"Hahahahahahaha!!!"
"That's right, that's right, exactly! This is the battle I've been waiting for, the final showdown."
"Today, all grudges between us will end in this fair fight! I'll take your life with my own hands once more and declare my victory to the gods, to the entire world!!"
"So die obediently…"
"Karna!!!"
"Arjuna!!!"
…
The darkened sky flickered with blinding light. Raging thunder clashed with burning flames, mingling and erupting into a shower of fiery streaks that scattered across this foreign land.
The sheer magical pressure from their battle, combined with the falling embers, had already turned the entire area upside down.
The scorched earth, the dim sky, and the mountains below were all obliterated in the shockwaves of their clash.
Boom!!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!!
The sky above roared with earth-shaking explosions, terrifying shockwaves kicking up dense dust clouds that blotted out the sun. Then, a dazzling blue comet suddenly lost control, plummeting from the heavens.
Arjuna's body was hurled backward from the collision, crashing into a mountain below, shattering it, and becoming buried under falling debris.
"…"
A brief silence.
"Hmph!!"
The next moment, deep blue thunder surged. A piercing blue light exploded from the rubble, scattering like dust.
As the dust cleared, Arjuna stood, clutching his chest, blood still seeping from his wounds, yet defiantly rising once more.
Crimson blood mixed with viscous sweat trickled down his cheek.
Drip, drip…
The sticky mixture of blood and sweat continued to fall.
Above the Mesopotamian plains, a glaring red glow shone, carrying the sun's aura that Arjuna loathed. The ground beneath him cracked, his blood and the air's moisture evaporating into steam.
Even the clouds shrouding the sky were dispelled by this blinding solar disc.
"￥￥!!＆＆, @@@@!!"
"￥￥!!＆＆, @@@@!!!"
On the ground, drawn by the clashing magical forces, Lahmu witnessed the sun shattering the thunder.
When Arjuna's thunder was struck down from the sky by Karna, they let out excited, eerie shrieks. Speaking an incomprehensible tongue, they writhed with nauseating limbs, swarming toward Arjuna's position, aiming to tear apart the faltering divine hero while he was wounded.
"Hmph, disgusting monsters, drawn by the scent, are you?"
On the ground, adjusting his state, Arjuna wiped the blood from his mouth, his unwilling eyes fixed on the solar disc in the sky. He paid little heed to the shrieking Lahmu around him.
As always, the only enemy he deemed worthy of his attention, the only one he took seriously, was the solar disc above, his half-brother, Karna.
These repulsive monsters were mere ants he could crush with a wave of his hand, their numbers only requiring a bit more time.
But…
After an unreserved battle, his body was battered from clashing with Karna.
Yet his nemesis, born clad in golden armor that negated all abnormalities, nullified curses, and absorbed most attacks, stood strong. Karna wasn't unscathed, but his condition was far better.
No gaping wounds covered his body, nor did he plummet uncontrollably from injuries.
The contrast made the outcome clear.
His thunder had been defeated by Karna's solar disc.
The broken thunder was shattered by the blazing sun.
This filled Arjuna with deep unwillingness…
Why?
Why had he lost so thoroughly?
He hadn't even had the chance to use his hidden trump card, reduced to such a pathetic state.
"Damn it…"
Arjuna clenched his fist, grinding his teeth.
Was he, as the gods believed, truly no match for Karna?
He had endured such torment, fought for so long, all for this final duel with Karna.
And now, was he to end in utter defeat, a tragic failure?
No, that wouldn't do!
He absolutely refused to accept such an outcome!!
It would only prove his own baseness, confirming that in their past duel, without the gods' aid, he would have died, and Karna would have been the true victor. He'd merely be a despicable usurper of victory.
In life, in that distant past, the gods had intervened to ensure his victory, scheming to let him defeat Karna through dishonorable means.
So, as a Heroic Spirit, upon meeting Karna again, he sought a fair fight, driven solely to cleanse that past shame.
As for not caring about winning or losing?
Did he really not care?
Could he not care…?
How could he possibly not care!!
Yes, he cared! He cared deeply!! It drove him to near madness!!
Arjuna knew his true desire wasn't just a fair fight.
It was a true victory, achieved through fair means.
A fair and square victory to prove he wasn't a despicable coward, that he could defeat Karna without the gods' help.
But now, he was the one at a disadvantage.
His body was battered from clashing head-on with the sun, his arsenal nearly exhausted save for his ultimate move and a power he refused to use.
Even so, he still couldn't truly defeat Karna? Under the golden armor's protection, he couldn't even trade blows equally.
The stark outcome was laid bare.
Then, the red solar disc in the sky slowly descended. Karna, eyes glowing crimson, landed steadily on a hill, looking down at Arjuna.
Though his will had been twisted by the Demon God Pillars, his desire for a fair fight with Arjuna remained. He didn't attack, merely standing atop the hill, coldly watching Arjuna struggle, waiting for him to unleash greater power.
If any Lahmu dared to attack Arjuna, they were instantly incinerated by a crimson beam from Karna's right eye, without mercy.
"￥￥!!＆＆, @@@@!!"
"￥￥!!＆＆, @@@@!!!"
Karna's extreme actions quickly drew the Lahmu's ire.
They didn't understand why this white-haired Lancer, sharing their mother's aura, stopped their attacks. They roared at Karna.
"…"
Karna said nothing, his gaze fixed on Arjuna below, awaiting his next move.
"Are you protecting me? Pitying me, Karna?!!
This scene deepened Arjuna's pain.
What could be more humiliating than being protected by his nemesis, looked down upon with indifference?
You won, you won, you won, Karna…
Am I truly no match for you?
Yes!
He'd known the obvious outcome deep down, hadn't he?
Because he knew Karna's strength, his father Indra, risking the gods' scorn, disguised himself as a noble to trick Karna out of his golden armor, ensuring Arjuna's victory.
Because he knew Karna's might, Indra schemed to take his divine spear, preventing Arjuna's death.
Because he knew Karna's martial prowess, the gods trapped his chariot in mud and cursed him, giving Arjuna the chance to shoot him down.
Yes, yes, his victory was entirely thanks to the gods.
Without their help and schemes, wasn't it normal he couldn't beat Karna?
But… even knowing this.
If he retreated now, in this state, wouldn't it be too shameful?!
If the duel he'd longed for ended in defeat to Karna here, wouldn't it be laughable!!
He was the one clamoring for this duel.
He'd staked everything, boasted before the fight, taken on the critical task of stopping Karna, and even refused Merlin's enhancements and his Master's Command Spells for fairness.
And now, to slink away like a clown at the moment of truth, leaving a threat like Karna to his comrades fighting elsewhere…
How could he accept such absurdity!!
Who was he?
The divine hero, son of Indra, thunder god and emperor, Arjuna!!
As Arjuna, how could he retreat in disgrace, how could he lose to Karna?!!
Staring at Karna above, Arjuna's clenched fist dug into his palm, blood dripping to the ground.
Drip, drip…
Arjuna's eyes were complex, his expression torn.
The situation was clear, he was no match for Karna in his current state.
To win, to achieve victory, there was only one way… to unleash his true power.
To use the terrifying power he resisted, fled from.
The other self he loathed and feared.
To use that power meant facing the boundless darkness within, accepting another self.
He was Arjuna, but also Krishna.
The culprit who goaded him to shoot Karna in their final battle, the one who pushed him into this abyss of guilt.
To Arjuna, anything else was fine.
But that…
That other self…
He was the enemy he never wanted to face.
If he could avoid unleashing that being, he'd die without hesitation, but…
There was no time to hesitate. Further delay would only worsen things. He had to decide and act quickly…
Arjuna struggled internally, muttering, his eyes locked on Karna above.
He gritted his teeth, trapped in a vortex of conflict.
Sensing the blazing heat on the chaotic sea, the rising black sun, and the white light blooming at the last moment.
"Everyone…"
Quetzalcoatl's sacrificial strike, Tezcatlipoca's unleashed Grand Saint Graph, and Roy's white domain at the final moment.
Though he hadn't witnessed it, he could feel their resolve and sacrifice from the battle on the endless sea.
Then…
The terrifying presence of Tiamat on the vast sea vanished…
The Lahmu before him, suddenly losing their connection to Tiamat, fell into panic.
"￥￥!!＆＆, @@@@!!"
"@￥!!＆＆, @@%$!!"
Their tones grew frantic, their cries chaotic.
"So…"
His Master's interception plan had succeeded? They were impressive enough to make him feel ashamed…
Gazing at the lingering white light from the distant sea, Arjuna sank into thought.
The Goddess of Beginning, Beast II, Tiamat, had been intercepted by his Master, Quetzalcoatl, and Tezcatlipoca.
He could no longer sense Tiamat's presence, as if she'd vanished from this singularity.
Even his Master, whom he was meant to protect, had achieved so much.
Yet here he was, still entangled with Karna.
No, entangled with himself.
Sorrow, pain, shame…
Arjuna's eyes brimmed with unparalleled grief. He clutched his head, laughing maniacally.
"Hahahahaha… Yes, yes, I am… the divine hero, the unmatched warrior, the pride of the Kshatriyas, the invincible demigod…"
Who am I? Arjuna?
That's me, the perfect hero in others' eyes.
But that's not me, or not the true, complete me.
More than fighting countless enemies, Arjuna feared others seeing the hidden side of this divine hero, the true essence within!!
Clenching his fist, he stared at Karna, still expressionless, patiently waiting for his next move.
Even his Master showed unparalleled resolve and power. How could he remain shackled, hesitating here?!
"Karna, I hate you. From the first day I saw you, I despised you. We didn't know each other, but your calm, piercing eyes seemed to see through everything. Just seeing you made me feel exposed, fearing you'd uncover the secret I've hidden. That's why I always wanted to kill you!!"
"But now, I admit it. Karna, you're right. In this state, I'm no match for you, in strength or self. But that's the suppressed me, the restrained me. It's different now, Karna. Witness the true Arjuna… the complete Arjuna, the self I fear. Hahahahahahahaha!!"
"Come, Karna!! I'm done with trivialities. Let's revel in this slaughter!!"
Laughing wildly, Arjuna faced Karna. His white robe tore open, revealing his dark, muscular frame.
His thunder faded, replaced by a black, twisting shadow energy, wrapping around him at an imperceptible speed.
The wounds from battling Karna healed rapidly, his body restored. His aura and gaze transformed, a complete shift, now far stronger and more terrifying.
This was Arjuna!
The other Arjuna hidden deep within!!
"Cast aside all distractions, unleash my other self. Dive into battle, embrace the reward of slaughter, and crush you, Karna!!"
"I'm not just your half-brother, Arjuna. Before you stands Krishna, the one who killed you in our final battle! Now, I'll kill you again, Karna!!"
The surging shadow was immensely powerful, instantly crushing the lurking Lahmu around him.
This was the power of his other self.
The destructive force of Shiva, a supreme power he couldn't fully control.
Fearing and loathing this other self, he'd suppressed it deep within.
But now, he let go of his restraint.
He unveiled the hero's other side, freeing the boundless shadow, letting this terrifying power see daylight.
"Hahahahahahaha!!"
With Arjuna's unrestrained laughter, the destructive god's power poured forth, ravaging the surroundings.
In an instant, it tore mountains, shattered the earth, and crushed everything under its shadow.
It didn't matter anymore.
He didn't care about being the divine hero. He was just Arjuna, consumed by the desire to crush Karna, a complete Arjuna.
"Are you ready, Karna? This time, the shadow will extinguish the sun."
___
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