Kaelthas barely reacted. If anything, his presence grew heavier. His form seemed larger. Denser. Darkness gathered around him, thickening into something almost tangible. His eyes burned brighter. More dangerous.
"Again?"
He let out a cold laugh.
"Your power isn't enough."
Then — the System screamed.
[ Warning: Kaelthas's dark energy is accelerating suppression ]
[ Standard combat ineffective ]
[ Recommendation: Initiate Ultimate Plunder ]
Ryker's heart tightened. So this was it. The final gamble.
He exhaled slowly. Then committed.
"Plunder."
"Dark Domain Mastery."
The System detonated. Energy surged violently through his body. Lightning and darkness fused completely, forming a spiraling vortex around him. The Thunder God's Judgment Blade ignited with blinding intensity.
Kaelthas's expression shifted. For the first time — surprise.
But it was too late.
"I'm taking everything."
"All of your darkness."
Ryker moved. The vortex surged forward. A storm of lightning and shadow crashed directly into Kaelthas.
The impact shook the battlefield. Kaelthas's body trembled. His domain cracked. Dark energy spiraled out of control.
The System seized it. Pulled. Absorbed.
His black blade flickered. Unstable.
"You… impossible!"
Kaelthas roared. Darkness surged violently, trying to resist.
But it failed.
The plunder continued. Relentless. Unstoppable.
The domain collapsed. His form began to break apart. Piece by piece. Drawn into the vortex. Consumed.
Silence followed. The storm faded.
Ryker stood alone. Breathing heavily. The Thunder God's Judgment Blade dimmed as the last traces of energy settled within him.
It was over.
"Finally…"
"It's finished."
His voice was quiet. But steady.
Around them, the collapsing space began to fall apart completely. The heart of the Dark Continent had been destroyed.
But Ryker knew — this victory came with consequences.
"Let's move."
He turned. The others followed. They pushed out of the collapsing zone, step by step, leaving the ruins of the battlefield behind.
"Everyone okay?" Ryker asked, his voice lower now, edged with fatigue.
"We're fine," Gon said, stepping forward. "What about you?"
Ryker gave a faint smile.
"I'm still standing."
"Just tired."
"But we made it."
"The Dark Continent's rule is broken. Kaelthas is gone."
"The core stopped beating."
For a brief moment — there was silence.
Then Killua spoke. Sharp. Focused.
"That's not the end."
Ryker's expression shifted. Killua's eyes narrowed.
"You feel it too, right?"
"Even with Kaelthas gone… something's still moving."
Ryker closed his eyes. Focused. And felt it. Deep. Far below everything they had destroyed — something remained. Something hidden. Something waiting.
The darkness… was not gone.
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