In the midst of profound silence, a gentle breeze wove through the air, carrying with it an unfamiliar and ominous scent that hinted at encroaching danger. From the concealed shadows of the surroundings, a figure stepped forward—Oda Nobuzan.
He stood tall and imposing, his expression calm and confident, though an unsettling dark aura lingered around him, a remnant of the chaos from the earlier battle. Without the slightest hesitation, he swung his dimly glowing sword, the blade shimmering with a spectral light, as if ready to confront Fitran with an unyielding determination.
"Fitran Fate..." His voice cut through the tension, cold yet sharp, "You are indeed remarkable. But I cannot allow you to roam freely. You have defeated Charles, and that... piques my curiosity."
Fitran locked his piercing gaze on Oda, his eyes seeming to penetrate the very core of his being. "Curiosity?" he let out a quiet laugh that echoed ominously. "You came here just to prove something, Oda Nobuzan? To face someone who has killed an executor with his own hands? How bold of you."
Oda merely smiled, a smile rich with challenge and defiance, as if daring Fitran not only with his sword but with the full weight of his presence. "I am one of the Ten Most Powerful Sorcerers in the world. I didn't come to talk. I came to test the extent of your power. If you can defeat me, I will acknowledge your existence. However, if I win..." he tightened his grip on his sword, the muscles in his arm coiling like steel, "you will become mine."
Fitran's smile vanished, and a predatory intensity filled his gaze, transforming him into a hunter poised to strike. "You… want to test this power?" he asked, extending his right palm. A mesmerizing spiral of Void Manipulation coalesced at his fingertips, swirling with shimmering black energy that hinted at the imminent danger he posed.
In response, Oda deftly wielded his sword, employing the Flash Strike technique. It left a series of dazzling flashes flickering in the air, as if time itself had paused in awe of his unparalleled skill. "Of course," he asserted, his voice steady. "I seek to discover whether anyone can surpass the true power of this world—and whether you truly deserve to retain your life."
Suddenly, with explosive speed, Oda lunged forward, his sword gleaming brilliantly as it sliced through the air, aiming directly for Fitran's form. This assault melded the might of Physical Enhancement with the velocity of Magical Acceleration, delivering a strike that merged sheer force and breathtaking swiftness.
Yet, just before the blade could connect with flesh, Fitran's body dissolved into a fine mist, leaving behind only the ghostly outline of his silhouette. Oda's eyes widened in shock, and his fierce strike found nothing but the emptiness of air.
"Too slow." Fitran's voice reverberated eerily from all directions, a haunting whisper that betrayed his unexpected presence.
In an instant, Fitran reappeared, his hand lifted with an air of authority as he conjured a massive energy form known as the Eclipse Sphere. From his palm, the void materialized into a swirling orb that evoked the celestial beauty of an eclipse, radiating an ominous dark light that devoured the surrounding illumination. This spectral creation enveloped the battlefield in a chilling aura, a shroud of shadows that seemed to whisper of impending doom.
"Are you still sure you want to continue this, Oda?" Fitran asked, his voice calm yet imbued with a subtle menace, hanging in the air like a storm cloud. It reflected his unpredictable mindset and the underlying strategy that made him a formidable adversary.
Though taken aback, Oda did not falter. He steadied himself, a surge of realization overcoming him—Fitran wielded more than just physical power; there was an ancient force behind his magic, something unfathomable that transcended mere spells. With newfound resolve, Oda swiftly spun his sword, channeling energy from deep within. In response, he summoned a shield field known as the Energy Shield, which blossomed around him like a glowing mist, shimmering with vibrant hues. This ethereal field enveloped his body, creating a protective barrier that deflected the dark, menacing void attacks aimed at him. The Energy Shield not only offered resistance against direct assaults, but also mitigated the corrosive effects of Fitran's dark magic. Oda could feel the powerful vibrations coursing through the barrier as it clashed against the void.
"If I give up now, I will lose everything, Fitran!" Oda declared, his eyes gleaming with an unyielding determination that ignited the air around him.
Fitran smiled faintly, a glimmer of intrigue lighting his eyes. "Then show me, Oda Nobuzan. I want to see how strong you really are." The challenge hung between them, electrifying the air, and with that, the duel commenced.
The two warriors engaged in a remarkably elegant battle, their movements flowing seamlessly as if they were performing an intricate dance on a battlefield steeped in magic and danger. Each attack and step was calculated, a testament to their mastery over both technique and strategy. Oda, with fierce determination etched upon his face, delivered each strike with precision. As he launched his assault, he conjured a magical strike known as Fire Attack. A formidable fireball erupted from his palm, hurtling through the air with an incandescent brilliance, leaving a striking trail of flames in its wake. The intense heat radiated outward, capable of incinerating anything that dared to cross its path. This confrontation was not simply a display of brute strength; it embodied a fierce clash of courage and unwavering resolve.
From a distance, Rinoa sensed the palpable tension in the air, each heartbeat echoing with the weight of the impending confrontation. She understood that this battle transcended the conventional notions of victory or defeat. It was a profound test for Fitran—a trial that could alter the very fabric of their destinies.
Oda Nobuzan stood tall and resolute, his eyes ablaze with fervor that mirrored the flames he commanded. With a swift and powerful movement, he lifted his sword high above his head, summoning the inferno from deep within his core. Dark clouds coiled around his form, swirling ominously as they formed an enormous circle of flames, reminiscent of a volcano on the brink of eruption.
"Kagutsuchi no Enjou!" he bellowed, his voice resonating like thunder, vibrating the very earth beneath their feet. Flames surged forth in colossal waves, majestic and terrible, sweeping outward in all directions, filling the air with a searing blaze that felt as if it could scorch reality itself. Named after the ancient fire god Kagutsuchi, this formidable incantation symbolized the overwhelming force he was prepared to unleash.
This potent magic consisted of three crucial components: the spell's name, the visualization, and its devastating effect. Kagutsuchi no Enjou embodied cataclysmic waves of fire, erupting with unparalleled destructive force. In his mind's eye, the flames shimmered brilliantly, appearing to annihilate the surrounding landscape with an explosion of dazzling reds and oranges. Its effects were extraordinarily destructive, capable of turning everything to ash in an instant, and generating heat waves fierce enough to melt stone into molten pools.
Oda Nobuzan was not merely launching an attack; he was channeling the entirety of his fiery essence—every ounce of power he possessed—into a monumental strike that threatened to annihilate everything in its path. The flames were not just scorching; each flickering blaze resonated with a haunting melody of impending doom.
Yet, amidst this inferno, Fitran remained eerily composed. His gaze remained fixed on Oda, radiating an unsettling calmness. He stood his ground, allowing the searing heat to encroach upon him, seemingly unperturbed by the catastrophic fire racing toward him. Though surrounded by the raging flames, his expression was inscrutable, exuding an aura of confidence and serenity that belied the chaos encircling them.
Then, with a fluid motion, Fitran raised his right palm into the air, a gesture that seemed to defy the very laws of nature. Amidst the roaring inferno, the chaotic atmosphere abruptly froze, as if the world around him was struck by an unseen force. Time itself appeared to stand still, each heartbeat echoing like a distant drum. The wild tongues of flame that had been surging toward him suddenly began to spiral inward, irresistibly drawn into the expansive void crafted by his outstretched hand; this awe-inspiring phenomenon was known as Everlasting Void. In the blink of an eye, the fiery onslaught unleashed by Oda was consumed by this void, leaving behind an eerie stillness, devoid of any trace of heat. The flames that once raged with furious intensity were extinguished in an instant, swallowed by a chasm of emptiness greater than anything that existed in this world. Fitran's mastery of this magic showcased his calm yet dominating power, highlighting his unparalleled ability to wield chaos with an unyielding presence.
"Ex Nihilo Obscurum," Fitran intoned in a voice that was both tranquil and forceful, each syllable resonating with an enigmatic authority. This incantation, delivered in an ancient and unknown language, articulated the notion of a void that consumes all, reminding all who heard it that everything in existence could be obliterated by the sheer force of absolute emptiness. With each word uttered, an enchanting aura of serenity and strength radiated from his being, painting a vivid picture in Oda's mind of how the vastness of the void could humble the fiery arrogance that had moments ago been so overwhelming.
Oda stood frozen in disbelief, his eyes widening as he watched in horror as his tremendous attack evaporated into thin air, leaving no trace behind. In the presence of Fitran, the searing power of fire, which was meant to scorch the very fabric of the world, transformed into nothing more than a gentle, futile breeze. Speechless and awestruck, Oda grappled with a stark realization: for the first time, he felt the crushing weight of a force far greater than the magic he wielded.
Fitran regarded Oda with a faint smile, his sharp, piercing eyes glinting like polished obsidian. "Fire, like all other powers, requires fuel to ignite and burn. And you... have just offered me far more than enough."
Oda tightened his grip on his sword, his eyes now ablaze with a mix of fury and astonishment. "You... defeated my magic with nothingness? What kind of sorcery is this, a gift from another world?"
Fitran shook his head, dismissing Oda's inquiry with an air of nonchalance. "Not from another world, but rather a profound understanding of the essence that resides within it."
He stepped forward confidently, his calm demeanor seemingly unaffected by the looming threat he'd provoked. "But enough. I've already issued a clear warning."
Oda Nobuzan drew in a deep breath, and in an instant, the very atmosphere around him crackled with tension. His gaze sharpened, filled with an indescribable intensity as if he had fused with the fire itself. With fluid precision, he lifted his sword high, its blade radiating a brilliant scarlet glow, as he began to conjure a blazing circle of flames that danced in the sky, a breathtaking testament to the overwhelming power of his magic.
"Kagutsuchi no Inen!" he shouted, his voice resonating with a fierce energy that sliced through the chaos, echoing like a battle cry against the heavy air. This magic, known as "Devout Fire," transcended mere flames; it was a cataclysmic force. Kagutsuchi no Inen embodied one of the most devastatingly powerful fire arts that Oda Nobuzan wielded. In a breathtaking display, brilliant crimson light coalesced into a massive vortex of flames that swirled around him, making him the epicenter of an inferno of his own creation. This fire was far more than just searing heat; it thrummed with an otherworldly energy capable of unraveling the very fabric of space and time itself. With deft and precise movements, Oda commanded his magical force, directing the flames with the finesse of a maestro leading an orchestra. The inferno consumed not only physical matter but also reached into the very essence of reality, transforming entire planes of existence into a relentless blaze that sought to obliterate anything within its grasp. Every ember that flickered off resembled fleeting fragments of a human soul, shimmering in the oppressive waves of heat, symbolizing both the raw power and palpable fear contained within. Soon, Kagutsuchi no Inen expanded outward, weaving infinite chains of fire that snaked through the air, encircling Fitran with an insatiable hunger. Layers of fire shrank rapidly, closing in on him with breathtaking swiftness, a furious tempest of flames that targeted not just Fitran's physical form but also lunged for the very essence of his soul, aiming to scorch the core of his being with unfathomable strength. This fire, birthed from the crucible of Oda's mastery over the arcane, was a blazing manifestation of ambition and unwavering resolve—symbolizing his indomitable spirit in the face of insurmountable challenges.
Fitran stood motionless amidst the chaos, his eyes exuding a serene calmness despite the extraordinary battle of flames that erupted all around him. The searing heat danced dangerously close, brushing against his skin like a thousand fiery hands, yet he remained unwavering, an immovable sentinel in a tempest of destruction. He understood that within every chaotic attack, there lay a pattern waiting to be deciphered, a rhythm beyond mere violence.
"Fire, like you, Oda, merely reflects desires and fears," Fitran remarked, his voice low yet confident, infused with a weight that suggested he spoke of more than mere magic; he spoke of the very nature of existence itself.
With deliberate and graceful movements, Fitran raised both hands, each gesture imbued with purpose as he prepared his spell. His right hand stretched forward, summoning a power unfathomably deep—an enigmatic force that eclipsed anything known in this realm. In his mind's eye, a vivid image took form: a dark essence flowing from within, boundless as long as his intentions remained untainted by malice.
Ex Nihilo Obscurum, he whispered, his voice calm as the eye of a storm. Instantly, a dark circle blossomed around him, a mesmerizing visualization that seemed to devour all light in the immediate vicinity. Its intention was not merely to extinguish the flames but to conjure an emptiness that hungrily consumed all the magic unleashed by Oda, as if it were being swallowed by an insatiable storm of darkness.
Oda was left speechless, his eyes widening in disbelief as he beheld his once-mighty magic—capable of razing cities to the ground—vanish without a trace, inexorably drawn into a void overshadowing his understanding. Fitran's power was not just a display of dominance; it instilled a profound and paralyzing fear of the unknown.
"This... is impossible," Oda murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, as he grappled with the surreal spectacle unfolding before him. Astonishment washed over him like a cold wave; never had he faced such utter defeat, especially not from one like Fitran. No longer a mere sorcerer in his eyes, Fitran seemed to embody the very essence of the void itself—an endless abyss of power that hummed with a dark, mesmerizing energy.
Fitran fixed him with an unblinking, expressionless gaze, a testament to his seasoned familiarity with the chaos that surrounded them. "Fire of the Burn," he declared, gesturing grandly as crimson flames flickered to life, crackling and dancing with an otherworldly beauty. "These flames—vibrant yet dangerous—pose no threat to me, for I wield the control to tame them. But heed my warning, Oda: should you persist in obstructing my path, the onslaught of this heat ray will be devastating. It has the capability to obliterate everything in its wake, leaving nothing but scorched remnants and severe burns. And in that moment, I will show no mercy."