You got tamed, my dear Mark-
You've forgotten, or tried to forget-
The woman extended her hands towards his face.
He would have pulled his head back, had he the energy to.
Her slender fingers lay on his cheeks.
Crush them, Mark-
Crush the strong-
Beat them at their own game-
That's what gets your heart pumping-
That's what you want to do-
He remained silent for a moment.
"I can't... Not... Anymore..."
Don't listen to what they say-
You can't lose trust in yourself-
And more than anything, you can't lose yourself-
Don't lose sight of what it is that makes you, you-
Mark shook his head repeatedly.
Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to make the 'illusion' in front of him disappear.
It's time to let go, Mark-
Anger started boiling up inside him.
"Let go of... What?"
Sigh-
She pulled back and stepped around.
Mark could finally see Zephyr once more.
He was slowly approaching.
Truly taking his time with each step.
The woman stood by Mark's side, before letting her back rest against the wall.
What's the difference between him and the Berserker-
"He's... Too... Strong..."
That's what you thought against the Berserker too-
"It's... Different... I tried... Everything..."
Mmmm-
I'm not so sure about that-
You've stopped trying-
Mark remained silent.
You doubt that you even have a chance to win this-
"I can't... Win this... I can just... Perhaps..."
You don't truly believe that-
"I..."
You don't believe it at all-
You're simply trying to act rationally, as that whoever said-
Or rather, you're trying to think that way-
You're fighting against what you feel and believe, trying to replace it with... Whatever this is-
Mark's hands started twitching.
Don't listen to them-
That person is an outsider-
The woman turned towards Mark.
Her face was inches away.
He stared at her.
At her slit pupils. One, basking in a sea of gold. The other, in a sea of emeralds.
Mark lost himself in those eyes.
And he felt incredibly sleepy.
They don't know anything-
They're the same-
This guy, and the one that used to talk to you-
"Then... What am I... Supposed to do...?"
Listen to that voice inside you-
The voice that knows your true power-
"And what voice... Is that?" Mark asked, with a hint of irony.
The woman smiled brightly.
It's a voice you used to trust-
The very voice that told you countless times you could beat the enemy, despite it being, seemingly, stronger than yourself-
Deep down, you don't believe your chances of winning to be null-
"I... Don't..."
The woman turned her gaze towards Zephyr.
Mark followed her gaze.
The Monster Hunter was about seven meters away.
Listen to that voice-
And win-
The woman's body started fading.
'Win... Win... Win...'
Mark struggled to push himself off the wall.
'Win... Kill... Kill...'
Zephyr's mouth was moving as he stepped forward, but no words reached the Monster.
'Kill...'
The Hunter suddenly stopped approaching.
'Crush.'
He raised his arms defensively just in time.
RWAAAA-
RAAAAA-
RWAAAA-
[Your "Berserker[#]" Skill's Activation has reached its Maximum Value.]
The Monster roared.
Yet, there seemed to be two distinct sounds emitted from its mouth.
One, a powerful and grave roar.
The other, a strident and bone-chilling screech.
[Your Title "Devourer" roars menacingly!]
[Your Title "Evolving Monster" screeches at the enemy!]
Having braced himself this time, Zephyr hadn't been launched as far as the previous time.
"The time has come for the..."
He raised his hand to the side.
Instantly, a hole was made through the Boss Room's wall.
His Spear had pierced the air and returned to his palm.
It had returned, for a...
"Final Exchange."
Not once word had been heard.
The Monster stared at him.
[The Title "Potential Demon King Candidate" stares at the Monster Hunter".]
And for a second, Zephyr felt his body freeze.
The Monster opened its mouth as wide as it could open.
[The Title "Potential Demon King Candidate" bares its fangs.]
The next second, a dark sphere of energy was formed in front of the Monster's mouth.
Zephyr's leg twitched.
An attack he absolutely had to dodge.
The dark sphere shrunk and shrunk.
And then, without a sound, an incredibly fast stream of dark energy was shot.
Dark Magic was a scary thing.
Zephyr knew that very well.
It was a Magic Type that could be described as nonsensical.
There was no true "Thing" that Dark Magic produced.
Only Darkness.
But isn't Darkness the absence of Light?
Is it anything more?
Is there a way to describe it differently?
A way to describe it by itself?
Fire Magic, Water Magic, Wind Magic, Earth Magic, Lightening Magic...
All various types that produced something.
But Dark Magic doesn't produce.
It only takes away.
Nonsensical Magic Types.
Zephyr had faced and witnessed the use of many.
Their uses, and their destructive impacts.
Red Lightning, for example, was one of those Magic Types.
One that Zephyr had faced.
But he had never faced an opponent capable of using Dark Magic.
Not only now.
[Your Title "Monster Hunter" is glad to feel its blood pumping so powerfully!]
A nervous smile was on Zephyr's face.
Red Lightning might be scary, but how different is it from Lightning, truly?
A change in color can be a scary thing.
But as the stream produced by Dark Magic approached him, he understood.
Dark Magic isn't simply darkness.
The stream of energy was incredibly fast.
A stream of Light.
A Dark Light.
...
The Monster closed its mouth.
A large portion of the wall in front of it had disappeared.
It stepped forward.
"That was an impressive one."
The Monster raised its gaze, only to find the Hunter on the Boss Room's ceiling.
"Not something you should be able to do."
The Monster stared.
Zephyr let go.
"Was your Darkness any deeper, this could have gone very wrong for me." He said as he landed on the ground.
Cracks had appeared all over his Spear and the Armor that covered his left arm.
"Did you lose control? Or have you tamed your Titles?"
[The Title "Devourer " is staring at you menacingly.]
[The Title "Evolving Monster" is staring at you hatefully.]
"Is that your answer?"
The Monster opened its mouth wide, and the Hunter tightened his grip over his Spear.
