76~ False Reality

Cold winds began to blow, and snow started falling over the frozen ground.

Vale stared at Bahaa in shock as the latter sat on a nearby ice-covered rock, his Bloody Eyes glowing.

Bahaa smiled.

"You look surprised."

Vale stared at him in disbelief.

"I thought you were dead."

Bahaa rose from the rock and brushed the snow off his clothes.

"You're too late. Didn't you see through your eyes that I was waiting for you?"

Vale studied him for a few moments before speaking.

"I never expected you to choose this future which you betray me in."

Bahaa's smile disappeared for a moment.

"Betrayal? There was never any loyalty between us so you call it a betrayal."

Vale smiled excitedly.

"You could have lived longer if you hadn't chosen this future... the future in which you die with my hands."

Bahaa raised his eyes toward him.

"And do you think you're capable of killing me?"

Vale shouted,

"I can change the future! No one can stand against me!"

Bahaa smiled confidently once more.

"The future is nothing more than a present that hasn't happened yet... a present that I can control."

A transparent aura of void energy began forming around Vale's body, and his expression changed.

"I never imagined you'd fight for those fools we once hated together."

Bahaa narrowed his eyes.

"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not fighting for anyone. And there's nothing left between us."

His smile vanished, and his gaze grew sharper.

"And if you've forgotten what happened that day... I never will."

Vale furrowed his brows.

"What do you mean by..."

"Our conversation is over."

Energy erupted around Bahaa, and his purple aura spread through the surrounding area as dark portals opened around him.

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He fixed his gaze on Vale.

"Let's end this."

A dark beam shot from one of the portals toward Vale, but it couldn't penetrate the void aura surrounding him.

Vale moved in the next instant, covering his fist with void energy before striking toward Bahaa's head.

Bahaa opened a portal directly in front of his face.

Vale's fist passed through it and emerged from another portal beside his own body, nearly striking him.

Vale had foreseen this move, but that didn't stop Bahaa from taking advantage of the opening. He delivered a kick to Vale's stomach, sending him flying backward.

Vale regained his balance and landed on the ice, a faint smile on his face.

He had noticed the darkness spreading beneath his feet and the black arms beginning to form around his legs, attempting to restrain his movements.

But they didn't last long.

Void energy spread from his body, shattering the dark arms before they could hold him in place.

Vale raised his hand and fired small void bullets from his fingers.

Bahaa dodged most of them, but one pierced his foot.

The wound wasn't serious, but the pain slowed him enough for Vale to appear behind him in the next instant.

Bahaa turned, only to find his opponent's fist rushing toward him.

He concentrated darkness around his body, expecting the void to affect only his physical form.

But Vale had already anticipated that move.

His punch wasn't aimed at Bahaa's body. It was aimed at his energy.

The void destroyed the dark energy, and the punch struck Bahaa directly in the face, sending him hurtling toward the mountain.

Dust rose from the point of impact.

Moments later, Bahaa emerged from the scattered rocks. His purple aura surrounded him, while Black Power Pulse surged across his body. He was still smiling.

Vale watched him silently.

He already knows about my ability...

Then he narrowed his eyes.

But he never explained his true ability to me. He only hinted at it... and judging by the glow in his eyes, it seems he's already using it.

Before Vale could continue thinking, a dark portal opened behind him.

He turned and saw Bahaa emerging from it.

Without hesitation, Vale launched a sphere of void energy at him.

The sphere engulfed Bahaa's body, tearing half of it apart before disappearing.

But Vale had no time to feel reassured by the result.

That was merely a clone Bahaa had created from his own energy.

While Vale was distracted by the clone, Bahaa appeared behind him, forming a dark blade in his hand as he lunged toward his opponent's back.

But the blade shattered before it could reach him.

At the same moment, an unexpected strike hit Bahaa's arm, knocking him backward as shock spread across his face.

Vale turned and delivered a powerful kick to his chest.

The ice beneath Bahaa shattered, and he fell into the frozen river.

Vale stood at the edge and looked down.

"I told you I can see everything."

But a blue flash caught his attention from behind.

He turned and saw a blue lightning bolt approaching at tremendous speed.

He smiled mockingly.

"Still eager to taste despair, little brother?"

Wail appeared in his Elemental Transformation and lunged at Vale with a lightning-charged fist.

Vale effortlessly dodged the attack, then raised his knee and struck Wail in the stomach.

Wail coughed up blood but tried to grab his opponent, intending to send a powerful electrical current through his body.

However, Vale seized his hand first.

Wail's fingers broke beneath his grip, and Vale followed with another punch to his stomach.

Wail's Elemental Transformation faded, leaving him unable to resist. Vale grabbed him by the neck and lifted him off the ground.

At that moment, Bahaa charged toward them.

A sphere of void energy formed in his path, forcing him to jump to avoid it.

"Fool..."

A second sphere appeared directly above Bahaa.

Void energy pierced his arm and spread into his chest, tearing through both. His transformation vanished, and he fell to the ground, unable to move.

Vale glanced at him before turning back to Wail.

"All of this was pointless. Neither you nor your friends can stop me."

He hurled Wail away with a brutal punch.

Wail struck the ground and struggled to his feet. But instead of charging at Vale again, he remained standing where he was, his face devoid of expression.

Then Vale turned toward Bahaa's body, lying on the ground, and mocked him.

"Did you really think you could defeat me?"

He raised a finger toward his Bloody Eyes.

"Your ability is useless against me ! I know what you're planning before you ..."

Wail's voice came from behind him, interrupting his words.

"You said my ability had no effect on you..."

Vale froze.

It wasn't just the words that made him suspicious. It was the voice itself.

The voice continued,

"Then... why do you see me as Wail?"

In the blink of an eye, the scene before him changed.

The person standing in front of him was no longer Wail.

It was Bahaa, standing with a confident smile, his eyes glowing once more.

Vale was stunned. He quickly turned toward the spot where Bahaa had fallen, but all he found was dark energy fading into the air.

"What? Where's Wail?!"

Bahaa looked at him and laughed.

"Relax, relax! You're far too imposing to look this panicked."

Vale was completely bewildered. He had no idea what had happened and continued searching for his brother with his eyes.

Bahaa explained,

"Wail is still where you defeated him and left him. But he'll be coming soon. I'm sure of it."

---

Wail lay on the ground, staring blankly into space.

He wasn't thinking about anything. His eyes remained fixed on the sky, empty of everything except despair and confusion.

Then he sensed a familiar energy.

His eyes slowly shifted.

That energy...

---

Bahaa turned his attention back to Vale, pointed at himself, and flashed a broad smile.

"Come on! Make my return look even more cooler after all this time away!"

Vale bit his lip for a moment before forcing a tense smile onto his face.

"You really did surprise me, Bahaa."

Bahaa spread his arms and remained where he stood, brimming with confidence.

"We can continue whenever you're ready."

Vale's smile faded slightly as void energy began gathering around his arms.

"Don't underestimate me!"

He charged toward Bahaa, who remained perfectly still, watching him with a confident smile.