CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 48 - HOLLOWED

"Boy, you’re good, but I’m ending this here," Hugo said, raising both hands into the air.

A flicker of flame sparked to life in his palm, small at first, barely the size of a baseball. Then, with a single breath, the fire swelled, growing into a blazing inferno that radiated heat and fury. Within seconds, it had transformed into a blazing sphere, bright enough to illuminate the eternal darkness of the Zero Zone.

It was like a miniature sun had been born in a place where light had long been forgotten.

"I’m not the smartest guy around," Hugo said with a wild grin, the fire reflecting in his eyes. "But even a reckless idiot like me knows, brute force solves most problems"

He narrowed his eyes.

"No, your little friend didn’t die. That would’ve been inconvenient"

Mikail said nothing. He glanced behind him and saw her, The Woman, the Harbinger of Water, standing firm. She had created a barrier, shielding Moona and the others. They were safe. He had nothing to worry about, at least for now.

"Let’s see how you survive this, O Light," Hugo roared, hurling the massive fireball with all his strength.

The burning sphere tore through the air, howling with heat, casting long, dancing shadows across the Zero Zone as it hurtled toward Mikail like the judgment of a furious god.

Mikail took a deep breath.

Flame of Defiance activates.

Mana surged violently from his core, flaring out like an untamed storm. The ground beneath him cracked from the pressure. Sparks danced along his skin. The residue of that unleashed power flowed into Ignivara his blade, feeding it.

The weapon responded hungrily, its flames intensifying, burning with a heat that rivaled even Hugo’s inferno.

"...This is all I’ve got," Mikail muttered, dropping into his stance.

The titanic fireball rushed toward him, its light painting his face in shades of gold and red. Sweat clung to his brow, but his grip on the sword was steady.

He narrowed his eyes.

"...Radiant Cleave!"

With a roar, he slashed forward. A blinding arc of light and fire burst from his blade, surging to meet the oncoming inferno.

The two forces collided midair, Hugo’s blazing sun and Mikail’s Radiant Cleave.

For a heartbeat, there was silence.

Then-

*BOOM!*

An explosion erupted like a collapsing star, consuming the battlefield in blinding light and roaring flame.

The shockwave tore through the Zero Zone, scattering debris, shredding the already-ruined ground, and sending molten cracks spidering across the dark earth.

The flames raged, a swirling storm of red and gold locked in battle. Radiant Cleave carved a path straight through the core of Hugo’s fireball, splitting it in two with raw willpower and sharpened defiance.

But the cost was heavy.

Mikail’s boots dragged against the ground as he struggled to hold his stance. The force of the impact threatened to knock him flat, but he planted himself deeper, Ignivara trembling in his grip, still glowing from the overload of power.

Steam hissed from his shoulders. His vision blurred. But he was still standing.

Across the scorched field, Hugo’s smile had faded, his brows furrowed in disbelief.

"...You cut through that?" He muttered.

Mikail raised his sword, its flames dimming but not dead. "I told you... this is all I’ve got"

For a second, there was only silence.

Then-

"Pfft- AHAHAHA!" Hugo burst into laughter, loud and unrestrained. He clutched his stomach as if Mikail had just delivered the punchline to the greatest joke he’d ever heard.

"You... you’re the funny one, aren’t you?" He managed between breaths, wiping a tear from his eye.

Mikail clicked his tongue, still holding Ignivara steady. His eyes locked with Hugo’s, sharp and unwavering.

"So? Did I pass your little test?"

Hugo’s grin twitched, faltering for a moment.

"...Huh? You figured that out too?"

"Of course," Mikail said coolly. "Only an idiot wouldn’t"

"All right, that’s enough, Hugo," The Woman said as she approached, her calm voice cutting through the lingering tension. "The sun’s about to rise. Let’s continue this talk in the real world"

"You’re right, Lynn," Hugo replied, stretching his arms. "Let’s get outta here"

He started walking toward Mikail, but before he could get too close, Moona moved faster.

Without saying a word, she slipped under Mikail’s arm and helped him stand, her expression a mix of worry and frustration.

"...Kail, you’re too reckless," Moona said, already starting to scold him as she supported his weight. "That guy looks evil. What if he tried something? What if you got seriously hurt?"

"You’re right," Mikail said with a sigh. "And he’s dumb, too. Not a good combo. You shouldn’t get too close to someone like that"

He glanced at Hugo, then lowered his voice just enough for Moona to hear. "...I know Grandpa sent them, but don’t trust them. Especially that guy"

"Hey-!" Hugo started, frowning.

But Mikail cut him off with a smirk. "What? You’re the one who called yourself an idiot. Why are you mad now?"

He turned away with Moona’s help, limping slightly. "First time I’ve ever seen someone proudly declare, ’I’m an idiot’ What an idiot"

"Pfft- Ahaha~" Lynn let out a laugh, not loud, but smooth and elegant, like silk fluttering in the wind. "That boy is interesting," she said, clearly amused.

She turned to Hugo, who stood frozen in place, blinking in stunned silence.

"Come on, Idiot, what are you doing just standing there?" She teased, her tone playful but with just enough bite to make it sting.

Then, without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked off gracefully, the ends of her coat fluttering behind her.

Hugo remained rooted, watching as the group moved ahead, Mikail limping beside Moona, Melisa carrying the unconscious Ayu on her back, and Lynn, already several steps ahead.

They didn’t look back.

"...*Tch* What a pain," Hugo muttered, scratching the back of his head. He finally started moving, trailing behind the others, grumbling under his breath. "Calling me an idiot... Seriously, what kind of kid is that?"

--------

- Shadow Realm.

Several figures stood gathered in a vast, cold chamber, their silhouettes cloaked in unnatural darkness. They looked human but they were not. Once human, perhaps, but no longer.

They were the Hollowed, humans who had surrendered completely to the Shadow.

There were two kinds of Hollowed.

The first: those who were influenced, warped by whispers, seduced by power, and slowly transformed into shadow vassals.

These were the kind Mikail had faced before, twisted, monstrous remnants of their former selves.

The second type was far more dangerous.

They were the willing. Rare and terrifying, they had consciously given themselves to the Shadow for a reason, vengeance, salvation, knowledge, or despair. These Hollowed retained their will, their power, and far more: they had become darkness.

Among them stood the infamous Ten Children of the Night, ancient Hollowed from across eras, some so old their birth was lost to time.

"...This attempt failed as well," One of them muttered, voice like cracked stone.

"We can’t help it. The Harbinger of Light in this era... he’s different from his predecessors"

"That should be impossible," another snapped, drawing the attention of the eight who sat in silence, their faces hidden in layers of shadow.

"What do you mean?" one asked coldly.

"The Harbinger of Light in this era... was supposed to be dead. So why... why is there another? Two Harbingers at one age? This has never happened before... Right, Leader?"

All eyes turned toward the figure seated at the head of the obsidian table.

He was older than all of them. Ancient, unmoving. Shadow clung to him like a shroud.

"...The universe moves on its own accord," the Leader said at last. His voice was deep, calm, inevitable. "Perhaps this is one of those times. A deviation. A ripple"

"Then what do we do, Leader? We can’t let this new Harbinger gain strength. If we wait too long-"

"We do nothing." The Leader’s tone sharpened. "We’ve already lost too many shadow entities. If this continues, we risk awakening the Will of the Shadow Realm itself. That would be worse than a thousand Harbingers"

He stood.

"For now, cease all operations. Wait for the next Solar Eclipse. The Harbinger is strong... but he rose too late. He will not reach his full potential before the Solar Storm arrives"

He turned to leave, his shadow trailing behind him like a living tide.

"And when that day comes... the real world will be ours"

He vanished into the black.

But the Leader was wrong, fatally so.

Mikail had risen late, yes.

He had little time, yes.

But what none of them, not one knew... was the truth behind his so-called Cheat.

It wasn’t just any Cheat.

It was a glitched one... A bugged, unpredictable system that didn’t follow logic or balance.

The kind of Cheat that should never exist.

The kind the universe itself tries to erase if it’s to be known.

It was the most dangerous type of all.

And it had chosen Mikail.

They thought they had time.

They thought waiting would buy them control.

But in doing so, they had made a single, critical error... They had given him time.

And when the Solar Eclipse arrives...

They will all regret the decision they made here, in the cold heart of the Shadow Realm.

....

...

..

.