Darkness

"Do you think he would be able to survive that?" Berge asked, standing beside him.

"Yeah. He's probably dead. C'mon, let's go. We've caused enough ruckus just this night alone."

Letting out a relieved sigh, Berge followed him, both finding their way out of the forest.

~~~~

"Dren, wake up." Belle was on her knees, with Dren lying on his pool of blood. "We need a healer," she thought. "Yes! One of Garrick men has the healing ability. He's quite lucky not to get hit by the attacks from their fight."

Lifting him up, she struggled forward, walking through the destroyed forest.

Deep within the forest also, a figure lay on the ground looking at the night sky. "I failed," Issaiah muttered weakly. "After all those training to think, I would get defeated." Looking at his sides, he could hear footsteps.

"Issaiah!" Belle called out, looking at him. "We need to get help, Will... he's out there alone."

After a long sigh, he pushed himself up. 'Judging by the sudden stop of the rumbling ground and quietness of the forest, the battle is over.'

"Go on, I would meet up with you guys." Walking forward, he followed the trail of destruction and could finally see a little river now dyed red.

"I... failed," clenching his fist," he muttered weakly. "I didn't think I would get defeated among the lot here." Standing over the river, his eyes wander round, searching for a sign of life.

"I would kill those bastards!" Entering the river, he stood staring at the moon. "It can't end here, right?" Just then, he heard a ping sound from his watch. Clicking on it, words appeared before him.

"Don't worry about me... I'm alive! I'll be gone for a while, do well to protect them for me..."

"He... he's alive!" Falling onto the river, he let out a chuckle. "He's quite the strong head... I believe you... you go on carryout whatever you're doing I will protect the rest, and also up my training."

"I won't let this repeat itself again!" Getting off the river, he made his way back. "What a night! This has shown me there are more powerful people among the lot than I thought."

"I would have to stick with them and protect them until Will comes."

~~~~

"It was successful," Ezekiel said, standing before Marc.

"Successful, huh? Are you sure about that?" he asked, looking at him with an expressionless face.

"Yeah, the hunt is over. Now I can focus on my training," Ezekiel said before walking away.

"It seems you had it rough this time around, heh." Marc voice echoed across the room.

"Yeah, an hell of a dude. Too bad you missed the show. Also, don't forget about our duel."

'This time around, I would make sure I win at all costs... prepare yourself cause I'm going all out.'

"The duel, huh? I hope you don't disappoint."

~~~~

Will lay still, the darkness his only companion. He noticed he couldn't move an inch of his body. He could still freely think, but judging by how long he had been in this state, his hopes were going down.

"No, I wouldn't die here," he thought. "I would do whatever thing possible to live!"

'System interface!' He called out, trying to summon his system.

[ Rebooting still in progress ]

[ Booting progress 88% ]

After what felt like eternity, the darkness began to fade. Soon, the darkness was starting to fade, and a slight glow was spreading across the area. A lush garden was gradually forming with a lake at the centre emitting an ethereal glow.

"This place... what's this familiar feeling." His senses were finally coming back along with his body system.

Standing up from the flower bed, he walked forward, moving towards the centre of the forest. There, a young boy sat along with a humongous beast beside him.

"We meet once again, young Aziel," the boy said, looking up. Gesturing with his hands, Will followed walking towards him.

Once again, he felt a strange yet familiar feeling from the boy beside him. His obsidian eyes held countless years of knowledge along with this calm yet confident vibe around him.

Taking a lotus form, everything seemed familiar to Will. The boy stretched forth his hands, placing his index fingers on his head.

"Let's make things easier." His finger emitted a soft sooothing glow, and finally, memories of his previous visit came rushing like a dam.

"It seems the darkness in you is messing things up," he said with a sigh.

"Though some parts were blocked off by some mysterious force. This is quite frustrating, but this would do."

"You!" Will exclaimed. "What..."

"We're running out of time, so please listen carefully. The darkness inside you is being unleashed, along comes chaos and devastation. Be cautious, as you may harm those you care about."

"Darkness? In... me? What are you saying?" he asked with confusion.

"The current circumstance seems to worsen the situation. Your vitality is diminishing... and your soul won't be able to contain it. It won't be long before your heart succumbs . Activating it... is the only solution."

"Your current strength and state... you won't be able to hold it all. Except... yes... that's the only way." He kept on muttering words which Will couldn't grasp.

"Hold on, what are you yapping about. You haven't answered my questions yet."

"What the hell is going on? Why is this happening to me?"

"I'm sorry, but it won't be long before everything will be revealed. Just try your hardest and survive till the time comes."

Everything seemed to come to a sudden stop as he stood up from the ground. "Just a fragment, that would do for now."

Placing his palm on his chest, a dark sinister energy began surging around him slowly entering his chest.

Will couldn't move once again and could only watch as everything happened. It felt a chain had been broken within him, a strange mysterious force surged within him filling him with energy.

The energy continued surging within as the moment passed. Along with the process, he also saw some scenes played through before him. One that left a deep mark on him.

The garden was beginning to break down, turning into the wisp of energy. Will could feel his consciousness returning back. He was back again in the endless darkness. This time around, his senses were working, and he could feel the crashing wave along with the flowing of water.

A pulse of energy exploded out as his heart made the first beat. With each sturdy beat of his heart, a large amount of energy came off him, spreading far and wide.

Soon, he felt a painful force tugging at his soul. The pain soon faded, and he could feel a storm of energy entering his entire being, strengthening both his life force and soul.

The rushes of the water were evident, and slowly, he could feel himself lifting up. His body burst through the surface, his vision getting blurry by the moment.

The tingling sensation, along with the wave of energy, had finally stopped, leaving him weakened. Along came the sound of the system.

[ System has fully rebooted ]

[ Some changes have been made ]