Chapter 181 Rinoa Vs Lariel (4)
Lariel now stands at the center of an engulfing darkness, his body battered and his face a mask of fury, perceiving his impending defeat as a profound personal humiliation. Bitter memories flood his mind, igniting a fierce determination rooted in the haunting loss of his master, Malakothesis, at the hands of a figure known as Fitran. He vividly recalls how Fitran, exuding an air of arrogance and dominance, had mercilessly overthrown the seemingly invincible Malakothesis, leaving Lariel and his comrades ensnared in a void of despair and blazing anger. An eerie, invisible aura begins to envelop him, as if the world around him is contracting and stifling. On his back, the mark of Malakothesis glimmers with a faint yet resolute light, a symbol of unwavering loyalty etched into his flesh, reinforcing the unbreakable bond between them. His face, once twisted with rage, transforms into something even more chilling, merging with the shadows of Malakothesis's dark power that now courses through him.
"You all... will feel what it means to face true darkness!"
With his hand raised high, Lariel summoned the dark energy that simmered within him, coalescing it into a massive swirling orb in his palm. Deep purple hues enveloped the energy, forming a pitch-black funnel that resembled a gaping black hole, poised to engulf everything around it. The air grew thick and oppressive, swirling with an aura of anguish and despair, as if the very fabric of the universe recoiled at the impending threat. Lariel could feel the power of Malakothesis coursing through Rinoa, weaving a perilous connection that stoked the flames of fury within him.
"Shadow Magic – Shadows of the Malakothesis Abyss!"
From the depths of the energy sphere, distorted shadows began to writhe and pulse, manifesting as phantoms from an otherworldly realm that ought never to exist. They glided through the darkness with an unsettling grace, each movement a frantic ballet of spectral forms, screaming in silence as they clawed at the fragile threads of reality around them. With every deliberate motion, Lariel embodied his unwavering loyalty to Malakothesis; his hand, confidently raised, transformed into a beacon of anger and resolve, directing a menacing glare towards any who dared to impede his path.
The dark magic surged toward Rinoa with a speed that no ordinary human could hope to deflect. Each shadow lashed out, trembling with malice as it struck the ground with a thunderous boom, unleashing plumes of dust and wind that swirled like chaotic dancers in an all-consuming darkness. In a haunting mirage of memory, Lariel was thrust back to the fateful moment when his unparalleled Master Malakothesis was felled by Fitran, the heroic adversary. A deep ache consumed Lariel's heart as he recalled witnessing Malakothesis's devastating fall, his once-mighty body lying helplessly, the symbol of his power—a glowing emblem shaped like a winged triangle—faintly illuminating Lariel's skin, as though vowing eternal loyalty to his fallen master, a promise that would never fade.
Rinoa felt the encroaching force—the dark magic that held the power not just to destroy, but to snuff out hope and consume souls. Yet, within her, a flicker of bravery ignited, and she stood her ground resolutely. Meanwhile, Lariel, with a furrowed brow and hands raised in fervent determination, channeled the seething hatred raging within him. Every movement he made was a testament to his unwavering loyalty to Malakothesis; purposeful and fervent, he fought as though each dark attack he unleashed might somehow restore his master's lost strength.
The wind swirled around her, but this time, it was not a weapon of attack. Instead, it enveloped her like a protective embrace—a gentle whisper intermingling with her essence, as though it had woven itself into the very fabric of her soul. This magic mirrored her yearning for freedom, a desperate longing to break free from the suffocating shadow of Malakothesis and to liberate herself from the weight of an accumulating past. Yet, as the dark energy of Malakothesis within Rinoa began to quiver, responding to the resurgence of Lariel's malevolent force, she sensed a profound tug deep within her spirit, as if something within her was on the verge of breaking free and demanding expression.
"Wind Style Magic – Mirror of the Sky"