Amidst the chaos and darkness, Derek's laughter rang out, a crazed, unhinged sound that sent chills down the spine of the four-year-old Rakuzen. The boy stood there, paralyzed by fear and confusion, as the blind and bloodied Derek reveled in his maniacal amusement.
With a sudden, jarring movement, Derek shifted from his cross-legged position to his knees, his arms outstretched as if preparing to embrace the child. However, between his palms swirled a malevolent whirlpool of death, a maelstrom of dark power that surged with sinister intent. It smashed into an invisible barrier that seemed to manifest out of thin air, unleashing a deafening explosion that shook the void on both sides.
The shockwaves reverberated violently, the invisible barrier holding firm and keeping the child out of harm's way, but enough to make Rakuzen's heart skip a beat. Fear gripped him as he realized the sheer power that Derek wielded, even in his blind and bloodied state.