The night air was thick with tension as Kenji and Mikage stepped outside, the dim glow of the bar’s lanterns casting long shadows across the dusty street. The outside was eerily quiet, as if the world itself held its breath in anticipation. Kenji’s hand tightened around the hilt of his single remaining sword, its weight a familiar comfort despite the void where his second blade should have been. In contrast, Mikage stood with an almost unsettling calm, the Shadow Blade at his side humming with an ominous energy.The wind whispered through the street, carrying with it the faint scent of smoke and sweat from the bar behind them. It swirled around the two warriors, ruffling Kenji’s Blue hair and rustling the loose ends of his tattered cloak. Every sound seemed amplified in the stillness—the creak of leather as Kenji adjusted his grip, the soft clink of Mikage’s boots against the cobblestones, the distant echo of a crow’s caw.For a moment, time seemed to stretch, the world narrowing down to just the two of them. Kenji’s eyes, sharp and focused, locked onto Mikage’s, searching for any sign of weakness, any hint of hesitation. But Mikage’s gaze was like the abyss—cold, unreadable, and endless.Mikage struck first, his form blurring as he unleashed the Void Dominion. Shadowy entities erupted from the ground, their inky tendrils reaching for Kenji like the grasping hands of the damned. The street darkened, the shadows thickening into a near-impenetrable fog. Kenji’s heart pounded in his chest, the blood thundering in his ears as he leapt back, narrowly avoiding the writhing darkness. The smell of damp earth and the metallic tang of fear filled his nostrils as he swung his sword, the blade slicing cleanly through the air.Kenji’s Phantom Edge took over, the speed of his strike leaving afterimages that danced like ghosts in the dim light. The entities faltered, confused by the barrage of false slashes. But Mikage was no fool—his Echo of the Abyss allowed him to phase out of reality just as Kenji’s real blade sliced through the spot where his chest had been.Kenji’s feet barely touched the ground as he whirled, the sound of his sword cleaving through the night almost imperceptible. Silent Slash. He moved with the precision of a predator, his muscles coiled with the anticipation of a strike. But as his sword connected, Mikage’s form shimmered and split into several echoes, each one a perfect replica, their movements synchronized in a deadly dance.Kenji’s breath hitched as he realized his mistake too late—the real Mikage had already moved. A cold sensation washed over him as the Shadow Blade cut through his side, the pain sharp and immediate, like ice against his skin. Blood seeped into his clothes, warm and sticky, the scent of iron filling the air. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to focus through the haze of pain.Mikage pressed his advantage, the shadows responding to his will with ruthless efficiency. The air grew thick with the scent of sulfur as Mikage unleashed his Umbra Infusion, his attacks now carrying the weight of darkness itself. Kenji barely managed to deflect a blow that would have cleaved him in two, his sword arm trembling with the effort. The ground beneath them cracked under the pressure of their clash, sending tremors through the earth.With a growl, Kenji channeled his energy into his sword, the blade glowing with an ethereal light. Moonlit Crescent. He swung with all his might, the crescent-shaped wave of energy blazing a path through the darkness, slicing through Mikage’s echoes and carving a deep gash into the street. The sheer force of the attack sent debris flying, the taste of dust and grit sharp on Kenji’s tongue.But Mikage was relentless. The shroud of night enveloped them, plunging the world into complete darkness. Kenji’s vision was useless here—only his instincts and the faintest whisper of sound guided him. His senses strained, picking up the faint rustle of cloth, the soft pad of footsteps that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.Mikage’s voice echoed in the void, low and taunting, each word sending chills down Kenji’s spine. “You can’t escape the night, Kenji. It will swallow you whole.”Kenji ignored the taunt, focusing instead on the rhythm of his breath, the steady rise and fall of his chest. He let his other senses guide him—the scent of Mikage’s sweat mingled with the sharp, acrid smell of the shadows, the faint vibration of footsteps through the ground.Then, without warning, Mikage struck. His blade cut through the darkness, a silent death that Kenji barely avoided. The force of the missed strike created a gust of wind that carried the scent of Mikage’s blade—cold, metallic, and tinged with the bitterness of the void.Kenji retaliated with Wind Shear, the air around him howling as razor-sharp currents whipped through the darkness. The sound of tearing cloth and flesh echoed through the void, followed by a grunt of pain. The wind cleared the shroud just enough for Kenji to catch a glimpse of Mikage, his figure slightly blurred, shadows clinging to his wounds like living things.But Mikage only smiled, a dark, twisted thing that sent a shiver down Kenji’s spine. “Is that all, Kenji?” he murmured, his voice like the hiss of a serpent. “Is that the best you can do?”Kenji’s eyes narrowed, determination flaring in his chest. He wouldn’t fall here, not like this. Summoning every last ounce of his strength, he unleashed his ultimate technique. Eclipse Breaker. His sword gleamed with a blinding light, brighter than the moon, more radiant than the sun. He swung it with a roar, the energy behind the strike tearing through the fabric of the Air itself, leaving a void-like rift in its wake.Mikage’s eyes widened, true fear flashing across his face for the first time. The rift consumed the shadows, obliterating the entities he had summoned, tearing through the echoes like they were made of smoke. Mikage tried to phase out, to escape the inevitable, but the sheer force of Kenji’s attack was too much. The blade connected, and for a split second, everything was still.Then the world exploded into light and sound, the impact sending shockwaves through the air, rattling the windows of the bar, shaking the earth beneath them. The scent of burning wood and ozone filled the air, mingling with the bitter tang of blood and sweat.When the dust settled, Kenji stood alone, his breath coming in ragged gasps, his body trembling with exhaustion. The rift slowly closed behind him, sealing away the destructive power of his attack. Mikage lay crumpled on the ground, his body fading in and out of reality, his strength drained, his power broken. Yet even in defeat, his eyes gleamed with a dark satisfaction, as if he had seen something in the void that Kenji could never understand.Kenji sheathed his sword with a weary sigh, the weight of the battle settling heavily on his shoulders. The night was still again, the echoes of their fight slowly fading into memory. But the scent of blood and shadows lingered in the air, a reminder of the battle that had taken place, a battle that would be remembered long after the night had passed.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.