“I’ll be careful,” he said, dropping the final few paces into the cavern below. Instead of coming to a rest on the floor, he sank into his shadow. The dim lighting from the shaft—the only source of illumination—made for strong, vast shadows. Vir’s ideal environment.
From the Shadow Realm, Vir learned the cavern was low and wide, about forty paces in diameter.
As for the final Domain Lord, it was a type he’d never seen before. While its torso, arms, and head were that of a man, below its waist was a snake’s body. The Naga peered back at him with eyes tainted by madness.
“What are you doing there?” Vir asked, popping his head back up within the chute, where Cirayus waited, wedging his body against the walls with the aid of Balancer of Scales to stay up.
“The cavern’s the lord’s domain. It’ll attack the moment I enter. I’ll remain here unless you need my help.”
Vir chuckled. “Doubtful. I’ll take your advice, though. Anything you can tell me about it?”
“’Tis difficult to say what powers this Naga might have gained after being driven mad by the Ash,” Cirayus said, “but I do recognize that tattoo. Aspect of the Eternal Storm.”
“Is that what it sounds like?”
“Aye. Rain showers, gale-force winds, and some can even summon lightning. Though most demons are only capable of using it to conjure drinking water.”
“This is an Ash Beast,” Vir said. “I should probably expect the worst.”
“Indeed. Nagas are master spearmen. Watch out for its weapon. They aren’t especially quick, though they move unpredictably. Take care not to get caught within their tail. They can easily crush you.”
“Noted,” Vir said. “If it can use chakras, does that mean its regular magic can attack my soul as well?”
“’Tis possible to imbue magic attacks with chakra, though doing so requires a high level of mastery. Avoid its magic, lad.”
Vir wasn’t about to take any chances. Only a fool would attempt to fight such an opponent conventionally. As badly as he wanted to see more chakra attacks in action, he wasn’t about to put his life in jeopardy to satisfy such urges. Besides, he had Cirayus anytime he wanted a demonstration.
No, Vir’s skills were optimally suited for killing mejai, and the way he saw it, this beast was like a mejai and a Talent wielder mixed into one.
One strike. I need to end this in one blow.
“Oh, and lad?” Cirayus said as Vir began to retract his head from the rock. “Do you have any idea how strange you look with just your head popping out of the rock like that?”
Vir grinned. “No, but your expression says everything. I really ought to scare people with this more,” he said, thinking of how he could mess with Maiya. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t had the idea earlier.
He made a mental note to devise a trap for when they reunited.
Vir sunk back into the shadow, then with Haste and Prana Current active, he exited and Blinked.
He didn’t aim for his enemy. He aimed deep into the Naga’s territory, some twenty paces away from the lord.
Vir pivoted, Blinking again, Empowering his legs to their absolute maximum to arrive at the Naga’s unprotected back.
The beast tried to turn, but its body was large. It couldn’t turn quickly enough. Vir had banked on that.
He hurled his chakram at point-blank range, activating Chakram Launch to add to the terrifying Artifact’s already-deadly potential.
But he didn’t stop there. Vir fired Katar Launch as well.
Dual Launches ripped into the Naga’s neck at nearly the same time.
Its Prana Armor held—but only barely.
Vir’s heel smashed into the Naga’s torso at the same time his chakram hit its neck.
Blink activated, and Vir sucked the prana out of the lord’s own body, decimating what little armor it had left.
The wailing disk struck, finding exposed, vulnerable flesh. There was no resistance. It cut right through… And the Naga’s head went flying.
Vir recalled the chakram, wiping a bead of sweat off his brow.
He turned to Cirayus, who stood some twenty paces away.
Cirayus thundered in laughter. “Well!” he shouted between laughs. “That’s more like it!”
“Brick by brick. Stone after stone,” Vir replied, turning to his guardian. “Do you believe me now? Am I powerful now, Cirayus?”
The giant regarded him with a look of awe… and something else, too. Hunger.
“That will depend.”
“On what?”
The demon grinned evilly.
“On the results of our duel.”
Unbeknownst to the two warriors, a pair of piercing blue eyes watched on as the dark-robed figure attacked the Ash Beasts. It sat on its haunches, silent, keenly observing. But it didn’t look at the enemies—it stared instead at the boy, refusing to look away, even for an instant.
It watched as he effortlessly reaved into one beast after another. Then the figure lit up like a beacon, blazing with the energy of life.
The pair of eyes widened, and it perked up.
It knew what it had to do.
50
(PART TWO): THE SHADOW & THE RAVAGER REDUX
The dark cave that had only recently been the final Domain Lord’s lair seemed an appropriate location for a duel between such combatants as the Akh Nara and the Ravager.
The only light that filtered in came from the hole through which Vir and Cirayus had descended, but if the low light bothered the giant, he certainly didn’t mention it.
Not like he needs light with that Third Eye Chakra of his, Vir observed.
It was a fateful moment for Vir. When he’d first fought the demon, it’d been less a battle, and more a predator toying with his prey. Forget putting up a fight—if Cirayus wanted him dead, Vir would’ve lost his life before he knew what hit him.
Vir was no longer that weak boy, however. Not after Mahādi. Not after Ashani. Not here in the Ash, where his affinity reigned supreme. This was his domain.
Even so, though he couldn’t wait to see the look on Cirayus’ face when he bested the giant, he wasn’t immature enough to let it get to his head.
Despite his many recent strength gains, this would be a difficult fight. Even with Cirayus opting not to use Sikandar. Instead, the giant wielded the same weapons he had during their first duel.
For defense, he carried an enormous tower shield that was closer to a wall than a shield—and likely weighed as much, too. For offense, he hefted a poleaxe, a normally two-handed weapon, in one hand, and in his two upper hands, he clutched a greatsword.
How fitting that even our weapons are the same as that day, Vir thought. He’s underestimating me, another, darker voice said.
While Sikandar was a monumental force, Vir was unsure whether the enormous sword would do well here, in this cave. Though easily tall enough to allow Cirayus to swing the greatsword and poleaxe without issue, Sikandar needed a lot of space. Even in here, Vir felt the giant might be restricted in its usage.
Regardless, Cirayus’ choice of weapon left a bitter taste in Vir’s mouth. He wanted to fight the demon at full power, and briefly considered moving the duel. If he did, though, he’d lose Dance of the Shadow Demon. Luckily, there was a simple remedy.
“Seeing how you’re not using your ultimate weapon, I’ll forego mine as well,” Vir said, throwing his Artifact chakram into a wall, where it dug deep and remained lodged. For this fight, he’d use his katar, his two ordinary chakrams, and his half dozen chakris.