The battle raged on, but Kael's focus remained solely on Kurojin. His body, now fully attuned to the Last Will, surged with power as he teleported again, reappearing before Kurojin in a flash of void energy. He swung his fist, crackling with destructive force, only to have it deflected by a wave of Kurojin's corrupted aura.
But the moment Kael landed, a figure rushed past him—Zhen Kairo, the mentor and warrior of great renown. Zhen had been on the sidelines for the majority of the fight, holding his own against the elite beasts, but now, seeing Kael struggle, he decided to step into the fray.
"Kael, don't let the power consume you!" Zhen's voice was gruff, but filled with authority. He charged forward, intercepting Kurojin's next attack with a burst of golden light and Will energy.
Zhen Kairo's Will had always been a unique mix of strength and precision, a balance of power that few could master. But in the face of Kurojin's monstrous corruption, even Zhen's abilities were stretched thin.
"You should have stayed out of my way," Kurojin sneered, his hand turning into a jagged blade of energy as he swiped at Zhen.
Zhen blocked, but the force of the blow sent him sliding back. Still, he didn't relent.
"I won't let you destroy any more of this world," Zhen said, his voice unwavering. He gritted his teeth and stood tall. "I will protect Kael. I will protect all of you."
Kurojin's expression twisted with malice. With a single motion, he formed a spear of black energy and thrust it directly at Zhen's chest.
"No!" Kael shouted, his heart sinking as he watched Zhen move into the spear's path, his body taking the full brunt of the attack.
The Wielder of Golden Light staggered back, his body impaled by the dark energy, but he didn't fall.
Zhen collapsed to his knees, the color draining from his face, yet his gaze remained locked on Kael.
"Kael..." Zhen managed to say, blood dribbling from his mouth. "You... better end this war."
Kael's eyes went wide with horror, but there was a quiet fire that burned deep in his chest—a rage mixed with sorrow.
Zhen's hand trembled as he reached out, gripping Kael's shoulder weakly. "You... are the only one who can."
Kael swallowed hard, the weight of Zhen's words crashing down on him. Zhen had given everything to protect him, to give Kael the chance to save the world.
"I will," Kael whispered, his voice breaking.
But before Zhen could respond, his head slumped forward, and the light in his eyes faded. Zhen Kairo, one of the most respected Wielders, had given his life so that Kael could finish what had started.
"No..." Kael choked out, stepping back, his heart full of rage and grief. His fists clenched tighter as his Will surged violently.
Kurojin watched, his eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. "Such a waste. It won't change anything, Kael. You can't stop me. The world is mine to reshape."
But Kael was no longer listening. His grief hardened into determination. He reached down, fingers brushing the bloodied earth where Zhen Kairo had fallen.
The darkness that surrounded Kael flickered and shifted, a storm of destructive energy swirling around him. The Last Will surged in full force, and the air itself seemed to bend around Kael's growing power.
"I'll end it," Kael whispered, standing tall. His voice rang out like a vow. "I will make sure Zhen didn't die in vain."
The void energy around him crackled like lightning, and his eyes burned with dark flames.
"I will bring this war to an end."
Kurojin, for the first time, seemed to sense the weight of Kael's resolve. He straightened, his expression one of mock curiosity.
"Then try, Kael. Try to stop me."
Kael's body shifted, and in a blink, he was on Kurojin again—faster than ever, more powerful than ever. He was no longer just the boy who had inherited the Last Will. He was a force—a force determined to destroy the man who had ruined everything.
And this time, Kael wasn't holding back.