Rygilya Semtek watched his rival wake with a start, yelling, "Shut the hell up!" He had been mumbling in his sleep the past few hours.

Kaden looked around, taking in the icy cave. He looked as if he were thinking then a few seconds later he cringed in pain, holding his head.

The terrorist's apprentice studied the Knight. It had been three days since they fell from the sky and Rygilya found this cave.

"You saved me?" He asked.

"Returning the favor."

"Liar."

"What?"

"Liar," The brown-skinned Knight repeated. "It's because of that pact we made years back, right?"

Yes.

"Shut up, Kaden," Rygilya said annoyed at the truth.

"I thought Darkness Tamers lost memories."

"I said shut up, trash!" Rygilya jumped to his feet. "Or do you want me to kill you here!"

Kaden fell over in laughter. This trash was making light of him.

"You double-crossed Rogue but can't go back on a promise to an old friend? How sweet!" He said mockingly.

Rygilya thought to beat the annoying garbage near death but decided against it when the Knight doubled over in pain.

"Serves you right." Rygilya sat. He watched his enemies and those of Memphis die slow countless time yet when Kaden was in danger, he moved without hesitation almost against his will.

"Listen, trash. I aim to put you in the ground."

"Then I'll become even stronger than you and bring you to justice. Don't worry, I won't let them throw you into the void. I'll have them bind you."

He wanted to provoke Rygilya.

Rygilya took the bait. "I'll crush that childish dream."

Kaden laid down and observed the dancing flame that lit the cave. It served as both heat and light.

"Was that the Darkness?" Rygilya finally asked.

"Yeah." Responded the Knight.

"That Dark power you use belongs to them?"

"It's their master."

Rygilya remembered the larger Darkness state that he had a piece of their master. Kaden had the whole thing.

"When I kill you I'm going to use that power to bring down the council."

"Rygilya it's not what you think." The Knight protested. "This thing is dangerous."

"If you can handle it then so can I."

"Listen, there's a mole in the Order. Maybe they were the one to put the bounty on your sister. It's not too late for you."

They had this conversation before.

"Don't be a fool, Kaden. I'm a Darkness Tamer. I've killed plenty on behalf of Memphis. I've done unspeakable things. I can never go back to being a Knight." Rygilya stopped and looked away as he recalled memories of Arrylyn's smiling face. "Even if your council would keep me under binding or send me to the void, I want whoever made the call to die at my hands."

Only the faintest sound of the harsh wind outside could be heard before Kaden finally spoke.

"If you kill them you'll be lost, brother. You'll never find your way back." The sympathy in his voice made Rygilya snap his head to look at him.

He was watching Rygilya with eyes that held empathy.

"What the hell are you doing trash!" In his twisted mind, the other man's understanding looked like pity. He hopped to his feet and walked over to Kaden, the air around him becoming menacing. "I don't need your pity, council dog."

Kaden showed no fear. The two held each other's gaze. This trash, a lifeform weaker than he, was looking down on him. Rygilya couldn't stop the anger that rose within him. The hatred he felt wasn't for the Knight at his feet. It was for being seen as a creature worth being pitied. He knew dark mana was why his feelings felt justified but he didn't care.

Still, he struck Kaden hard in the face with his boot. It felt good. Really good. He then dropped a heavy knee to his chest. The Knight spat as he howled in pain.

"You still can't use mana?" The Darkness Tamer asked.

The Knight gasped for air. He didn't try to defend himself and Rygilya had his answer.

He proceeded to strangle Kaden, slowly applying more and more pressure. The other man struggled in his grasp as Rygilya conjured black mana. It was cold and would feel heavy on Kaden in his weakened state.

"Don't pity me, weakling. You're right. The only thing keeping you alive now is that pact but tell me, Kaden. Do you feel this difference? I still have the edge! I have a power similar to yours now! What will you do if you can't surpass me?!"

As Rygilya waited for an answer, he remembered his sister then remembered Kaden couldn't breathe. He released his windpipe and saw the bruises on his throat. The Knight took in a large gulp of air.

The Darkness Tamer stood. He walked over to his icy stomp and sat.

Silence once again held the icy cave.

"I won't lose to you."

Rygilya knew it would come. Kaden didn't like the thought of losing to him in anything. The Semtek felt similar.

"Whatever trash."

It was quite for a long time. He wondered how long he had been away. He hoped Memphis was too busy focusing on the Darkness to notice his absence.

He looked over to see his rival was asleep. Rygilya thought about killing him but decided against it. The dark power Kaden held was tempting but he wanted to crush his rival in combat.

Hours went by when Rygilya went out in search of food. Even with his thick armor, the harsh wind chilled him. The raging blizzard would be too much for anyone with low life force. It would almost certainly freeze them to death.

Shards of ice broke against his armor and skin. If he was a weakling the shards would be piercing him.

J'covia, huh.

He trudged through the unforgiving lands. The entire region was a snowy hell hole. The young man had never been but even Memphis often refused assignments in this region. Apparently, a snowstorm of this caliber was considered low category.

Rygilya spiked his mana output and dropped as something flew over head.

A blizzard ligar slid to a stop in the snow. It's fur was white. It's crystal blue eyes looked at Rygilya with hunger. It's tail wagged slowly from side to side. It was taller than Rygilya. It was pure muscle. A white mana hull surrounded it.

"Hello lunch." Said the Darkness Tamer.

The creature pounced. It moved with great speed. Rygilya spiked his mana output once more and flipped over it. He sent three black lightning spears crashing into it from above.

The beast was engulfed in a cloud of smoke and black lightning.

When the smoke cleared Rygilya saw the beast getting to it's feet.

The ligar opened its mouth as it gathered mana for an attack. It fired a ball of swirling white mana.

Fasts. Rygilya thought as he barely dogded. The attack engulfed a small glacier.

"Well, well," said Rygilya as he conjured tow spears of black lightning in each hand. "This might be fun."

An hour passed when he returned to the cave to find Kaden awake. He dropped the blizzard ligar. A beast such as this would have the nutrients needed to help replenish life force at a rapid rate.

Rygilya made a flame using wood and lightning to cook the creature.

"Eat." He told his rival.

Kaden did. The dish was mediocre at best but the Knight dug in like it was a gourmet meal.

"Thanks." He said after stuffing his face.

Rygilya stood. "This ligar should hold you for a few days. I've repaid my debt."

He moved towards the exit but stopped when Kaden called his name.

"Don't die." He said.

"Likewise, Trash."

With that, he once again walked out into the blizzard. This time, he saw two silhouettes in the distance, watching him.

He tensed. The dense mana around them made him think Divine Knights had come for him. As the figures moved closer he saw that they were beastly.

The Darkness Tamer had never seen any beast such as these. They had grey skin and long tusk. Rygilya had to note they were a sight for sure eyes.

He shaped black mana and boosted his physical attributes. He was upon the beasts in an instant and barely blocked a purple ice hammer.

The force of the attack sent him crashing through a glacier. Rygilya recovered and spiked the mana output to his armor and conjured two spears made of black lightning to parry the second creature who was surprisingly agile for its size.

Rygilya attacked with his spears but found the creature had an excellent defense, the spear only served to create sparks against there arms.

The young man was shocked, to say the least. What the hell is this thing?

He felt the crature behind him and barely evaded the shard of ice that would've made him into a shish kabob only to have a large hand grab his skull. The four thick fingers squeezed and his head ached.

The Darkness Tamer gritted his teeth as annoyance turned into rage.

"As if!" He hollered. Electricity and green fire engulfed him. The creature's hand corroded to the wrist.

He now dawned the Serpent King armor.

The beast flinched in pain for a second before moving to attack. It was too late. The head of the ugly creature lay at it's feet.

Rygilya saw the massive shard of ice and used a black lightning spear to shatter it.

A wall of black ice crashed into him. He was sent tumbling along the snow and crashing through mountains of ice.

It took him a while to recover. He slid to a stop before taking an energy blast head-on and being engulfed in a massive explosion.

The Darkness Tamer was standing in a defensive stance when the dust settle.

A dark mana attack. He thought. What am I dealing with here?

He spun in time to evade the ice hammer of an large ice golem only to meet the large fist of the unknown creature.

The young man roared in rage as his mana output skyrocketed and more black mana opened up to him. He fired corrosive flames and black lightning from in his mouth. The ice golem protected its creator but was destroyed in the process.

Rygilya conjured spears of black lightning behind him. The deformed creature in front of him used black mana to create ice.

Rygilyawas only focused on the creature before him. The thing was about twelve feet tall. It's head and torso were somewhat misshapen. It bore battle scars on its dark grey skin.

A beast that can use dark mana. Is it a terror beast?

His interested was stifled when the beast threw it's ice hammer. Rygilya moved out of the way and felt something fall at his feet. The explosion that came from it only served at annoying Rygilya even more and kick up snow.

His corrosive dragon armor shattered as well as his Darkness armor. He felt the harsh bit of the icy cold winds.

What the hell? I have plenty of life force to spare. Why can't a make mana?

Then it hit him. "Anti-mana formula." He whispered shocked. How did a creature like as this come across such technology? He learned about this chemical during tutoring sessions.

A heavy blow from behind made his legs buckle before his face fell into the snow. He rolled over to his back to search for the culprit to find a young man bundled in ragged clothing that bared the council's insignia.

The hideous beast loomed over him as he fought to stay conscious. He could feel a wound had opened up.

The beast picked him up and began to carry him, not caring if Rygilya died of blood loss. The lad followed closely beside the creature.

The last thing the young man saw was a figure in the distance. He couldn't quite make out any features but he knew who was watching them.

Don't come for me trash. I don't need saving. He thought before finally passing out.