Unsheathed Dominion - Act 02

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In the world of demons, birth brings forth beings with extraordinary blood, granting them unparalleled healing and physical resilience. Yet, as they traverse their demon existence, they evolve, morphing into formidable entities beyond recognition.

Now, demons have faded into myth, leaving behind only hybrids—offspring of humans and demons, their blood intertwined with demonic essence. Among them, two stand out: one, a former ally of Timothy, and the other, his sworn enemy, thirsting for power and prepared to confront any challenger within the Vast Expanse.

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The surge of power from the nexus jolted Timothy's senses, triggering a rush of adrenaline. Instantly, electric currents crackled around his hands, propelling him forward with increased speed. He materialized before Onnamon, his left leg trailing with flickering electricity that erupted into a blaze, momentarily illuminating the scene in a flashfire.

With a forceful kick downward, Timothy attempted to break through an invisible barrier, but it repelled him with such strength that he was sent flying backward. Twisting in mid-air, he used his agile body to perform acrobatics, landing deftly before the cement pillar.

In an instant, a blinding flash illuminated the area, resembling a white sun that could blind even the keenest human eyes.

Timothy shielded his eyes to preserve his vision. As the intense light faded, he beheld a stream of red and black energy flowing across the flat ground, while the nexus dwindled in size, transforming into a small, singular sphere that emitted no light at all.

As the haze cleared, Timothy locked eyes with Onnamon's erupting form. The energy from the nexus cloaked his clothes, forming a black symbol on his forehead that briefly glowed red.

Onnamon's eyes blazed orange, blinking with intensity as he faced Timothy with a grin that sent shivers down his spine, reminiscent of his long-lost friend.

Spreading his arms wide and advancing, Onnamon spoke, his voice laced with power, "Impressive, isn't it, my adversary..." Devilish horns burst from Onnamon's head as his grin widened, his hair darkening to the shade of shadows. "I am no mere devil; I am now an oni, my power rivaling that of the gods, if not surpassing it." His laughter echoed with a chilling confidence.

As time passed, Onnamon underwent a profound transformation. His skin turned crimson, and his muscles bulged, causing him to grow in size and stature.

His eyes blazed like molten gold, their gaze penetrating through the very soul.

"With this power, I am reborn as the harbinger of destruction! The Onnamon you once knew is but a memory! I am now Kagedouma, and you shall face my wrath!"

Kagedouma raised both arms high, fists pulsating with crackling red energy. With a thunderous roar, he brought them crashing down onto the tower's platform.

As his fists connected with the cement, a shockwave rippled through the structure. Cracks exploded from the impact, racing from top to bottom with thunderous force. Timothy struggled to maintain his footing as the tower began to crumble, its destruction unfolding in a cataclysmic cascade of chaos and ruin.

As Timothy raced from the crumbling tower, he bore witness to Onnamon's terrifying transformation into Kagedouma, a being of unfathomable power. Despite his best efforts, he found no refuge amidst the chaos.

Vaulting between flying boulders and collapsing pillars, he soared higher and higher, his heart thundering in his chest as the world erupted into chaos around him. Each leap brought him perilously close to disaster, yet he pressed on, driven by sheer determination to survive.

But in the midst of the devastation, there was nowhere to hide. The ground trembled beneath him, threatening to give way at any moment as the very foundations of reality fractured and splintered. With each passing second, Timothy fought to evade the relentless onslaught of destruction, his every movement a desperate bid for survival in the face of overwhelming odds.

Finally finding a safe spot to stand on, Timothy sharpened his gaze on Kagedouma, his surprise evident.

As he watched the tower crumble, his enemy stood amidst the chaos, seemingly unaffected by the destruction around him. Timothy couldn't help but marvel at the transformation that had taken place before his eyes.

"He's completely transformed," Timothy muttered to himself, his voice filled with awe and disbelief. "From a mere human to an overwhelming oni, infused with demonic blood..."

Realizing the true nature of his enemy, Timothy prepared to face the foe: an oni formed from a humanoid body and demonic blood vessel.

"That's right, I transformed... So, understand that this little game of ours is about to escalate into a cursed battle. My power will harm both mortals like you and divinities!"

Kagedouma extended his muscular arm and opened his hand. "Meet your doom, pirate!" Instantly, Kagedouma unleashed something akin to a vacuum wave, which struck with immense force. Timothy, however, evaded it with an aerial leap, spreading his arms and legs in midair.

A blue sphere of fire began to coalesce in Timothy's hands, expanding until it unleashed a blazing orb that rocketed towards Kagedouma like a meteor.

In an astonishing display, Kagedouma swept his arm sideways, shattering the orb into fiery sparkles.

This unexpected move caught Timothy off guard, causing him to momentarily lose focus.

Taking advantage of this lapse, Kagedouma lunged forward, seized Timothy by the neck, and, using his oni-like strength, hurled him backward.

Timothy crashed into the precarious pillars as Kagedouma raised a finger, releasing a laser that homed in on Timothy's trapped form.

Timothy recovered from the throw just in time to launch himself away from the laser that pierced the pillar where he had been trapped.

Upon landing, he rolled over his shoulders, coming to rest in a three-point stance.

As he raised his head to locate Kagedouma, he was already forced into action again. Kagedouma, with brute force, lunged at him a second time, attempting to smash his energy-charged fist into Timothy's face.

Timothy leaped into a spin to dodge the punch, retaliating with a roundhouse kick that landed squarely against Kagedouma's face, knocking it slightly to the side.

Despite the accuracy and power of Timothy's kick, Kagedouma seemed unfazed, grinning as he seized the opportunity to strike Timothy's torso with a full-powered punch. The blow sent Timothy hurtling backward, his body rolling and flopping on the cement-covered ground.

It's not much fun having to hold back against a notorious pirate like you, Temoshí. So, how about I destroy this island, along with those marines, your friends and yourself? Do you think this power is worth the wait, or should it be unleashed right now?"