Echoes of Despair

"Dark dragon, huh? Let's see what you can do—" Divine's voice is a low, mocking rumble as she watches Elio materialize in front of her, transformed into his Dark Dragon Ringmaster form. His fierce, scaled visage glows ominously in the dim light.Without a hint of surprise, Divine's gaze remains cold and unimpressed. "Jeez, you guys are so troubling." Her tone is dismissive, almost bored, as she fluidly sidesteps Elio's wild, slashing attack. His claws, crackling with dark energy, swipe through empty air.Elio, his eyes burning with frustration, snarls and lunges again. His movements are desperate and erratic, each swing of his claws aimed with precision but met with Divine's effortless dodges. She sidesteps, her lithe form moving with an almost dance-like grace. Her movements are swift and calculated, her feet barely making a sound on the ground.Divine's face remains a mask of disdain as she continues to evade Elio's attacks. Her eyes narrow slightly, a smirk playing on her lips. "I expected more from Ringmasters from this era but god damn it, YOU ARE FUCKING WEAK!" Her voice crescendos with derision, and she executes a swift, powerful maneuver.In a sudden, fluid motion, Divine's foot swings back, catching Elio's head with a resounding thud. The impact drives his face into the ground with brutal force. His body jerks as his head smashes against the hard earth, a pained grunt escaping his lips.From the corner of her eye, Divine catches sight of The Queen, who is holding her stomach, stumbling towards the fray. Her eyes flicker with irritation. "SHIT!" The Queen's voice is strained as she struggles to move, her body trembling with pain.Without a second thought, Divine flicks her wrist with a casual, almost bored motion. A sharp, invisible force propels The Queen through the air. Her body is hurled towards the massive rock, arms flailing in a desperate attempt to brace herself. The impact is harsh, her back slamming into the rock with a sickening crunch. Blood spatters from her mouth as she gasps, her face contorted in agony.Divine's eyes lock onto The Queen, who slumps against the rock, her breath ragged. "Are you for real? Is this really all you have?" Divine's voice is a cold, taunting sneer, her face a mask of unimpressed disdain.Turning her attention back to Elio, who is still struggling to get up, Divine deepens her pressure. Her movements are deliberate and unforgiving. She steps closer, her presence oppressive. Her hands rest casually on her hips, fingers curling slightly as she regards Elio with a mixture of contempt and curiosity."As for you, my kid. Are you really my kid?" Divine's tone is a chilling mix of curiosity and scorn. Her eyes bore into Elio with an intensity that speaks volumes.The Queen, her face a mask of shock and confusion, looks at Divine with wide, disbelieving eyes. "What?!" The word is a raw burst of disbelief, her body trembling with the shock of the revelation.Divine's gaze remains unyielding as she continues to assert her dominance, her posture relaxed but radiating an undeniable aura of power and control." This boy, Elio, is his name?" Divine's voice is laced with derision as she gazes at the weakened Elio, who is collapsing to the ground, his Dark Dragon Ringmaster form dissipating due to his injuries. "The occupier of this body, she had a son, and this is that boy." Divine's tone is icy, her eyes glinting with a mix of disdain and amusement as she regards The Queen, whose face pales with shock.The scene shifts to the dimly lit corridor where Uriel, Lance, Butter, and Cheese are gathered. Lance, his face a mix of relief and triumph, holds up a gleaming white ring, turning it slowly to catch the light. "Finally found this ring," he announces, his voice tinged with satisfaction as he presents the ring to Uriel. His fingers curl around the ring, the metal gleaming ominously.Butter, leaning heavily on Cheese for support, shuffles into the room with visible difficulty. Her movements are slow and pained, each step a struggle. Her body is wrapped in bandages, the gauze stained with blood. She winces as she moves, her face a mask of exhaustion and determination. "And I found you guys…" Her voice is strained but resolute. She looks up at Uriel and Lance, her eyes conveying the depth of her fatigue and the urgency of her message.Uriel and Lance exchange concerned glances, their brows furrowing with worry as they take in Butter's injured state. Uriel's eyes soften with sympathy, and his posture becomes tense, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. Lance's face mirrors Uriel's concern, his shoulders hunched slightly as he steps closer to offer support."I need to tell you guys something." Butter's voice is frail but firm, her gaze shifting to encompass everyone in the room. Her hands tremble slightly as she raises them to steady herself, her fingers curling into fists. "Even you, Miss Bat." She turns slowly, her movements deliberate and weary.Jennifer, known as Miss Bat, enters the room with a determined stride. Her eyes are sharp, and her expression is one of intense focus as she takes in the scene before her. She stands tall, her posture exuding a quiet confidence as she scans the room.Butter's gaze locks onto Jennifer, her expression a mixture of pain and urgency. She takes a deep breath, her chest heaving slightly as she steels herself for the revelation. "Elio is… Sheena's son." The words spill from Butter's lips, her voice barely above a whisper but heavy with the weight of the revelation. Her shoulders slump slightly, the effort of delivering the news evident in the way she sags against Cheese.The room falls silent, the gravity of Butter's words hanging heavily in the air. Uriel's and Lance's eyes widen in shock, their mouths slightly agape as they absorb the news. Jennifer's face remains inscrutable for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly as she processes the information.Deeper in the dungeon, Divine's voice echoes with a cold, detached amusement as she recounts the grim tale to The Queen. "It all happened 15 years ago, you see." Her eyes gleam with an unsettling light as she watches The Queen, her posture relaxed but radiating menace. "This woman was murdered by Hex, and she locked the kid away in a small drawer that could fit him." Divine's fingers gesture dismissively, mimicking the confinement with a flick of her hand.She pauses, her expression shifting to one of exaggerated thoughtfulness. "After that, the kid was taken away by a little girl. That little girl ended up being his elder sister." Divine's lips curl into a sardonic smile as she recalls the name. "What's her name again? Right, Lila or something." She sighs dramatically, her shoulders rising and falling in a show of exasperation.Divine's gaze then shifts back to Elio, who is struggling against her grip. Her smile widens, revealing a cruel edge. "Such a pain in the ass. You see, I need to kill this guy, Miss Queen, because he will most probably be a big obstacle for our king. So, I need to make sure he is dead before it's too late." As she speaks, Divine's grip tightens around Elio's throat. Her fingers dig into his flesh, lifting him off the ground with a show of effortless strength. Elio's legs kick weakly, his face contorted in agony as he gasps for breath.The Queen, her injuries preventing her from moving freely, watches in mounting frustration. Her body trembles with the effort of trying to advance, each step a struggle. Her face is a mask of intense determination and anger, eyes wide with a mix of desperation and resolve. "COME ON BODY, DON'T GIVE UP ON ME NOW!" she screams, her voice hoarse and raw. Her hands clutch at her wounded torso, fingers digging into the fabric of her clothing as if willing her body to obey.Despite her efforts, her movements are labored and uneven. Her legs buckle slightly with each step, her progress slow and painful. Each movement is accompanied by a pained grimace, her face flushed with the strain. Her breath comes in ragged gasps, her body shaking with the effort of continuing forward. The Queen's eyes dart between Divine and Elio, her frustration palpable as she struggles against the constraints of her own injuries.The sudden sound of boots tapping against the dungeon floor grows louder, each echoing step reverberating through the cold, dark corridor. Divine's expression shifts from confident cruelty to wary alertness. Her eyes narrow as she listens, her head turning sharply toward the source of the noise. The tapping is growing closer, faster.Without a moment's hesitation, Divine's hand tightens around Elio. She jerks her arm forward, throwing him with a swift, forceful motion toward the approaching figure. Elio's body arcs through the air, his legs flailing as he is propelled by Divine's strength.The figure emerging from the shadows catches Elio effortlessly, a powerful grip securing the boy as he lands. Elio's face lights up with a faint, relieved smile as he gazes up at the person who has come to his aid. "Arata…" he breathes, his voice weak but filled with warmth.Arata's eyes, filled with determination and concern, meet Elio's. His expression is one of intense focus and urgency, his brow furrowed deeply. He quickly assesses the situation, his gaze darting to The Queen, whose condition is clearly dire. Arata's body is tense, his muscles coiled and ready for action as he stands firm, his boots planted solidly on the ground.The Queen, her face a mask of desperation and pain, locks eyes with Arata. Her voice is a frantic plea, her hands reaching out in a helpless gesture. "Ryuki Arata… WHY ARE YOU HERE?! YOU SHOULDN'T BE HERE! GET OUT! RUN! DON'T COME HERE!" Her words are a desperate cry, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and anguish. Her fingers claw at the air, as if trying to grasp at the hope of him leaving safely.Her body sways with the effort of standing, her legs barely supporting her as she continues to fight against her injuries. Her voice breaks, her breath coming in harsh, ragged bursts as she continues to plead with Arata. Her face is flushed with a mix of exertion and despair, her gaze flickering between Arata and Divine with increasing panic.Divine watches with a smirk of twisted satisfaction, her posture relaxed but her eyes sharp, enjoying the turmoil unfolding before her. Her fingers still curl slightly from the motion of throwing Elio, and her lips curl into a cruel smile as she savors the chaos.The Queen's voice drops to a low, pained whisper as she continues, her expression resigned and fearful. "You can't defeat her… No one can… She is beyond this world…" Her tone is filled with a sense of hopelessness, her eyes reflecting the dark, inescapable truth of the situation. Her body slumps slightly, the weight of her injuries and the gravity of her words evident in every movement.Divine's eyes narrow sharply as she focuses on Arata, her gaze a mix of disdain and curiosity. "What are you?" she demands, her voice laced with a sinister edge. Her posture is rigid, her shoulders squared, as if the very question is an affront to her understanding of existence."You are not a being that should be alive… How are you alive?" Divine's tone is sharp, her fingers curling into tense fists at her sides. Her eyes scan Arata from head to toe, her expression a blend of confusion and irritation.Arata's brow furrows deeply, his face a picture of bewilderment as he looks back at Divine. His shoulders are slightly hunched, his stance uncertain as he tries to process her questions. "What?" His voice is a mix of confusion and concern, his eyes darting between Divine and The Queen, seeking answers.Divine continues her interrogation, her voice growing more intense. "Not an Undergrounder, not a human… Who the hell are you?" She steps closer, her movements deliberate and forceful. Her fingers are splayed, gesturing as if trying to physically grasp the enigma of Arata's existence. "No… Why does a being such as you even exist in the first place?!" Her voice crescendos with frustration, her eyes flashing with a fierce, unblinking stare.Arata's confusion deepens, his face contorting into a mix of anger and perplexity. His hands clench into fists at his sides, his muscles tensing as he tries to maintain his composure. The intense scrutiny from Divine only adds to his disorientation, making his resolve all the more solid."Doesn't matter," Divine snaps, dismissing her previous questions with a wave of her hand. Her posture shifts as she readies herself for a fight, her body coiling with a dangerous, predatory energy. Her eyes narrow, a cold smile curling at the corners of her lips as she prepares to confront Arata. "This woman's kid is the least of my priority with you alive!"Arata takes a deep breath, his chest rising and falling as he steadies himself. His eyes narrow with a fierce determination, the confusion melting into a steely resolve. His voice, though calm, is edged with anger. "You hurt my friend… You hurt my Queen…" His words are deliberate, each syllable punctuated with a restrained intensity. "You are going to pay your dues… I will make sure that you do…"He gently lays Elio down on a nearby rock, his movements careful but purposeful. Elio's form is cradled in Arata's hands as he sets him down, his face softening momentarily with concern before hardening into a determined glare.Arata's eyes lock onto Divine, his gaze unwavering despite the weight of her presence. His posture is firm, his stance wide and grounded, as he faces her with unyielding resolve. Divine's expression shifts to one of shock and surprise, her eyes widening slightly as she takes in Arata's calm, resolute demeanor. The tension between them crackles in the air, the impending confrontation charged with raw emotion and unspoken challenge.