KEIICHI MIURA

The surroundings remained obscure to me, as if veiled by an unfamiliar force. It felt as though I had been imprisoned in an alternate realm distinct from reality.

Enveloping me was a viscous, inky black substance reminiscent of a treacherous quagmire. This substance expanded across the vicinity, ensnaring me within its confines. Sprouting from this morass were peculiar varieties of plants that exuded potent, venomous toxins and peculiar vapors. However, these unusual plants weren’t the only ones emerging from the murky fluid.

Among them were diverse body parts of living creatures, humans included. Enormous noses, ears, and even limbs protruded, converging with the peculiar plants in a malevolent advance. The sight sent shivers down my spine, akin to stepping into a realm of horror.

Undaunted, I soared into the air, breaking free from the liquid’s grasp. This ability was granted by the authority of Ketu, channelled through the mask solely covering my eyes. At precisely that moment, a fierce onyx mist erupted from within me, spreading extensively. It enveloped both the liquid and the strange entities sprouting from it.

They could do nothing but emit anguished cries, their bodies disintegrating and fading into nothingness as the potent energy I harnessed gnawed away at their life essence.

In that instance, the surreal scene shattered, and reality reclaimed its dominion. The echoes of war resonated across the familiar battlefield. My gaze fell on an artificial tree that had materialised nearby.

Atop this tree stood a woman, her stature reaching around three meters. Her skin bore a delicate shade of brown, reminiscent of a frail tree branch. Translucent tissue covered her form, offering glimpses of the writhing flesh beneath. Her eyes resembled emeralds, while her hair was of a dark-green hue. Adorning herself in intricately fashioned battle armour, crafted from dark-brown wood, was none other than Drieshee, the custodian of life.

Dark spots marred various sections of her armour, evidencing corrosion and disintegration resulting from my powers. Pitch-black blood oozed from her hands and legs, a direct consequence of her armour’s decay impacting her body.

This scenario was the aftermath of our relentless battle, which had raged on for the past hour.

"I had not anticipated encountering a lune-weaver of your caliber.This has presented me with a challenging predicament. I must conclude this swiftly," she articulated in a composed and melodious tone.

Her assessment was accurate. Despite undergoing rigorous training under Ketu’s guidance and wielding the powers and authority of a Herald, I had reached my peak, surpassing the strength of a Voidshade but still falling short of matching a Voidkeeper’s capabilities. Ordinarily, catching up to a Voidkeeper would remain beyond my grasp.

Nonetheless, this circumstance deviated from the norm. My abilities stood in stark contrast to hers, allowing me to directly neutralise her assaults. I served as her foil, a natural adversary in accordance with the laws of nature. Moreover, the mask adorning my visage significantly amplified my powers and control over Lune, enabling me to engage her on an equal footing.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"In this match of endurance, let’s witness my tenacity," I grinned, the web of injuries mapping my frame slowly knitting together. The authority of Ketu lay within this healing, lune-imbued convalescence.

In response, her fair visage flushed with ire, and her staff, fashioned from some eerie skin-like substance, quivered as if alive. Simultaneously, countless branches erupted from the colossal tree beneath her, surging towards me with alarming swiftness, targeting vital parts. That familiar union of inky liquid and emergent life manifested around me as fettered confinement.

Yet I embraced this onslaught, almost inviting the splintering branches to pierce my form. In that very moment, my weapon, the "Sablethorn" dagger, propelled itself at supersonic velocity. Fragmenting mid-flight, the shards dispersed, embedding themselves within the approaching branches. Enveloped in ethereal white flames, the timbered tendrils froze, arrested mid-motion.

The flames burgeoned, consuming the branches in their wake and reducing them to cinders. A conflagration of white flames engulfed the entire tree, compelling Drieshee to retreat once more, her armour succumbing to my assault. Corroded fragments detached, revealing her vulnerable skin beneath.

Before her next breath, her staff instinctively interposed, intercepting a thrust from my dagger that had mysteriously returned to my grip. As the staff corroded in response to my abilities, the ensuing exchange evolved into a tumultuous symphony of clashes transcending mortal limitations.

Towering trees surged forth at prodigious speeds, birthing noxious vapours as they faced a maelstrom of ferocious mist, poised to obliterate all in its path. Midst this cataclysmic collision, our weapons orchestrated their own brutal concerto, my blade dancing to parry blows while I navigated through the abyss of sprawling and deformed hands, each gigantic limb seeking to ensnare me.

At a certain juncture, Drieshee withdrew, causing her powers to cease their advance, granting me the opportunity to take deep, laboured breaths. My energy reserves were nearly depleted, and weariness surged over me. Despite my capability to nullify her assaults, I remained powerless against the depletion of my own energy.

Drieshee’s armour was on the brink of complete disintegration, as evidenced by her hacking up a mouthful of blood while she struggled to maintain her equilibrium. This indicated that the same predicament applied to her. However, my assumption proved incorrect when immense pressure suddenly overwhelmed me, making even breathing a challenge.

"You’ve left me with no alternative but to unleash the entirety of my abilities, Herald," Drieshee declared. Inexplicably swift, massive trees crafted from the same dark-brown wood as her armour sprouted, reaching towering heights in a matter of seconds.

Her form underwent a transformation, liquefying into a viscous substance that permeated the newly grown, otherworldly trees. It was as if she had merged with them. Concurrently, an array of branches of the same type of wood extended, forming an intricate mesh. Multicoloured flowers of diverse shapes and sizes sprouted from these branches, emitting gases carrying various lethal effects.

In addition to this, appendages emerged from the branches, performing an eerie, discordant dance. The scene was simultaneously chaotic and terrifying.

Midst this tumult, I couldn’t even find a moment to escape as the dense web of branches ensnared and confined me within its confines. My options for evasion dwindled to none. Every direction was blocked, leaving me without even a semblance of space to maneuver. Various forms of life spawned by Drieshee’s powers advanced towards me, and it felt as though this might mark my demise.

"The authentic might of a Voidkeeper..." I exclaimed, an ebony mist erupting from within me and permeating the lattice of branches entrapping me. To my astonishment, the moment the branches disintegrated, fresh ones sprung forth in their place before the process had even concluded. At last, Drieshee’s powers had surpassed mine. My strength was all but exhausted, and my wounds refused to mend any longer. Confronting the impending onslaught head-on became my sole option.

"Let’s see how long I can endure," I sighed, my lips curving into a frown.