Chapter 20: The Wrath of Zarath

Aura Manipulation Technique: Kshetra Prabandham! With that command, the ground around Sicotes and Guru Samarth began to shift and expand, forming an isolated battlefield just for them.

"You're flashier than I thought, Sicotes," Guru Samarth remarked, his eyes narrowing. "I didn't think you could use space magic."

"Hahahaha!" Sicotes let out a loud, sinister yet delighted laugh. "So, will you fight me seriously now?"

Sicotes was practically salivating at the prospect of tasting Guru Samarth's true power.

"Very well," Guru Samarth responded, a calm resolve settling over his features. "I shall accept your challenge."

"Challenge? Hahahaha! Challenge, you say? Come at me, you old fool!" Sicotes taunted, his eyes gleaming with malevolence. With that, he unleashed a devastating attack. "Flame Canon!"

A torrent of fire erupted from Sicotes' hands, hurtling towards Guru Samarth. But just before the flames could reach him, Guru Samarth vanished. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared behind Sicotes, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. Sicotes spun around in panic, but saw no one.

Suddenly, a powerful presence made itself known to Sicotes. Turning to his right, he was met with a forceful punch to the face, sending him crashing to the ground. Dazed and in shock, Sicotes heard a commanding voice echoing around him.

"Aura Manipulation Technique: Infinite Energy!"

A blinding light enveloped Sicotes. As the light faded, Guru Samarth stood alone, sighing with disappointment.

"What a shame. I thought you could give me a decent fight, but no. Well, I suppose this is how things were meant to end," Guru Samarth said, turning to leave.

But a voice from behind stopped him in his tracks. "Really? Do you really think this is over?"

Guru Samarth's face turned to one of shock and disbelief.

The scene shifts to another area of the battlefield. Zarath stood poised, his eyes locked onto his opponent, Arthur. The tension in the air was palpable as both warriors readied themselves for the inevitable clash. Zarath's aura radiated dark power, a chilling contrast to Arthur's blazing determination.

"A fifth aura sense at your age? Huh," Arthur remarked, shocked.

Zarath continued, "You really are something." He paused, then added, "You know, there are tons of things in this world that don't make any sense. Like how honey can last forever while being sweet, or how a king can have multiple wives but not us normal people." Arthur's confusion grew with each word. Zarath resumed with a calm voice, "I hate these facts and I don't want to believe them. But you know what makes me angrier above all else?"

His voice turned into a roar of rage. "A prodigy like you!" With this furious declaration, a powerful wave of sound erupted from Zarath, crashing into Arthur. Arthur barely crossed his arms in time to defend himself, but the impact was still substantial, leaving him damaged yet still standing.

Another terrifying roar came from Zarath as he closed the gap between them. "You idiot! You don't get it!" he bellowed, launching a barrage of punches at Arthur. Each blow was so powerful that the very air around them felt the pressure. "I don't like you! You think a prodigy like you can withstand my punches? You idiot!" His anger grew with each strike, his fists hammering into Arthur relentlessly.

Arthur struggled to defend himself, his arms barely able to block the onslaught. The ground beneath them cracked and shattered from the sheer force of Zarath's blows. "I won't give up!" Arthur shouted, trying to fight back, but Zarath's fury was overwhelming.

"You should have never crossed me!" Zarath spat, his eyes burning with hatred. "I'll destroy you!" He grabbed Arthur by the collar and threw him into the air, leaping after him to deliver a devastating kick that sent Arthur crashing back to the ground.

Arthur gasped for breath, his body battered and bruised. He knew he had to find a way to turn the tide. Summoning all his strength, he charged at Zarath, landing a solid punch to his jaw. Zarath staggered, momentarily stunned, but quickly regained his composure, his rage intensifying.

"Is that all you've got?" Zarath sneered, wiping blood from his lip. "Pathetic!" He lunged at Arthur, their fists colliding in a flurry of blows. The sound of their combat echoed across the battlefield, each hit resonating with raw power.

As the fight raged on, Zarath's attacks grew increasingly brutal. With a savage strike to Arthur's ribs, he caused him to cough up blood. "You're weak!" Zarath taunted, his voice dripping with contempt. "You don't deserve to stand in my presence!"

Without giving Arthur a moment to recover, Zarath immediately closed the gap between them and unleashed a relentless barrage of punches.

Zarath's ferocity was unlike anything Arthur had faced before. Each punch felt like it carried the weight of a mountain, and each time Arthur blocked or parried, he could feel the vibrations rattling through his bones. The battlefield itself seemed to tremble under the force of their exchange, dust and debris swirling around them like a violent storm.

"You think you can challenge me?" Zarath growled, his voice dripping with disdain. "You think your so-called prodigy status means anything here? You don't know what true power is!"

Arthur gritted his teeth, pushing back against the onslaught. "Power isn't everything, Zarath. There's more to strength than just raw force!"

"Oh, save me your sanctimonious drivel!" Zarath sneered, his fists a blur of motion. He aimed a punch at Arthur's head, which Arthur barely managed to dodge, the air whistling past his ear from the sheer speed and power. "Your idealism is pathetic!"

Arthur tried to counterattack, using his agility to weave through Zarath's blows. He landed a few strikes on Zarath's torso, but they barely seemed to faze him. Zarath's expression twisted into one of pure rage as he absorbed the hits, his aura growing darker and more oppressive with each passing second.

"You're nothing but a speck of dust to me!" Zarath roared, his anger boiling over. He grabbed Arthur by the throat and lifted him off the ground, his grip like a vice. "I will crush you!"

Arthur struggled to breathe, his vision blurring as Zarath's grip tightened. With a surge of desperation, he summoned his remaining strength and kicked Zarath in the stomach, forcing him to release his hold. Arthur dropped to the ground, gasping for air, but he knew he couldn't afford to waste a single second.

Zarath, momentarily winded, recovered quickly and launched himself at Arthur again. "I'll tear you apart!" he bellowed, his fists raining down like a hailstorm. Arthur met him blow for blow, their fists clashing with such force that sparks seemed to fly from the impact.

"I won't let you win, Zarath!" Arthur shouted, his determination unwavering. "I have people to protect, a promise to keep!"

"Your promises mean nothing to me!" Zarath retorted, his voice a thunderous roar. He landed a savage uppercut to Arthur's jaw, sending him sprawling across the ground. "You don't belong in this world of power and might!"

Arthur's vision swam, but he forced himself to stand, his legs shaking from the effort. "Maybe I don't belong in your world, Zarath. But I'm not giving up. Not now, not ever!"

"Then die with your foolish ideals!" Zarath screamed, his eyes blazing with fury. He charged at Arthur, his entire body radiating with dark energy. Arthur braced himself, his heart pounding in his chest.

With a roar of rage, Zarath unleashed a flurry of punches, each one more powerful than the last. Arthur did his best to defend himself, but the sheer ferocity of Zarath's attacks was too much. Blow after blow landed, driving Arthur to his knees.

"This is where you die!" Zarath screamed, his hand glowing with dark energy. He plunged it into Arthur's chest, his fingers wrapping around Arthur's heart. Arthur gasped, pain radiating through his entire body.

As Zarath's grip tightened, time suddenly stopped. The world around Arthur froze, and he found himself standing in a void. A familiar figure appeared before him, radiating a calming presence.

"Hello, Arthur. How are you?"