Rise of the Crusader



Latario staggered backward, muttering, "Attack transference." His confusion was evident as he regarded the injury on his own body, an echo of the wound he'd inflicted upon Raphael moments ago.

A frown creased his brow, his eyes reflecting a mixture of bafflement and irritation.

Raphael, watching from a distance, caught the change in Latario's expression. A smirk curled his lips as he tightened his grip around the six gleaming spheres in his hand.

"This fight has become tiresome, Latario," Raphael voiced, his tone laced with boredom. "Let's conclude this with our next move."

Latario, his body already in the process of healing, locked eyes with Raphael. The corners of his mouth curled upwards, revealing a sadistic grin.

It was as though he had been waiting for this moment of agreement.

"Raphael, you've surprised me. I didn't anticipate that you could push me this far." Latario's voice held a note of uncharacteristic admiration. "It seems there are metas who can hold their own against beings like us, after all."

"But it's a shame that this is where your journey concludes," Latario added, his voice turning cold. "You had a choice. Stand with us or stand against us. You chose the latter, and that leaves you no place among the living."

With those chilling words, Latario prepared for battle. He closed his eyes for a moment, drawing a deep breath. When his eyes snapped open again, a wave of deadly intent blasted from him, visible to those with the right kind of sight.

Raphael remained stoic, his poker face unchanging. It was only when the wave of killing intent reached him, that his expression finally shifted.

His eyes narrowed, and he readied himself for the final clash.

"Good."

Raphael's response came as a murmur, barely audible amidst the charged atmosphere.

While Latario believed that ending the battle with a single strike would favor him, Raphael held a contrasting perspective. He knew that if anyone stood to gain the most from this collision, it would be him.

A slow smile crept across Raphael's lips as he tapped his hand on the sphere, feeling its power coursing through him. With a firm grip, he transformed the six spheres into vibrant orange pills.

Without a moment's hesitation, he threw them into his mouth, crushing them and swallowing, a confident expression etched upon his face. He cracked his knuckles and twisted his neck, mocking his opponent.

Latario's voice dripped with disgust as he muttered, "Pills, hmm." In that instant, regret seemed to wash over him, as if he desired to retract every compliment he had bestowed upon Raphael throughout their battle.

Shaking his head slowly, Raphael couldn't help but feel amused by Latario's reaction. "You, of all people, should not be the one to judge me," he remarked, his voice laced with a hint of disdain.

"Imbecile!" Latario spat out in frustration, unable to contain his anger.

Raphael sneered, his confidence unyielding. "That will be the last word you utter, Latario," he declared, determination emanating from his very being.

With those words hanging in the air, he prepared to make his decisive move.

In an instant, Raphael launched himself forward, his speed unmatched. Latario, too, reacted swiftly, propelling himself towards his adversary.

The two formidable opponents raced towards each other, their hands clenched into tight fists. With only a few meters separating them, their voices resounded with unwavering resolve.

"Absolute decay!" Raphael exclaimed, his voice resolute and brimming with power.

"Absolute attack," Latario responded, his words echoing with a mixture of determination and aggression.

Time seemed to stand still as the two fists, each brimming with destructive force, moved to collide. The tension in the air was palpable, promising a devastating impact if the blows were to meet.

With their defiant words still echoing, the surroundings began to deteriorate rapidly. The earth beneath their feet trembled, threatening to crumble, while the air itself vibrated with the impending clash.

The world around them had slipped into chaos within a matter of seconds.

Latario held nothing back, and in response, neither did Raphael. The 'absolute decay' that surrounded Raphael's hand was a manifestation of his full might, his intent clear: to obliterate Latario from existence, leaving not even a trace of his ashes.

As the seconds ticked away, the ground quaked more fiercely with each passing moment, an ominous precursor to the devastation that was about to be unleashed.

Just as their hands were about to clash, a figure materialized between them.

An azure owl, to be precise.

The sudden appearance of the blue owl brought an abrupt halt to their actions. Raphael and Latario froze mid-strike, their momentum disrupted. It was as if they were caught in the grip of time itself, suspended in a moment of surreal stillness.

Raphael's eyes flickered with surprise at the sight of Gus, the blue owl, caught in the crossfire of their impending clash. A blinding light erupted from the small creature, forcing Raphael to shut his eyes against the radiant glare.

When he opened them again, the scene before him had shifted dramatically.

All was still as Gus, the blue owl, began to morph before their eyes. Raphael and Latario could only watch in stunned silence as feathers gave way to flesh, the transformation rippling through Gus's form.

The owl reshaped into a young woman with long, wavy blue hair that shimmered under the harsh light of their battlefield.

The very embodiment of surprise could be seen etched into Raphael's features. His eyes widened, his mouth agape as he absorbed the sight before him.

The woman was the very manifestation of elegance, with clear blue eyes that sparkled like sapphires and a cascade of wavy blue hair that flowed down her back like a waterfall.

Her voluptuous body was draped in a figure-hugging dress, accentuating her curves and lending her an air of unattainable allure. Her presence was commanding, yet ethereal, capable of turning heads wherever she appeared.

As Raphael continued to stare at the woman, he found himself at a loss for words. Never before had he witnessed a transformation so surreal, so inexplicably beautiful.

It took several long moments of silence before he found his voice, the word escaping his lips barely more than a whisper.

"Gus?" He questioned, his tone laced with incredulity. The scene unfolding before him was beyond anything he could have imagined.

Upon hearing Raphael's call, the woman turned her gaze towards him. Her face was impassive, giving nothing away, but her eyes held a depth that suggested a world of experiences beyond the ordinary. "Yes, Raphael," she replied, her voice a soft echo that seemed to resonate in the eerily quiet battlefield.

Her simple confirmation sent a ripple of shock through Raphael, but it also filled him with a sense of awe.