The night sky over the desolate battlefield was illuminated by the flickering glow of distant stars, casting an eerie light on the scene below. You stood at the edge of the field, your eyes locked on the figure of Blade. With his striking appearance and deadly reputation, he was a figure both feared and revered.

Blade, alongside Kafka, had been wreaking across regions, leaving chaos in their wake. Your mission was to stop them, to end their reign of terror. But as you faced him now, the task seemed more daunting than ever. Blade's eyes glowed with a feral light, a clear sign that the Mara—an affliction that plagued him—was taking hold. It was said to drive those affected into madness, amplifying their powers but eroding their sanity.

"Well, well," Blade's voice cut through the silence, smooth yet tinged with a dangerous edge. "If it isn't my favorite adversary."

You tightened your grip on your weapon, refusing to be intimidated. "Blade," you acknowledged, keeping your tone steady. "This ends tonight."

He chuckled, the sound dark and mocking. "Always so serious. Do you really think you can stop me? The Mara is strong. Stronger than ever."

You noticed the faint tremor in his hands, the slight twitch in his expression. Signs of the Mara's influence. "You don't have to do this," you said, trying to reach the man behind the madness. "You can still fight it."

Blade's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint in them. "Fight it? Why would I? This power... it's liberating." He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "Besides, we both know you're not here to save me. You're here to kill me."

The accusation hung in the air, and you struggled to find the right words. "I'm here to stop you, yes. But it doesn't have to end in bloodshed."

He laughed again, a harsh, bitter sound. "Naive as always. You've seen what I can do, what I've done. Do you really think there's any other way?"

Before you could respond, Blade lunged at you, his movements swift and lethal. The battle began in earnest, relentless and fueled by the Mara.