On the battlefield
Rhyver pulled back his fist, then burst into laughter as he lunged toward me, his mouth wide open for an attack. I swiftly dodged and countered with a kick toward his side, but just before it landed, Rhyver evaded and leapt back, creating space between us. I dropped into position.
"No time to let him breathe, that's my only chance."
I charged at him, and we clashed in a flurry of blows. The earth cracked beneath us with each collision, the sheer force of our strikes fracturing the ground.
"He's fast... for his size."
I thought, as my attacks kept missing. My flames grew hotter, my speed increasing with each strike. Rhyver grunted, forced to block under the pressure of my relentless barrage.
"Got you!"
With a powerful blow, I sent Rhyver skidding backward. He groaned, coming to a halt, then slowly glanced down at his arms, burned.
"Not bad... but let's see how you handle these!"
Rhyver muttered, glancing up at me. His claws began to glow with a bright red energy.
"The Thousand Claws!"
With a roar, Rhyver unleashed a volley of energy slashes, each strike vibrating with lethal power, capable of slicing me to pieces.
As they came flying, I ran. Dodging one after another, I barely kept ahead. One came terrifyingly close, nearly slicing off my ear, but I ducked just in time.
When the barrage finally stopped, I immediately searched for him but he was gone.
My eyes widened in shock and panic, then—
WHAM!
I was struck hard from behind by his tail, sent flying through a row of houses. Rhyver smirked with pleasure.
"Consider it payback for that kick at the start,"
he teased. Groaning, I rose from the rubble, blood dripping from my lips. My frustration boiled over.
"He must've used some kind of ability to hide his presence..."
I thought, arms reigniting with flames.
I charged him again, trading blows once more. I tried to find an opening but he wouldn't let me any. I grabbed his arm and jumped, I raised my fiery leg and delivered a swift kick to his face, knocking him off balance. Seizing the chance, I grabbed his arm once again and began spinning him.
"Got you, kitty."
Building momentum, I lifted him high into the air, then smashed him down with all my strength. The impact cracked the earth beneath us and leveled the buildings around as the crashing sound echoed throughout all of the city.
"AGH!!"
Rhyver cried out, blood flying from his mouth, his body bouncing up in the air from the impact.
"Not over yet, General..."
Without giving him a second to recover, I grabbed his leg and hurled him high into the air. Gathering mana into my arm, I closed my eyes, focusing power into my palm, a white fireball formed, wrapped in crackling crimson lightning.
I raised my arm.
The ground beneath me fractured under the pressure as I hurled the fireball skyward. It grew larger and brighter as it raced toward him.
"SHIIIIT!!"
Rhyver cursed, throwing up his arms to block it.
When it struck, the fireball exploded.
A giant inferno burst through the sky, lighting it up like a second sun had risen.
I stood in place, calm on the outside, my eyes viewing the blast of the massive explosion, but something inside me twisted.
Suddenly, I felt it.
Behind me.
My eyes shot open.
Too late.
SHHK!!
Claws tore deep into my back.
"Ughh!!!"
Before I could react, a fast and powerful kick landed in my gut like a blur, folding me over. My strength faltered.
No rest.
Another claw strike, this one across my face, leaving three deep diagonal gashes, blinding me on my left eye.
Then his tail slammed into me, sending my body tumbling across the rocky ground, leaving craters every time I hit. Finally, I stopped. For a moment I couldn't feel anything, my body slowly giving up on me as the burning sensation on my back and face paralyzed my ability to move.
Gritting my teeth, I slowly raised my head, my face hardened as I heard heavy footsteps coming towards me.
Rhyver approached slowly, a murderous red aura surrounding him, i could feel his power rising up rapidly.
"Your end is near..."
he warned, his predator eyes locking onto me, radiating death. I forced myself to my feet, body trembling, barely standing, blood dripped down from my wounds.
"That ability to vanish... It's working too well for him."
I thought, getting into position again.
"If I don't do anything... I'm dead."
Rhyver launched himself at me, mouth wide, fangs gleaming.
"Prepare yourself, Slave!"
My heart pounded. I narrowly avoided the bite. He followed immediately with a tail swipe, I blocked it just in time, but the impact drove me back, I felt my bones shattering.
"What's wrong, Kajin?! Did I hit you a little too hard?!"
Rhyver shouted, his eyes blazing red, his fur standing on end with rage. My white flames surged as I took the defense, blocking each of Rhyver's wild blows.
"Damn it... I can't keep this up, my arm will completely break under these immense attacks. If I stay like this...I'm done for."
My mind raced, each block of Rhyver's attacks made my body tremble in pain. Then I spotted an opening. A flash in his chest.
Without hesitation, I deflected his claw and drove a clean punch into his gut.
He froze, time looked like it had completely stopped. I followed with a low kick to his leg, cutting his balance, and then another blazing punch to his stomach.
BOOM!
My flames exploded on impact, bursting with crimson lightning, engulfing the battlefield in fire.