Harrowing winds shook the southern forest—or at least what was left of it—along with the dome of darkness devouring all those blocking its path.

The shadow dome expanded, clashing against Antrax's plague subspace. It was a battle of endurance and sheer will, wherein the first to buckle would meet a single fate.

Death.

As the two subspaces collided, forming cracks against the brown earth and sending shockwaves of titanic proportions, Ajax underwent rapid changes.

It was unseen physically due to his armor, but his astral pressure surged forth. His soul morphing into something far more... pure.

His ethos took a leap, and a flow of strength never before seen by Ajax seized him in its palm. As though the fatigue was never there to begin with.

He has reached the first stage of the saint rank.

Antrax's face distorted in rage. "Don't be arrogant! You're merely a first-stage saint!" He roared in fury.

The plague subspace marched forward, slowly pushing back Ajax's shadow nexus.

Although Ajax indeed transcended to sainthood, his and Antrax's powers still differ by a mile. There was still a huge gap between them.

Ajax and Antrax's groans echoed as they stood steadfast against the recoil of their clash.

Blood trickled down Ajax's lips, his armor denting under the pressure.

Antrax took a step forward, a gush of energy billowing out of his vessel.

"ENOUGH OF THIS!" He spat in pure rage as the green field of plague darted forward, overwhelming Ajax.

Ajax dug his foot to the ground as he fought against Antrax's advances.

"Yes. Enough of this," he muttered.

A violent surge of shadow matter resonated with his subspace, hammering down Antrax's plague infestation in an ear-shattering explosion.

Energy residues coursed through the ground, sending chunks of earth soaring into the sky.

The wind whipped, sending dust clouds billowing in the air.

Ajax breezed through the air, his armor clattering under the unforgiving backlash of the confrontation. The same can be said for Antrax, as his figure got catapulted dozens of meters away.

Ajax slammed towards the ground, tearing parts of his armor and visor away. His aqua-blue eyes bathing in the soft, tantalizing glow of the moon.

The night was nearing its end. The dawn was nearly upon them. This battle cannot drag any longer.

Steeling his resolve, Ajax rose to his feet as he dusted himself. His gaze locked forward.

Perhaps I will be able to use it now... He thought.

He has a skill. A hidden trump card, some may say. He has refrained from using it due to his weakness. But with his newfound power... He now has a chance. Slim, but a chance nonetheless.

From the shadows, Igram ascended, a blade nesting in his palms. Kneeling, he offered it to Ajax.

Grasping the hilt tight, Ajax took a sharp breath, his figure blurring as he darted ahead.

From the dust, Antrax gathered his strength. He climbed from the rubble and zoomed forward, greeting Ajax head-on.

"Corrosion spheres."

"Decay bullets," Antrax said as he rapidly threw one projectile after the other.

Ajax continuously dove through the shadows, nimbly dodging the attacks surging his way.

Dark tendrils jutted out of the darkness, breezing through the wind as they thrusted towards Antrax, in which it was intercepted with bone walls.

"Shadow jump," Ajax's voice echoed, his figure warping inches from Antrax.

His blade drew a wide arc. But Antrax swiftly weaved back, the steel edge of Ajax's sword grazing his cheeks.

"Bone whip!" Antrax said, an elongated bone protrusion lashing towards Ajax.

Keeping his composure calm, Ajax muttered. "Bone walls."

A shadow wall similar to Antrax halted the whip dead in its tracks.

"You—!" Antrax's words were cut short as Ajax spoke once more.

"Bone darts."

The abominations eyes widened as he hurriedly jerked his arm forward, but Igram's claymore froze them in place as the shadow threw a myriad of slashes.

With all of his arms occupied, Antrax could do nothing but dodge. Unfortunately, Ajax didn't give the abomination the chance as he dashed forward, closing the distance with haste.

The dark darts drew lines on Antrax's face and body, some drilling down his flesh and into his very bones. His screams reverberated in the air.

With a forceful kick to the ground, Imgar darted ahead, blocking Antrax's exit.

With a flick of his wrist, a dark bone whip lashed into Antrax, latching tight to his skin and restraining his movements.

Ajax saw this and wasted no time. He raised his steel blade as it descended with unfaltering rage, its glimmer shining off Antrax's pupils.

The abomination's breath hitched, and for a moment, time seemed to stop. Then he spoke.

"Subspace: Plague infestation."

Ajax's eyes widened, his foot kicking the ground forcefully.

A stream of malevolent green energy jetted out of Antrax's body, swallowing everything in its vicinity, including Imgar.

The shadow knight ripped his arm back as he leaped away. Unfortunately, it was too late.

Igram shot a glance at Ajax as the subspace devoured him.

Within the mayhem, Antrax's voice echoed.

"Plague infestation: corrosive miasma."

Ajax watched as Igram, his shadow, slowly liquified.

Antrax's chuckles left trails of echo in the air.

"Finally, the annoying bug is gone," he said.

Ajax's atmosphere turned grim. His chances of pulling off his ability with Igram are low; now it's nearly implausible. But there's still a chance. A small sliver of hope.

Ajax delved through the shadows, the trail of dark smoke billowing forward.

"You're still coming after me?" Antrax asked in surprise, his brows arching upward.

As far as Ajax knows, Antrax was a caster. He wasn't a physical combatant. This made it harder for him to get close. In order to use his hidden ace, he must have access to his shadow.

Antrax threw his arms and cast bone spikes, littering the ground with holes.

Ajax countered with the same ability, canceling out Antrax's efforts.

The abomination scowled in annoyance as he cast a plethora of skills.

"Decay bullets."

"Corrosion spheres."

"Bone jaws."

Ajax marched forward unhindered as he rapidly used the skills in his arsenal.

"Bone darts."

"Bone whip."

"Bone jaws."

The collision of the abilities opted for them to cancel once more, deepening the frown on the abominations face.

Ajax threw his arm forward. "Shadow sling," he said, his figure zooming forward.

As he closed off the distance, Ajax swung his blade tirelessly, not giving Antrax the chance to breathe.

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"You want close combat? Then so be it!" Antrax roared.

"Exoskeleton," he uttered, his figure zooming forward.

Ajax's eyes widened, his aqua blue pupils quivering. Blood meandered down his lips, staining his visor crimson.

He had miscalculated.

Antrax moved at a speed far beyond what he expected.

Ajax shifted his gaze down, his eyes fixated on the pair of arms impaled deep in his flesh, tearing straight through his armor.

Antrax chuckled in glee, a wide grin slithering towards his face.

"Did you think I was unable to fight physically? You fell for it," he mocked.

A sharp pang of pain resonated through Ajax as his wound rapidly infested.

"Nonetheless, I congratulate you for forcing me to take matters into my own hands," he said.

"Now, it's time to end this game," he resumed.

Ajax met Antrax's gaze; his aqua-blue eyes lost deep in thoughts.

Was the difference in power that big?

Was he a fool for trying?

Is this how his life will finally end?

Ajax's consciousness dimmed, his vision gradually fading under the guiding light of the celestial moon.

Does he have any regrets?

Perhaps there are many.

The lids of Ajax's eyes slowly fell, his remaining flicker of strength burning away into nothing but ashes as they drifted with the wind. There was nothing but a single emotion lurking deep in his heart.

Frustration.

He feels too frustrated.

At himself.

At his mistakes.

At his weakness.

Yet, in the midst of his demise, Ajax caught movement in the corner of his eyes. A silhouette.

It was his apprentice.

"Sa...mael...?" Ajax muttered under his breath, a strange emotion blooming in his chest, ridding him of the pain of his misgivings. One he discarded and regarded as a burden.

Hope.

Antrax brows rose upwards. "What are you muttering, pest?" he asked.

Ajax's fingers twitched, his grip latching onto Antrax's arms.

"What futile struggles?" Antrax sneered, disdain staining his gaze.

Ajax called forth the last remaining specks of strength he had. "Go," he uttered.

"Wha—" Antrax's words came to an abrupt halt as his eyes widened. He jerked his head back as he ripped his arm away.

However, Ajax's hold remains steadfast even under the unrelenting force of Antrax.

The abomination's face distorted in rage.

"You little runts!" He roared in fury.

"Sub space: Plague infest—" His chant was halted when Ajax's monochromatic voice reverberated in the air.

"Not this time."

A steel visor struck Antrax square in the face, breaking his nose and etching a crack in his visage.

Antrax felt the world spin for a moment.

"NOW, SAMAEL!" Ajax bellowed.

Samael's silhouette zoomed forward, Crimson Raven humming through the air as it drilled inches deep through Antrax's exoskeleton armor, tearing the flesh below. A feat implausible if it weren't for Ajax weakening the Saint abomination over time.

Antrax's screams reverberated in the air, leaving trails of echo as his blood gushed out of his shoulder.

"IT BURNNNS!" He wailed in agony, dark steam gushing out of the wound as it slowly corroded.

Samael dialed his arm back as he swung once more, his Void Augmentation tuned up a notch.

The axe drew an arc, its sharp edge glimmering in Antrax's pupils.

In a desperate attempt, Antrax tore his arms embedded deep within Ajax, uncaring for the damage done as he mutilated himself.

Swiftly, the abomination whipped its arm forward, slamming it against Samael's steel-plated torso, bending the armor as he sent Samael a few paces back.

Blood spewed out of Samael's lips, trailing down and staining his steel armor. But he wasn't done yet.

With a forceful kick to the ground, Samael darted forward, his blade weaving in the air as it swung in a frenzy.

Antrax strained as he avoided the slashes with difficulty, a lone bead of sweat meandering down his forehead.

"UNHAND ME!" he roared at Ajax, but to no avail.

After the initial explosion of Ajax and Antrax's clash earlier, Samael rushed to aid his mentor. When he got there, he was greeted with carnage and the utter decimation of the southern forest.

He could feel the tremors coursing through the earth and the shockwaves of their fight. But he knew interfering would only cause more problems than help.

However, when he saw Antrax impale Ajax and saw how the light in his mentor's eyes dimmed, he knew he couldn't stand by and watch.

So he propelled himself.

Nerves squirmed under Antrax's skin as he growled. "I SAID UNHAND ME!" He jerked his arm back with unparalleled ferocity.

Ajax met the abomination in the eyes as he loosened his grip. "Sure," he replied.

Antrax's eyes widened in surprise, his figure stumbling back as Ajax let go of him.

Samael shot forward, his axe towed in hand as he threw a vertical slash.

Antrax planted his foot on the ground, his figure weaving to the side, nimbly avoiding the axe by inches. He countered with a swift slash—

"Subspace: Shadow Nexus," Ajax's voice echoed.

Antrax felt a shiver run down his spine, his blood freezing in place. His gaze shifted towards Samael, his claws inches from his face.

A wide smirk tugged at the corner of Samael's lips.

"You thought Ajax was the bait, you fool. I am the bait," Samael said.

Antrax's face paled, his eyes clamped wide.

A surge of shadow matter swept the land, devouring everything in sight.

"Shadow Nexus: Origin," Ajax's voice reverberated.

Antrax's gaze darted back and forth, yet what greeted him were shadows, and shadows alone.

A mist of darkness encompassed Antrax, blocking his vision and senses. A cold sense of dread coursing through his skin.

"SHOW YOURSELF!" he bellowed as he fired projectiles at random.

He caught movement in the corner of his eyes. However, upon shifting his gaze, there was nothing but the swirling shadows, along with the voice whispering in his ears.

"This is my subspace: Shadow Nexus."

Antrax jerked his head in a frenzy, a futile attempt to locate where Ajax was.

"A place of origins..." Ajax resumed.

Antrax caught another movement near him, but there was only darkness greeting him.

"What is going on?" Antrax asked in confusion.

"This place is a mirror of your mistakes, a past you cannot outrun anymore," Ajax uttered.

Antrax felt a presence behind him, opting to deliver a ferocious blow. However, his claws halted mere inches from his target.

It was a man. He was clad in radiant white armor. He had blond hair, green eyes, and a smile as bright as the sun.

Antrax stumbled back. His breath disheveled.

"No, no, no! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" he asked.

The man clad in armor fought numerous battles with his comrades. They traveled everywhere and shared everything.

He was full of dreams and ambition, along with love for a woman in their ranks. She had lustrous red hair and eyes as gold as the morning sun.

The shadows shifted once more, warping to a scene—no, to a memory long forgotten in time.

The woman came up to the man with a sweet smile plastered on her face.

"Tarx! What are your plans after this expedition?" She asked.

Antrax's body trembled, a plethora of emotions running behind his crimson pupils.

He knows well who they were and what they meant to him.

After all, this is his origin story.

Tarx, the man Antrax was before, spoke. "Me? I plan to fulfill my promise and form a family with you. Live a life of content in the country side and maybe build myself a farm."

As the days passed by, their expedition went without trouble; they ventured deep and fought bravely. Until they reached their final destination.

"Is this the place...?" Tarx asked, a smudge of confusion dancing in his eyes.

"Yes, dear. This is the place," the woman answered.

STAB!

Antrax watched as the woman stabbed Tarx. He could still vividly feel the pain of the betrayal he suffered. It was an ache far more painful than any wound he got. That feeling of your heart being squeezed and your hopes shattering in front of you

The woman met Tarx's gaze. A mischievous glimmer danced in her pupils.

"I have fulfilled my part of the bargain, little lamb," she uttered.

"Right now, you're nothing but a sheep waiting for slaughter," she whispered in his ears.

The chuckles of his companions echoed in the labyrinth.

"You all knew..." Tarx asked, blood trailing down his lips.

The woman burst into laughter. "We all knew! You were simply a blind fool!" She mocked.

"Did you actually think I would like to spend the rest of my life with someone like you? Have some shame!" She sneered as she rose to her feet.

"We'll kindly take the recognition for this hunt and tell them how the brave hero Tarx died in battle to protect the kingdom he so loves," she said.

"Farewell, Tarx, my darling." Her voice left trails of hushed echoes as darkness shrouded the labyrinth once more.

Antrax fell silent, his eyes lost in the torrent of memories. His jaws clenched tight.

"TARX IS NO MORE! HE DIED A LONG TIME AGO!" He roared in denial.

"You can never run from who you truly are," Ajax's voice responded.

"I AM NOW ANTRAX! A HARBINGER OF DEATH! TARX WAS A FOOL! HE WAS WEAK!" Antrax bellowed, a burst of energy springing forward.

"Tarx, will you promise me a life of happiness?" A voice whispered in Antrax's ears.

"Tarx! Let's go and finish this quest fast!" A man said.

"Brother, is it true you got her hand in marriage?" another man chimed in.

Antrax's body shook, his hands clasping his ears tight.

"NO! STOP THIS! MAKE IT STOP!" Antrax screamed in torment.

"If you wish," Ajax replied.

The Shadow Nexus withdrew before Antrax's eyes, shattering the harrowing storm of memories haunting him for decades.

Antrax shot a glance back, a smudge of confusion dancing in his eyes.

Ajax stood idle, blood marring his armor.

"I knew I couldn't harm you in my state, even inside my subspace. I never intended to begin with," he said.

Antrax's eyes widened, his frenzied laughter resonating in the air.

"You—you ran out of Ethos?! HAHAHA!" he concluded.

Antrax took a step forward. "You had your chance!" He said, his crooked finger pointing forward.

"Now you'll never see the light of day," he resumed as he kicked the ground hard.

Ajax remained unfazed as he spoke.

"Mirror."

Antrax's advance fell short as he fell face first towards the ground, his arms clutching his legs tight. Blood meandering down his skin, along with a hole carved deep in his flesh.

"ARGHHHH!" Antrax roared in agony, his figure squirming in the ground.

Shifting his gaze towards Ajax, he asked. "WHAT TREACHERY IS THI—" However, another wave of pain overwhelmed him. This time, a hole tore straight through his shoulder.

"ARGHHH!" he screamed as he flailed around.

Samael's brows rose upwards, his eyes narrowed down. Just what did Ajax do? What is happening?

Samael fixed his gaze on his mentor, his eyes jolting wide.

Ajax kneeled down, blood spewing out of his lips. His hand grasped the earth with utter ferocity, as though he were in pain.

Is he in pain? Samael asked himself.

His queries were answered quickly as Ajax's monochromatic voice lingered in the air.

"I never intended to defeat you within my subspace or because I ran out of Ethos," he said.

"I simply needed you to lower your guard to access your shadow," he resumed.

Antrax fixed his gaze on Ajax.

"Mirror is a skill that enables me to harm the shadows of my opponent, and in turn, I also suffer the pain they go through," he revealed.

Antrax clenched his jaw, a muffled scream emanating from his lips. His sharp gaze carving a hole through Ajax.

Ajax cleaved his blade through his shadow, where an imperceptible thin thread bound his and Antrax's silhouettes. A wave of pain flushed through his chest.

Antrax's roar reverberated as a large gash trailed down his torso, blood gushing out of his skin as it watered the brown earth.

"It's time to end this," Ajax said, his hand raised high in the heavens, a steel blade cradled in his palm.

Antrax watched the blade glimmer under the glow of the moonlight, its steel edge bouncing off his pupils.

"Unacceptable..." he muttered under his breath.

"I cannot accept this..." he whispered.

Samael's eyes narrowed down. Is he saying something? He asked himself.

"This... This is..." Antrax's voice shook.

Ajax's aqua-blue eyes shifted towards the abomination, his visor tilting down.

"THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!!" Antrax roared.

A stream of green matter jetted out of his body, blocking Ajax and Samael's sight.

"What?!" Samael asked in confusion as he peered through the mist, but to no avail.

The miasma was too potent; it blocked out their senses and spread far and wide. Just what is Antrax planning?

From the dense fog of rot, a dark silhouette zoomed out.

Antrax's tattered body soared in the air, bridging dozens of meters in seconds as he ran off north.

"He's escaping!" Samael alerted Ajax.

Wait—this direction... NO! Samael's face paled. Antrax treaded north, where the villagers lay in waiting. Unaware of the danger marching their way.

"Samael, go!" Ajax said.

"I'll catch up to you," he said, his jaws clenched tight. Had he been faster, this wouldn't have happened.

Mirror is a ranged skill; it has a specific distance, and once the target has exceeded that gap, the ability is deemed null.

Samael gave a swift nod as he darted forward, his soles coated with Void matter.

Dawn was in the corner. So is the final outcome of their battle.

Will it be Victory? Or death?