The creature's name echoed in Kael's mind just as the battle reached its peak. Its voice reverberated through the air, deep and booming, with an eerie resonance that felt like it came from the very depths of the abyss.
"I am Kurothar, the Devourer of Worlds."
Kael gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing in defiance as he wiped a streak of blood from his lip. The power radiating from Kurothar was unlike anything he'd ever faced. This wasn't just a beast—it was an entity that existed on a level of power far beyond anything Kael had encountered. Each blow it landed sent tremors of pain coursing through his body, a sharp reminder of the stakes at hand.
With a roar, Kurothar swiped at Kael, its claws slashing through the air with deadly precision. Kael dodged to the side, but the sheer force of the strike sent shockwaves across the ground, knocking him off balance. The creature's speed was astonishing, faster than anything Kael had ever seen, and every time he attempted to counterattack, Kurothar's massive form seemed to vanish, reappearing in an instant to strike again.
Kael was beginning to feel the toll of the battle. His strength, pushed to the limit after days of fighting, was beginning to wane. His breathing was labored, each inhale a painful reminder of his fatigue.
Kurothar, sensing this weakness, closed in with terrifying speed. With a swift motion, it slammed Kael into the ground, its claws digging into his shoulders and pinning him beneath its weight. Kael gasped as the air was knocked from his lungs, struggling to free himself, but the creature's grip was unyielding.
"Pathetic," Kurothar growled, its voice thick with contempt. "You thought you could defeat me? Foolish boy."
Kael's vision blurred as he fought to maintain consciousness. The crushing weight of Kurothar's presence made it hard to focus, but he refused to give up. With every ounce of willpower he had left, Kael summoned the strength to lift his hand and reach for the sword still gripped in his other hand. His fingers were stiff and trembling, but he managed to hold on.
"I'm… not… done…" Kael rasped, his voice barely a whisper, but filled with determination.
The creature smirked, clearly amused by Kael's resilience. "You still wish to fight? How cute. But there's nothing left for you, boy."
With a sudden jerk, Kurothar lifted Kael into the air, its claws digging deeper into his skin. The pain shot through him like wildfire, but he refused to scream. Kael had faced worse. He had lost everything, and yet he still fought. There was no way he would stop now.
His mind raced as the creature began to lift him higher, ready to deal the final blow. He had one shot left. One last attack. It was either now or never.
With a roar, Kael called upon everything he had left. He poured every last drop of his energy into his sword, infusing it with his aura and will. His entire body felt like it was on fire as the blade glowed brighter, crackling with power. He didn't care if it burned him; this was the only way.
"Void Slash!"
The sword flashed with intense light as Kael swung it with all his might. The force of the slash was so powerful that it tore through the air, creating a wave of distortion that sliced into Kurothar's shadowy form. The creature screeched in pain, staggering back, releasing its grip on Kael just long enough for him to hit the ground hard.
Kael didn't waste a second. He staggered to his feet, his body screaming in protest, but he couldn't stop now. He wasn't going to let Kurothar win. He wouldn't let all the sacrifices of his friends—of Tetsu, Hana, and the others—be for nothing.
Kurothar, now clearly injured, roared in fury. The air around them began to shift, growing more volatile, as if the very realm itself was reacting to the creature's rage. The ground cracked beneath their feet, and the sky above them darkened, swirling with ominous clouds. It was like the world itself was on the brink of collapse.
"Foolish boy," Kurothar growled, its form regenerating at an alarming rate. "You think you can defeat me? I am eternal. I am the end of all things."
Kael's breathing became even more labored, his legs shaking with exhaustion. He had to keep fighting. He had to keep pushing forward, no matter how impossible it seemed.
"Then I'll make sure you don't get the chance to end anything," Kael muttered through clenched teeth.
With a final, desperate push, Kael raised his sword once more, his aura flaring around him in a violent storm of energy. He was beyond exhaustion, but his will was unbreakable. This was it. He could feel the power coursing through him, his body trembling with the weight of what was to come.
And then, without warning, he charged.
Kurothar prepared to strike again, but Kael was faster this time. With a cry of defiance, Kael leapt toward the creature, his sword held high.
The clash between them sent shockwaves across the desolate wasteland, the force of the impact enough to shake the very foundations of the world.
And for the first time in the battle, Kael truly felt like he was in control.
The final confrontation had begun.