Sora's Resolve

"Look at yourself, you don't look any better than me." I snarled, attempting to stop the flow of blood spurting out.

A low grunt escaped him as I moved away quickly, dodging a slash to my head as he sliced me open from shoulder blade to elbow, causing blood to splatter the ground.

"Come closer, coward." I taunted. "Face me like a man." I roared as I swung my leg and slammed my heel into his neck, crushing his windpipe.

He howled as a burst of fire exploded from him; his aura flared up furiously like a living thing and the earth exploded into flames beneath him. Flames surged toward my body and the heat seared into my skin, causing intense pain.

I fought through the pain and grabbed his neck again. This time though I was able to bring him closer to me. "So, do you want to talk yet or should I continue?" I asked him softly.

The man snarled and launched another kick to my stomach. I grimaced and spat the blood pooling on my lips while narrowing my eyes as his aura crackles violently, fighting back against me. His magic pushed mine away as he regained control, breathing heavily through his broken nose.

His dark aura crackled fiercely while sending shocks up his body. I focused more strength into my muscles to counteract the effects as his aura drained into my arms and spread throughout my system.

"Damn bastard, it burns..." The man's voice cracked through gritted teeth. "I'll... Destroy everything, including this damn world!"

"It hurts, doesn't it?" I smirked knowingly, remembering Arthur's words and using my anger and rage to fuel my magic as dark energy spiraled inside of me, forming around my hands. I lifted my free palm upward to the sky and snapped, creating a whip of condensed magical energy formed into a point made solely from sharpness intent and immediately threw it right at his chest.

It pierced clean through his shoulder, and he wailed painfully as more blood sprayed everywhere. He spat some of the fluid out and glared furiously, glaring straight at me. His eye narrowed dangerously as I started draining him for every last ounce of magic he held within.

After draining him of nearly every ounce of magic, I left him lying lifeless and let go of him, a rush of newfound power flowing through my veins as my muscles pumped full of energy and strength, which combined with the amount I already had, created a euphoric high unlike anything I had experienced before.

For a split second, all of my pain disappeared entirely. Even the memory of ever experiencing the agony completely faded away from my mind. All I could think was how amazing everything felt.

But that moment didn't last long because my sight quickly returned to normal and I realized I had forgotten about one detail: my injury. As soon as I opened my eyes and saw what condition my body was currently in, the dizziness returned instantly, causing me to collapse to my knees.

Before I completely lost consciousness, I watched as The Voidwalker's grunt took his last breath. My vision flickered for a while until I finally couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. Everything went blank, and darkness overwhelmed me.

"Do... you know where you are?" A familiar voice echoed.

"Not exactly." I replied weakly.

"Sora, you're..." Arthur trailed off before adding hesitantly, "Where's Echo?"

"...Hang in there, my boy!" Echo cried out, reaching for me.

I strained to raise my heavy eyelids, managing to crack them open only slightly, finding Echo and Arthur peering worriedly over my shoulder and blocking most of my view.

My breath grew strained and heavy, almost as if I'd been drugged or poisoned, forcing my lips open once more as I forced words from my lips through gritted teeth, "Hey... What... Haha... Are you... Talking about..."

I croaked, chuckling slightly while weakly raising my arm toward the sky. My palm tingled with intense warmth radiating through my blood-covered skin, and the hairs on my arms stood up on edge. It reminded me of being near a bonfire, a cozy comforting sensation wrapping my aching limbs. The memory of feeling safe and comforted from that warmth that burned my flesh while battling Arthur in his void filled dungeon made me relax despite the current pain.

"...Sorry." I continued in between pants for air, letting the word fall away after catching a glance at the person lying dead beside me, eyes wide open and empty. I recognized those features to have been similar to Enzo's, causing my stomach to twist in guilt.

"Damn it... He did tell me I couldn't feel any emotions." The sentence came out between pants of heavy, labored breathing, and I struggled desperately to maintain my focus and attention on speaking coherently while not succumbing to unconsciousness.

"Did you drain his magic?" Arthur questioned as I turned towards him and nodded weakly.

"You used Oblivion Magic... I knew you had the Oblivion Crystal inside of you, but I didn't know you would actually be able to use it consciously yet."

I remained silent for a moment longer before replying.

"Yeah... Sorry for killing that guy." I whispered while avoiding eye contact. "Although I regret killing someone innocent, I'll understand if you won't forgive me."

My statement earned a slight chuckle from Echo, who nodded gently in approval.

"As long as you are still alive, it doesn't matter if the guy died. Just learn from your mistake and be sure not to do it again." Echo added.

"...Echo."

"For now Sora let's get you back to the Xuidian Kingdom, that's all that matters. You and Enzo wandered too far off and it led you to almost dying once again." Arthur replied.

I nodded in understanding, trying to hide the blush of embarrassment coloring my cheeks.

"Haha... My bad." I mumbled, as he placed a hand atop my head affectionately. I blushed even more, averting my gaze shamefully, before he removed his palm to clasp it around my trembling wrist, and we teleported somewhere else.

"Here's a little gift to take home." Arthur grinned knowingly, waving his hand casually and conjuring a portal back home for me. It was quite a neat trick considering I hadn't ever seen him perform such magic in the past before, not like I was around to observe any examples.

"Thank you." I thanked him.

"The second ring will help protect you and provide assistance with healing." Arthur explained as Echo added:

"Stay out of trouble now you hear? Let's make a promise, you come see me when you are ready to show me the kind of man you'll become, okay?"

"Yes ma'am!" I said, saluting before leaving.

"Do your best out there and fight with conviction!" Arthur grinned broadly, patting his friend's chest firmly as Echo laughed, slapping her arm lightly in response. "Come back soon!"

I hesitated as Arthur lifted me by the scruff of his shirt and dumped me into the portal. The last thing I saw were their smiling faces, eyes alit and hopeful with expectation. My heart pounded uncontrollably as they vanished. The world returned, and my senses returned at full force; all the adrenaline, excitement, tension, pain.

Then... Everything went dark and quiet. I fell forward and rolled sideways upon impact onto solid ground, a terrible metallic stench engulfing me whole as I retched uncontrollably, coughing and sputtering, tears dripping uncontrollably and staining my cheeks.