Chapter 7: The Price of Victory

The plains were a wasteland of destruction, scarred by the battle that had just torn through it. Craters pockmarked the landscape, smoke rising in twisting spirals as the earth smoldered from the sheer intensity of the clash. The once-green fields lay in ruin, reduced to a barren stretch of broken ground and ash. Tendaji and Tidiane stood at the heart of the devastation, their breathing ragged, their bodies battered and exhausted from the battle against Zaria.

At their feet lay Zaria, his once-bright aura extinguished. His form was a shadow of the powerful warrior he had been only moments ago, his strength shattered by the relentless onslaught. Victory was theirs, but it had come at a price, leaving both heroes drained.

Tendaji wiped the sweat from his brow, his gaze fixed on Zaria's limp form. "We need to capture him," he said to Tidiane, his voice barely above a whisper. "There's more to this than we understand. If there's anyone behind Zaria's actions, we need answers."

Tidiane nodded, still catching his breath, his face etched with grim determination. "Agreed. His power didn't come from nowhere. Whoever or whatever's backing him… we need to know."

But as they prepared to bind Zaria, something changed. The air around them grew thick and cold, a shiver of dread creeping down their spines. Suddenly, a dark, chilling voice echoed through the air, a voice that seemed to bypass sound and pierce straight into Zaria's mind.

"You failed," the voice hissed, low and menacing. "You couldn't capture the child with the Great Blessing. But no matter… Tendaji must be eliminated, and this is your last chance to serve your purpose."

Zaria's body jerked violently, his eyes widening in terror as he fought against the force that had invaded his mind. But his resistance was futile. The voice took control, overriding his will, driving him into a final, desperate act. As Tendaji and Tidiane watched in horror, dark black marks began to spread across Zaria's skin like ink bleeding through water, his eyes turning into hollow voids of darkness.

"What's happening?" Tidiane whispered, his body tensing.

"This… this isn't Zaria's doing," Tendaji replied, his eyes narrowing as he realized the depth of the threat they faced. "It's something darker, more twisted."

A low hum filled the air as the ground beneath them began to glow. Tendaji's gaze dropped to see a vast magic circle appearing around them, etched in shadow and pulsing with cursed energy. The circle was ancient, a relic of forbidden magic—a technique Tendaji knew could mean only one thing: someone wanted his soul sealed away, erased from existence.

As the realization dawned, Tendaji's mind raced, his instincts screaming at him to move. But before he could react, Zaria's voice—now a hollow, controlled monotone—spoke a single phrase.

"Black Arcane Shadow."

At that moment, Tendaji felt a searing pain pierce his chest, a dark energy coiling around him like chains of shadow. The circle activated, a blinding column of black light shooting up from the ground, engulfing him in its deadly glow. Tendaji's Zowa flared as he fought against the force, his strength surging as he pushed back with all his might.

"Tendaji!" Tidiane shouted, lunging toward his friend, but the barrier surrounding the circle repelled him, sending him crashing back. Desperation flooded his eyes as he watched helplessly, powerless to save the man who had fought beside him, who had stood as the kingdom's greatest protector.

Inside the black light, Tendaji felt the force pulling at his soul, dragging him toward a dimension unknown. His vision blurred, his senses dimming, but his resolve remained unbroken. He fought with every fiber of his being, his Zowa roaring in defiance as he struggled against the relentless pull. Yet, despite his efforts, he felt his strength slipping, the cursed technique overwhelming even his mighty will.

In a final, desperate moment, Tendaji's gaze found Tidiane through the wall of darkness. Their eyes met, a silent promise passing between them—a promise that Tidiane would protect the kingdom, that he would carry on the fight. With one last surge of will, Tendaji channeled his Zowa, sending a wave of energy outward in a burst of light.

And then, in a heartbeat, it was over. The black light vanished, leaving only silence. Tendaji's body lay still on the ground, his once-brilliant aura gone, his spirit sealed away. In the distance, Zaria's form disintegrated, his body turning to ash and scattering into the wind as the curse claimed its price.

For a long, agonizing moment, Tidiane could only stare, his heart heavy as the reality set in. Tendaji, the strongest demon hunter, the man who had stood unbreakable against every threat, lay soulless before him. The weight of his friend's sacrifice pressed down on him, but there was no time to mourn, no time to process the loss.

"Asha!" Tidiane turned, his eyes finding Tendaji's son, who had been watching from the edge of the battlefield. The boy's face was a mixture of hope and confusion as he ran toward his father's fallen form.

"Dad!" Asha cried, his voice filled with both joy and fear. He reached his father's side, his small hands clutching Tendaji's lifeless arm as he looked up, waiting for Tendaji to open his eyes, to reassure him as he always had. But there was only silence.

Tidiane knelt beside Asha, his hand resting gently on the boy's shoulder. "Asha," he began, his voice choked with emotion. "Your father… he… he's gone, but he fought until the very end. He's a hero, Asha. And we'll bring him back."

As Asha clung to his father's hand, Tidiane silently vowed to honor Tendaji's legacy, to protect the kingdom with the same strength and courage his friend had shown. And in his heart, he knew this was not the end; it was only the beginning of a new journey—a journey to break the curse, to reclaim Tendaji's spirit, and to unravel the dark force that sought to destroy them all.