Alyssa's words hung in the air, heavy with disbelief. "You have a title too...?"

The moment she laid eyes on Drew, a familiar sensation washed over her. It was like a static charge prickling along her skin, a subtle vibration in the air that set her teeth on edge. She'd felt it only once before, years ago, when she'd stood before her father – the man who'd unwittingly set her on the path of a bandit.

Drew's massive frame tensed, his blood-soaked fist still raised and ready to strike. His eyes, glowing an otherworldly red, narrowed at Alyssa's words.

He had [Bane of Rage] at the fullest level instead of [Bane of Intensity] since it took too much Calamitas energy.

Finn, standing behind Drew's protective bulk, looked between the two with confusion. What the hell is she talking about? Titles? His mind raced, trying to piece together this new puzzle in the midst of chaos.

Alyssa's scarred face twisted into a grimace. She shook her head, as if to clear away the shock of her discovery. "It doesn't matter," she spat, her voice dripping with venom. "I'm still going to carve you up."

Without warning, she lunged forward, her blade a silver blur in the firelight. Drew reacted with inhuman speed, his massive arm coming up to block the strike. The clash of steel on flesh rang out, but where there should have been blood and torn skin, Drew's arm remained unscathed.

Alyssa's eyes widened in shock. Impossible, she thought, leaping back to create distance. His skin... it's like iron!

Drew pressed his advantage, closing the gap with surprising agility for someone of his size. His fist whistled through the air, aimed squarely at Alyssa's head. She ducked at the last second, feeling the wind of the punch ruffle her hair.

Too close, Alyssa thought, her heart pounding. She rolled to the side, coming up in a defensive crouch. Her mind raced, calling upon the dual energies: Calamitas and Umbra energy.

"[Bane of Swiftness]," she whispered, feeling the familiar rush of Calamitas energy. Simultaneously, she drew upon her Umbra power, weaving it into a shadow technique. "[Shadow Step]."

She combined both skills simultaneously, which was extremely difficult to achieve. She could only achieve this level of control because of her title.

Drew's eyes darted around, tracking the barely visible distortions in the air as Alyssa moved. His newfound Strategy Sight ability kicked in, painting the battlefield in his mind's eye. He saw potential moves, counter-moves, the ebb and flow of combat laid out before him like a living chess game.

Finn watched in awe as Drew seemed to predict Alyssa's movements, turning to block or dodge attacks before they even materialized. How is he doing that? Finn wondered, his eyes wide. It's like he can see the future. He's extremely powerful now!

Alyssa reappeared behind Drew, her knife seeking the vulnerable spot at the base of his skull. But Drew was ready. He dropped low, the blade whistling harmlessly overhead, and countered with an upward strike that caught Alyssa in the stomach.

The blow sent her flying, her body crashing through a nearby tent. She lay there for a moment, gasping for breath, her vision swimming. This... this isn't possible, she thought, struggling to her feet. He's stronger than before. Faster. It's like he's a different person. How in the hell did he gain so much power in such a short amount of time!? Even with a title this is too exaggerated!

Drew advanced, his massive frame silhouetted against the burning camp. The red aura around him pulsed, waves of aggression rolling off him in almost tangible waves. Nearby creations and bandits alike stumbled back, overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of his presence.

Finn felt it too, a pressure in his chest that made it hard to breathe. What's happened to Drew? he wondered. Did he gain a new skill? This is nothing like before. Did he possibly make a connection to the Astral Tapestry!?

Alyssa gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stand tall despite the pain lancing through her body. "You think you're tough?" she snarled, her eyes flashing with defiance. I'm going to cut off your head.

She closed her eyes, concentrating on the dual energies within her. Calamitas surged, wild and untamed, while Umbra coiled like a serpent, cool and patient. With practiced skill, she began to weave them together.

"[Shadow Bane of Chaos]," she growled, feeling the energy's of Calamitas and Umbra rise to her call.

The fires around them seemed to dim, the shadows were deepening and writhing as if alive. Alyssa's form blurred, splitting into multiple shadowy afterimages that surrounded Drew. Each image moved independently, some attacking while others feinted, creating a dizzying display of motion and deception.

Drew's eyes narrowed, his Strategy Sight working overtime to analyze the new threat. But something was different. The shadows moved in ways that defied logic, making it impossible to predict their movements. The chaotic energy infused in them disrupted his ability to strategize effectively.

An ability that counters my Strategy Sight, Drew realized, Interesting.

The shadow images attacked as one, a whirlwind of flashing blades and brutal strikes. Drew found himself on the defensive for the first time since his 'transformation', blocking and dodging with every ounce of his enhanced speed.

Finn watched the battle unfold, his heart in his throat. Come on, Drew, he silently urged. You can do this. You have to do this! Or I might die!

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

A knife slipped through Drew's guard, opening a shallow cut on his cheek. Another scored a hit on his arm, drawing a thin line of blood. The wounds were minor, but they proved he wasn't invincible.

Alyssa's laughter echoed from all directions, taunting and cruel. "Not so tough now, are you?" her voice rang out. "I'll wear you down, piece by piece, until there's nothing left but a bloody pulp."

Drew's eyes blazed brighter, the red aura around him intensifying. He let out a roar that shook the very air, the sound filled with primal rage and defiance.

"[Bane of Intensity]," he growled, his voice barely recognizable as human.

The air around Drew seemed to warp, reality itself bending under the weight of his power. His muscles swelled further, veins pulsing grotesquely beneath his skin. The ground beneath his feet cracked and splintered.

Finn stumbled back, overwhelmed by the sheer presence radiating from his creation. Holy f*ck, he thought, his mind reeling. I made this guy!?

Alyssa's shadow images faltered, their movements becoming erratic. One by one, they winked out of existence, unable to maintain cohesion in the face of Drew's overwhelming aura.

The real Alyssa materialized a few feet away, her face pale and drawn. Sweat beaded on her brow, her chest heaving with exertion. This power, she thought, a tremor of fear running through her. It's actually 'giving' me fear. Another skill?

Drew turned to face her, his movements deliberate and menacing. Each step he took left a small crater in the earth, the ground trembling beneath his feet.

Alyssa raised her knife, trying to muster her trademark bravado. But for the first time in years, she felt a flicker of doubt. Can I really beat this monster? she wondered, her grip on her weapon tightening. Or have I finally met my match?

As Drew closed in, his massive fist raised for a potentially devastating blow, Alyssa made a split-second decision. She dove to the side, rolling under Drew's strike and coming up behind him. In one fluid motion, she plunged her knife deep into his back, aiming for his kidney.

The blade sank in, but not as deeply as it should have. Drew's hardened skin resisted, turning what should have been a mortal wound into a painful, but survivable injury.

Drew was unbothered with his injury and started spinning around with terrifying speed. His massive hand closed around Alyssa's throat, lifting her off the ground as if she weighed nothing.

Finn watched, his heart pounding, he was unsure if Drew would win.

Drew held Alyssa aloft. The bandit leader clawed at Drew's arm, her face turning red as she struggled for breath.

This is it, Finn thought, a mix of relief and horror washing over him. It's over. We've won.

But even as the thought formed, Finn saw something that made his blood run cold. Alyssa's eyes began to glow, not with the red of [Bane of Rage], but with a swirling mixture of deep crimson and midnight blue. The air around her seemed to darken and distort.

Drew backed up as he didn't know what was happening. Or maybe that was her plan!? But he was just overthinking.

He used his strategic eye and deduced that both energy's were combing with her body? How did she do that?

Alyssa's form shimmered with an otherworldly glow, her eyes swirling pools of crimson and midnight blue. The air around her crackled with energy with the latter colors.

Drew stumbled back, his strategic mind racing to comprehend this new development. Both energies combining within her body? How is this possible?

Finn's eyes widened as he took in the scene. Holy shit, he thought, his heart hammering in his chest. She looks extremely freaky now.

Alyssa's lips curled into a feral grin, her voice eerily distorted as she spoke. "Now, let me show you what true power looks like."

In a blur of motion, she was upon Drew, her fist connecting with his jaw with bone-shattering force. The impact sent him flying, his massive frame crashing through several tents before coming to a stop.

Finn winced, feeling the tremor of Drew's landing even from where he stood. This is bad, he thought, panic rising in his throat. Really, really bad.

Drew pulled himself to his feet, spitting blood. His eyes blazed with renewed fury as he charged back into the fray. The two titans clashed in a whirlwind of strikes and counterstrikes, their movements almost too fast for the eye to follow.

Finn watched, transfixed by the brutal dance unfolding before him. He knew he should run, should hide, but he wanted to win! I can't just stand here, he realized. I have to do something.

Gritting his teeth, Finn focused his will, calling forth more creations. They sprang into existence around him, a small army ready to join the fight.

"Help Drew!" Finn commanded, his voice cracking with the strain.

The creations surged forward, throwing themselves at Alyssa with reckless abandon. But it was like watching moths fly into a flame. Alyssa moved with inhuman grace, her body a blur as she cut through the ranks of creations. Limbs flew, blood sprayed, and bodies fell in a grotesque ballet of carnage.

Finn felt each death like a punch to the gut, but he didn't stop. He kept creating, wave after wave, giving Drew the backup he desperately needed.

Alyssa snarled in frustration as she dispatched another group of creations. Her eyes locked onto Finn, narrowing with deadly intent. In a heartbeat, she was moving, her blade flashing as she lunged for Finn's exposed throat.

Time seemed to slow. Finn saw the blade coming, knew with sickening certainty that he couldn't dodge in time. This is it, he thought, a strange calm descending over him. This is how I die.

But the killing blow never came. Drew materialized between them, his massive fist connecting with Alyssa's chest. The impact sent her flying back, her body carving a furrow in the blood-soaked earth.

He had used [Creator's Link] once again!

"Stay back," Drew growled, his eyes never leaving Alyssa's prone form. "I'll handle this."

Finn nodded, his legs shaky as the adrenaline coursed through his system. A warm trickle down his cheek made him reach up, his fingers coming away bloody. Alyssa's blade had nicked him after all, a hair's breadth from ending his life.

The battle raged on, Drew and Alyssa locked in a deadly stalemate. For every bone-crushing blow Drew landed, Alyssa countered with a flurry of strikes that left him bleeding from a dozen wounds. The ground around them was slick with blood, the air thick with metallic tang.

Finn continued to create, his mind racing for a way to turn the tide. There has to be something, he thought desperately. Some weakness, some strategy we can use.

As if in answer to his silent plea, a familiar voice cut through the chaos. "My lord!" Hamlyn called out, appearing at Finn's side. "I have a plan!"

Finn's heart leapt with hope. "What is it?" he asked, his eyes never leaving the brutal fight before them.

Hamlyn opened his mouth to respond, but his words were cut short as Drew's voice boomed across the battlefield. "Get back!" he roared, his eyes wide with alarm. "She's too strong!"

But the warning came too late. Alyssa appeared behind Hamlyn, her movement so fast it seemed like teleportation. Her blade flashed once, a simple, almost casual gesture.

Hamlyn's expression froze, a look of confusion etched on his features. Then, slowly, horribly, his head began to slide from his shoulders. Blood fountained from the stump of his neck, painting the air crimson. His body stood for a moment, swaying like a tree in the wind, before collapsing in a lifeless heap.

Finn stared in horror, his mind struggling to process what he'd just witnessed. Hamlyn, who'd been so vital in their defense, who'd shown such promise... gone in an instant.

A pang of sadness pierced through Finn's shock. He didn't deserve that, Finn thought, a lump forming in his throat. He was just trying to help.