Deep within the Time Chamber, where particles of shadow swirled in eternal harmony, Saruto stood resolutely before his master, Ethan, his face bearing the quiet determination that precedes great storms. The air around them churned with intense spiritual energy.
Raising his head, Saruto said in a firm, unwavering voice, "Take me into the world of the Fourth Founder, Ethan. I want to see just how powerful the Dark Founder is."
Ethan gazed at his disciple in profound silence, then slowly nodded. Reaching for the Dark Key that still floated between them, he said, "Very well, Saruto, but remember… the Dark Founder will never be lenient with you, unlike the other Founders. If he is disturbed, he will be forced to kill you."
He extended his palms, and a blazing purple energy erupted from his body, enveloping the Key. He then thrust it forcefully toward Saruto's head. The place shook, and the key transformed into a brilliant black flash, like a hole in space itself. Then it pierced Saruto's forehead like a thread of darkness and merged with his energy.
Saruto closed his eyes, sat cross-legged in the center of the room, and became lost in deep contemplation until his inner voice gradually faded away. His breathing ceased, his movements stilled, and his body began to gradually dissolve into a vortex of violet light and pitch blackness. Suddenly… he opened his eyes, and the world had changed completely.
He stood in the middle of a devastated landscape, devoid of life except for the ruins of ancient buildings eroded by time. The sky was covered with dark purple clouds, punctuated by occasional black lightning bolts that struck the earth, scattering sounds of terror across the horizon. The land was utterly destroyed, and the air was heavy with a suffocating energy unlike anything he had ever seen before.
Saruto stood amidst the rubble, a sharp pain in his chest, a strange energy pressing down on his senses. "This place... the dark energy here is almost unbearable," he muttered.
Suddenly, he felt a tremendous burst of energy coming from afar. He turned quickly, peering at the horizon, where dust and stones were billowing into the sky. He focused his gaze, then said cautiously, "That power... it's not ordinary."
In a single step, using teleportation, he vanished from his spot and reappeared above a shattered plain. There, he saw a man standing alone, striking the ground with a massive black sword. With each blow, the earth exploded, and the rocks cracked as if screaming in pain. The energy emanating from him was so dark and profound that even the air itself trembled.
Saruto stood watching in amazement before suddenly feeling a hand placed on his shoulder from behind. His eyes widened, and he leaped away with incredible speed. Then he turned to find himself facing the very same man who had just been pounding the ground!
"How?!" Saruto exclaimed, stunned. "He was right in front of me a moment ago... How did he move behind me so fast?"
The man looked up at him, his eyes gleaming a deep purple, his voice booming like thunder. "Who are you? And what are you doing in my world?"
Saruto took a deep breath, then said with quiet confidence, placing a hand on his chest, "My name is Saruto Luen... Heir of the Dark Family. I came to meet the Fourth Founder... and now it seems I have found him."
Silence fell for a few seconds before a faint smile spread across the man's face. His tone was a mixture of welcome and threat. "Yes, it is I... Adrian, the Fourth Founder. Welcome, Heir of Luen... So you've come to challenge me?"
"Yes," Saruto replied without hesitation. "That's exactly what I came for."
A sinister smile spread across Adrian's face before he said in a low but thunderous voice, "Then prepare yourself... to bear the consequences of your actions."
As soon as he finished speaking, a massive, dark energy erupted from him, engulfing the space. The air itself became heavy and unbreathable, and the ground beneath Saruto's feet began to crack. His body felt as if thousands of tons of mountains were crashing down on him at once. He sank to his knees, unable even to lift his head.
Adrian's energy permeated everything, shaking heaven and earth simultaneously. Saruto's heart pounded wildly, and cold sweat trickled down his forehead. "What... is this power?" he murmured hoarsely. "I've never felt anything like this before..."
Adrian approached him slowly, his eyes blazing with a dark glow, his sword trailing a trail of shadows behind him. Every step he took shook the ground. Saruto froze, a strange feeling of fear creeping into his heart, a sensation he hadn't known in a long time. Suddenly, a voice echoed deep within his consciousness, a familiar, profound voice: "Focus, Saruto... This enemy is unlike any other... He is darkness itself. You must concentrate, or we're doomed."
He knew immediately who the speaker was; it was Void. Void continued in a serious tone: "Use your full power from the start. This is no time for games. If we don't use our full strength, our chances of survival against him will be 10%."
Saruto exhaled sharply and closed his eyes for a few seconds. His body began to radiate a violet energy intertwined with dark shadows. His hair grew longer and shimmered, and his armor formed around him like a flash of living energy. He raised his head, a faint smile returning to his face. Despite the surrounding roar, he said calmly, "Let's crush him."
Adrian vanished and reappeared behind Saruto, aiming his massive sword at him. Saruto parried the blows and swiftly moved behind Adrian, saying mockingly, "An amazing strike... but slow!"
Adrian turned, his eyes blazing with excitement for the first time in centuries. He grinned. "You rascal," he said, "don't blame me if I kill you. You brought this on yourself."
And so, the battle raged. Dark energy clashed, and the world trembled, heralding the beginning of the greatest battle between Saruto and the Dark Founder, Adrian.