Shadows Of Deception

Madagascar stood at the center of the ruined pit, his crimson aura swirling with unrestrained fury. His tail lashed violently behind him, his golden eyes narrowing on Jin, who remained staggered but upright. Fueled by rage and curiosity, Madagascar's voice boomed through the shattered arena.

"Come on, boy!" he barked, gripping his staff tightly. "If you want to survive, you'll need to do better than this. Show me your real power!"

Madagascar's staff began to pulse with energy, an ominous glow building at its tip. The energy was unlike anything seen before—chaotic and intrusive. As the glow intensified, Jin suddenly clutched his head, stumbling backward. A surge of unnatural memories tore through his mind, overwhelming his senses.

These weren't his memories.

Images of hellish landscapes, endless wars, incantations, and violent deaths ripped through Jin's mind, searing themselves into his consciousness. He staggered, his breathing ragged, his vision blurring. He tried to shut it out, gripping his temples tighter as if to block out the invasion.

Madagascar smirked, his golden eyes gleaming. "Good. Finally losing yourself to the power, aren't you? Now, you're ready for me!"

Seiji, observing from the edge of the arena, frowned deeply. He took a cautious step forward, his sharp eyes trying to make sense of what was happening. Rebekah, her fists clenched at her sides, asked in a panic, "What's wrong with him? What's happening?"

Seiji hesitated, his voice uncharacteristically uncertain. "…It's not his power. Something else is stirring in him."

Suddenly, an eruption of black flames and violent smoke burst forth from Jin's body, forcing everyone nearby to shield their eyes. The force sent debris flying across the arena, and the air grew unnaturally cold.

When the smoke cleared, Jin was no longer there.

In his place stood the demon, fully in control, its cold, glowing eyes radiating malice. The air around the possessed Jin was charged with an oppressive energy, and a dark smile curled on his lips. The demon stretched his neck casually, cracking his knuckles as if preparing for a mere warm-up.

Madagascar, his confidence unwavering, raised his staff. The energy at its tip condensed into a spiraling blast and shot forward, tearing through the air with devastating force. The demon didn't move. With a single finger, he tapped the blast as it neared him, redirecting it harmlessly into the ruined pit walls, where it exploded violently.

The demon inspected his finger, blowing away a faint wisp of smoke, and laughed mockingly. "What kind of pathetic effort was that?" he sneered, his voice laced with arrogance. "If that's all you've got, then let me save you the embarrassment."

The demon's mocking tone grew colder as he continued, "It's almost insulting, really. How you're standing there, believing you've done anything impressive. Let me show you what real power is."

Madagascar roared in defiance and charged forward, his warhammer and staff swirling with combined energy. But the demon didn't flinch. With a devilish grin, he clapped his hands together, the sound reverberating through the arena like thunder.

"The Voice. The Order. Combined."

The world froze.

Time itself bent and fractured as the demon invoked an ability he had studied during his battle with Jon. Everything around them came to a halt. The flames flickered and froze mid-air, the crumbling walls of the pit stood suspended in time, and even the cries of the crowd ceased in an eerie silence. Madagascar, mid-charge, stopped completely, his golden eyes wide with fury but unable to move.

The demon walked slowly toward Madagascar, his steps echoing ominously in the frozen void. "Do you understand where you are now?" he taunted. "This is my world. My reality. And you?" He leaned closer to the immobilized Madagascar. "You're nothing here."

With a clap of his hands, an orb began to form between his fingers. It was pure white, its energy so dense and compressed that it distorted the air around it. The sheer force emanating from it was godlike, shaking the very fabric of the frozen world.

"Let's see how much of this you can handle," the demon said, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "The Hell Flame Orb of Destruction."

He raised his fingers, aiming the orb directly at Madagascar.

Suddenly, the markings on Seiji's body began to glow faintly. Unlike the others trapped in the frozen world, Seiji's expression turned grim. "I can't let this go any further," he muttered to himself.

The glowing markings spread rapidly across Seiji's body, pulsing with divine energy. These were the 32 Marks of God, an ancient technique that allowed him to defy reality itself. The air around him shimmered as he moved, shattering the frozen restraints of time.

In an instant, Seiji appeared beside Madagascar, his body radiating with golden energy. The Hell Flame Orb shot forward, its force obliterating everything in its path.

Seiji raised his hand, his markings glowing even brighter as he prepared to intercept the godly attack.

The demon's grin widened. "Ah… interesting. You broke through. Let's see what you can do now."