We ventured down the left path and continued to immerse ourselves deeper and deeper into the forest.  After walking for some distance, we came across a large open field in the middle of the forest.

“Wow, this is neat.” Said Paul walking forward into the open field.

“Wait.” Exclaimed Liam nervously as we all stopped to turn and look at him.

“There are other people here. Three to be exact.” He said as we began to turn and look around the vast and open area.

“Tsk, I don’t see anyone.” Scoffed Anthony.

“Where are they Liam?” Asked Diablo as he slowly walked forward glancing around trying to spot someone hiding.

“By the trees. They are scattered around us.” He replied.

“Honestly.” Said Anthony. “I don’t see anyone. I told you we shouldn’t just do whatever this kid says.”

Just then Liam turned quickly and pointed towards someone who had begun dashing out of the tree line towards Anthony. The man slashed at Anthony who was cut across his forearms as he instinctively put them up to block.

“Watch out!” Roared Diablo as he ran through the group of perplexed guards.

Anthony managed to dodge the man’s next few swings until Diablo had gotten close enough to attack him.

The man jumped back as Diablo neared and stood off and stared at the group.

“There are two others’!” Yelled Diablo. “Don’t be distracted by this one, keep on guard!”

I looked around to see two other men standing next to each other in the middle of the field staring at us. They were both wearing red scarfs but apart from that their outfits were a lot different. The one on the left was wearing a black t-shirt with a thin grey jacket and the one on the right was wearing a blue noble man’s suit.

The two began running towards us. I stepped to face them but, before I could do anything Zane put his hand on my shoulder and stopped me as few of the other guards behind me ran forward to face them.

“What Zane?” I asked.

“It isn’t smart to just run at them without knowing what their abilities are. Wait and watch what happens first, we can join the fight once we know their powers.”

I looked at Zane, not liking his idea to stand and watch as we let the other guards run forward as our test guinea pigs.

The man on the left with the grey jacket quickly punched his way through the guards, sending them bombing into the ground with great force.

“He took them out so fast!?” Exclaimed Zane. “He is so strong, make sure you aren’t hit by him, it will mean trouble.”               

The one on the right in the blue suit pulled out a sword but didn’t block any attacks from the guards. It looked as if the attacks were going through him. He slashed the guards all over their bodies as they fell to the ground.

“Him too!” I said with my mouth wide open in shock. “He took them out so fast…”

“That guy on the right has a strong affinity for water Magicka.” Said Zane.

I looked on puzzled as why he would suggest that when I saw him use a sword and not any magicka.

Zane noticed my puzzled face and elaborated. “He turned his body to water and let the attacks pass through him. Doing something like that is very taxing on stamina and magicka so I’ll assume he can only activate it for around 5 seconds at most.

“Ah I see.” I replied.

“Okay, here they come.” Said Zane as the two charged towards us and left half our squad to die on the ground behind them.

“I’ll take the one on the left, you take the one on the right. Electricity Magicka can hurt him while he is in his water form. Make sure you use it at the right moment.” Explained Zane as he ran off towards the one on the left.

I faced the man coming from my right and readied myself to fight.

He dashed towards me and begun slashing at my face, I jumped back and dodged his onslaught of attacks.

He isn’t using that water ability? I thought as he continued to relentlessly swing his sword at me.

I kept dodging his attacks and waited for him to mess up so I could counter, luckily it seemed like I was faster than him though.

He isn’t letting up?! Just dodging like this won’t do, I’ll run out of stamina. I have to bait him into turning himself into water.

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The man in the black jacket began punching at Zane who was dodging and redirecting each of his blows.

This guy is insanely quick! Thought Zane as his eyes widened trying to keep up with his punches.

“You can dodge my attacks? You’re pretty good!” Exclaimed the man in black. As he jumped back.

Zane stood back too and didn’t follow up an attack so he could catch his breath.

“I respect strong opponents like you. Let’s trade names before continuing. I’m Nero, and you?”

“Zane.”

Nero smiled before running towards Zane again.

Here he comes! Thought Zane who drew his sword and prepared himself for the upcoming fight.

Zane swung his sword at the man who ducked under it swiftly and pulled back his fist ready to unleash a powerful punch to Zane’s stomach.

Zane, alarmed by his speed, managed to swap places with his ghost just in time before getting struck.

“Oh ho. You are interesting.” Said Nero who turned around to face Zane.

Zane once again readying his sword for Nero’s oncoming onslaught of attacks.

Nero dashed towards Zane who swung his sword the same way as he done before and Nero ducked the attack and begun to counter with another punch. Just as Nero was about to hit Zane, a faint black figure emerged from Zane’s torso. Nero stared at it for a few seconds as he was distracted by it. The black figure then threw a powerful punch straight at Nero and struck him right across the face sending him flying into the ground.

Zane jumped back, panting and looking over towards Nero.

To Zane’s horror, Nero begun pulling himself up.

“What was that?!” He muttered as he wobbled up onto his feet, still dazed from the blow.

I have to finish this now while he is still recovering! Thought Zane as he dashed towards Nero and swung his sword once again.

Just as the sword was about to hit, Nero ducked under it with great speed, much faster than before, and turned to punch at Zane again. Zane dropped his sword in a panic as he jumped back to evade Nero’s punch.

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Nero went on to send a flurry of punches, Zane could barely dodge them and begun to try and block them, only to be left with an intense pain on his arms. Zane continued to be pushed back by Nero as he tried to make his way back to his sword, but Nero wouldn’t let up even for a second.

Zane swapped with his ghost to get away from Nero and made a dash for his sword.

Nero lunged towards Zane at an insane speed and kicked him in the back sending him flying over his sword and across the field straight into the ground.

“This guy…” Muttered Zane who was curled over on his hands and knees holding his chest with one hand. “He has made a pact with a demon!”

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“I have him Diablo!” Yelled Anthony getting up from the ground and unsheathing his sword, running to attack the unknown man.

As the two crossed blades and begun combatting one another, Diablo turned around to check on everyone else. Only to be met with dozens of dead bodies, Diablo saw that half of the squad had been killed by the two other members that were fighting Shay and Zane.

“Yet again…” Diablo began to talk to himself as he looked on at the pool of corpses. “I’ve failed at protecting people…”

The two kept clashing their swords together at high speed. Anthony having to go the defensive more and more.

“Tch, what is this?” Murmured Anthony as he began to be pushed back.

Diablo turned back around to face them before letting out a long sigh.

“That’s enough Anthony, he’s too much for you!” Roared Diablo as he began to run for Anthony who jumped back from the man and began panting excessively.

Diablo unsheathed his sword; the handle was white and gold and the blade itself was a strong shining silver. Diablo swung his blade up at the man who instinctively blocked it with his blade only to be pushed back by Diablo’s immense physical power.

“Woah, what the fuck.” He muttered anxiously as he stopped himself from almost falling over from the raw power.

“What’s wrong.” Announced Diablo as he stepped towards the man slowly.

The man hesitated a second before suddenly breaking out into a wild scream and dashing forward towards Diablo, who noticed that the unknown man’s sword had begun to glow a purple, white colour, similar to that of how Plasma Magicka looks.

The unknown man swung his sword at Diablo who was just standing there watching the sword leave this purple and white trail behind it.

“Diablo block already!” Yelled Anthony from behind him.

Just as the sword was about to strike Diablo, he disappeared with a thwhipping noise. The sword Diablo was holding in his right hand began to fall to the ground below.

The unknown man watched intently as Diablos sword fell through the air for what felt like minutes only for Diablo to suddenly appear and grab his sword in the reverse grip. Then, with great speed, shot around, behind the unknown man and slashed his sword straight down his back.

The man fell over grunting in pain as Diablo stepped back and returned his sword to its holster.

The man lay on the floor wailing in agony.

“You bastard!” He scoffed as Diablo walked past him.

“Anthony. Keep watch on him, ask him about his organisation, the name, the members and their abilities and what his name is, etcetera.” Said Diablo as he looked onwards to Shay and Zane who were still fighting.

“Zane is in more trouble than Shay right now. I’ll go help him first.” Said Diablo as he ran off towards Zane.

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I kept dodging the water users’ ruthless array of attacks until I noticed he had pushed me so far back we had begun impending upon the treeline. I jumped to my side to get out of his way and as I hit the floor and rolled back up onto my feet, I figured out a way, how I could beat him.

I turned to face him, and he stood still for a second watching me. In this moment I lost my focus and my mind wandered, I glanced over to see how Zane was doing. Only to see that he was on the floor and the man he was fighting was walking over to him.

I knew I had to finish my fight fast so I could go help him. I turned back to look at my opponent who had already began dashing towards me. I tried to take a step back but fell over my own feet onto the floor. The man noticed this and pulled his arm back for a heavy swing.

This is my chance! I thought as I put my hands behind my head and pulled in my legs then, with all my force pushed myself up and threw my legs forward towards his torso. Panic shot across the mans face as I flew forward releasing my legs for a devastating kick to the gut.

-SPLASH-

He turned his body into water, just as Zane said! I flew through his body and as my hands entered his torso, I unleashed a lethal bolt of electricity into his body. The man became a solid again and toppled over onto the floor. He almost folded in half as he held his stomach and groaned in pain.

I stood up and unsheathed my sword, spending no time to stand and wait I leaped forward and struck him across his back. Slicing him open as blood began to pour out. He started gurgling blood in his mouth as he tried to breath. His insides had turned black as he had begun to burn from the inside. He lay on the floor and died within seconds. Just as I had made sure he was dead I turned quickly to check on Zane.

The man he was fighting was just about to finish Zane off with a powerful blow, I stopped in my tracks and my throat became tight as my breath thinned. I stood frozen, powerless watching on as I was too far away to do anything.

Just as the man threw his punch Diablo appeared out of nowhere and kicked the man twice, knocking him back as he picked up Zane from the ground and jumped back away from him.

I eased up and let out a long sigh of relief. I dashed towards them to help fight the man.

“Diablo…” Zane coughed. “This guy is different… Nero… He- has made a contract with a demon…”

“I see, it’s okay. I’ll fight him now.” Replied Diablo as he lay Zane on the ground and stood up to face the demonic creature.

Diablo noticed me running towards them. “Shay wait, this guy is too much for you!” He yelled as I ignored his worries and blasted straight for him.

I ran up towards the man and swung my sword. He dodged by jumping back and had enough time to counter. I managed to block with my sword but without a moment’s notice he swung his leg round at me.

I managed to duck out of the way and jump back a little away from him. The man had begun to radiate a dark red aura and his eyes had turned a devilish red. I was mesmerised by his sudden transformation that I forgot to pay attention to the battle. Before I could realise it, he had begun lunging forward at me and he landed a fierce jab to my gut which sent me flying into the tree line.

“Tch, I was too late.” Said Diablo as he stopped mid sprint.

“Alright, Demon. I’m right here. It’s time to fight me.” Said Diablo as he stood facing Nero.

Nero blasted towards him and Diablo skipped through time, dodging his attack, only to reappear 2 seconds later now behind the demon and in the air ready to unleash a lethal kick to the back of Nero’s head. Diablo landed his blow against Nero with no issues and sent him flying into the earth, kicking up grass and dirt as he smashed across the ground.

Diablo stood and unsheathed his sword as he stared straight at Nero who was getting up from the floor, recovering in no time from Diablos powerful kick that was enough to immobilise most people.

Nero pulled out a large throwing knife from his pocket and wielded it in his right hand as he dashed at super speed towards Diablo and began to slash aggressively at him, all while Diablo was blocking his attacks seamlessly with his sword as Nero ran in circles all around Diablo, trying to find an opening; attacking ruthlessly without letting up one bit.

I watched in awe from the treeline as Diablo easily blocked off all of his attacks. I stood up using the help of a tree to lean on and tried to make my way to Liam and Anthony. After focusing my Magicka last second on where I was going to get hit like Diablo said earlier, I managed to protect myself from a lethal blow.

I kept watching Diablo fight as I made my way to Liam. Diablo was slowly spinning around with one hand in his pocket as he swung his right arm around to intercept each oncoming attack.

“Is this all you can muster out of your little demonic contract, Nero?” Said Diablo.

Nero suddenly became angrier and dashed behind Diablo screaming “I have you now!” As he swung his knife towards Diablos back. Last second Diablo activated his time skip ability and vanished.

“It doesn’t matter if you disappear like that! If I know where you will reappear it doesn’t matter!” Yelled Nero as he turned and swung his knife in the direction of where Diablo had just appeared.

Nero’s eyes widened in excitement as his fist flew forward towards Diablo.

I stood in shock for a second, still watching on in awe.

“You seem to be missing the point.” Said Diablo as he disappeared again knocking Nero off balance as his slash collided with the air. Diablo then reappearing to the left of Nero who pulled himself together and spun his arm around trying land a heavy attack on Diablo only to be caught by Diablo’s hand before he could make contact with his torso.

“It’s over.” Said Diablo looking down at Nero who was caught by Diablo’s incredible strength.

Nero began laughing maniacally as he turned to glare at Diablo.

“You’re the one who is missing the point!” He yelled as he began cackling. “I didn’t sign a contract with a demon because I was weak, I have my own ability you know!” Exclaimed Nero who had broken out into a full-on maniacal laugh.

“I can drain peoples Magicka!”

Diablo widened his eyes for a moment, seemingly impressed by the ability.

“I see, what a dangerous ability. Too bad it isn’t of much effect on me.” Revealed Diablo as he let go of Nero’s arm.

“W-what.” Replied Nero jumping back. “I definitely stole a ton of Magicka from him, so why is he so unphased.”

Diablo walked towards Nero who had begun stepping back, realising that nothing he tried would work.

“Like I said before, you seem to be missing the point.” Said Diablo as he continued to approach Nero.

“I have infinite Magicka. I can’t run out of it. The only drawback to this is it can take a toll on my body if I use so much at once, but I hardly need to.”

Nero peered on as he cowered in fear.

“This is why your ability has no effect on me. This is why you lost.”

Diablo then lifted his sword in the air as it began to shine a white colour before he slashed it down onto Nero as a blinding white light shone followed by an explosive blow to the ground, echoing throughout the forest. The trees shuck from the force alone.

Once the light had died down, I could see that Diablo’s slash left a large hole in the ground and an utterly defeated Nero laying in a crater created by Diablos devastating attack. Nero’s body had been slashed in half and his clothes were in pieces.

“Woah…” I said out loud as I held witness to an incredible display of power.