Dyren stepped toward him, wings flaring.
"You are WEAK," he hissed.
"You are soft. You hesitate. You cry. She needs someone like me—"
Constant's fist slammed into Dyren's jaw so fast Dyren didn't even see it coming.
Dyren skidded back across the dirt, stunned.
Constant's voice shook with fury.
"You took advantage of her confusion."
Dyren bared his teeth.
"And YOU fill her with doubt."
Constant advanced.
"You whisper lies."
Dyren spat blood.
"YOU make her vulnerable."
Constant grabbed Dyren by the throat and slammed him into a broken wall.
"She ran because she was scared of herself.
Not because of me.
Not because of you.
Because she has no one who tells her she can be good."
Dyren clawed at his grip.
"You think you can SAVE her?"
Constant's eyes glowed blue fire.
"I think I can reach her."
Dyren roared and slashed Constant's arm — but Constant didn't react.
He punched Dyren again.
And again.
And again.
Dyren fell to the ground, coughing blood, struggling to rise.
Constant stood above him, sword appearing in his hand, tip pointed at Dyren's heart.
"You don't deserve her," Constant said through clenched teeth.
"You never have."
Dyren glared defiantly.
"Then kill me."
Constant's sword shook.
For a moment, he considered it.
Spider Boy watched, eyes huge.
But Constant lowered the blade.
"Blood Reaper wouldn't want this," he whispered.
"And I'm not you."
Dyren shouted, voice breaking:
"COME BACK AND FINISH IT, COWARD!"
Constant didn't look back.
He walked away.
Dyren fell to his knees, shaking, humiliated, furious — and scared for her in a way he'd never admit.
Blood Reaper opened her eyes.
Pitch black.
No sound.
No warmth.
No exit.
Just endless darkness swallowing her whole.
She whispered:
"…Hello?"
Her voice echoed…
And something whispered back.
"You cannot run from what you are."
A low growl.
Claws scraping stone.
Something moving in the dark.
Something wearing her voice.
Something wearing her face.
She curled into herself, terrified — the first time she ever felt true fear.
Darkness swallowed everything.
No sky.
No ground.
No light.
Just an endless void.
Blood Reaper stood barefoot on nothing, her breathing shallow, her monstrous form reduced to a trembling, half-human version — eyes still glowing, claws still sharp, but… confused.
Lost.
She growled into the shadows.
"SHOW YOURSELF."
Something shifted behind her.
A shape.
A girl.
Small.
Human.
Bare feet.
Hair falling in front of her eyes.
Blood Reaper turned fast, claws raised.
Zyla lifted her chin.
Both froze.
"…You," Blood Reaper hissed.
"…Who are you?" Zyla shot back.
Blood Reaper stepped closer, voice low, dangerous.
"You're not supposed to be here."
Zyla sneered.
"And you're in my dream."
"This is my nightmare."
"This is my nightmare."
The air crackled.
Both took a step forward.
Their auras slammed into each other like colliding storms.
Blood Reaper growled, baring her teeth.
Zyla's eyes narrowed, glowing faint violet — human, but not entirely.
Something primal awakened in both.
Something centuries old.
Something bound by prophecy.
Blood Reaper lunged first — fast enough to tear the void apart.
Zyla slid under her claws, flipping backward with inhuman grace.
Blood Reaper roared, spinning mid-air, slashing downward—
CRACK—!!
Zyla blocked with her forearm, sparks exploding off her skin.
She kicked Blood Reaper square in the chest, sending her sliding back across the empty space.
Blood Reaper snarled.
"You're stronger than a human."
Zyla smirked bitterly.
"You're weaker than the monster everyone says you are."
Blood Reaper's eyes widened — insulted.
"You think you know me?"
"I know you're a danger!"
Blood Reaper slammed her foot down—
The void cracked.
She launched forward again, claws aimed for Zyla's throat—
Zyla twisted, using her entire body weight to throw Blood Reaper over her shoulder.
Blood Reaper hit the ground, rolled, and sprang up instantly.
Both were breathing hard.
Both furious.
Both confused.
There was no reason.
No logic.
Just the instinct—
Destroy the other threat.
Blood Reaper rushed again — fangs extended.
Zyla leapt upward, dodging her by mere inches, landing behind her.
Blood Reaper spun, tail lashing —
Zyla ducked, sliding between her legs and delivering a punch to her jaw.
Blood Reaper whipped around, claw slicing Zyla's cheek —
Zyla headbutted her in retaliation.
They grappled.
Punches landing.
Claws tearing.
Feet kicking.
Bodies slamming.
Neither backing down.
Neither gaining ground.
The void pulsed with every blow — like reality itself feared their fight.
Blood Reaper roared — loud enough to shake the darkness itself.
Zyla screamed back — not afraid, but furious.
They collided once more, fists meeting mid-air—
BOOOOOM—!!
An explosion of energy blasted them apart.
Both hit the ground, sliding.
Both got back up instantly.
Both stared at each other with murder and confusion.
Breathing hard.
Shaking.
Silent.
For a moment…
They looked almost identical in rage.
Zyla's voice trembled.
"Why do you look like me?"
Blood Reaper whispered back:
"Why do you feel like me?"
Their auras flared at the same time — same rhythm, same energy, same chaotic pulse.
Two pieces of one prophecy.
Two halves of the same cosmic wound.
And neither understood it.
Not yet.
The End