The Box: Fate
Chapter 53 — The Awakening of the Bound Souls
The crater floor erupted into a storm of dust and cracked stone as Axel was thrown backward, coughing up blood Vahn didn't even drop his hands, his obsidian pressure building into a massive wall that pushed everyone to their knees Akira' sword trembled, and Murasaki' staff crackled with unstable violet light
"He' not just testing us" Sharky Bee gasped, pushing himself up from the dirt "He really intends to wipe us out"
Zanaki stood up from the shattered stone pillar His clothes were torn, and his breathing was heavy, but his eyes were burning with a new, dark light He looked at Monk Fish and Hina, who were standing in the vanguard line
"He wants to see what we are truly made of" Zanaki said, his voice dropping into a deep, echoing tone "We don't need the physical cards anymore The power of the Box... it didn't stay in our inventories It fused with our very souls"
Monk Fish closed his eyes, placing his palms together The black prayer beads around his neck began to glow with an ethereal jade light Deep within his spirit, the ancient card he had claimed months ago began to pulse It didn't manifest as an object; instead, lines of glowing jade script spread across his arms
"The soul remembers" Monk Fish murmured
He opened his eyes, and a massive shockwave of spiritual energy forced back Vahn' pressure Monk Fish moved with a speed that defied his heavy build, appearing directly in front of Vahn "Sovereign Judgement: Heaven's Gate!" A massive palm made of solid jade light descended from the sky, slamming down onto Vahn with the force of an avalanche
Vahn's eyes widened slightly For the first time, he had to raise his arms to block The impact created a massive shockwave that leveled the remaining stone structures in the valley
Before Vahn could redirect the kinetic force, Hina stepped forward Her soul card tapped into the core of her magic Her red hair flared like actual fire as golden lines traced up her neck to her eyes "Solar Genesis: Phoenix Wings!" Two massive wings of pure, blinding solar heat erupted from her back She soared into the air, unleashing a barrage of concentrated fire beams that turned the very air into a scorching furnace, trapping Vahn inside a cage of heat
"Now, Zanaki!" Axel roared, using his own golden strength to pin Vahn' feet through the melting ground
Zanaki reached deep into his chest, grabbing the burning ember of the Storm Dragon He didn't just ask for a small boost; he unlocked the seal completely
"MANIFEST: AZUREUS!"
The sky didn't just turn dark; it completely shattered A column of sapphire lightning struck the center of the valley From the blinding blue light, Azureus stepped out in his true humanoid form His seven-foot frame was draped in obsidian robes made of living scales, his silver hair whipping in the wind, and his electrical blue eyes locking onto Vahn
"A mortal who dares to hunt a King" Azureus' voice boomed, shaking the foundations of the mountains around them
Azureus didn't wait He moved like a localized hurricane His hand transformed into a massive draconic claw, covered in sapphire flames He struck Vahn directly in the chest, combining his three-thousand-year-old strength with Zanaki' raw willpower
The collision of Vahn's obsidian shield and Azureus' dragon claw created an explosion so violent that the entire crater collapsed inward, burying the battlefield in a mountain of dust and blinding energy
Through the smoke, Vahn could be seen sliding backward, his grey cloak finally torn, revealing a line of blood trickling from his lip He looked at the glowing spirits of the cards bound to their souls, and then at the Dragon King standing alongside them
The fight was no longer a one-sided slaughter The true power of the Outworlders had finally awakened