Vengeful Ascension: The Rise of a Demon Emperor

The central square of Galud was suffused with tension, the oppressive energy radiating from Leonard Durk suffocating every breath. His grotesque form, a mockery of humanity, towered over Adrian Falter. The baron's eyes burned crimson, his voice a guttural growl as it echoed through the ruins.

"You're brave to stand against me, boy," Leonard said, his lips curling into a sneer. "But bravery is just a mask for stupidity. You'll regret taking my son from me."

Adrian's grip on his sword tightened, his knuckles turning white. He steadied his breathing, centering himself against the onslaught of Leonard's malice. "Your son made his choices, Leonard," Adrian said, his voice steady but heavy. "Just like you made yours. This ends here."

Leonard snarled, his claws flexing as his monstrous muscles coiled in preparation to strike. "Let's see how long your resolve lasts."

Leonard charged with terrifying speed, his massive claws tearing through the air. Adrian sidestepped the first strike, the gust of wind from its force ruffling his hair. Leonard's claws slammed into the cobblestones, shattering them and sending chunks of debris flying.

"You're outmatched, Adrian!" Leonard roared, swiping at him with another attack.

Adrian parried, his blade meeting the claws in a clash that reverberated through the square. The force of the impact sent a jolt through Adrian's arms, but he held firm. Pivoting on his heel, he countered with a horizontal slash, aiming for Leonard's torso.

"[Aura Slash]!" Adrian shouted, pouring his energy into the strike.

The blade hummed with power as it connected, cutting into Leonard's side. Blackened blood oozed from the wound, sizzling as it dripped onto the ground. Leonard staggered slightly but recovered almost immediately, his sneer deepening.

"Is that all you've got?" Leonard taunted, swiping at Adrian with both claws.

Adrian ducked, barely avoiding the deadly attack, but the effort left him winded. Leonard pressed forward, his strikes relentless.

From the sidelines, Captain Mohan leaned heavily against the rubble of a broken wall. Blood trickled from a cut above his brow, his breathing labored. He clenched his fists, frustration written across his face as he watched Adrian dodge and counter Leonard's onslaught.

"Come on, Adrian," Mohan muttered, forcing himself to stay conscious. "You're better than this. Don't let him win."

Adrian's mind raced as he tried to find an opening. Leonard's sheer strength and speed were overwhelming, but there had to be a way to level the playing field. His eyes flicked to Mohan, and an idea struck.

"Mohan's techniques…" Adrian murmured. His aura flared as he activated his unique ability, [Copy]. His hands glowed faintly, mimicking the energy of Mohan's gauntlets.

"Let's see how you handle this," Adrian muttered, rushing forward. "[Impact Strike]!"

Adrian's punch, infused with aura, struck Leonard square in the chest. The force sent the corrupted baron skidding back a few steps, a grunt of pain escaping his lips.

Leonard's eyes narrowed. "You think you can mimic your leader's strength? You're just a pale imitation!"

Leonard retaliated with a brutal backhand, his claws grazing Adrian's armor. The impact sent Adrian staggering, pain lancing through his side. But Adrian didn't let up. Channeling more energy into his strikes, he unleashed a flurry of punches.

"[Double Impact]!" Adrian roared, landing two successive blows to Leonard's ribs.

The attacks landed, but Leonard barely flinched. His laughter was a low, mocking rumble. "You don't get it, do you?" he snarled. "You're no Mohan. You're just a child playing at being strong."

Leonard's words stung, but Adrian pushed the doubt aside. He couldn't afford to hesitate. He pressed forward with renewed determination, his strikes relentless. "[Rapid Barrage]!" he shouted, his fists a blur as he pummeled Leonard's torso.

But Leonard's monstrous endurance absorbed the onslaught. With a feral roar, he lashed out, his claws raking across Adrian's chest and sending him tumbling to the ground.

Adrian gasped for air, his vision swimming as he struggled to rise. Leonard loomed over him, his shadow stretching across the ruins like a specter of death.

"You're nothing, Adrian," Leonard said, his voice dripping with disdain. "No magic, no power—just a boy with a sword he can barely wield. This is the end."

Adrian's hands trembled as he pushed himself to his feet. Leonard's words echoed in his mind, but he refused to let them take root. Gritting his teeth, he steadied his breathing and studied Leonard's movements.

And then he saw it. A slight hesitation in Leonard's stance, a gap in his overconfidence.

Summoning his strength, Adrian rolled to the side just as Leonard's claws came down. Using the momentum, he surged upward, his fist glowing with aura. "[Impact Strike]!" he shouted, driving his punch into Leonard's solar plexus.

Leonard staggered, his claws clutching at his chest. Adrian didn't waste a second. He dashed toward his fallen sword, scooping it up and spinning into a defensive stance.

The glow of his aura intensified, enveloping the blade. Adrian's voice was calm, resolute. "You're right, Leonard. I'm not Mohan. I'm not anyone else. I'm Adrian Falter. And I don't need magic to stop you."

Leonard snarled, his rage boiling over. "You think a speech will save you?"

He charged, his claws glowing with dark energy. Adrian met the charge head-on, his sword slicing through the air. "[Aura Crescent]!" he roared, unleashing a wave of energy that crashed into Leonard, carving a deep gash into his torso.

Leonard howled in pain, his movements growing more erratic. Adrian pressed the advantage, his blade dancing in a blur of strikes. "[Blade Dance]!" he shouted, each attack chipping away at Leonard's defenses.

"You've lost, Leonard," Adrian said, his voice steady. "It's over."

Leonard's monstrous form trembled as he summoned the last of his strength. His claws crackled with dark energy, his voice a guttural snarl. "If I'm going down, I'll take you with me!"

Adrian's aura surged, the energy around him crackling like lightning. "[Final Arc]!" he shouted, channeling every ounce of power into a decisive strike.

Their attacks collided, the shockwave rippling through the square and shaking the ruins. For a moment, time seemed to freeze.

And then Adrian's blade broke through. The sword plunged into Leonard's chest, piercing the corrupted energy that sustained him.

Leonard staggered, his monstrous form unraveling as the dark energy began to dissipate. His crimson eyes dimmed, and for a fleeting moment, his human face reappeared, twisted with regret.

"I… I just wanted to protect him," Leonard whispered, his voice barely audible.

Adrian lowered his sword, his expression heavy with sorrow. "I know. But this wasn't the way."

Leonard collapsed, his body disintegrating into ash. The oppressive energy lifted, and the air grew lighter as the corruption faded from Galud.

Adrian sank to one knee, exhaustion washing over him. The square was silent, save for the faint rustling of the wind.

Mohan's voice broke the stillness, weak but steady. "You did it, Adrian…"

Adrian turned, a faint smile breaking through his fatigue. The battle was over, but the scars it left behind would remain.

As the team regrouped, Adrian glanced toward the horizon. Galud was free, but the road ahead was long.

For now, they had won. And they would keep fighting—for the empire, for the people, and for the hope that remained.