The tension in the air was palpable. Luke's eyes blazed with a fierce determination as he yelled at the gang to stop. "Stay back! This is my fight!"
But his friends didn't listen. They were too focused on the monstrous Spectral that threatened their lives and the lives of everyone around them.
Yoji, blade in hand, charged at the Spectral, ready to land a decisive blow. Before he could make contact, Luke moved in a blur, rushing up to Yoji with a speed that defied belief. In a single, heart-stopping moment, Luke stabbed Yoji clean through the chest.
"Please… you're no match for it," Luke said, tears streaming down his face. The desperation in his voice was unmistakable.
Yoji staggered, shock and pain evident on his face. Before he could react, before he could even think of healing himself, Luke swung his arm in a swift arc, chopping Yoji's head off in one brutal, final motion.
Not a single person made a sound. It was dead quiet.
"I… I told you; this is my fight!!" Luke shouted, his voice breaking with emotion.
The other three were speechless, tears flowing from their eyes. The sight of their friend and mentor lying lifeless on the ground was too much to bear. Rei fell to her knees, clutching the grass, sobbing uncontrollably. Kaito stood motionless, his face a mask of grief, while Hana covered her mouth with her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Rei remembered the countless hours Yoji had spent training them, his patience and wisdom guiding them through the most difficult times. He had been their rock, the one they could always rely on. The pain of his loss felt like a gaping hole in her chest, an unbearable void that nothing could fill.
Kaito's mind raced with memories of Yoji's calm and steady presence, his strategic mind always one step ahead, and his unshakeable confidence that had kept them all together. The thought of facing the future without him felt like an insurmountable challenge.
Hana's tears fell freely as she knelt beside Yoji's body. She had always admired his strength and compassion, his ability to see the best in everyone and bring out their potential. The healer felt a profound sense of failure, knowing she couldn't save him, couldn't bring him back.
Suddenly, the Spectral dashed in front of Luke at Mach 1. "W-WHAT THE?!" Luke managed to yell before the Spectral punched him so hard it sent him flying at the speed of sound, slamming into a tree with bone-crushing force.
Luke was almost unconscious, blood covering his face. But he pushed himself up, staggering to his feet, his vision swimming. He charged at the Spectral, rage and grief fueling his every move.
Luke and the Spectral exchanged blows relentlessly, each strike echoing across the field. The Spectral threw a punch at Luke, who blocked it, only to realize the Spectral had stopped its punch inches from his face. Catching Luke off guard, the Spectral threw a right hook, launching him a few dozen meters.
"U-Ugh… just… like what I did before…" Luke muttered, blood gushing from his wounds.
In that moment, Luke made a realization. "I've… I've figured out your ability…"
He stood up, holding his jaw, wincing from the pain. "Your ability is to copy stuff!!" Luke declared, his voice filled with newfound clarity. "First, it was with you copying our language, which only took you a few seconds."
"And then it was with that action that caught me off guard!! I did that same exact move, where I threw a punch at you and stopped inches away from your face, catching you off guard so I could throw another!!" Luke's eyes widened as everything fell into place. "This can't be a coincidence!!!"
"Shall we… go for round 2?" Luke said, slowly raising his hands in the air, around face level.
The Spectral's eyes narrowed, recognizing the challenge.
"Hands of the Dead!!"
To Be Continued...