Chapter 158: Snake sway
Scene: The battle rages on in the depths of the Aquarian Empire. The oppressive atmosphere and dimly glowing corridors are a battleground filled with flashes of mana and the sound of brutal combat. Zarek and Commander Elara are locked in their bloodlust, their every move fueled by the desire to kill. But amidst the chaos, Eren's voice cuts through like thunder, his authority and calmness standing out.
Eren: (yelling) Stop! Both of you!
Narrator: Commander Elara pauses mid-strike, her mana claw hovering inches away from her opponent's neck. Zarek, his aura blazing with Divine Mana, turns his head sharply toward Eren, a mix of anger and confusion flashing across his face.
Commander Elara: (growling) Why are you stopping us? We're winning!
Eren: (firmly) Killing them isn't the answer! You're losing yourself!
Zarek: (glaring) They're monsters, Eren. They don't deserve mercy.
Eren: (stepping forward) They're not monsters! They're victims—like Kaitaro said, they didn't choose this!
Narrator: Commander Elara growls but pulls back, withdrawing her Beast Claw, though her stance remains tense. Zarek, however, lowers his weapon reluctantly, his eyes still blazing with frustration.
Zarek: (muttering) Mercy will get you killed.
Eren: (calmly) No, Zarek. Recklessness will.
Narrator: Their exchange is interrupted as Rylan rises to his feet, his expression twisted in both pain and fury. His opponent—a lean and agile Aquarian with a cold grin—closes the distance between them in a blur.
Rylan's Opponent: (mocking) What's wrong, Elf? Your fancy tricks not working?
Rylan: (gritting his teeth) Let's find out.
Narrator: Rylan charges forward, his Black Arrow ability materializing in his hands. He fires a concentrated black mana bullet, which streaks through the air and hits the Aquarian dead center in the chest.
Rylan: (smirking) How's that for fancy?
Narrator: But his opponent doesn't falter. The mana bullet dissipates as though it's been swallowed. The Aquarian straightens, his grin widening.
Rylan's Opponent: (mocking) Cute trick. But let me show you why mana attacks don't work on us.
Narrator: The Aquarian raises his hand, his purple aura flaring.
Rylan's Opponent: (proudly) It's called Intake. We absorb mana—every bit of it. The more you throw at us, the stronger we get.
Narrator: Rylan steps back, his mind racing. He glances to his side and sees Eren having the same issue. Eren's Scarlet Blade slashes through the air, but his Aquarian opponent absorbs the mana-infused attack with ease.
Eren's Opponent: (smirking) Keep trying. I could do this all day.
Narrator: Eren and Rylan regroup, backing away from their opponents.
Rylan: (panting) Mana's useless against them. We're just making them stronger.
Eren: (nodding) I noticed. We need a new approach.
Narrator: As they strategize, Rylan glances toward Commander Elara. Despite her Beast Form, she isn't using mana attacks. Her strikes are landing, and her opponent is visibly slowing under her relentless onslaught.
Rylan: (muttering) She's not using mana… That's it!
Narrator: Rylan's eyes light up as a memory flashes in his mind—the martial art technique they learned from the monks of the North Nation.
Rylan: (urgently) Eren, we use Kito.
Eren: (confused) Kito?
Rylan: (grinning) No mana. Just technique. It worked against the monks, remember? It can work now.
Narrator: Eren nods, a faint smile tugging at his lips. The two step forward, their stances shifting simultaneously as they enter the Fifth Stance: Snake Sway.
Rylan: (smirking) Time to show them what real fighting looks like.
Narrator: Their opponents charge, their dark auras flaring. But Eren and Rylan move with incredible flexibility, their bodies weaving through attacks like water flowing around rocks.
Rylan's Opponent: (growling) Stand still, damn it!
Narrator: Rylan ducks under a claw swipe, his movements fluid and unpredictable. With a sharp twist, he lands a devastating elbow to his opponent's jaw, sending the Aquarian stumbling.
Rylan: (grinning) What's wrong? Can't absorb technique?
Narrator: Meanwhile, Eren closes the distance with his opponent, sidestepping a heavy strike before delivering a rapid series of precise blows to the Aquarian's ribs.
Eren's Opponent: (wincing) You'll pay for that!
Eren: (calmly) You're all talk.
Narrator: The fight grows more intense as both Eren and Rylan utilize the Snake Sway to full effect. Their movements are unpredictable, their strikes landing with precision. Rylan spins low, sweeping his opponent's legs out from under him before delivering a brutal kick to his chest.
Rylan's Opponent: (coughing) You…
Rylan: (cutting him off) Save it.
Narrator: Eren, meanwhile, delivers a powerful knee strike to his opponent's stomach, sending him crashing into the wall.
Eren: (firmly) Stay down.
Narrator: Zarek watches the fight from a distance, his frustration mounting.
Zarek: (to himself) No mana? Just technique? How…
Narrator: Zarek's gaze sharpens as he observes their movements, a flicker of realization crossing his face.
Zarek: (softly) They're not holding back, even without mana.
Narrator: With a final coordinated effort, Eren and Rylan simultaneously land devastating finishing blows. Eren's opponent crumples to the ground unconscious, while Rylan's opponent tries to rise but collapses in defeat.
Commander Elara: (calling out) Good work, you two!
Narrator: Eren and Rylan regroup, breathing heavily but victorious. Zarek steps forward, his expression unreadable.
Zarek: (quietly) Teach me.
Eren: (raising an eyebrow) What?
Zarek: (gritting his teeth) Teach me this… Kito.
Narrator: Eren and Rylan exchange glances, surprised but pleased by Zarek's willingness to learn.
Rylan: (smirking) Maybe later. Right now, we've got a mission.
Commander Elara: (firmly) Let's move.
Narrator: The group presses forward, leaving behind the unconscious Aquarians. The weight of the battle lingers, but their resolve grows stronger with every step.
The chapter ends with the heroes advancing deeper into the empire, their determination unshaken despite the trials ahead.