A Sunless Dream

Red vapour emerged from Kai's body as his shoulders rose and fell matching his deep breathes. Although his constant aggression had made him a mild threat to Orion, however the constant aggression he levelled at his foe continuously took a massive piece of his stamina.

Jumping backwards to avoid another flurry of blows, Orion released a slight yawn "Your anger is astounding, I've never seen someone make a face like yours" his voice remained calm despite the intense onslaught of blows Kai had thrown at him, in a second, he was before Kai snapping his chin upwards with a blow.

"However, your anger makes you predictable." Kai roared in response, swinging his bow downwards with all the strength he could muster. Orion caught the strike with his blade, the force drove him back a step slightly as he gritted his teeth, 'He's overpowering me too often for my liking' he whined to himself as his eyes narrowed at his opponent.

Before Kai could follow up, Orion's weapon dissolved into shadows, reforming into the spear that Effie once used. Tears flowed down from Kai's eyes as Orion spun his weapon with practiced ease, shifting into an offensive style as he hopped from one foot to another.

The sudden change in style caught Kai off guard. Orion lunged forward, thrusting his spear with precision and speed towards Kai's neck. Manipulating the shadows into miniature archers, Orion commanded them to corner Kai with rains of arrows as he appeared before him.

Kai swatted away the rain of arrows with his bow with a frustrated grunt as Orion continued to send a flurry of attacks at Kai forcing him to retreat. For each swing of Kai's bow, he was countered with a perfectly placed thrust or slash of the spear. 'The fluidity of his movements...it's just like Effie's.'

Memories of simpler times he had spent with Effie flowed into his head as his rage doubled, his attacks grew wilder and more frantic and despite their increased speed, Orion seemed to be having less trouble dodging the attacks than previously.

Finally, with a sharp twist of his weapon, Orion disarmed Kai. The bow flew from his hands slamming into the ground with a resounding thud. However, Kai wasn't finished there, he raised up his hands and charged at Orion, throwing a punch at his jaw which was cleanly dodged and countered.

Driving a knee into the stomach of his opponent, Orion bent down to match Kai's fallen height, grabbing him by the hair and staring him in the eyes. Suddenly, Orion repeatedly slammed Kai's head into the ground, creating a small crater.

"Useless, pathetic, odious, insolent, good for nothing, weak. You're a bore, you're boring. All this rage and for what? How many men and women have you killed? What gives you the right to have such an insolent and pathetic reaction after being the victim to a choice you decided!"

Raising Kai's bloodied head once more, Kai spat blood at him however Orion raised a small wall of shadows to block it. "If you knew this would be your reaction once your loved ones died, you should have never come to face someone like me, you would have trained harder, you would have sacrificed everything when I first fought you to make sure she survived. Now look at you, pathetic insolent worm. Your anger is merely a reaction to an event you could have prevented a variety of ways."

Turning around, Orion closed his eyes and unbeknownst to anyone gritted his teeth. "You have nobody to blame for your anger except yourself and Changing Star." His smooth voice transitioned into a mocking jeer as he turned back to gaze upon his remaining opponents.

Morgan, although healed was entirely out of stamina, only having enough essence to remain alive. Kai had passed out due to blood loss, Cassie was a noncombatant and wouldn't involve herself until the very end, Jet too had passed out from essence absorption.

Gazing upon the corpse of Effie, who's armour began to slowly fade into small sparks as there was no longer any lingering essence to fuel it. Orion nodded slightly out of respect before turning to his two remaining opponents.

Changing star and Sunless.

There was no longer any time to waste. Nephis and Sunny were undoubtedly the strongest combatants sent on the mission to subjugate Orion, and he knew this fact all to well. The two saints circled him slowly as his focus remained on both of his opponents.

"Haha! Changing star, don't think I've forgot our bet! Remember, if I hit you once we'll watch together how Sunless here reacts! Who knows, maybe he might finally kill you!" Orion's mocking voice echoed throughout the battlefield as Nephis only offered a slight grimace in reply.

Sunny's expression had not changed even slightly as his focus remained utterly poised on the opponent before him. Orion reflected himself, who he could have been if he had taken a different path. He was the killer of one of his dearest friends, Effie.

The guilt of her death loomed above his heart like storm clouds as Sunny suppressed it, breathing in and gaining clarity as he gazed upon his opponent. Orion was tired and Sunny knew it, from the slight shift in his posture to the laboured breathes he emitted every so often.

An insurmountable wall was about to be overcome.

Once an empty and peaceful field, now had been turned into a wasteland of ash and embers, the aftermath of several titanic battles already fought. Maps would need to be adjusted at the sight of this titanic battle, even if everyone forgot him, this battle would leave Sunny's mark on the world.

Orion, regardless of his fatigue stood tall, shadows curling around him like sentient tendrils ready to listen and obey the commands of their master. The obsidian blade was slightly chipped however quickly regenerated as he stared across the field.

Nephis eyes blazed with an emotion Sunny could only describe as earthshaking fury as she continued to slowly pace around Orion. Her white armour was scorched and cracked; flames flickered weakly across her gauntlets however Nephis alabaster skin remained without even a single blemish.

The calm, tranquil silence that had settled over the field was quickly killed as Nephis covered the distance and struck at Orion first. Her fist burned like molten steel as she delivered a flurry of punches, each aimed to force him back.

Orion parried her blows with ease, his obsidian sword slicing through any lingering embers that flickered around her body as the shadow tendrils surrounding his body danced with murderous glee.

Swinging in a ravenous downwards arc, Orion aimed to bisect Nephis only to be met with a kick to the back of his head by Sunny. Although he had raised an arm to block the blow, the force of the attack shook his arm slightly, giving Nephis an opening.

Slashing low, Orion shifted backwards as he left her sword graze his skin. A thin gash opened across his onyx armour as he laughed lowly before slamming his foot into Nephis guard. Barely blocking the blow, Nephis was sent flying like a dart before regaining her footing and charging once more.

Nephis grip tightened around her flaming sword as she surged forward, flames flared to life around her as her sword came down in a brilliant arc, fire trailing behind it like a comet. Orion raised his blade, strengthening it with his essence as he parried the strike with ease.

The force of his counter sent Nephis off balance, Orion aimed a kick at her however his advance was repelled by Sunny who had raised both of his arms to block the blow. In a heartbeat, Sunny struck at Orion's flank. Orion twisted in response, his movements fluid and precise deflecting the attack without missing a beat.

Orion's mastery of the sword was second to none in existence, despite repelling combined attacks from both Nephis and Sunny, it appeared like he was not even beginning to tire amid combat.

'Is he a beast of infinite stamina?' Sunny groaned to himself as he rushed into the battle once more. Nephis gritted her teeth, the flames around her intensifying as the searing heat licked at her armour. Covering the distance before Sunny, Nephis swung her sword wildly however was met with a dodge and a counterattack from Orion.

His blade flew bast Nephis, leaving a deep gash in her side as Sunny appeared before her punching Orion in the chest and sending him sliding backwards. Lunging forward, shadows trailed behind Sunny as his blade swung through the air in a series of rapid, precise movements.

For a moment, it even appeared like Sunny could match Orion's speed and technique, his strikes mirroring the other man's with eerie accuracy. However Orion was far stronger, there was not a single aspect of combat Sunny could even dream of rivalling him in as he forced Sunny back in one fluid movement.

Every clash of their blades sent a jarring force through Sunny's arms, his movements grew slower with each exchange. 'Think, forget it all like last time, only the battle deserves attention!' Sunny roared at himself, noticing Nephis appear beside him in a blur, Sunny gritted his teeth as Orion let out a sly grin.

Bending low, Orion swept Nephis legs out from beneath her, attempting to kick her head straight off her shoulders in the next movement however Sunny grabbed her by her armour and flung her backwards. Turning back for a split second, Sunny growled out with more venom than he had intended.

"Stay the fuck back, don't you dare limit my options." In a blitz, he had reengaged with Orion. Unbeknownst to him, Cassie had formed a mental link between herself and Nephis once more, making sure to stay safely away from battle as she did so.

[Neph?] Cassie's gentle voice rang through Nephis head as she focused intently on the battle.

[What is it, Cassie?]

[I saw what happened at Sunny's place. If Orion knows and he tells Sunny, he might kill you.]

Nephis face contorted into one of utter horror as her mouth opened slightly. Her eyes widened as she unconsciously clenched her fists till, they drew blood. Suddenly, she narrowed her eyes at one of the men before her.

[We just need to kill him before he says anything.]

[Are you sure you don't want to rest, for even a moment. It might mean you have enough energy to survive Sunny if he ends up telling him!]

The logic was sound, every bone in Nephis body wanted to refute her statement and lunge into battle. However the look in Sunny's eyes told her everything, he wanted the fight. He needed the revenge; she couldn't take more from him than she already had.

And so, the final battle between Sunny and Orion commenced.