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Darkness vs Darkness Part 2: World of the Shrouded
A few days later from the battle with the Phantom, me and Aoi had recovered enough that we only had a few scars. Aoi's were covered by her tailored outfit, which she had it enhanced so it didn't look like a bathing suit anymore. Her new attire included a pair of shorts with a reverse pattern, longer spines on her back, and shoulder straps so it wouldn't be too revealing.
Me, on the other hand....... well, my wounds left when I went Dark Aura Werewolf. It's something I like about transformations: The wounds don't stick with you.
Anyways, the next time I woke up, I wasn't in the place Aoi had chosen for a temporary home. It was more like I was in some kind of town, covered by a shroud of darkness. There wasn't anyone around at all. It was just me...... all alone.
I looked around for an exit, but no luck. But I did know one thing: This world was created recently. It had the feel of dark magic all around. Two different kinds of dark magic. One with the smell of the ocean, and the feeling of depression and hatred.
I dashed to the outskirts of the town and saw something far away. While dashing, I noticed that the area was almost like Sunset Town, only there was no water or ocean around. If what I saw was what I thought, then I could seek out some help. I headed toward what I saw. It looked like a huge lump in the dry seabed. I dug my claws in and climbed up. There was a village..... and it looked so familiar.
It then hit me. I was back on Tsuina, the island Aoi lived on. But.... why was it so close? Was the world I was in not a complete replica of Earth? Did it only span far enough to have Sunset Town and Tsuina Island?
I saw a rip in the darkness and I looked through it. It was the village, only not covered in the shroud. I climbed out and back into the real world. Everyone was sleeping. The moon hung high in the starry sky. How was the rip able to penetrate the shrouded world. I then heard someone approach. It was Raemon, the elder who allowed Aoi to travel with me, and said I was to become a knight. He escorted me to his cabin.
Inside, I heard from him that the balance of light and dark had been disturbed, creating the World of the Shrouded, the place I was in. It was supposed to be like a dimension to imprison others and let them slowly wither away, becoming lifeless corpses to forever rot. I didn't like the sound of that. The darkness I felt there...... I think it had something to do with the two forces I was struggling against. Or.... was it part of a broken, tainted heart?
However, Raemon covered my claws in some kind of liquid and they glowed green. He said that the liquid would give my claws the power to claw through the shrouds of that realm and allow me to escape. He gave me a bottle of the stuff in case the power faded. I thanked him and went back into the World of the Shrouded.
Heading back to the spot where I first entered, I saw Lelouch again, with Melissa. My claws changed from green to black when I saw them. I tried to stab at him, but my hand passed right through him, like he was only air. But he wasn't, because he could physically harm me. We both attacked at the same time, but only his attack connected. I couldn't lay a hand on him, and he could burrow his fist into me and I wouldn't be able to grab his wrist. I had no choice but to bolt.
Wherever I went, he was there. It was like a nightmare, only real. I watched as he pulled out a huge sword covered in blood and flesh and flew towards me. I went full speed, but he was closing the gap fast. He swung so fast, I was barely able to dodge. I had to make a sharp turn to get some distance, but he still caught up in practically no time at all. (Like, one second, he's far behind, and the next, he's right in front of you.) "In this world, you are completely powerless. Nothing you can do will help here!"
"That's where you're wrong!" I yelled back. I dipped my claws into the liquid I got from Raemon and I actually managed to stab him. "But..... but how?! Nothing from the outside can even touch the ground!"
I used this chance to get away and retreat into the shadows. My claws still glowed green, and I was in the Sunset Town area already, so I slashed a rift through space and jumped out before they found me. The rift closed behind me and I was back in Sunset Town, near where Aoi had set up camp. Ana had left because Sarah was gone, so it was just the two of us left.
I heard Raemon's voice in my head one last time. "You must return to the light and master the darkness to be able to save the one you love. Only you and Aoi can defeat the one who pursues to destroy her light forever." His voice faded into my memories as the sun began to rise.
Aoi woke up and saw me stare at the sky of dawn. "I am no longer of the darkness anymore. I am now the one who embraces light and dark. We have a job to do!"
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