Descendant of Sloth
Chapter 51: Gyosu - The Grand Elder of Eladrin

Chapter 51: Gyosu - The Grand Elder of Eladrin

"Not exactly what I was expecting thought." I said calmly, my tone devoid of emotion.

The air between us grew heavy as we stared at each other, unspoken tension building with every passing second. The silence stretched on, broken only by the faint sound of dripping blood.

Then, without warning—

*BOOM!*

The cave’s entrance exploded as strands of Gyosu’s long, white hair shot forward like swords. Each strand moved with deadly precision, striking the walls and ground around me, shattering stone and shaking the entire cave.

I moved swiftly, dashing in a zigzag pattern to avoid the relentless onslaught. Dust and debris filled the air as the walls crumbled under the force of Gyosu’s attack.

Clutching Hina tightly in my arms, I darted out of the collapsing cave and into the harsh light of day.

*Huff* *Huff*

My breaths were shallow and rapid as I steadied myself, standing in the open. Blood continued to drip from the wound in my stomach, soaking into my clothes, but the dark aura surrounding me pulsed and swirled like a living entity, keeping me upright.

The silence of the open space was broken by the slow, deliberate sound of footsteps.

*Step.* *Step.*

Gyosu emerged from the cave, his bare feet pressing into the ground with purpose. His once serene and elder-like demeanor had shifted into something far more menacing. His fists clenched at his sides, veins bulging against his pale skin as his black, soulless eyes locked onto me.

The faint light illuminated his face, revealing an expression of grim determination—a dangerous, unyielding resolve.

"So tiring..it’s always something that is happening one after anothed." I sighhed deeply, a long, drawn-out exhale as if brushing off the chaos around me.

Pushing myself upright, I carefully leaned Hina’s body against the tree.

Behind me, Serina stumbled out of the cave, coughing as she shielded her eyes from the sunlight breaking through the haze of debris.

"Esther..." she called out, her voice tinged with concern.

Without turning to face her, I gave her a command. "Take care of Hina."

Serina hesitated, her gaze dropping to the hole in my stomach, blood still trickling down my torso. "But... are you okay?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"I’m fine," I replied coldly, brushing past her without stopping.

As I walked away, a faint white glow began to emanate from the wound in my stomach. Slowly, the edges of the torn flesh knit themselves back together, closing as though the injury had never existed.

Serina stared in awe, her eyes wide as she watched my body heal itself. "Incredible..." she whispered under her breath.

Ahead of me, Gyosu stood tall and motionless, his long white hair swaying in the light breeze. A smug grin curled at the corners of his ancient face as he spoke.

"I thought those useless brats might be enough," Gyosu said, his tone heavy with arrogance. "But the moment I saw you, I knew they would fail. I had no choice but to break my oath and come here myself to fulfill it."

I stopped in my tracks, the faintest smirk tugging at my lips. "Hmph," I scoffed, tilting my head slightly. "And you really think you can take me down? You broke your oath after centuries... for this?" My voice sharpened, dripping with disdain.

"How fitting for an egoistic elf..."

I took a firm step forward, the ground beneath me cracking under the force of my aura. The black energy around me rippled and rose like heat waves, swirling violently as it grew in intensity. My hair, tousled and began to lift, defying gravity as the air around me grew heavier.

With a flick of my wrist, I summoned my dagger. It materialized in my hand with a dark shimmer, its blade sharp enough to cut the very air.

Gyosu’s grin faltered for a brief moment as he watched me, the weight of my presence pressing down like an unrelenting storm.

The battlefield had shifted, and the real fight was about to begin.

Gyosu stepped forward, his bare feet pressing into the earth with a quiet but commanding presence. I mirrored his approach and we stopped a few feet apart, the air between us charged with tension.

His white aura flared to life, rippling like smoke caught in a gust of wind. The long strands of his white hair stiffened, hardening into sharp, deadly spikes that shimmered under the sunlight. Neither of us smiled. This wasn’t a battle for pride or show—it was survival.

Without warning, one of his hair-like blades shot toward me in a blur. The speed was incredible, and I barely had time to raise my dagger. Steel met sharpened hair with a metallic clang, the force behind the strike sending me skidding backward. My boots scraped against the ground, leaving trails in the dirt as I spun on my toes to regain my footing.

The tree behind me shattered as Gyosu’s attack slammed into it, cutting down its stem.

I wasted no time and launched forward, my dagger aimed straight for his throat. My movement was swift and precise, but another strand of his hair surged between us, intercepting my blade just before it could reach him.

The impact drove him back a step, but I didn’t let up. I pressed against his defense, forcing his heels to dig into the ground.

"You feel a little weak, Gyosu," I said, my tone sharp and unwavering.

He twisted suddenly, spinning out of my range, and his foot lashed out in a high kick. I shifted instantly, damping his kick with my own. The clash of our strikes sent a shockwave rippling through the air, and the force propelled me backward.

I flipped mid-air, my body twisting gracefully before landing lightly on my toes. My balance was perfect, not a single movement wasted.

Gyosu straightened, his expression as calm and unyielding as ever. "The same could be said for you, Esther," he replied, his voice low but cutting.

The battlefield fell into a tense silence, save for the faint hum of his aura and the quiet whisper of my black energy rising like heat from my skin.