Shameless One

Before Dominic's words faded into silence, he closed the distance with a sudden burst of speed, appearing before Gemini Iricson in a heartbeat. His eyes gleamed with a golden intensity, alive with anticipation. As he swung his claymore downward, time itself seemed to bend under the sheer weight of his presence, as if the very air held its breath in reverence.

Gemini raised their sword in a desperate attempt to parry the oncoming strike, succeeding only by a hair's breadth. The impact jolted through their arm, leaving it tingling and numb from the force. But Dominic was relentless, his claymore crashing down in a flurry of strikes, each blow like thunder, shattering Gemini's defences piece by piece.

Shun dashed toward the two ethereal warriors locked in combat, the Blade of Diversion manifesting in his grip. Doubts flickered in his mind—would this sword be sufficient to deflect the might of a complete ethereal arm? He knew he couldn't reveal his full power just yet, the consequence was too much for him to bear.

Before he could reach them, Dominic lifted his claymore as if preparing to deliver a final, devastating blow. A tense silence enveloped the hall, broken only by Dominic's deafening roar. With that, a radiant explosion of light erupted from his weapon, the energy cascading outward like a storm, casting Shun away to the far side of the chamber.

Caught in the heart of the tempest, Gemini was forced to endure the full brunt of the attack. As the brilliance faded, they transformed back into Silver, collapsing to the ground in a lifeless heap. Shun felt a wave of panic wash over him; she was alive, but the strike had rendered her incapacitated, likely for weeks, if not months.

Shun's heart raced, dread creeping in. The man before him, Dominic, radiated an overwhelming power that made his own abilities feel insignificant. Memories of his past as a powerless orphan resurfaced, wrapping around him like chains. He had fought so hard to escape that life, yet here he was, paralyzed by fear, haunted by the spectre of his former self.

He felt an ache of shame, the weight of failure pressing down on him. The few he truly cared about were few in number, and now he couldn't even protect the most precious of them. If he wished to kill those he hated and shield those he loved, he understood that the strength he possessed was not nearly enough.

He had to claim more power, to kill, conquer and absorb, to become the strongest being in existence. Until he did, he would always be that helpless orphan. The thought sent tremors of frustration and resolve coursing through him.

Suddenly, a surge of warmth ignited within his core, radiating outward and banishing the fear that had gripped him for so long. He refused to be shackled by the spectre of consequences. All that mattered was defeating the man before him, to demonstrate to the world—and to himself—that he was no longer powerless.

Eight mechanical spider legs unfurled from his back, shadows rising to envelop him and the ground beneath him. The Terraniac Axe materialized in his grasp. It was an odd fit for the confined space, yet the sheer force of a complete ethereal arm would be an invaluable asset.

Dominic regarded him with a mixture of confusion and intrigue. "What are those, child?"

"Which one is your true ethereal arm?"

But before Shun could answer, Dominic lunged forward, claymore swinging toward his head.

With unwavering resolve, Shun met the attack, the axe holding steady against the weight of the blow. The eight spider legs anchored him, while shadows coiled around his weapon, dulling the force of Dominic's strike. "None of them," he replied, a manic smile stretching across his face.

In that moment, a flicker of unease crossed Dominic's features. There was something unsettling in Shun's gaze—a darkness that sent a shiver down his spine. Yet that flicker faded quickly, replaced by a surge of exhilaration as he prepared for his next move.

With a wild laugh, he swung his claymore in a sweeping arc, its size and brilliance increasing dramatically, the blade aglow with radiant energy. "Every Lordrixis citizen has an ethereal arm; it's the law!"

Dominic spun the enormous weapon around, but Shun was gone, a whisper of movement. Many mistakenly believed that the true power of the Embodiment of the Spider lay in its mechanical legs; however, Shun knew it was the speed that truly mattered.

A web descended from the ceiling, seeking to ensnare Dominic, but with a sweeping strike, he shattered it into shimmering particles. Shadows twisted and coiled toward him like serpents, and Shun propelled himself forward, launching at a breathtaking velocity.

The Terraniac Axe, cloaked in shadow, met the radiant claymore in a clash that echoed through the hall. It felt as if an army of warriors were battling within the confines of their struggle.

Time blurred as they exchanged blows, neither willing to relent, their energies colliding like titans. For a minute, they danced in an intricate pattern of strikes and counters, each moment stretching on forever. But ultimately, it was Dominic's experience that began to tip the balance in his favour.

With one last monumental clash, his claymore knocked the axe from Shun's grasp, sending it skidding across the floor. Shun gasped, fatigue gnawing at him as he struggled to remain upright. He looked up to see Dominic poised for a final strike, the overwhelming aura of power pressing down on him.

Yet even at that moment, when defeat loomed large, a flicker of defiance ignited within him. Shun instinctively raised his hand, knowing that it was futile, that he was outmatched. And yet, the unwillingness to concede surged within him, fueling his resolve.

As Dominic's claymore descended, something shifted. A dark void appeared on Shun's palm—a black hole that seemed to consume all light and energy within its vicinity. The radiant glow of Dominic's claymore began to dim, pulled toward the insatiable darkness.

With a violent surge of hollow energy, Dominic was forced back, his grip on the claymore faltering. Stumbling, he struggled to maintain control, but the relentless pull of Shun's power was undeniable.

Shun stood again, the complete ethereal arms he wielded were nowhere to be seen. In his hand, however, there was a tiny, black dagger, delicate and almost fragile, yet suffused with a quiet strength. He gazed at it in disbelief as information scrolled across his vision:

[Harvester]

Class: (NOT COMPLETE)

Weapon type: (NOT COMPLETE)

Ability type: (NOT COMPLETE)

The 0th complete(...?) ethereal arm at its time, the only ethereal arm across all time.

"Yours to know, yours to care, yours to have, yours to lose."