The Box: Fate
Chapter 43 — The Shadow Beneath the Stone
The Ancient Fortress stood like a jagged tooth against the gray sky! As the group reached the massive: rusted iron gates: the silence was heavy enough to feel They stood on the threshold of the Old Kings! ruins the air smelling of cold iron and stagnant magic
Zanaki trying to shake off the heavy news from Azureus turned to the group with a wide dramatic gesture "Look! before we step into this death trap we need to settle this If we're going to be legends our team name needs to be official! "Akatsuki? is cool but how about something more hardcore? Like... !The Angels of Death?
Sharky Bee groaned so loudly it echoed off the fortress walls "Oh boy! here we go again! Zanaki we are literally about to enter an ancient fortress filled with soul-eating monsters! and you're worried about the branding?
Marketing is everything! Sharky! Zanaki retorted! grinning
!Everyone! shut up! Joel barked: his voice sharp and commanding: He adjusted the heavy axe on his shoulder! his eyes fixed on the darkness beyond the gates! !Save the breath for the fight We're going in Stay in formation!
Murasaki stepped to the front She raised her staff and a soft! violet pulse of mana erupted from the crystal tip !Luminous Void! she whispered A dozen orbs of purple light floated into the air drifting ahead of the group to illuminate the damp vine-covered stone corridors
The sixteen players moved deep into the heart of the fortress The walls were lined with statues of faceless knights their stone eyes seeming to follow the group as they passed Suddenly the purple orbs of light flickered and turned a deep bloody red
"He here! Kataki warned! his silver-blindfold humming with a high-pitched vibration!
In the center of a massive circular hall a figure sat on a throne of jagged glass! He looked surprisingly human—slender! with pale skin and long black hair—but he wore a suit of armor that looked like it was made of frozen blood! He didn't have a weapon; he just watched them with eyes that were solid black voids
![BOSS ALERT: THE BLOOD-BORN USURPER — LEVEL 45]!
Without a word the Usurper moved He didn't run; he vanished and reappeared instantly in front of the vanguard
"Formation Sigma!" Akira yelled! drawing his blade to parry a strike from the Usurper bare hand! The impact sounded like two mountains colliding!
!Axel Hatanaki! lunged from the side! his fists glowing with a blinding golden heat! !Titan Strike: Nova! he roared unleashing a barrage of punches The Usurper moved with fluid terrifying grace dodging every hit as if he were dancing He caught Axel wrist and casually tossed the powerhouse player across the room like a ragdoll
'He too fast!' Anastasia cried thrusting her 'Spear of Destiny' The white light of her spear grazed the Usurper shoulder but the wound healed instantly knitting back together with strands of dark red mana
'Monk Fish' and 'Joel' charged together Monk Fish unleashed his 'Sovereign Palm of the Heavens' sending a wave of jade energy that cracked the floor Joel followed up with a massive downward swing of his axe' shattering the stone where the Usurper stood
The Usurper leaped into the air his black eyes fixing on Zanaki "The Dragon heart... a delicious snack"
He dived like a hawk Zanaki barely had time to react "Azureus! Shield!"
The spectral form of the Dragon King appeared' his scaled arms crossing to block the Usurper's kick The shockwave sent a blast of wind that knocked Hina and Hanzoe back Zanaki coughed up blood—the pressure was unlike anything he had felt even from the Demon Lord Commanders
"Murasaki! Hina! Combine!" Zanaki shouted through gritted teeth
Murasaki channeled her gravity magic pinning the Usurper's feet to the ground for a split second while Hina unleashed a burst of Solar Flare to blind the creature
"NOW!"
The entire Akatsuki team—all sixteen of them—unleashed their skills at once' Arrows' spells' sword-strikes and golden fists converged on the center of the hall in a massive explosion of mana
When the dust settled the Usurper was still standing though his blood-red armor was shattered He began to laugh—a dry hollow sound "Is that the best the Outworlders can do?
Zanaki stood up: his blue eyes burning with a new level of rage- We're just getting started- And by the way... we decided on the name It's Akatsuki