[A/N: Please check out the Author’s note at the end of the chapter. Thank you :)]
The scythe’s blade pierced clean through the summoner’s skull, carving through it with force.
Its body spasmed as its abyssal black eyes turned to Malakai, only to find him staring back with deadened eyes.
There was no remorse. No hesitation. Only pure, unfiltered hatred, so raw and potent it made even the creature’s heart tremble.
Then, the light in its eyes faded, and it slumped to the ground.
The summoner was dead.
Malakai yanked the scythe from its head, letting the corpse collapse fully.
“Two seconds left,” he muttered under his breath. “I have to get to him before it wears off.”
This was his last chance. He had already reached his limit with the Devil’s Fruit. Once the effect wore off, Malakai doubted he’d even be able to stand, much less run. Any more use after that would most likely mean death.
He had to kill Zeronis. Now.
He spun, his legs coiling with tension, ready to lunge forward, but…
Squelch.
Malakai’s eyes widened.
Drip. Drip.
He looked down.
A gleaming blade had pierced through his chest. Crimson blood poured from the wound, splattering the floor.
His trembling hand touched the blade, his mind struggling to process it. Then…
“Don’t move,” a cold voice said.
Malakai turned his head up, slowly.
Zeronis Von Sanguine stood in front of him, his face filled with crimson veins, expression impassive.
The dust still swirled in the air from his approach.
‘He moved before I killed it.’ Malakai realized.
Zeronis had moved before Malakai killed the Grade Two summoner, and Malakai hadn’t seen him coming because he had been so focused on the creature.
“It’s futile,” Zeronis said coldly. “I pierced your heart.”
Malakai’s eyes widened. The words hit him like a wave. His body trembled violently as Zeronis twisted the blade.
Blood erupted from his mouth, splattering on the floor.
The effect of the Devil’s Fruit vanished, and with it, all his strength. His body collapsed from within. He couldn’t move. Even breathing was hard.
One thought thundered in his mind:
‘I… failed.’
Nothing else came to his mind. No plan. Nothing left.
He had lost.
‘I’m sorry… Mom. Dad…’
A single tear slipped from his eye.
Zeronis blinked.
“Hm? Tears? From a Sanguine?”
His voice was laced with scorn.
“Pathetic.”
He wrenched the sword free. Blood burst from Malakai’s chest in a wave, soaking the floor.
Malakai staggered back two steps, clutching the wound. Soon enough, his legs gave out and he fell to his knees.
Zeronis watched in silence, but there was no remorse on his face, only an unmoved expression.
Then Malakai lifted his head.
Their eyes met.
And somehow, although no words were spoken between them, in that cold, dying stare, his message was loud: I will come for you.
Zeronis scoffed. “Pointless bravado.”
He flicked the blood from his sword and turned.
Malakai collapsed face-first. His body twitched. Rose. Fell. Becoming slower and slower, until it finally stopped.
A pool of blood spread beneath him.
Seeing this, Zeronis calmly sheathed his blade and walked away without looking back. His expression, even as he watched Malakai’s breathing stop, remained unmoved.
Zeronis’ calm gaze swept across the hall.
“Looks like I’m the only survivor,” he muttered.
The Grade One darkness creatures had vanished the moment the summoner died. And now, Malakai, the last descendant, had fallen.
He was the only one left.
‘I’ll check him later… First, let’s deal with this.’
His curiosity about Malakai had only grown, even after his death. The boy’s weapons were strange, and his clothing foreign.
Zeronis had watched him since they came out from the containment chamber, watching his fights. And he had been shocked.
Malakai hadn’t used a single ability, yet he’d dealt with Gruden, one of the Sanguine Clan’s rising geniuses.
He had relied on technology, unpredictable and alien technology that Zeronis hadn’t seen before. That alone made him dangerous.
That was why Zeronis killed him immediately, despite his interest.
‘I’ll go through his things soon. First…’
“Well?” he suddenly called aloud, his voice echoing across the silent hall.
He waited.
But nothing came. No answer. No light. No voice.
Only silence.
“I’m the only survivor,” Zeronis said, frowning. “I passed the round. I won the trials.”
Regardless, there was still no response.
Zeronis’ eyes narrowed.
‘Did I miss something?’
His mind churned.
‘No… I did what the voice instructed. I killed the others. So why…’
A strange feeling appeared in his heart. Unease. Doubt.
Then, a thought slipped into his mind like a whisper, and he turned sharply toward where Malakai had fallen.
Gone.
His eyes blew wide.
‘Where did he go?!’
He spun to the side, instantly spotting him.
Malakai sprinted toward him at fast speed, but Zeronis couldn’t be bothered about that right now.
Multiple objects flew through the air toward him.
And as Zeronis’ eyes locked onto them, they widened further.
‘That explosive…’
He had seen Malakai use it against Gruden. He had seen the devastating damage it could cause. Only one at close range had been able to reduce Gruden to that state.
However, this wasn’t one.
Not two.
But three.
Three compact explosives whirled toward him, mid-air, looking harmless as though they could never hurt a fly.
A shot of vita energy struck one…
BOOM.
A chain reaction.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
An explosion ripped through the hall, violent and all-consuming. Heat and smoke surged outward like a living beast, swallowing all in its path.
From within the haze, a figure burst forth, arms crossed, sword braced in front of him.
Smoke curled off his charred arm, pain radiating from the burn.
But Zeronis’ crimson gaze was cold, unblinking, locked onto the mist with the eyes of a predator.
‘It’s a distraction. He’ll come now.’
He had seen this before. Malakai used the same tactic against Gruden. He wanted to catch him off guard…
However, he was ready.
Crimson veins throbbed along his skin as he summoned power, gripping his sword tighter.
Then…
Hum.
He heard it.
Hum. Hum.
Three shots of concentrated vita energy burst from the smoke, hurtling directly towards him.
His stance shifted instantly. His blade moved in a precise arc, cleaving through all three in one swift slash.
His eyes sharpened.
From the smoke, Malakai burst out.
His scythe swept toward Zeronis’ head in a wide arc, using just his right hand.
Zeronis scoffed. “Predictable.”
His sword descended, aiming to intercept.
But then…
Malakai’s left hand, that had been behind him, came into view.
It held a gun.
Zeronis’ gaze snapped to it, but it was too late.
Malakai fired.
Bang. Bang.
Two rapid shots.
Both struck Zeronis’ sword, jolting it out of line just enough to miss the scythe.
Zeronis’ eyes exploded wide.