining ounce of his strength into the weapon.
Below, the girl watched in disbelief.
Her stomach wound had finally closed after she used the healing technique her father had taught her. She forced herself to stand and limped closer.
He's so powerful now.
She stared at Alfie.
Was he holding back this entire time?
She quickly shook her head.
No. She had seen him nearly die, again and again.
He had nearly died protecting her.
Her eyes widened.
Then this must be… an awakening.
He's awakened something.
Above them, the Alpha's attack was finally complete.
The enormous mass of rocks and Dark Renshi had formed a gigantic sphere that pulsed ominously in the sky.
The Alpha grinned.
"This is your end, brat."
The sphere began descending.
"Any last words?"
Alfie slowly raised his head, his black eyes burning with fury.
His voice remained calm.
"That's my line."
He pulled the bowstring even farther, the dark arrow trembling under the immense pressure of his Renshi.
The Alpha laughed as its gigantic sphere descended faster, surrounded by malevolent energy.
Alfie released the string.
BOOOOOOM.
The arrow shot forward, unleashing a violent shockwave that tore through the forest as a bolt of pure Dark Renshi surged across the sky.
The enormous sphere descended from above.
The dark arrow rose from below.
Two overwhelming attacks hurtled toward each other.
And then---
COLLISION.