Chapter 11: 11-Zed, the Master of Shadows
The forest of Ionia was silent, almost too calm, as Sasuke and Ahri made their way through the ancient trees. The moon cast dancing shadows on their path, creating an almost supernatural atmosphere.
"Are you sure this is the right direction?" asked Ahri, her voice breaking the nocturnal silence.
Sasuke nodded without slowing his pace. "I'm not sure, the map indicated this direction," he replied, his gaze scanning the darkness ahead of them.
Ahri smiled, amused by his enigmatic response. "So we're going in blind? Well, I do love a little mystery," she teased.
Sasuke didn't reply, his face showing boredom.
They continued in silence until a presence was felt. Sasuke activated his Sharingan, his hand ready to draw his blade. Ahri also reacted by summoning her spiritual flames.
"Show yourselves, I won't repeat it."
A man suddenly emerged from the shadows, surrounded by a group of people. His intense gaze settled on Sasuke, recognizing the shadow mark left by Kayn.
"You're one of the intruders from Puboe Prison," declared Zed, his voice as sharp as the blades he wielded.
One of the disciples had warned him of what had happened in Puboe. Although the incident had upset him, he couldn't act due to the events.
Originally, he was supposed to go to Thanze for the large-scale battle. But a Noxian attack had struck the Placidium of Navori , a distress call had been sent to him by Irelia, and he had come here urgently.
But he didn't expect to come across one of the people responsible for the incident here.
Sasuke remained calm, his cold gaze betraying no emotion. "I was seeking answers," he simply replied. "I have no interest in your internal conflicts."
Zed stepped forward, his disciples dispersing around him, ready to attack. "Your actions have consequences. You've disrupted the order we're trying to establish."
Ahri, sensing the tension rising, stood by Sasuke's side. "We don't want conflict," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "We're just passing through."
Zed looked at Ahri with undisguised disdain, then turned back to Sasuke. "If you want to pass, you'll have to prove your worth."
"We don't have time for that." Replied Sasuke with coldness.
Zed's eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable under the shadow of his metal helmet. "Time is a luxury none of us can afford," he replied, his voice a low rumble that seemed to resonate in the darkness around them.
Sasuke remained silent, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword as he prepared for the inevitable confrontation. Ahri, ever the provocateur, readied herself for battle, her nine tails swaying with a controlled intensity.
The tension in the air was thick, charged with the promise of violence. Zed's disciples moved with a fluid grace, their movements synchronized as they encircled Sasuke and Ahri.
"Looks like we've got ourselves a little party," remarked Ahri, her voice laced with a hint of excitement. "Mind if we lead the dance?"
Zed's lips curled into a smirk, his gaze flickering between Sasuke and Ahri with a calculating gleam. "By all means, entertain me," he replied, his tone tinged with amusement.
Without further preamble, Zed lunged forward, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. Sasuke met the attack head-on, his own sword flashing in a blur of steel as he deflected the blow.
Ahri, not one to be left out, unleashed a barrage of magical orbs at Zed's disciples, her movements fluid and graceful as she danced between attacks.
The forest echoed with the clash of metal and the crackle of magic, a symphony of chaos and conflict. Sasuke's Sharingan burned bright with intensity, his eyes dissecting every move, every strategy employed by his adversaries.
Without another word, Zed surged forward, his shadow spreading around him like a dark cloak. Sasuke immediately reacted, his lone hand forming seals to finally unleash a concentrated blue chakra, Chidori. The lightning crackled around him, while the people present were rather surprised.
Zed watched the lightning with surprise; he didn't particularly feel any mana from the man. So he has lightning as his element? Interesting to know.
"You have a taste for drama," murmured Ahri beside him, a mischievous smile stretching her lips.
Sasuke ignored Ahri's comment, his attention fully focused on his opponent. He charged his Chidori, the electric bolt crackling with deadly power as he rushed straight towards Zed.
But Zed was fast, too fast. With a fluid movement, he dissipated into the shadows, narrowly avoiding Sasuke's attack. Sasuke cursed his opponent's technique.
'He's using the shadows to his advantage?' That's troublesome.'
Meanwhile, Ahri moved with a fluid grace, her magic weaving through the air like the ribbon of a dancer. Her attacks were swift and unpredictable, keeping Zed's disciples on the defensive as they struggled to keep up with her elusive movements.
Sasuke tightened his grip on his Chidori, his gaze burning with a fighting spirit. This man was on a whole other level from anything he had encountered so far in this world. He was probably physically above him.
In a fluid motion, he released his Chidori again, the electric bolt spreading more intensely through the forest with terrifying power.
His Sharingan twisted to keep his opponent in view. With a quick movement, Sasuke activated the power of his Rinnegan, Amenotejikara, to find himself in place of one of his opponent's shuriken.
Zed barely had time to react, his shadow warping around him to form a protective shield.
Sasuke's attack struck with devastating force, the impact shaking the ground beneath their feet. But Zed held firm, his dark silhouette standing against the power of Sasuke's attack.
"Interesting," murmured Zed, a dangerous smile stretching his lips.
A bloody hole could be observed in his armored chest, at stomach level. Sasuke had struck him deeply, but not enough to render him out of combat.
Not wasting any time, Sasuke formed seals again with his right hand, as his Sharingan glowed with arrogant coldness.
'Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu)'
Flames erupted from Sasuke's mouth, taking the form of a huge fireball. He propelled it towards Zed with explosive force, hoping to catch him off guard with this unpredictable attack.
Zed narrowly dodged the fireball, moving with superhuman agility as the flames licked the ground behind him. He turned to Sasuke, a mocking smile stretching his lips.
"You have remarkable potential," admired Zed, his voice echoing in the air around them. "But brute power isn't always enough."
Ahri's eyes widened as she watched the confrontation, her instinct telling her that something important was about to happen.
"Look out, Handsome!"
The shadows around Zed stirred and transformed into multiple copies of himself, creating a disconcerting illusion.
Blades of shadows sprang from all directions, swirling around Sasuke in a deadly dance.
'Shit, his clones are too fast.' Sasuke couldn't use powerful Genjutsu against his opponent; he couldn't see his eyes. This magic must be the cause.
His Sharingan saw everything, but he didn't have time to dodge all those shurikens.
'I have no choice.'
It was then that a determined gleam shone in Sasuke's eyes. He knew what he had to do.
In a flash of purple light, Sasuke's Susano materialized around him, an imposing and terrifying armor. The energy of the Mangekyo Sharingan pulsed through him, fueling the colossal power of his celestial avatar.
It wasn't his full Susano, but it was more than enough.
Zed's clones recoiled from Sasuke's Susano, their attacks seeming powerless against the overwhelming force of the avatar. But Zed wouldn't back down so easily.
As Zed watched Sasuke's Susano with astonishment, his expression darkened in an instant. He could feel the danger coming from this thing.
Meanwhile, Ahri watched the scene with palpable fascination. Her eyes gleamed with a mischievous light as she admired the power displayed by Sasuke.
"I must admit, I'm impressed," she murmured, a teasing smile stretching her lips. "Who would have thought such a beautiful spectacle awaited us in the middle of the forest?"
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