Chapter 66: The Final Stand: Tragedy Strikes

The battlefield trembled as Malgarius unleashed his malevolent power, overwhelming the valiant warriors. Under the crushing force of his ki, both Kai and Selena fell to the ground, incapacitated by his deadly punch. Seraphine's heart sank as she surveyed the dire situation. "Already, two down."

Lyra and Seraphine, the last warriors left standing, felt the weight of their responsibility. They activated the Kaio-ken. Their energy surged, infusing them with extraordinary strength.

Ryker, their pillar of support, gathered his energy, his body pulsating with a dangerous intensity. Blood spilled from his very being, a testament to the limits he was willing to push. With his voice strained, he shouted at Lyra and Seraphine, "Both of you, out of the way!"

The air trembled as Ryker channeled the immense energy within him. Seraphine and Lyra heeded his warning and quickly retreated. The ground shook as Ryker released a colossal yellow wave of energy, a technique he called "Final Flash."

The devastating wave obliterated Malgarius. Seraphine, Lyra, and Ryker rejoiced in their apparent victory, their faces illuminated with triumphant smiles. Seraphine, eager to learn more, inquired about the attack. "Father, that was incredible! What was that attack called?"

Ryker, despite his weakened state, tried to explain. "It's called the Final Flash. It concentrates massive ki energy into a single point. When that energy is unstable, it's released in one destructive burst."

They took a moment to catch their breath and recuperate. However, the fleeting moment of celebration was shattered when Ryker abruptly collapsed to his knees. A gaping wound in his stomach oozed blood, and the life began to drain from him.

Horror and disbelief washed over Lyra and Seraphine as they rushed to his side. "What the hell happened? How is this possible?" Ryker's voice was weak, his words a struggle.

Ryker's gaze fixed on Seraphine, and he whispered his final words with a faint smile. "My old friend, Takeshi... your death wasn't in vain."

His body grew cold, and his voice faded away as he passed into the afterlife. Lyra, overwhelmed by grief, held his lifeless body, crying out to him. "Ryker, wake up, don't leave me!"

Tears streamed down Seraphine's face as she mourned the loss of her father. "No, Dad..."

Suddenly, a dark presence loomed above. Seraphine glanced up, and there was Malgarius, grinning malevolently.

Her eyes, overcome with a tempest of emotions, twitched uncontrollably, their color shifting from her normal black to a blazing green back and forth. Her aura emerged, flickering and unstable, constantly changing from white to golden. She seethed with rage, her mind unable to process the shocking loss and the realization that her father was dead.

Malicious laughter filled the air as Malgarius reveled in the turmoil he had wrought. The chapter came to a harrowing conclusion, the battlefield stained with grief, anger, and the fiery determination for vengeance.

Chapter ends.....