Asaga bellowed in fury, "Die, bastard!" as he lunged at Komodo with his sword raised high.
Komodo raised his axe and then plunged it deep into the ground. He calmly folded his arms while watching his belligerent little opponent approaching him. Komodo smirked disdainfully. "You think you can defeat me?" he said with a condescending tone. "Your parents died for nothing. Stop this nonsense."
Ignoring the tyrant's words, Asaga continued his charge, determined to avenge his fallen family.
But Komodo was not intimidated. He dodged to the side with ease, causing Asaga to run past him. "You're just sixteen years old," Komodo said with a yawn, "but your attitude is already like that. What a broken generation."
Asaga lost momentum and then fell over. The Lizardwar just casually yawned and scratched his chin.
“Hey! Are you done yet?” Komodo asked loudly.
Asaga slowly sat up with shaky hands. His mouth choked and coughed, causing the dirt in his mouth to spit out. Feeling sorry for that small rival, Komodo approached him. After that, the Lizardwar patted his opponent's shoulder and gently gave him a piece of useful advice.
"Hey! Listen up! It looks like you haven't learned anything. You are no match for me. I'm sure you will deny that and keep attacking me like an idiot, so prepare to dodge this.”
Asaga stumbled as Komodo suddenly grabbed him, pushing him away. The young warrior was momentarily off-balance, and that's when the Lizardwar struck.
Komodo lowered his body, launching a lightning-fast hook punch straight at Asaga's chin. The young warrior barely managed to dodge it, his chin grazing the fist and leaving a trail of blood in its wake.
Asaga clutched his chin in pain. He shuddered as he imagined what could have happened if he hadn't been quick enough.
The tension between the two combatants continued to mount as the battle raged on. How could Asaga, a mere sixteen-year-old, hope to defeat a monster like Komodo, who had responsibility for countless generations of Soul Warrior’s death? The two greatest warriors who could have taken down the second ruler of the Replord Empire were now gone. But still, he refused to give up, driven by burning willpower to avenge his parents.
The pressure was heavy on Asaga's shoulders. His state was anxious at this point, plus easily wavered will. He realized that Komodo's strength was far beyond what he thought.
But Asaga resisted giving in to his terror. He took a step back, putting more space between them, and inhaled deeply to centre himself. While aiming his sword at the tyrant's head, he concentrated on maintaining mental clarity and expelling any unfavourable ideas.
Asaga felt certain he could prevail. Komodo was enraged with his unyielding resolve and threw a tantrum when a tendon developed on his forehead. The young warrior, however, stood steadfast in the face of the terrifying power in front of him and rejected to be frightened. Even though the fight was far from done, Asaga remained focused on winning.
Komodo gritted his teeth while kicking the axe hard. It flew far away from him. Not sure what that action meant, but that made the young warrior excited. Imagine how wonderful the moment Asaga killed that bastard would be. After sending his weapon somewhere, Komodo frustratedly said.
“I would rather break your neck with my bare hands.”
“I don’t think so. Giving the advantage to me is your biggest mistake!”
Asaga gripped his sword tightly, focusing his magic power on his feet. With a powerful kick, he launched himself like a rocket, barreling toward Komodo with unrelenting force.
The young warrior's sword slashed down with incredible speed, catching the Lizardwar off guard. The sword stroke appeared simple, but it was precision-crafted to deliver maximum damage.
Komodo stood stock-still, taking the full brunt of the attack. The impact was so intense that it caused the entire desert to shake and tremble.
"Gah!"
With a roar of pain, Komodo staggered back, his skin cracking from the force of Asaga's sword.
The tyrant puffed out his chest in front of him while swinging his arms vigorously from all directions. Due to inattention, Komodo’s hand hit Asaga accidentally. It sent him flying out a distance.
Komodo screamed in excruciating pain. The tyrant puffed out his chest in front of him while swinging his arms vigorously from all directions. Due to inattention, Komodo’s hand hit Asaga accidentally. It sent him flying out a distance.
Asaga landed on the ground, slipping on his side, causing his body to fall again. He got up with a bruise on his left bicep and lifted his head to see that Komodo's body was unharmed after his full-power attack. But why did a guy with such extensive combat experience make such a foolish decision?
This feeling was not right when having a strong opponent like Komodo. There was no way a simple attack could make him scream in pain like that. Surely, he pretended!
“So painful! Oh, wait!?”
Noticing Asaga staring at him with suspicious eyes, Komodo quit yelling. He was standing up as if nothing had happened in a disappointed mood. He brushed off all the dust that was on him and said.
“I give you the chance to strike first, and you can't take it, that’s just sad.”
Asaga realized that if he continued to attack with the same ferocity, he would only tire himself out and achieve nothing. He needed to change his approach. He took a step back, breathing deeply and gathering his strength.
Across from him, Komodo stood with his arms crossed, a smug smile playing across his lips. He was confident in his abilities, and he relished the challenge posed by this young warrior.
The two of them stood in silence, their eyes locked in a deadly gaze. The tension was palpable, and neither of them moved a muscle. The only sound was the rustling of rocks and soil as they coalesced into a cloud of dust that swept across the desert floor.
Sunlight slanted through the dust, casting a reddish-brown hue over the already ash-grey earth. Two different moods came from Asaga and Komodo.
Asaga was under extreme pressure towards Komodo, a Lizardwar with surpassing combat experience. A monster once carried the title of "Nightmare Terror" named by the previous Soul Warriors generation.
That name remained in many people's fear. On the other hand, Komodo showed a blank expression, not paying much attention to the duel about to begin.
Frustration began to boil within Asaga, but he kept his composure. He couldn't let Komodo get into his head. He had to find a way to break through the tyrant's defence and land a blow.
Silence took over this place for a while. Komodo thought he needed this atmosphere no longer, so he decided to return to his opponent's attack by ramming his body forward.
The earth shook more and more intensely as the distance between the two narrowed. That prevented Asaga from standing, forcing him to kneel and plunge the sword into the ground to support him.
That monster launched like a heavy tank. It would be mad for Asaga if he let Komodo crash directly into him. Wherefore, he pulled the sword out of the ground and quickly jumped to the side.
The monster grazed him and smashed itself into a nearby large rock, crushing it to pieces. Dust flew out, and crushed rocks split in all directions blocking Asaga's view, and causing him to cover his eyes.
Suddenly a punch from the smoke shot out in front of him, and Asaga rashly jumped away. Next, Asaga clasped the sword for one more time, slashing the air as he landed.
The dust split into halves and gradually faded away in the air. Regaining the vision, Asaga turned to all sides to find Komodo. Not seeing the figure of that reptile anywhere, Asaga angrily looked to the left. Then, he realized that the tyrant was right next to him. The Lizardwar was in a posture of preparing another hook punch.
Asaga fell to the ground, narrowly avoiding the punch aimed at his chin. He seized the opportunity and quickly grabbed his sword, thrusting it straight at the Komodo's chest. The young warrior was filled with hope, convinced that this would be the end of the Nightmare Terror. He put all of his strength into this decision strike.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
…
A sound like something just broke echoed through the desert.
Asaga slowly opened his eyes.
The blade shattered into pieces upon impact. The imposing figure of the Lizardwar stood unscathed, laughing at the futility of Asaga's attack.
"Haha! I have overestimated you. I don't want to prolong this fight anymore. I have to be honest, a son of the Divine Duo like you.”
Komodo's condescending words were cut short as he delivered a devastating kick to Asaga's stomach, sending him flying, tumbling across the ground, with blood spilling from his mouth.
Asaga rubbed his body on the ground and lay motionless. The force was so strong that it made him cower into his stomach in agony as if someone crushed all of his internal organs at the same time.
Komodo waited for his opponent to get up. Will was the only remaining power in Asaga if he could destroy it and bury it in darkness. Then, the world's only hope would be no more. Asaga must not get up.
As the pain just subsided slightly, Asaga shakily put both his hands on the ground, trying in vain to get up.
Komodo loomed over the wounded Asaga, eager to crush the warrior's spirit. With each cruel word that spewed from his mouth, he delivered a merciless kick to the vulnerable body. The barrage of blows was relentless, driving home the message that Asaga was weak, a coward, an arrogant child clinging to his parents' shadow.
"You are nothing," Komodo spat, his disdain for the warrior evident in each syllable. "You are a disgrace to the Divine Duo and to the title of Soul Warrior. You do not deserve to live."
Asaga lay there, battered and broken, desperately trying to rise and face his tormentor once more. But the relentless barrage of abuse and violence was too much for him to bear.
"You such a… hold-up!"
He delayed, stroking his chin while trying to remember what he wanted to say next. Asaga coughed up blood several times. He trembled, clinging tightly to Komodo's legs. The Lizardwar lowered his head, then kicked Asaga in the face, and the boy rolled away. Komodo grinned.
“A pathetic brat. Accept it, son! All your relatives, your friends, your parents, they are dead. You will always be alone till the end of this world. I want to see your tears, the endless tears of despair. I'm not done with you yet.”
Komodo's foot descended onto Asaga's chest, pressing down with increasing force. The boy's skin slowly turned from a healthy hue to a ghostly pale as he struggled to breathe under the immense weight. Every time Komodo applied more force, Asaga's body would sink further into the ground, his ribcage compressing under the pressure. The Lizardwar stood triumphant, enjoying his opponent's defeat.
Asaga struggled to free himself from under Komodo's foot, gritting his teeth in pain. He pushed and pulled, his muscles bulging and veins popping out.
However, Komodo's foot remained firmly pressed down, crushing Asaga's chest. The weight seemed to increase with each passing moment, leaving the young warrior gasping for air.
Despite the intense pain and suffocating pressure, Asaga was not giving up. But it was no use, Komodo was simply too strong, and the young warrior's strength was quickly fading. With each passing moment, Asaga's struggles grew weaker and his breathing grew more laboured until finally, his arms fell limp, and he lay there. Komodo bent down and brought his lips to Asaga's ear, roaring out every word.
“You are an inferior animal. Your loved ones are just a tiny fraction of the worms that need to be eliminated, no matter what. Besides, do you remember that black-haired girl with white steel gloves?”
The girl he mentioned instantly caused Asaga's head to throb in extreme pain. Asaga subconsciously curled up, forgetting the pain in his stomach, and clutched his head tightly. Unable to bear this pain any longer, he let out a weak but cruel scream.
Komodo frowned in annoyance at that terrible sound. Instead of kicking him away to stifle the scream but no, he just quietly took a few steps backward and continued talking with a thoughtful face.
“Where was I? I still remember that time. Despair and death engulfed everything, and corpses were everywhere. All fell under the glory of the Replord Empire.”
As Komodo approached Asaga, he grabbed the young man by his collar and lifted him, revelling in the sight of the warrior's pained expression. Leaning in close, he whispered into Asaga's ear with a smirk.
"Women like her are quite delectable, wouldn't you agree? I bet you enjoy their taste just as much as I do."
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"Why you didn’t save me."
Past. Pain. Endure. Release!
A demon had been waiting so long for this moment. The dark side of emotion corrupted this poor boy's mind and started to take over his body.
Asaga felt consumed by a burning hatred and pain, as though his soul was being consumed by the darkness that had taken hold of him. The agony he felt was unbearable and he felt as though he was trapped in a never-ending nightmare. The screams of the people he loved, the memories of his once happy life, all of it was being washed away in a sea of red. He cried out, his voice hoarse and broken, as the demon within him took control.
"Blood... I need blood..." he whispered, consumed by a desire for revenge against the one who had caused him so much suffering. To make the person who had wrecked his life pay for what they had done, he was determined to put a stop to this once and for all. His heart was filled with rage, he had black eyes, and the evil that had gripped him had destroyed his soul. Few people had ever seen this side of Asaga, which he had buried deep within him up until this point.
"Yes, blood!!!"
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“Funny, right? Huh!?”
Komodo was completely taken aback as he watched Asaga's transformation unfold before his eyes. The once weak and suffering young man was now growing horns and demon wings, and his entire demeanour exuded an aura of power and ferocity. The pebbles on the ground continued to bounce and jump, as if in anticipation of what was about to happen.
Komodo's hand felt hot and he could feel the energy radiating from Asaga's transformation. He could not believe what he was seeing, as the young man he had just been tormenting moments ago was now transformed into a fearsome demon.
The curved horns protruding from Asaga's forehead added to his intimidating appearance. Komodo's eyes widened in amazement as he watched the four tumours on Asaga's back grow into four massive wings, spreading wide open to reveal their full span.
"What the!?"
Komodo was shocked as his hand was suddenly severed from his body by the sharp winds. He stumbled back in surprise, releasing Asaga who fell to the ground. Despite the intense pain, Komodo bit his teeth together, trying to maintain his composure as a ruler. He disregarded the bleeding wound and took a deep breath, telling himself it was just a minor injury.
He gazed at the gruesome sight of his chopped hand, now resembling minced meat, but he chose to ignore it and the continuous flow of blood like a waterfall. Asaga slowly sat up, lowering his head, tears streaming down his face. He muttered.
“You bastard... must kill... you bastard... curse you.”
As Asaga muttered those words, Komodo's wound stopped bleeding. The cut on Komodo's hand stopped bleeding and a thick, dark liquid seeped out, gradually covering the wound. The liquid continued to spread until it had completely enveloped the injury. The severed hand was restored to its original form as if it had never been cut at all.
"Interesting, a demonic Soul Warrior!"
Komodo was fascinated by the sight before him, something he had never seen from a Soul Warrior. He realized that killing Asaga at this moment would not be a wise decision and instead chose to observe and wait. The tyrant took a seat on the ground, keeping a close eye on the young man, eager to see what would happen next.
Asaga's feet were suddenly surrounded by bright red, blood-like tendrils that slithered up his legs and covered his body. Komodo's attention was captured by the sight, and he gazed up at the clear blue sky with fascination.
"If the Divine Duo you two are still alive, then take a good look at that kid. A demon,"
After a while of waiting, the tentacles wrapped tightly around Asaga's body suddenly dried up. The colour changed from red to gray and became rock-hard. More and more cracks appeared in the tentacles, rapidly spreading everywhere.
Asaga's eyes glowed bright red. His arms knocked over the rocks clinging to him. Komodo raised his hand to protect his eyes from getting dust.
He turned his eyes to the sides to see that there was still a cloud of dust blocking his view. Komodo could do nothing but stand still and wait for the smoke to fade away. Komodo began to feel regret for throwing away the only weapon he had. Thinking about what his opponent was up to, Komodo cleaned the sweat on his forehead. Then, he stepped slowly.
“You little brat. I swear I'll break every single bone of you.”
As soon as he finished his words, a gust of wind rushed towards him. It was strong enough to erase the smoke that was enveloping the man. Komodo was startled to pull back, asking his opponent to spare his life in fear.
“I was joking, please don't be that grumpy! Spare my life, please?”
A loud noise made the frightened man cower. After nothing happened after uttering an apology, Komodo slowly opened his eyes, discovering his axe lying beside it, and unintentionally picked it up.
“How the hell is this axe still here? I remember kicking this away. Wait! Impossible!"
He hurriedly turned around to look for Asaga. Right after that, Komodo found that he was standing in front of him. The Lizardwar asked.
“Why?”
Hearing that, Asaga said nothing but silently turned and walked away. When the distance between the two was already around twenty meters, he turned around and answered.
“I am not as vile as you Lizardwar. Do a decisive battle with me, the mighty who once feared many generations of Soul Warriors!”
“Fight for honour? What an idiot! You just made the biggest mistake of your life, hahaha!”
From a coward, who repented to apologizing for his life, became an egotistical one, Komodo laughed like a psychopath at Asaga's action. He cracked his neck, heard a few cracking sounds, and bared his teeth.
“You don't know who you're facing. Behold! The power that brought down the Divine Duo!”
He got up and brushed the dust from his body, then took three steps back, put his hands on his thighs, and fell on his knees. Komodo opened his eyes wide and let out a scream so horrible that everything around had turned to dust, but Asaga alone was unharmed.
"Gah!!!" He let out a terrible scream.
Komodo's body size grew larger over time. The skin began to grow scabs. Those things were hard and sharp that they tore the clothes. Asaga coolly observed Komodo's final form.
When the horrible sound was quiet, it meant Komodo's transformation was over. Right now, he was nothing more than a monster that was a dozen times more frightening than in his previous form.
His back was slightly curved, spikes floating all over the body. Two eyes were full of blood vessels full of limbs. His mouth stuck out the tongue like a sick man. Droplets fell like rain, emanating a stench that must be inducing vomiting immediately.
In front of that giant monster, there was a figure much smaller. But, it exuded a majestic aura like unconquerable mountains. He pointed the sword at Komodo and opened a grin.
“I'm ready! Come, Komodo!”
“How cute… Kill… Blood… You… Die… Gra!”
The battle between the beast and the demon had begun.