Eclipsed

Chapter 65

As the dust settled, Alric took a deep breath, his hands gripping his sword tightly. The air around him began to shift and crackle with energy. Suddenly, the ground trembled as an enormous shadow erupted from behind him—a towering demon-like figure, its form an extension of Alric himself. The monstrous being radiated with Hiraigen energy, its dark form pulsating with raw power. The demon held a massive sword, its edge glowing ominously.

Yoruzen, standing firm, smirked at the sight. "Impressive... but not enough," he said, his voice steady. Dark electricity crackled to life around him, his aura intensifying as he powered himself up.

The demon roared and swung its sword down in a devastating arc, but Yoruzen, completely unfazed, sidestepped effortlessly. In a blur of motion, he closed the distance and delivered a precise, devastating strike to the demon's core. The shadowy figure disintegrated into particles of energy, dispersing into the air.

Alric's eyes narrowed as he steadied himself, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Huh, I was expecting that to last longer," he said with a mix of annoyance and admiration.

Without hesitation, Alric lunged forward, dodging Yoruzen's next flurry of attacks with incredible agility. Each strike from Yoruzen was relentless, his blade carving through the air with lethal precision. But Alric matched him move for move, weaving through the onslaught.

Planting his feet firmly on the ground, Alric gripped his sword tightly and unleashed a powerful blast of energy with a swing, the strike exploding forward like a wave of destruction. Yoruzen barely managed to block it with his own sword, but the force of the impact sent him skidding backward. His sword cracked under the strain, and the cliffs behind him shattered into rubble, sending debris cascading into the abyss.

Yoruzen leapt back, inspecting the crack in his blade. His eyes lit up with both surprise and respect. "Such untapped potential... and strength," he murmured, a rare moment of acknowledgment in his voice.

Alric stood tall, his aura flaring as he replied, "Thank you... but you've overstayed your welcome. You need to go."

With a sudden burst of speed, Alric charged at Yoruzen, his attacks becoming even more relentless and precise. Each strike carried the weight of his resolve, forcing Yoruzen onto the defensive. Yoruzen, however, maintained his composure, evading and parrying with expert precision.

Jumping back to create space, Yoruzen's expression hardened. "I can't believe I'm having to use this against a mere human..." he said, his voice laced with both frustration and excitement.

He reached for the necklace around his neck, ripping it off in one swift motion. As he crushed the ornament in his hand, a surge of dark energy exploded outward, enveloping him in an overwhelming aura of malevolence. The ground cracked beneath his feet, and the air around him grew heavy with dread as the energy coiled and danced like serpents of lightning.

Yoruzen stood in the center of the storm, his presence even more terrifying than before, his eyes glowing with an unearthly light.

The air around Yoruzen began to warp as his form transformed. The shadows coiled around him like serpents, gradually overtaking his body. His once human appearance now twisted into something darker, a sinister version of himself. His eyes glowed with an ominous crimson light, flickering with energy as black electricity surged through his veins. The power that emanated from him was palpable, warping the very air around him.

Alric took a deep breath, his gaze unwavering. He had faced formidable foes before, but this... this was something entirely different. He stood tall, sword in hand, unshaken by the monstrous transformation unfolding before him.