Lyan slowly approached the group, the air around him thick with energy. Chains hung ominously in the sky, half-broken, their jagged edges crackling with energy. His gaze was fixed on Celestia and Bril, piercing through them with an intensity that felt unnerving.
"You two..." Lyan's voice was low, almost amused. "I won't say much, but my eyes, they're not like yours. You see, I was forced into the Sorrows Crypt when I was just a child. I lived—no, survived— in that suffocating darkness for so long, with nothing but a raw source of mana to feed off. And now... my eyes, they see beyond the living. I see things you couldn't even imagine." He chuckled softly, the sound carrying a chill. "The two of you... you're more than meets the eye."
Celestia's heart skipped a beat. "Can he see the system?" The thought lingered, just for a moment.
Bril's brow furrowed, confusion mixing with unease. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice steady, but the question hanging in the air.
Lyan's grin widened, a cold gleam in his eyes. "It's not my place to tell you. You'll figure it out... if you figure it out." He looked around at the group, his gaze drifting over the members of Lox. "You're all far weaker than I first thought... it would be a waste to kill you all at once. But if I don't kill at least half of you, I won't get paid. So..." He raised his hand, and with a single, deliberate command, energy swords ripped through the air, slicing through Lox members before anyone could even react. They fell, lifeless, their bodies cleaved in half.
"And just to be sure," Lyan's voice dropped to a cold whisper, "I won't deal with four of you later." His words hung in the air, and in an instant, he surged forward, grabbing Bril by the throat. Without a moment's hesitation, he jumped, landing by a tree with Bril still in his grasp.
Zoan reacted immediately, rushing forward, but before he could reach them, a sword shot down, sinking deep into Lyan's forearm. The force of it was enough to nearly sever his arm, but Lyan merely gritted his teeth, the blade still embedded in his flesh. Zoan dropped to his knees, gasping in pain. "N-NO! Leave him alone!" he shouted, desperation flooding his voice.
Celestia, let her rapier fall from her hand as [Tempest Arts] activated. Her body moved with speed and precision as she launched herself at Lyan, her kick infused with Dragon-Wind and Water. The force sent him skidding back a few feet, but before she could react, he was behind her in an instant, his grip tightening around her throat. Zoan, struggling to his feet, released a wave of wind in a desperate attempt to break Lyan's hold.
Lyan let out a dry laugh. "Damn, you all are pathetic," he mocked, the amusement evident in his voice. With a swift motion, he threw Celestia to the ground, then lifted his sheath, instantly silencing the wind. The air around them grew heavy, thick with tension.
Rosaline, flames swirling around her, charged in, swinging her flaming sword in an arc. Lyan unsheathed his sword and met her strike. The clash of their blades sent shockwaves through the air, the flames gnawing at his energy. He jumped back, smirking. "Flame Arts..." he mused, "Now that's something you really don't see every day."
Lyan sheathed his sword again, and the air around him shimmered with blue energy. Swords of pure energy appeared, slicing through the air with precision. Celestia, barely able to move, felt the slashes across her back, her arms, the back of her legs, and the side of her neck. The cuts were shallow but enough to draw blood.
Rosaline was caught by the energy slashes, but the flames around her flared, absorbing some of the damage. "Flame Arts can devour Sword's Will techniques and some magic," Lyan's voice rang out, cold and calculating. "But it takes a moment to activate. And every time you use it... you lose something in exchange." He chuckled darkly. "At this rate, I won't need to kill you myself. You'll destroy yourselves long before I do."
Rosaline's flames began to waver as she struggled to keep them under control. Lyan's eyes glinted with amusement as he moved back toward Bril, grabbing him once again by the throat. He jumped effortlessly to a higher branch, his feet landing with a soft thud. Holding Bril aloft, he raised his sword, the edge glinting in the dim light.
Zoan's eyes widened, panic flooding his chest. "NO!" He shouted, his voice hoarse. Summoning all his strength, he surged forward, wind swirling around him. The air thickened as he propelled himself toward Lyan, determined to save Bril, but the sound that followed was guttural, chilling.
Blood dripped from the trees, staining the earth below as Lyan's sword pierced Bril's chest, sinking deep. Zoan's heart clenched as he watched Bril's body go limp, the life beginning to leave his eyes. Lyan twisted the sword before ripping it out, letting Bril's body fall from his grasp.
Zoan stood frozen, his body trembling with a mix of rage and helplessness. The world around him seemed to slow. Every breath felt harder to take, the very air thick with grief and fury.
Zoan rushed to his brother's side, his heart pounding in his chest as he checked Bril's pulse. His hands shook, trembling as he lifted Bril into his arms. "P-please..." His voice cracked, desperation choking him. Tears streamed down his face, falling onto Bril's bloodied gear, mixing with the dirt and grime. He cradled his brother closer, as though willing him to live, his mind racing with thoughts.
A raspy cough broke the silence, followed by a faint trickle of blood from Bril's mouth. Zoan's heart skipped a beat. "Thank you..." Bril's voice was weak, his breath ragged, each word forced through the pain. "Thank you... for all the memories across the years together." His eyes fluttered as he tried to focus, but the effort was too much. His chest heaved with labored breaths.
Zoan's grip tightened, holding Bril even closer, feeling his brother's heartbeat slowing, growing weaker with each passing second. The tears fell harder now, streaking down Zoan's face, soaking into Bril's armor.
Bril's voice trembled again, barely audible, "We... had some of the most stupidest arguments, didn't we?" A small, broken laugh escaped his lips, but it was laced with pain, and more tears began to fall, staining the ground beneath them.
Zoan's chest tightened, the weight of the moment crushing him. "Y-yeah," he whispered hoarsely, his voice shaky, "we really did… have some really stupid moments together…"
But Bril's strength was waning. He tried to speak again, but his breath was too shallow. "K-kil tha—" His words cut off, a sharp gasp escaping his lips before he fell silent.
Before Zoan could even comprehend what was happening, another sword, shimmering with energy, fell from the sky with brutal speed. It cleaved through Bril's neck, severing his head from his shoulders in a single, clean motion. Zoan's stomach churned as Bril's arm fell lifelessly to the ground, the lifeblood pooling beneath him.
A guttural scream tore from Zoan's throat, but it was drowned out by the ache in his chest. His heart shattered, a painful sob rising in his throat. Tears streamed relentlessly down his face, splashing against Bril's lifeless body. Rage, pure and unfiltered, surged through him, burning in his veins like wildfire.
"I'll kill that bastard for you," Zoan spat, gritting his teeth so hard his jaw ached. His voice was thick with anguish and fury, every word heavy with a promise. He reached down, yanking the energy sword out of his arm, ignoring the searing pain that shot through him. Blood poured from the wound. With trembling hands, Zoan gripped the sword, his fingers slick with his own blood. His entire body shook with fury, his heart pounding in his chest. "I swear... you will die by my hands!" he shouted, his voice raw and filled with venom, echoing across the land.
A cold, dark laugh rang through the air, sending a chill down Zoan's spine. Lyan dropped from the tree, landing in front of him. His foot hovered ominously over Bril's decapitated head, and with a cruel, unhurried motion, he slammed it down with terrifying force. The sickening crack of bone splitting echoed through the stillness, Bril's skull shattering beneath Lyan's heel.
Lyan stood over him, a twisted grin on his face, his voice dripping with contempt. "You won't ever get the damn chance to kill me," he said, his laughter reverberating through Zoan's bones, mocking him in his grief. The coldness in Lyan's eyes spoke of a man who was untouchable, unbeatable, and Zoan could feel every ounce of his hatred rise up within his gut, to his heart.
"... I have nothing left to lose!" Zoan roared, his voice raw with fury. "But EVERYTHING TO GAIN!"
With a surge of defiance, he brought the blade down, severing what remained of his arm in a brutal motion. He clenched the stump so tightly that the blood stopped flowing, the intense pressure fueled by nothing but pure spite and rage. His eyes flickered, a dark grey aura beginning to radiate from him, like a storm brewing in the depths of his soul. The air around him seemed to pulse with a newfound, dangerous dark energy.
"No matter the damn price..." Zoan's voice trembled with a cold, unwavering determination filled with spite. "I'll pay... NO MATTER THE DAMN PRICE I MUST PAY!"
His words echoed through the air like a vow.