77~ The Final Battle Begins

"That energy..."

Wail's voice echoed in his mind as he lay on the ground, despair still written across his face.

He slowly turned his head toward the source of the energy.

Someone approached him, then spoke in an irritated tone.

"Why do I always find you in this . miserable state , you idiot!"

Wail slowly raised his gaze, recognizing the person standing before him.

It was Amin.

---

On the frozen ground, Vale charged toward Bahaa, throwing a punch covered in void energy straight at his face.

Bahaa formed a barrier of darkness in front of himself, blocking the attack.

Vale's eyes glowed as he saw what would happen next: darkness would wrap around his body and restrain his movements.

He jumped backward before it could close in, evading the attack exactly as he had foreseen.

But that wasn't all he saw.

In the future he had glimpsed, a portal appeared beside him, and Bahaa emerged from it, unleashing an explosive burst of energy.

Vale condensed the void around his body, blocking the explosion. Then, taking advantage of his opponent's proximity, he delivered a powerful kick that sent Bahaa flying away.

Vale charged again, raising his fist for another strike.

His eyes glowed for the third time.

But this time, Vale suddenly stopped.

Blood streamed from his eyes, and his body bent forward slightly under the intensity of the pain.

Before he could regain his balance, a dark beam shot toward him, engulfing his entire body before hurling him toward the distant mountain. Vale crashed into it, and a large section of the mountain crumbled beneath the impact.

Bahaa watched the scene, narrowing his eyes.

"He has overused his eyes."

He began walking slowly toward the mountain, but something suddenly made him stop.

He raised both arms and formed a barrier of darkness in front of himself.

However, the attack he had sensed arrived before the barrier could fully form.

It pierced through his defense and tore both his arms apart.

Bahaa didn't hesitate. He opened a dark portal in front of himself and disappeared into it before the attack could reach him.

For the author's published version, look to www.; this page copied the chapter without permission, while reading there supports the author.

He emerged elsewhere on the frozen plain, far from the point of impact.

But a familiar voice came from behind him.

"I can see your movements."

Bahaa froze.

Vale was standing directly in front of him, wearing a confident smile.

"You've lost your arms. You can't..."

His words suddenly stopped.

Bahaa was completely unharmed, with both arms intact despite the attack that had torn them apart moments earlier.

Bahaa's eyes glowed as he replied mockingly,

"Lost my arms? Are you already losing your mind?"

He gave Vale no chance to respond.

Darkness spread around the lower half of his body, then closed in and tore him apart completely.

Vale fell to the ground.

Bahaa continued watching him without approaching any closer. Then he extended his hand, and darkness condensed around what remained of his opponent's body.

But before he could finish him off, the darkness vanished.

Vale had returned, completely unharmed.

His Bloody Eyes glowed, with blood still streaming from them. He wiped it away with the back of his hand, then smiled.

"Seems you failed to kill me in another future..."

Bahaa looked momentarily surprised, but Vale gave him no time to comment.

"I'm beginning to understand the nature of your ability."

---

Earlier, before all of this happened...

Vale had asked Bahaa about his ability.

The latter had answered with a faint smile.

"It messes with your perception a little. It's nothing I rely on."

---

In the present...

Vale turned his attention back to Bahaa.

"You're manipulating reality, aren't you?"

Bahaa maintained his faint smile before replying,

"Something like that."

Vale laughed dismissively.

"Whatever your ability is, it's nothing compared to my control over the fut..."

His voice suddenly cut off.

He dropped to one knee, terror spreading across his face.

W... What happened?!

In the next instant, Bahaa leaned toward him until their faces were close, his smile never fading.

"Seems I severed your foot in another future."

Fury ignited in Vale's eyes. He tried to unleash void energy toward Bahaa, but the latter struck first with a powerful punch to his face, sending him flying.

Vale came to a stop after traveling a considerable distance. He then formed a temporary foot out of his energy, restoring his ability to stand.

Bahaa appeared in front of him, stopping a short distance away.

His eyes were still glowing.

Damn it... I can't figure out what his eyes are doing.

Vale looked at him irritably.

"How long have you had your ability activated?"

Bahaa smiled mockingly.

"Do you mean... how long have I not been using it?"

Vale bit his lip, then forced an irritated smile.

"So this fight has become nothing more than a battle between Bloody Eyes!"

His tone grew serious.

"You've been using them for quite some time. Whatever their ability may be, you can't keep this up for much longer, can you?"

A drop of blood trickled from one of Bahaa's eyes.

He wiped it away with his finger, then sighed.

"Ah... We should end this."

In the next instant, two enormous pillars of void energy formed in the air before descending toward Bahaa.

He jumped away at the last moment, firing several dark spikes toward Vale as he retreated.

Vale shattered the spikes with void energy, then raised his hand and unleashed a barrage of bullets aimed at Bahaa's head.

The attacks were fast and precise, but Bahaa managed to dodge most of them. Nevertheless, several bullets pierced his arm and shoulder.

Bahaa wanted to conceal Vale's senseswith his darkness.

But Vale's Bloody Eyes glowed once more.

He felt his senses begin to disappear.

Even so, a blade of void energy extended through the air, slicing toward Bahaa's shoulder.

Bahaa opened a dark portal in the blade's path, and another portal appeared directly behind Vale.

The blade emerged from the second portal and pierced Vale's neck.

Vale coughed up blood as Bahaa stared at him, waiting to see the result.

Bahaa blinked.

In the next instant, Vale was standing in front of him again, his neck completely unharmed.

However, a deep wound stretched across his side, and blood seeped from it.

This time, Vale showed neither surprise nor confusion. He simply stared directly into Bahaa's eyes with confidence.

Suddenly, the glow in Bahaa's eyes disappeared, and his smile briefly faded.

Did he figure it out? No... he didn't. But he's starting to get used to it, even though I didn't use my ability this time.

Vale thought :

"I couldn't find a future in which he didn't hurt me but..."

Then he smiled mockingly.

"What happened to your confidence?"

Bahaa's smile returned, but he didn't look at Vale. Instead, he raised his head slightly, as though waiting for someone else.

"I think I've bought enough time..."

Vale raised his head as well.

Above them, a red light and a blue light began to glow before descending toward the battlefield.

They struck the ground, shattering the ice beneath them and sending dust into the air, obscuring everything from view.

A few moments later, two figures emerged from the dust.

Amin, surrounded by flames in his Elemental Transformation, and Wail too.

Vale smiled as he looked at his younger brother.

"So you really came this time, little brother."

Wail furrowed his brows.

"What do you mean?"

Vale didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned his attention toward Bahaa.

"Your eyes aren't glowing this time... It seems you're not using your ability."

Bahaa didn't respond.

In the next instant, Vale raised his arm and blocked a tremendous punch coming toward him. The ground shattered beneath his feet, and the surrounding ice melted from the energy of the strike.

Vale held his arm against the attack, then looked at Amin.

"Do you finally want to take revenge on me? Even after losing your sight?"

Amin's closed eyes bore two distinct scars, while flames surrounded his body.

Nevertheless, an excited smile appeared on his face.

"I don't care what happens, as long as I get to enjoy a good fight!"

Before Vale could continue speaking, a dark portal opened beside him.

Wail emerged from it, electricity condensed around his body, and charged straight toward Vale's head.