A Blade in the Dark

***Date Finished***: Ongoing

***Previous Role-Play***: Celestial Hoof

***Next Role-Play***:

***Timeline***: January 20th, 1585

***Setting***:
* Bellmore

***Characters Involved***:
* Medusa, Arsen

## Fan the Flames

Medusa had heard the tales of Bellmore. It was a proud kingdom with a long lineage of loyal and brave knights, a beautiful castle, and a rich culture. But when Medusa arrived, the kingdom was anything but what she had expected.

The city was in chaos, filled with people in a panicked daze. Castle Bellmore, the seat of the kingdom’s power, was encircled by a wall of fire, billowing smoke and ash. The sky was filled with an unnatural red glow that Medusa could only assume meant that the kingdom was under attack. Her heart sank. The orange sky illuminated the kingdom of Bellmore in an unsettling hue. Medusa took a deep inhale and exhaled with a sigh, feeling the rush of air and the heat radiating from the burning buildings and homes. The sound of screams and bellowing knights filled the air, and the smell of smoke and ash permeated the air. Medusa glanced around the smoldering kingdom in shock as the orange Dragon flew overhead, its wingspan wide and its fire scorching the ground and buildings.

She stumbled back, her eyes wide with disbelief before regaining her composer as she recalled meeting a dragon not even two weeks prior. She had expected to find a majestic and beautiful kingdom, not one that was engulfed in flames and destruction. What was even more horrifying was the sight of the Dragon, its mouth aflame and its tail swishing from side to side as it flew over the city. Medusa felt a chill run down her spine as she watched it in disbelief. But amidst the flames and destruction, Medusa saw something else. She saw courage and bravery in the faces of the Bellmore citizens, a courage that could not be quenched even in the face of danger. She saw knights and soldiers fighting to protect their people from the dragon, even though they were vastly outnumbered. It was then that Medusa realized that Bellmore was a kingdom of justice, a kingdom built on the foundations of courage and heroic deeds.

Medusa felt her heart swell with admiration and respect for those who defended the kingdom. She had come to Bellmore to use it as a base of operations, but now, Medusa felt that she had come to the right place. This was a kingdom that she and her people could call home. With a determined look on her face, Medusa set off to find the leader of Bellmore. She would need to find a way to save the kingdom from the Dragon and its destruction. She searched the streets, looking for someone in charge, but no one seemed to be around.

She quickly made her way through the streets, searching for the source of the chaos. As she approached the castle, she was met by a line of armoured knights, blocking her path. She stopped, her gaze settling on the leader of the group—a woman with a fierce expression and an unwavering stance. Finally, she spotted a woman in the center of town, her face a mask of determination and courage as she orders knights about while glaring at the dragon. Medusa approached her cautiously and asked, "Excuse me, ma'am. Are you in charge here?"

The woman looked up at Medusa, her face still stoic and brave. "Yes," she said, offering Medusa a curt nod. "I am Lady Katrin, leader of Bellmore Royal Knights."
“Who are you?” the Katrin asked, her voice strong and unyielding.

“I am Medusa,” she replied. “I have come to help.” The woman nodded, her eyes narrowing. “We do not need help. We are under attack, and we will fight it off.”

“What is the cause of the attack?” Medusa asked. The woman shook her head. “That doesn’t matter right now. All that matters is that we will fight it off.”

“But why?” Medusa persisted. “Who is attacking you?” The woman paused, her gaze hardening. “It’s a dragon,” she said, her voice low. “A dragon unleashed by a rival kingdom to take control of Bellmore. The current ruler is bedridden and unable to protect us.”

Medusa raised an eyebrow. “Do you need help to take it down?” The woman hesitated, her expression one of uncertainty. “I…I don’t know. We were planning to fight it, but it’s a formidable enemy and our forces are spread thin.” Medusa nodded. “I understand. I offer my help.”

Katrin looked at her, her gaze softening. “You would risk your life for us?” Medusa smiled. “I am a part of a revolutionary faction that seeks to bring peace to the world. If I can help here, I will do so gladly.”

Katrin nodded in thanks. “Very well. If you can help us, we will accept your offer.” She gestured to the knights surrounding them. “I must ask that your first task be to help evacuate the citizens from the city. I will move to secure the royal family and prepare to take down the dragon.”

Medusa bowed her head in respect. “I will do so.”

The woman nodded, then turned to her knights. “Let us prepare for battle. We must save our kingdom.” The knights all bowed before rushing off to their posts. Medusa watched them go, her heart heavy with the knowledge that so many lives might be lost in the coming battle. Taking a deep breath, she turned and began to organize the evacuation of the citizens.

It took Medusa sometime, but she managed to save as much of the civilians as possible while swiftly killing any enemy that had the misfortune of crossing her path. This was not what she had envisioned her visit to the kingdom would have gone, but it was far from boring. Just as soon as she finished ushering the last civilian she came across into the safety of the underground chambers, the roar of the dragon echoed, causing her to turn to the sky where the dragon was stood. Perched on a tall building, the dragon stared directly towards Medusa, its yellow eyes filled with rage and bloodlust. Before Medusa could react, the dragon opened its maw wide and released a stream of fire towards her.

Medusa, acting fast, summoned a large amount of darkness in front of her which blocked and absorbed the fire. Despite the darkness, the heat of the dragon's flames was so intense that Medusa felt as if she were standing in a furnace. With a determined expression, Medusa willed the darkness to remain and form a shield around her, deflecting the flames from the dragon's breath. Holding her breath, Medusa felt her heart pounding in her chest as she faced off with the dragon, unsure of what her fate would be.
The dragon, seeing that its fire had been blocked, flew from its perch and circled the sky, its wings beating against the cold evening air. Medusa steadied herself, her senses alert and ready for the dragon's next move. The dragon then dove towards the ground, its claws extended and its immense figure blocking out the stars above. Just before it reached Medusa, she felt a surge of energy within her. With a fierce determination, Medusa called upon the powers of the darkness once more to do her bidding and threw her arms into the air, her hands shaking with a strength she never knew she had.

A torrent of darkness began to swirl around her, and in the center of the storm Medusa's own strength began to manifest itself. The wind around her picked up and spun faster and faster, until a barrier of pure darkness surrounded her and pushed back the dragon's attack, deflecting it and causing the dragon to retreat once more. As the dragon flew away, Medusa collapsed onto the ground, exhausted from the power she had wielded. Looking up to the sky, she saw that the dragon had been pushed back and was retreating into the darkness. A feeling of relief and accomplishment washed over her as she realized that she had managed to fend off the beast. As the dragon flew away, Medusa vowed that she would never again be powerless against the forces of evil. With the memories of her battle still fresh in her mind, she slowly made her way back to the underground chambers, her steps lighter knowing that she had made the right decision that night.

The King of Wolfim sat in the middle of the clearing, surrounded by his advisors, preparing to discuss their plans of attack against the kingdom. The sun had just begun to set, casting an orange glow over the countryside. The King looked up at the sky, his steely gaze reflecting the waning light, and gave a deep, satisfied sigh.
It had been a long journey to get here, and now that their destination was within reach, he could feel the anticipation building in his chest. His advisors, a group of aged and experienced generals, looked on with respect and admiration, their faces grave.

The King drew his cloak around his shoulders and began to speak. “My friends, we have come to this place to discuss our plans of attack against the kingdom. Our enemy is powerful and formidable, and our victory will not come easily. We must be prepared, both mentally and physically, to face whatever comes our way. Our strategy must be calculated, precise, and ruthless if we are to succeed.” The King paused, his eyes searching the faces of his advisors. He saw hunger and determination in their eyes, and it pleased him. He continued.

“We will divide our forces into three groups. The first group will be our vanguard, led by the most experienced generals in our army. This group will be tasked with the responsibility of engaging the enemy and drawing their forces away from the main body. The second group will be our main body, led by myself, and will make up the bulk of our forces. This group will be responsible for the main thrust of the attack. The third group will be our reserves, and will remain behind in the event that our main body needs reinforcements.” The King paused again, surveying the faces of his advisors. He saw nods of agreement and approval, and felt a swell of pride in his chest. He continued.

“Our first objective upon reaching the kingdom’s wall will be to breach it. We will use whatever techniques and strategies that we can in order to accomplish this. Once we have breached the wall, we will move quickly to occupy the kingdom’s main stronghold. We will then begin our siege, using whatever methods we can to weaken their defenses and break their spirit. From there, we will move to take control of the rest of the kingdom.” The King’s voice had become harder, more resolved, as he spoke. His advisors watched him with admiration and respect, knowing that he would do whatever it took to bring victory for their people.

The King finished his speech, and the silence that followed was filled with determination and anticipation. Finally, one of the advisors spoke. “Your Majesty, your plan is sound. We are ready to go, and we will do whatever it takes to bring our people victory.”

The King smiled.

“Then let us march, my friends. We have a kingdom to conquer.”

The advisors erupted in a cheer, and the King and his advisors began to make their preparations. After a few moments, the King and his advisors had gathered their supplies and were ready to march. The King looked up at the sky one last time, and then turned to his advisors and gave the order to march. The army marched on through the night, and by morning they could see the kingdom’s wall in the distance. They paused for a moment to rest, and then the King gave the order to march forward once again. As they drew nearer to the wall, the King could feel his heart beating faster. He knew that this was the moment of truth, and his plan had to succeed if they were to have any chance of victory.

As The King of the Wolfim began to move, his advisors on his heels. He shielded his eyes as he peered up into the clouds. A bellowing roar echoed across the camp, and soon a dark shadow emerged from the heavens. They watched as it descended towards them, getting larger with each moment.

The body of the beast stretched and folded into itself and soon two feet speared the earth. As it landed the beast disappeared, replaced by a man with long black hair and a wild, feral look in his eyes. The King of the Wolfim took a step forward, his advisors close behind. “Why have you returned Drago?” the king demanded.

Drago hesitated. “I have come to warn you, sire. there is a woman within the Bellmore kingdom that possessed the power to force me to retreat.”

“What?” the King demanded in outrage as he had personally trained Drago to be unstoppable. “How was she able to accomplish this?” He demanded from the draconic man.

“She wields the power of darkness, yet it seemed like something else all together,” Drago said. The King waved his hand dismissively. “It matters not,” he said. “I have hired a wandering samurai to aid us in the siege. He will be able to handle anything Medusa throws our way.”

Drago bowed his head. “As you wish, Sire. I will leave then.” Turning away, Drago caught sight of the hired Samurai seated a bit off to the side.

The camp buzzed with excitement and anticipation, the soldiers eagerly prepping for their imminent invasion. Arsen, on the other hand, reclined comfortably, watching their activity with mild disinterest. The twin katanas at his waist seemed to draw the gaze of many, a subtle whisper of death that caused even the bravest of men to avoid his piercing and intimidating gaze.

He overheard soldiers speak in hushed tones about his past endeavors. Some said he fought and defeated an entire army single-handedly, while others believed he once sailed with the infamous pirates of the Grand Line. Arsen couldn't exactly deny some of them but still didn't like how exaggerated some of the rumors were starting to get as he sighed.

"*Why'd I take this job in the first place*?" He grumbled but already knew the reason as his funds were starting to go dry during his travels. It was rather expensive travelling through the New World by yourself and Arsen couldn't remember the last time he had collected the bounty off of some bandit or pirate. As such, when they had presented him with the rather luxorious offer of being a hired mercenary and to rampage as he pleased, it was a rather hard thing to turn down as another sigh escaped his lips.

The thought of being bound to someone's service wasn't really his cup of tea. Arsen was used to a life of freedom, choosing which battle to fight and when. Yet the enticing offer had drawn him in, the promise of gold and the freedom to unleash his wrath on any who stood in his way. But now, as he reflected on the job, he realized that perhaps there was more to this contract than he initially thought as he recalled the information regarding the woman who wielded the power of darkness.

A smirk played on Arsen's lips. He knew all too well about Devil Fruits – fruits granting supernatural abilities at the cost of one's ability to swim. He had lost count how many devil fruit users he had fought against throughout the years, some incredibly powerful while others incredibly weird. If Medusa was indeed a Devil Fruit user, this would indeed make for an interesting encounter as he stood up and began walking through the camp.

Medusa arrived at the palace, her eyes taking in the lavish decor and grandeur of the King's court. She followed a guard who had been assigned to her, leading her down the intricately carved hallways and ornate doorways. Finally, they stopped at a grand room, with vast windows that looked out over the kingdom. In the center of the room was a large throne, with a man slumped on it.

Medusa immediately recognized him as the King, his body frail and posture slumped. She stepped closer to get a better look, her gaze drawn to the fact that there were several doctors around him, their heads bowed in a grave discussion.

Katrin, who was standing beside them, turned and saw Medusa. She crossed the room in a few hurried steps and gave her a thankful smile. "Thank you for the help you gave to our people before," she said before turning to the King. "Your Majesty, I must question your decision to move about with your health failing."

The King waved off her concern, his voice thin but full of authority. "It is a King's duty to ensure the safety of his people, even when he is not at full strength," he replied. Katrin nodded, her brow furrowed in worry. She turned to Medusa, her eyes brightening when she saw her. "Medusa, I'd like you to meet His Majesty, King Farron," she said, pointing to the man on the throne. "Fate has brought you here in our hour of need."

The King coughed violently, and the doctors rushed to him, the intensity of their concern evident in their expressions. Medusa watched as they tried to help him, her heart heavy for the man before her. She stepped closer and cleared her throat, her voice barely a whisper. "Your Majesty, I cannot help but notice your decline in health. Please tell me, what has befallen you?"

Katrin sighed and stepped forward, her voice heavy. "The King was poisoned. Our healers have done all they can, but his time is running out. That is why he is so eager to protect the kingdom."

Medusa felt her heart twist with sympathy for the King, and her determination to help him grow. She raised her chin, her gaze imploring. "Katrin, I would like to offer my assistance. I am willing to take down the dragon that threatens your kingdom."

Katrin protested towards the suggestion but the cut her off agreeing to Medusa's offer before standing up with the help of a few knights and walking towards the main gate. A few moments later, Medusa stood at the main gates of the palace, her eyes taking in the vast destruction wrought upon the kingdom. Everywhere she looked was a scene of death and destruction. The weight of her decision bore down onto her, but she chose to ignore it. She was a revolutionary, she vowed to bring about peace and justice to the world, and this was the only way she could do that.

The King stood beside her, his face etched with an ever-present sadness. He had taken her stand and knew what it meant for his kingdom and for his people. He did not lie when he said he wanted peace, but he had no choice but to allow her to step out into the enemy’s territory. Katrin nodded in agreement, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Medusa stepped forward, her expression determined. She had been willing to do this since the beginning.
Without another word, she opened the gates and stepped out into the enemy territory. Katrin watched her go, her heart aching. She wished Medusa all the best as she made her way into the unknown.

The enemy troops watched her approach, their faces full of hostility and anger. Katrin could feel their hatred emanating out from them and she shuddered. Medusa was fearless in the face of their hatred, she held her head high and faced them with a courage that Katrin wished she had. Suddenly, the sound of a roar cut through the air. Katrin turned her head to see Drago in his dragon form, his wingspan wide and tail twitching with anticipation.

The night sky had barely begun to lighten as Medusa sprinted across the clearing. She had heard the distant rumble of the dragon’s roar and knew that her time was limited. If she did not face the beast soon, no one would be able to stop it. The blade of her sword glinted in the moonlight, a sharp contrast to the deep darkness that surrounded her, She had acquired the weapon from a mysterious figure a few days before, and had immediately chosen to take it with her on this task. She felt an unnatural bond with the weapon, as if it was a part of her. Almost as if it had been crafted just for her.

The dragon was encircled by a ring of flame and Medusa knew that her attack would be greeted with a blast of fire. She steeled herself for the challenge ahead. Gripping her sword tightly, she felt the darkness inside her begin to rise and she despised the feeling But she was determined to use whatever advantage she could to face the dragon head on. Without hesitation, she stepped through the flames. The fire licked at her skin but it did not burn. Instead, it seemed to caress her as the darkness inside her began to grow. She felt her sword become infused with the dark power that was coursing through her and a wave of calmness washed over her.

Drago roared again, this time in anticipation. He sensed her presence and was eager to face her.

Medusa leapt forward, slicing through the air with her sword. The dragon retaliated with a blast of fire, but Medusa used her darkness to split the flames down the middle. This seemed to stun Drago and Medusa quickly moved in, She focused her energy and thrust her sword forward, creating a thing slash across his arm which caused Drago to reeled back in pain and screamed in rage.

Medusa quickly moved in once more this time aiming for the kill, but Drago was not ready to give in. With a flick of his tail, he sent a wave of flames towards her. Medusa reacted quickly, coating her sword with the darkness that was still coursing through her body. Using the weapon like a shield, she split the flames in half and charged forward.

The air crackled with anticipation as Drago crouched low, his tail twitching in anticipation as he surveyed his opponent. Medusa was a formidable foe; a powerful woman who he noted had quick reflexes and deadly accuracy. He was not sure he would be able to prevail against her unscaled even with his thick dragon hide, especially in the confined space of the small area she kept ducking into. She seemed to regard him with amusement, one eyebrow raised in silent challenge, as if daring him to try his luck.

He had been in this position many times before, and each time he had emerged victorious. Still, this time would be different; he could feel it in his bones. The stakes were high, and the consequences of failure would be dire. He growled low in his throat, every muscle in his body tensing as he prepared to strike. Medusa seemed to sense his intention and leapt into action first, her sword swinging towards him with deadly accuracy, thick darkness covering it's blade. He just managed to duck in time, but and unknown force sent him skidding across the stone floor, something which was truly a feat giving his size and weight. He scrambled to his feet and launched himself at Medusa, his powerful jaws ready to take a large chunk out of her flesh.

Medusa having anticipated this however was too quick for him; she darted away from his attack and slammed her hand into the stone wall, ripping a large chunk out of it. Drago was momentarily stunned, and before he could recover, she had already leapt away and was readying herself for another attack. He growled in annoyance and prepared to attack again, this time opting to use his claws instead of his jaws.

With a loud roar, he launched himself at his opponent, the tips of his claws glinting in the light as he made contact with her. The force of the blow knocked her back, sending her crashing into the stone wall. He followed up with a blast of fire, but Medusa had recovered quickly and managed to dodge the attack. He growled in frustration, but she was ready for him; her claws and teeth flashing as she readied herself for another confrontation.

Suddenly, Drago stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing and his ears twitching as though he had sensed something in the darkness. He put his hand up, silently signaling for Medusa to do the same. She did, her heart pounding in her chest. Then, they both heard it. A faint sound, like the unsheathing of a sword. The sound sent a chill down their spines and they held their breath, afraid of what might be lurking in the night.

Instinctively, Drago began to turn his head in the direction of the sound. But, before he could see what was causing it, he felt a searing pain in his neck. Medusa watched in horror as Drago's eyes widened in surprise and then went blank.

The figure in the darkness stepped into the moonlight, revealing himself to be a tall, dark-haired man brandishing a long, ornately decorated sword.

"Apologies" His voice was hoarse as his lips curved into a small smirk as he held onto the katana in his hand, it's silver blade shining under the moonlight alongside the blue katana that was attached to his waist. "I usually don't like to cut into other people's duels, but I had some business to settle with this one" He stated as his gaze shifted down to Drogo before locking back onto Medusa.

"I take it your the woman everyone's been talking about" Arsen surmised as he sheathed his blade and rested his hand atop of his hilt. "Medusa I believe you were called"

"That would Depend on who is asking" Medusa answered by looking at Arsen with interest, having just observed him decapitate a Dragon with ease. She expected to face a formidable foe during this conflict, but she didn't expect one so virtuously famous. "To think the prideful and arrogant King of Wolfim would hire outside, especially from a Pirate," she said elegantly as she looked for the severed dragon but was surprised to see a headless human in its place which she soon realized meant that the dragon was a devil fruit user.

"Silver Dragon Arsen" Medusa stated revealing she knew who he was. "I would expect you to fight for the kingdom's defense and freedom instead of attempting to take it over" She questioned while refering to his part in quelling the Revolt of the Sindra.

Arsen shrugged nonchalantly, his gaze never leaving Medusa. "The circumstances back then were different. I owed someone a favor," he explained with a casual tone. "If I'm being honest with you, I'm not the least bit interested in this war. I'm just doing the job I was hired for." His crimson eyes glinted with a mixture of curiosity and something darker, more primal. "Allthough, I'll admit I was a bit intrigued by the rumors of a powerful devil fruit user," he added, his voice carrying a hint of challenge.

The air around Arsen seemed to thicken with an almost tangible bloodlust, an aura that was as intimidating as it was fascinating as it coiled around his body like a snake. He shifted his position slightly, his hand resting on the hilt of his katana, a subtle but clear indication of his readiness for combat.

"I'm curious to see if you live up to the rumors," he continued, the smirk on his face growing. "How about it? Are you willing to play with me for a bit?"

"Hoh?" Medusa noted as her lone eye narrowed into slits and she tightened her grip on the Handel of Kallisto as the air around her got thick with bloodlust. Medusa rushes forward, swiping her blade at Arsen without pausing for a moment. The grace and agility of Medusa's movements was something that would leave most unprepared yet she knew better than to underestimate him, even though she had never faced him in battle before.

Arsen's smirk never faltered as he watched the horned woman dash towards him with impressive speed, aiming a direct slash towards his seemingly unguarded torso. As her blade sliced through the air with deadly intent towards him, Arsen's response was to simply unsheathe his blade and raise it between himself and Medusa, obstructing the woman's sword as he masterfully blocked her weapon without taking a single step as the sound of steel clashing against steel echoed through the night.

In the same fluid motion, Arsen planned to exploit Medusa's forward momentum and use it against her as he sidestepped and slid Medusa's sword off his own katana. In doing so, he broke free from the clash momentarily as he followed up by spinning on the heel of his foot like a seasoned dancer, his silver katana moving with him as if it were an extension of his arm as he drew a clear arc in the form of a backwards slash aimed directly at Medusa's unguarded neck. All of these movements were excuted within the span of a blink as Arsen's blade was aiming right towards the back of the woman's neck, its intent clear as it tore through the air.

Before the sword could strike, the ground beneath their feet moved slightly before erupting upwards as a white-scaled snake lunged fang first for the ark of Arsen. Its intention is as apparent as day.

Medusa returned her gaze with a sneer on her face as she stabbed her blade into the ground, using it as a source of stability while providing balance to rotate her body enough to aim her gun at Arsen's head before firing a few bullets. Meanwhile, the snake curled its tail around Medusa's leg, dragging her closer to Arsen.

All of this happened in a matter of seconds.

As Medusa fired her gun, Arsen's sixth sense alerted him of the trajectory of the bullets as the samurai reacted by merely shifting his head to the side, just enough to let the bullets whiz past, each one missing its mark by mere inches as Arsen's crimson eyes never left Medusa's figure for a moment.

Meanwhile as the white-scaled snake lunged at his arm that held his sword, Arsen's reaction was instinctual as he immediately dropped low to the ground, the snake's fangs missing him as it passed overhead. Using the momentum from his duck, Arsen spun on the ground, his leg sweeping out in a powerful arc aimed directly at Medusa's planted sword as the force of his kick was enough to dislodge the sword from the ground, effectively disrupting Medusa's balance in mid-air from suddenly having her center of balance thrown off.

Without her sword lodged into the ground to support her weight, Arsen would seize Medusa's brief moment of vulnerability as he sprung up from his crouched position, his body coiling with athletic grace as he aimed an upward slash directly at Medusa's airborne body, flowing into the movement as if everything had been planned out from the beginning.

Not being one to simply submit to an attack, Medusa, a formidable sorceress, found herself in a precarious position when Arsen, a skilled warrior, closed in on her. Determined to defend herself, Medusa tapped into her vast array of powers, unleashing a spread of darkness that enveloped her surroundings. The darkness served a dual purpose - to protect herself and to repel Arsen away, In this critical moment, Medusa realized that she had made a grave mistake by allowing him to get too close. She vowed never to repeat this error again. Drawing strength from the Yami Yami no Mi, a legendary Devil Fruit she had acquired, Medusa weaved the darkness into a singular motion. With a wave of her hand, the darkness transformed into a swarm of ethereal snakes, writhing and hissing as they surged towards Arsen. Their shadowly fangs gleamed with a malevolent glow, eager to strike down the warrior. As the snakes darted through the air, Medusa extended her will, guiding the darkness to coil protectively around her, creating a shield that pushed her out of Arsen's path.

Yet, Medusa's was not done as her creativity knew no bounds. She wove intricate patterns with her fingers, her touch imbuing the snakes with a venom so potent that it defied comprehension. As they closed in on Arsen, the snakes coordinated their attacks, proving to be an overwhelming force. The first snake lunged forward, its fangs aimed for Arsen's heart. With each passing moment, the darkness around Medusa grew stronger, reinforcing her defenses and amplifying the potency of her attacks.

"*Oh?*" Arsen's eyes that were previously narrowed widened not with fear but with a spark of interest as Medusa's devil fruit took form. The darkness, now molded in to the shape of snakes, surged towards him with the intent to devour him. However, Arsen, far from being deterred, seemed almost intrigued by the challenge as his signature smirk bore on his face as he reached for the azure katana at his waist.

As he gripped the hilt, his energy flowed into the blade, infusing it with a potent force as the katana became lit with a brilliant blue aura that illuminated the snakes and darkness now surrounding him. In a swift, fluid motion, Arsen swung Seiryu in a clear, decisive arc; the movement both graceful and deadly as the power held within the swing gave birth towards a gigantic slash of pure energy, a wave of force so intense it seemed to tear the very air apart. The blue energy clashed with the darkness, vaporizing the ethereal snakes with ease as their shadowy forms were unable to withstand the sheer force of Arsen's spiritual and physical attack.

The wave of energy would continue forward as it surged towards Medusa with a ferocity that matched Arsen's glare as it intended to dissect the horned woman right down the middle.

Medusa, faced with the formidable wave of energy unleashed by Arsen to disperse her Dark Snakes, remained unfazed and resolute. Gripping Kallisto, her cherished black blade, she harnessed the power of the Yami Yami no Mi, channeling the essence of darkness into the weapon. With a swift and skilled motion, she set the blade into a whirling pattern, conjuring a dark whirlpool that eagerly awaited the impending energy wave.

As the wave approached, the whirlpool, composed of the inky blackness from Medusa's blade, seamlessly absorbed the energy, melding with the surrounding darkness and halting it's progress. In a brief yet profound moment, Medusa fixated her gaze on the flowing darkness that had successfully absorbed Arsen's formidable attack. There was a sense of incredulity in her stare, as if she couldn't believe the effectiveness of the gamble she had just undertaken. While she was aware of the Yami Yami no Mi's capability to absorb all it touched, the literal and complete absorption of Arsen's attack seemed to surpass her expectations.

The realization of the extent of her Devil Fruit's power unfolded before her eyes, and Medusa's expression hinted at a mixture of surprise and satisfaction. This unexpected success not only highlighted the potency of the Yami Yami no Mi but also underscored Medusa's intuitive understanding and growing mastery of its abilities. In that moment, the darkness became not just a shield but a malleable force under her control.

With the sudden understanding of exactly what her Devil Fruit was capable of decided to test another theory in her mind. Slowly Medusa raised Kallisto above her head, gripping it tightly as the darkness continued to swirl around it, Glaring down at Arsen, Medusa with precision slashed down, and watcehd with glee as she effectively expelled the absorbed energy wave back towards Arsen and at a higher velocity.

Arsen's eyes tracked the incoming wave of energy that was hurled back at him with even greater force by Medusa with an observant gaze. With a nimble leap, he sprang back, evading the slash that tore through the air where he had stood moments before. Debris flew in all directions as the energy wave collided with the ground as Arsen landed gracefully on a nearby wall, maining his balance with ease as he whistled.

"Well, aren't you just full of surprises?" he called out, his voice carrying over the din of settling debris. "Absorbing my and throwing it back at me, your a bold one" He snorted. Internally, Arsen acknowledged the challenge that Medusa's fruit posed with this new revelation.

"*I'll have to be a bit more careful*" he thought, reassessing his strategy. The darkness fruit that Medusa had in her control had granted her powers that defied conventional combat wisdom, and he knew he'd regret underestimating what it could do. He pondered momentarily on the limits of her absorption capabilities before smiling; if she was going to be a bit unconventional, so was he.

Taking in a deep breath, the cold air began to fill his Arsen's lungs and invigorated the muscles throughout his body as he felt a surge of power course through his legs, a prelude to the explosive movement he was about to execute. With a force that shattered the remnants of the wall beneath him, Arsen launched himself forward like a comet straight towards Medusa. His movement was a blur, a human rocket cutting through the air with astounding speed as his eyes gleamed dangerously onto the figure of the darkness woman as his hand laid on the sheathed Shohei across his hip. His body tensed, every muscle coiled like a spring, giving the illusion that he was about to unsheathe his sword for a decisive slash in an attempt to force Medusa's guard up. But in a twist that defied expectation, his form vanished mid-flight, leaving behind nothing but an afterimage, a ghostly echo of his intended path.

Medusa, anticipating the slash, would surely prepare her defense, her focus entirely on the trajectory Arsen had seemed to commit to. But in that critical instant, Arsen exploited the diversion he had created. He reappeared, not where Medusa had expected, but directly below her on her left side, right out of her light of vision and in her blind spot with a flawlessly executed feint.

Without missing a beat, instead of drawing his sword, Arsen used the hilt of his still-sheathed weapon as the focal point of his attack as he aimed the hilt with tremendous force at Medusa's unguarded abdomen, a targeted strike at her rib cage.

"*Fool*," Medusa thought as she felt Arsen's attack puncture the darkness that surrounded her with hidden glee. It seemed in his rush to counter the attack she had returned, he had forgone strategic thinking and as such, As soon as his attack touched the darkness, it and by extension, him would be pulled into the void that enveloped her. To ensure this, she warped the darkness around them, forming a thick ball that enclosed Arsen and prevented him from escaping, This could prove to be a gamble but she wasn't afraid; nobody had ever escaped the Yami Yami's gravitational force, not anyone. She knew that this Devil Fruit was what made Roxy the Greed so powerful.

Within the swirling abyss, Arsen would struggle against the relentless force of the Yami Yami no Mi. The darkness that would pull at him from all sides, making escape seem futile. Medusa observed this with a cold and calculating gaze, confident in the power of her Devil Fruit. As the inky blackness surrounded them, she remained composed, knowing that Arsen's impulsive actions had played right into her hands.

As Medusa's darkness closed in around Arsen, he found himself on the cusp of being engulfed by the void. The gravity of the Yami Yami no Mi exerted its relentless pull as the samurai immediately felt the danger Medusa's darkness held, feeling the gravitational effect of the darkness around him that would soon have him in its clutches.

Before that happened however, Arsen would show Medusa that he hadn't recklessly jumped into her domain without a plan as the hilt of his katana continued forward towards the darkness. Before it reached it however, Arsen closed his eyes, tapping into a deep, inner reservoir of his willpower, his Haki aligning with that of the spirit of Seiryu, the Blue Dragon that dwelled within his blade. In doing so, a brilliant blue aura crackling with spiritual electricity soon sparked off him in a display of raw power that illuminated the growing darkness surrounding both him and Medusa as if he were miniature sun.

"Reito-ryu..." Arsen uttered, his voice resonating with power as he fluidly and at a speed that the untrained eye couldn't begin to comprehend, clutched onto the hilt of Seiryu while it was still headed towards Medusa and unsheathed the blade from its sheath before it reached her as he spun around, drawing a clear arc with his blade in a full circular motion.

"**Seiryū no Nagare**"

The resulting supersonic speed at which Arsen unleashed his spiritually charged sword slash unleashed a hellstorm of electricity that expanded outwards in every direction, taking the shape of relentless dragon shaped lightning bolts that raged like an untameable beast against the encroaching darkness. The ground beneath them quaked from the strength of the swing as the omni-dimensional nature of Arsen's attack created a scenario where Medusa's absorption capabilities would be stretched to their limits as the never ending barrage of electric energy attacked from every conceivable angle.

The attack brought with it a dilemma for the horned woman as Medusa attempted to entrap Arsen but at the same time, was being assualted by this fierce maelstrom of power that clashed against her protective shadows. The electricity, infused with the essence of the samurai's honed and precise Haki, was capable of resisting, if even for a moment, the gravitational pull of the darkness as the radiant and wild attack rushed towards Medusa and anything within the vicinity.