CRYSTAL MAN

*7:20 AM. Sewer Level 4, Melbourne.*

The air got colder with every step down. The red light from above faded. Now the only light came from glowing cracks in the walls. Black crystals, pulsing like veins.

Water was gone. The floor was dry stone. And the sound...

_GRIND. GRIND. GRIND._

Like a mountain being crushed.

Lily held both their hands tighter. "It’s loud."

"It’s him." Selena said quietly. "Crystal Man."

Ethan walked in front now. Fury Blade was still active from yesterday, humming faintly in his knife. "One key down. Two to go."

They reached another door. This one was different. Not iron. Not wood.

It was made entirely of crystal. Black and jagged. In the center, a slot shaped like a key.

`[BOSS ENCOUNTER: CRYSTAL MAN]`

`[RULE: SINGLE COMBAT ONLY]`

`[REWARD: KEY 2/3]`

Selena touched the door. It was freezing. "He’s strong. Stronger than Mara."

Ethan looked at her. Her hand was still bandaged from yesterday. "Rest. This one’s mine."

Selena wanted to argue. But she saw it in his eyes. The same look he had when Mara hurt her.

She nodded. "Don’t get cocky. He controls the ground."

"I know." Ethan cracked his neck. "Watch Lily."

He pushed the crystal door. It opened without a sound.

Inside was a massive cavern. The ceiling was so high they couldn’t see it. The floor was a lake of black crystal shards. And in the middle, sitting on a throne of crystal, was Crystal Man.

Bald. Huge. His skin looked like it was covered in black stone. Crystals jutted out of his shoulders, back, and fists. When he breathed, the whole cavern vibrated.

He opened his eyes. They were solid black. No pupils.

"Another one." His voice was deep. It shook dust from the ceiling. "The Bonded pair. The male this time."

Ethan stepped in. The door closed behind him.

`[BOSS FIGHT STARTED]`

---

*THE FIGHT*

Crystal Man didn’t stand. He just raised one hand.

The floor reacted.

Spikes shot up from the crystal lake. Dozens of them.

Ethan used Thunder Step. _WHOOSH_

He weaved between them. The spikes missed by inches.

"Fast." Crystal Man rumbled. "But not fast enough."

He slammed both fists down.

The entire floor lifted. A wave of crystal shards rolled toward Ethan like a tsunami.

Ethan jumped. Landed on a spike. Then another. Parkouring across the wave.

He reached the middle. Swung his knife.

`[FURY BLADE]`

The blade hit Crystal Man’s arm. Sparks flew.

A shallow cut. Black blood.

Crystal Man didn’t even flinch. He grabbed Ethan’s wrist.

His grip was like stone. Ethan couldn’t pull free.

"Your little knives mean nothing to me." Crystal Man squeezed.

Ethan felt bone grind. He drove his knee into the man’s gut.

Crystal Man let go and laughed. "That tickles."

He stood. The throne shattered behind him. He was easily 7 feet tall.

"Let me show you real power."

He stomped.

The cavern shook. From the walls, hundreds of crystal spears launched.

Ethan rolled, ducked, cut. One got his leg. Pain shot up.

Another grazed his cheek.

He was bleeding from 5 places in 20 seconds.

Outside, Selena felt every hit through the bond. She gripped the door. "Ethan..."

"Don’t." Lily said. "He has to do this alone."

Ethan was on one knee now, breathing hard. Blood on the crystal floor.

Crystal Man walked toward him, slow. Each step made new crystals grow.

"Give up." Crystal Man said. "Join us. The Second Black Moon will remake the world. You can rule at our side."

Ethan looked up. Blood in his eye. "No."

"Then die."

Crystal Man raised both arms. The ceiling above cracked open. A massive crystal pillar, 3 meters wide, began to fall.

Right on top of Ethan.

---

Ethan didn’t move. He closed his eyes for one second.

He remembered Sydney. The first night. Hiding with Lily.

He remembered the bond. Selena’s pain yesterday.

He remembered the promise. "I’ll protect you."

His eyes opened. Red.

`[RAGE: UNLOCKED]`

`[FURY BLADE: MAX]`

The knife in his hand began to vibrate. Then glow.

Ethan moved.

He didn’t run from the pillar. He ran AT it.

Thunder Step. Three times.

He was on the pillar in 2 seconds, running up its side.

Crystal Man stared, shocked.

Ethan reached the top. And brought the knife down.

Not at Crystal Man.

At the pillar itself.

`[FURY BLADE: PIERCING STRIKE]`

The blade went in. And kept going.

Crack after crack spread through the massive crystal.

_BOOM_

The pillar exploded. Shards rained down.

Ethan dropped through the dust, landing in a crouch in front of Crystal Man.

Before the big man could react, Ethan was already moving.

One cut to the knee. Crystal cracked.

Second cut to the elbow. More cracks.

Third cut to the chest. Right over the heart.

Crystal Man stumbled back. For the first time, pain crossed his face.

"You..." He looked down at the cracks spreading across his body. "How..."

Ethan stood. Breathing hard. Blood dripping from his knife. "Because I have something to protect."

Crystal Man roared and swung one last time.

Ethan sidestepped. And drove his knife straight into the biggest crystal on the man’s chest.

_SHATTER_

Crystal Man froze. Then he began to break. Starting from the chest, cracks spread everywhere.

He fell to his knees. Then shattered into thousands of black pieces.

Silence.

The cavern stopped shaking.

`[BOSS DEFEATED]`

`[ITEM OBTAINED: HIGH COMMAND KEY 2/3]`

The key was lying on the ground where Crystal Man had been. Black, carved with crystal patterns.

Ethan picked it up with shaking hands. He was hurt. Bad. But he was standing.

The door opened.

Selena rushed in. "Ethan!"

She caught him before he fell. "You idiot. You’re bleeding everywhere."

Ethan smiled weakly. "Got the key."

"I can see that." She healed him with the last of their crystals. The deep cuts closed. The broken ribs mended.

Lily hugged him. "Bro you were so cool!"

Ethan ruffled her hair. "Told you I’d protect you."

---

*20 MINUTES LATER*

Back in the main hall. The second slot on the platform lit up. They placed Key 2/3 inside.

`[LOCK 2/3 OPENED]`

`[1 LOCK REMAINING]`

`[FINAL BOSS: WINGED BOY]`

From even deeper below, they heard it. The sound of wings. And chanting. Louder now.

`[RITUAL POWER: 50%]`

`[TIME: 36 HOURS REMAINING]`

Selena looked at Ethan. He was pale but standing. "You did good."

Ethan shrugged. "You did better yesterday."

She almost smiled. "We’re even now."

They both looked down. One stairwell left. And at the bottom, the last member of High Command.

Winged Boy.

"Final fight." Ethan said. "After this, we hit the ritual site."

Selena nodded. She drew her katana. "Together this time. No more solo rules."

"Agreed." Ethan said. "Partner."

Lily stood between them. "Let’s finish it."

The three of them walked to the last stairs.

Down.

Where the air was hot, and red light filled everything, and the chanting of the Cult echoed like a drum.

The Second Black Moon was coming.

And they were almost out of time.