"Take this, Mok! Receive my secret technique: 'Dark Bloody Blade'!"
From Tok's sword emerged an enormous wave in the shape of a blade, like a shadowy crescent that sliced through the air with a thunderous roar. The dark energy surged directly toward Mok, brimming with devastating force.
Mok raised his sword to block the attack. As the blade of his weapon clashed against the dark crescent, black lightning burst from the point of contact, briefly illuminating the dark surroundings. With superhuman effort, Mok withstood the impact and, channeling all his strength, deflected the attack upward, launching it into the sky.
"Not bad, little brother," Tok said with a mocking smile, "but you let your guard down."
Before Mok could react, Tok delivered a punch to his abdomen that sent him flying several meters backward. Though he managed to stop his fall with an agile midair somersault, his body was visibly weakened. He spat blood as he stood up, the bandages covering his wounds now soaked red. The sudden movements had reopened his injuries.
"Hmph, little brother, you've always been weak," Tok said coldly, watching Mok struggle to stay on his feet. "Give up now, and I'll grant you a quick death."
"Never!" Mok replied, his voice firm despite the pain. "I won't let you harm Paltio, and I won't fall for your dirty tricks again."
With determination, Mok removed the coat he wore, the one from which his knives used to emerge. He observed how his butler's suit was now torn apart. Without hesitation, he took off the blazer of his tuxedo and ripped the sleeve where his wound was, as well as the side of his pants covering his other injury. Then, using the electric ring, he applied it first to his arm and then to his leg, sealing the bleeding. The pain was intense, but Mok gritted his teeth, emitting a sharp hiss that echoed in the tense silence of the place.
"Not bad, little brother," Tok sneered. "You endured the pain like a man, and patching yourself up only bought you a little more time. What a shame your fancy butler's outfit got ruined... poor thing."
"Let's continue, brother," Mok shot back, ignoring the taunts. "I see you always like to play dirty. Well, two can play that game."
Mok approached Tok, sword in hand, his gaze resolute.
"Again with the sword? You can't beat me; I'm a better swordsman than you. Besides, this dark sword Urugas gave me is incredibly powerful. But if you insist on dying, I'll oblige," Tok said, preparing for the confrontation.
Just before entering his brother's striking range, Mok spun rapidly on his heel. Several arrows shot out from his sides, flying straight toward Tok.
Tok, seeing the arrows approach, moved swiftly, blocking each one with his sword. "Not bad, Mok," he acknowledged with an arrogant smile. "I think I underestimated you. But you still have a long way to go. After all this time, did you only learn these tricks, fool?"
He shielded himself with his sword from the final arrow and seized the moment to launch a kick at Mok, who staggered backward, losing his footing.
The fight seemed uneven. Tok clearly had the upper hand.
"You're done for, Mok," Tok said with disdain, scratching his head as if bored. "Hurry up—I have a little prince to torment and a few useless pests to eliminate before I deliver him, along with the complete scepter, to my master to fulfill my mission."
Tok raised his sword once more, and from it emerged dark flames that seemed to devour the surrounding light. With a blood-curdling scream, he unleashed hundreds of dark projectiles toward Mok. Each attack was like a shadowy whip slicing through the air with a sharp whistle, creating an impossible torrent to block entirely.
Mok moved desperately, dodging the attacks while trying to stay on his feet. But no matter how much he ran or spun, the dark bursts relentlessly pursued him, threatening to consume him.
"Die, Mok! Die!" Tok shouted with cruel laughter, reveling in every moment of his advantage. His voice echoed demonically, filling the space with oppressive energy.
The ground beneath Mok's feet shattered with each missed impact, sending shards of rock and dust into the air. The heat of the dark flames grazed his skin, leaving burn marks on his clothes and causing cold sweat to trickle down his forehead. Despite everything, his eyes remained fixed on Tok, filled with a mix of determination and terror.
Mok tried to hold his ground, but Tok's speed and ferocity were overwhelming. Suddenly, his brother appeared at his side without warning and delivered a powerful punch to his chest, sending him flying backward. The impact was so strong that it left a massive hole in one of the walls.
"Damn it!" Mok muttered as he collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. A flicker of terror flashed in his eyes. "I can't beat him... This isn't an ordinary foe. He seems to possess strength from another dimension."
"You're starting to panic, little brother," Tok said with a cruel smile as he walked toward him. "I wanted to play with you a little longer because I was having fun, though my hatred for you is immense. Are you wondering why I'm so strong and fast? Why I'm better than any swordsman in this realm and more powerful than any warrior you've ever known?"
Tok paused dramatically, savoring the tension. "Well, you see, there's hardly any bone or flesh left in my limbs—or even in my body. Only my face, brain, and heart remain. I'm a pure machine. The scientists who created this body made me stronger, and I feel no pain whatsoever. Moreover, the Dark King granted me this immense power to carry out his will. You know, they don't need to brainwash me to follow him—I've always been evil, as you say. And if I can keep committing atrocities, I will."
Tok locked his gaze onto Mok, his voice dripping with arrogance. "I finished off the foolish king of this realm. That idiot thought he could defeat me, but he was already dead the moment he stood in my way. After that, I lost interest. Everyone here is just a bunch of weaklings. Come on, Mok, prove to me, you're not useless and give me a show before I kill you."
With a swift motion, Tok drove his sword into Mok's side, tearing a pained growl from him. Then, he licked the blood off the blade, savoring it with a satisfied smirk.
"Grr!" Mok growled, gritting his teeth as the pain coursed through his body.
"Come on, give me more, brother," Tok taunted mockingly. "Or are you just going to give up and die already? I want to crush your fighting spirit... though, maybe this is enough." His ironic laughter echoed through the empty space.
Elsewhere, Golden observed the scene through the mental link with Mok. His expression was grim, and anguish reflected in his eyes.
"That guy is a monster," Golden murmured, his voice barely a whisper.
"What's wrong?" Paltio asked, noticing the concern in Golden's tone.
"Nothing, kid. Keep looking for the missing piece," Golden replied, trying to hide his anxiety. But his tone betrayed something deeper: fear of what might happen if Mok couldn't hold on.
"Well, I think you need a little motivation, Mok," Tok said with a sneer, his eyes gleaming with malice. "How about I bring your little friends into the game?"
Without warning, Tok raised his sword and unleashed another of his dark attacks toward the chunk of earth where the others were standing. The explosion was devastating. Tons of rock and dust broke loose, causing everything to collapse in a chaotic avalanche. The ground beneath Paltio and his group crumbled, and they were all swept away by the collapse, falling into the depths below.
"No, Master Paltio!" Mok shouted, desperately trying to get back on his feet. His voice was heavy with anguish as he watched in horror at the disaster his brother had caused.
For his part, Tok observed the chaos with delight, savoring the destruction he had created. His laughter rang out like a sinister echo in the air.