Chapter 15

After a brief pause, Volden's contemplative gaze met Kabat's simmering frustration. "Why does our revered lord choose this moment for his return? Could it be to bestow personal commendation upon my soon elevation to the position of high chief?" he inquired, his tone laced with a hint of anticipation.

Kabat's response was swift, his irritation palpable. "Does our lord require justification to grace us with his presence?" he retorted sharply, a flicker of impatience flashing in his eyes. Meanwhile, Volden, maintaining his composure, motioned for a maid to bring refreshments, a serene smile playing upon his lips.

"Forgive me if my words have been misconstrued, my friend," Volden interjected gently, seeking to assuage the mounting tension. "I merely seek clarity on his intentions, mindful of his status within the higher echelons of the powers that be of our world."

But Kabat, consumed by fervor, rose abruptly from his seat, his voice resonating with righteous fervor. "Silence, mortal! You tread upon dangerous ground, daring to question the motives of our great lord," he thundered, his conviction unwavering. "Your lineage, your very family's existence, owes everything to his divine benevolence."

Volden, unmoved by Kabat's outburst, maintained his stance, his tone measured yet resolute. "Please understand, dear Kabat, my inquiry stems not from disrespect, but from a genuine thirst for understanding," he explained calmly, his words a testament to his unwavering loyalty.

In the midst of their exchange, the air hung heavy with tension, a delicate balance between reverence and inquiry, loyalty and curiosity. And as the tea arrived, symbolizing a fleeting moment of tranquility amidst the storm of emotion, Volden and Kabat found themselves at a crossroads of faith and understanding, each grappling with their own interpretation of devotion.

Kabat's gaze hardened as he spoke, his words carrying a weight of warning. "Let not your inquiries sow seeds of doubt regarding your allegiance, especially when members of your own bloodline dare to defy us," he cautioned, his grip tightening around the delicate porcelain cup as he accepted it from the maid's outstretched hand.

Volden, unfazed by Kabat's implicit threat, offered a measured response. "If you speak of Elara's foolish vendetta against Malachi for the killing of the former high chief, it is worth noting that she has never been privy to the inner workings of our order," he explained calmly, his demeanor unwavering. "Her actions stem from ignorance, her demise at Malachi's hands would be a mercy bestowed upon her."

Kabat's expression softened slightly, his skepticism tempered by Volden's explanation. With a nod of acquiescence, he acknowledged Volden's words, finding a degree of satisfaction in the reassurance they provided. And as they sipped their tea in silence, a fragile truce hung between them, forged from a delicate balance of loyalty, kinship, and the unyielding pursuit of order.

In the dimly lit confines of their hideout, Toka and Sez engaged in a relentless battle with Malachi, the clash of steel echoing through the chamber as each blow inflicted more damage than they had ever experienced before at any point of thier lives. Malachi, his irritation rising infinitely at being pushed so far into his limits by what he deemed inferior adversaries. He prepared himself for a decisive counterattack as Sez, driven by a fierce determination, lunged forward with a shadow sword dripping with palpable intent to kill.

A triumphant smile tugged at Malachi's lips as he anticipated reversing the effects of the impending strike. Yet, his confidence shattered in an instant as he cried out in agony, blood spewing from his lips, the blade driven deeper by Toka's relentless assault. Sez and Toka exchanged a malevolent grin, reveling in their moment of victory as Toka moved to deliver a second strike.

Desperate to maintain distance and regain control of the situation, Malachi evaded Toka's onslaught, retreating to the far reaches of the room. His mind raced, grappling with the sudden surge in their speed during the last attack, a realization dawning upon him of the formidable opponents he faced.

Sez, undeterred by Malachi's attempt to distance himself, launched another assault, mirroring his previous maneuver. Yet, this time, Malachi's keen senses detected Toka's KiChi presence closing in from behind. Convinced that Sez's advance was yet another feint, Malachi prepared to unleash his ability to reverse the attack's effect on Toka while evading Sez's strike.

However, his focus shattered as a hand emerged from his own shadow, dragging him inexorably downwards into the abyss. Shocked and disoriented, Malachi's realization came too late — the Sez before him was but a mere shadow, a construct designed to distract him while the true Sez lurked in the darkness.

As Malachi grappled with this revelation, his footing faltered, and in a mere fraction of a second, Toka's blade sliced through the air with deadly precision, severing Malachi's head from his shoulders in a swift and decisive motion.

As Sez emerged from the dissipating shadows, the decaying remnants of Malachi's body fell to the ground, his severed head disintegrating into dust. Yet, as his essence dispersed, a surge of Dark KiChi erupted from his remains, permeating the entirety of the cave with its ominous presence.

The hunters, gripped by a visceral fear, found themselves overwhelmed by the malevolent energy. Even Elara, driven by her determination to avenge her father's murder, was brought to her knees, her resolve faltering in the face of such overwhelming dread. For stalwart individuals like Kavid V and Rhea, accustomed to facing adversity head-on, the sensation of suffocating darkness threatened to crush their spirits with an intense choking sensation.

Amidst the palpable tension, Toka's voice cut through the silence like a blade. "It seems our task is far from complete," he declared, his tone resolute. Sez nodded in silent agreement, bracing themselves for the impending confrontation with an adversary unlike any they had encountered before.

"You've stumbled upon quite the formidable contract, brother," Toka remarked, a note of admiration in his voice. "Indeed, though I must confess, this exceeds even my expectations. Despite dispatching a clan head, the magnitude of this threat surpasses any Grade 1 assignment I've encountered," Sez replied, his voice tinged with a hint of apprehension.

"Prepare yourself, brother," Toka urged, summoning a formidable spear from the depths of the shadows. Sez followed suit, manifesting two gleaming knives with practiced ease. As they stood poised for battle, their resolve unyielding, they knew that they faced a challenge unlike any other, one that would test their skills, their courage, and their bond as brothers in arms.

Malachi's disembodied voice reverberated with seething contempt, his words dripping with venom as he addressed his adversaries. "Never before have I been reduced to such degradation by the likes of you," he snarled, his fury palpable. "But mark my words, I will see you both dead, I swear it."

With a sickening transformation, Malachi's body reshaped itself into a monstrous form, a crimson shell of rock enveloping his towering frame. Horns jutted menacingly from his forehead as he surged forward with murderous intent. Sez, nimble and alert, evaded his charge, while Toka, attempting to fend him off with his spear, found himself flung to the far end of the chamber as the weapon shattered against Malachi's onslaught, cracking the wall in its wake.

Sez, sensing a surge of newfound strength coursing through him, unleashed a torrent of shadow shuriken in a desperate attempt to halt Malachi's advance. But the formidable foe deflected them effortlessly with a sweep of his arm before closing in on Sez with lethal intent. Yet, Sez's quick thinking allowed him to evade the onslaught, leaving behind a decoy to confuse his assailant.

Frustrated by Sez's evasion, Malachi let out a primal roar, redirecting his fury towards Toka, who stood poised to unleash a devastating attack. Confident in his newfound invincibility, Malachi smirked as Toka unleashed a blast of purple energy. However, his confidence shattered as the energy morphed into a spectral dragon that ensnared him, restraining his once-impenetrable form.

In a desperate bid for freedom, Malachi strained against the dragon's hold, only to find himself ensnared in an unyielding grip. His rage reached a fever pitch as he attempted to break free, but with each futile effort, the dragon's grip tightened, striking him with relentless force under Toka's precise control.

In the heart of the cavern, shadows danced with the flickering light, casting eerie silhouettes upon the walls. The very essence of the chamber seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy, a testament to the intensity of the battle unfolding within.

Sez's mind raced with strategies, with a deft flick of his wrist, he conjured illusions, each one a deadly weapon aimed at thwarting Malachi's relentless advance.

Meanwhile, Toka's resolve burned like a flame, his determination unyielding in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds but with a smile depicting his own excitement

Yet, for all their skill and determination, Malachi remained a formidable adversary, his strength seemingly boundless as he weathered their onslaught with a grim determination of his own. He finally frees himself leaving the dragon shattered, but the ever skilled Toka instantly reforms it and strikes it at Malachi, launching him to the end of the room.

The clash of their powers echoed through the cavern, a symphony of chaos and destruction that reverberated with every strike. Each blow landed shaking the very foundations of the chamber as they battled for supremacy.

And as the battle raged on, the cavern bore witness to a clash of titans, a testament to their indomitable spirit.