Uvogin and Auren continue to engage each other in brutal melee combat, not holding back in the slightest.
While Auren dodges and blocks as much as he can, Uvogin doesn't even try to do the same. He just takes every single hit head-on, like it's nothing. Auren's attacks connect, landing solidly—but they barely seem to leave a mark, making Auren feel like he is hitting a massive boulder, reminding him of his time in Lidor's Mansion.
Damn it. He's absorbing everything. My fists are connecting, but I'm not doing nearly enough damage. Meanwhile, every punch of his is like getting smacked with a sledgehammer. I can't keep trading blows.
Despite his breathing getting more and more erratic as he quickly uses up all of his stamina, Auren changes tactics, deciding to rely even more on speed. He circles around Uvogin in wide arcs, looking for blind spots, his strikes becoming a mix of quick jabs and sudden kicks. At one point, he kicks dirt into Uvogin's face, blinding him for a split second—long enough to dash in and deliver a brutal Ko-infused punch to the liver.
Uvogin roars, blood spraying from his mouth. But in retaliation, he lunges forward and slams his forehead towards Auren's face.
Caught off guard, Auren desperately drops Ko and is barely able to shift his Aura onto his forehead and bracing for impact.
The collision sends stars flashing across his vision, making him feel like he is slamming his head against a steel wall.
Still stunned, Auren blindly punches forward, keeping his footing through sheer willpower.
Now truly angered, Uvogin tries to grab him. Despite his blurry vision, Auren's honed instincts and trained Aura senses kick in. He knows being grabbed means an instant loss as his grip is strong enough to crush his comparatively small limbs.
If he grabs me, it's over.
Ducking and weaving, Auren unleashes a relentless wave of counterattack—kicks, elbows, punches, mixing in feints and misdirection.
Both fighters are bleeding now, both of their bodies marked with bruises, cuts, and swellings. Neither backs down.
However, after one of Uvogin's hooks that Auren couldn't dodge, he buckles and falls onto his knees, allowing Uvogin to finally grab his leg.
Shit!
Desperation begins to blind him, his head racing faster than ever before, seeking a way out..
Acting on sheer instinct, Auren uses his free leg to slam a kick into Uvogin's jaw. Without hesitation, he transforms both hands into claws, driving them into Uvogin's arm. The razor-sharp claws pierce through skin and muscle, piercing so deeply that they connect with his bone.
Both of them scream in pain and anger, as more and more blood drips onto the ground.
Pain rips through Auren's leg as his tibia and fibula partially fracture under Uvogin's crushing grip, but he doesn't stop. He twists the claws deeper and deeper, feeling Uvogin's arm receiving grievous injuries.
Finally, with a scream, Uvogin lets go and throws Auren away.
Despite his rage, Auren doesn't hold on and lets go of Uvogin's arm as well.
Fuck, that hurts like hell.
With one powerful motion, Auren leaps further away, landing on his good leg, panting hard.
Blood streams down Uvogin's arm, dripping into the dirt, dyeing it crimson.
That bastard... this wasn't sparring anymore. He pushed it too far. And I'm almost collapsing—my Aura's nearly gone, and he still looks like he can fight another round.
"Fuck it, that's it. I quit. You overdid it! Congratulations, you win..." Auren pants, barely staying upright.
"Damn you..." Uvogin mutters, his voice hoarse, holding his arm.
Shalnark strolls toward them, whistling, first aid kit in hand. "I expected something like that," he says cheerfully. "I have to say that was a fun fight, though. It's a shame we didn't have a bigger audience. Just ten, fifteen people."
"What are you talking about?" Auren asks, his head still spinning. "I only see you three—Nobunaga, Shizuku, and you."
Shalnark casually points upward—to the roof, where Auren sees Neffi, Goreinu, and the rest of his group watching with wide eyes. Machi stands beside Killi and Ella. Then, gesturing to a few side windows of the warehouse, Auren recognizes Chrollo and a few more members.
"Great..." Auren sighs, finally dropping onto the ground, exhausted.
Shalnark kneels beside Uvogin, disinfecting the mangled arm. The brute grits his teeth in pain as Shalnark disinfects the entire wounds and then begins to wrap three full rolls of bandages around his bleeding arm.
Was this worth it? Let me ... sleep... No, I need to think about it now, or it will be a huge loss.
Auren stares at the sky, his eyelids growing heavier, his mind going in circles, before he slaps his cheek, causing him to shake off his weariness for a second.
Where was I... was this worth it? I guess this pressure isn't something I've felt this clearly before. Netero attacked so fast that I barely had a moment to realize what hit me. This was worth the experience, I guess. Now, I doubt anyone can shock me with their pure Aura.
The fight went out of control, but I learned a lot... and I didn't even use Eternity or my Hatsus. I guess I really improved a lot. Now I just need to raise my Aura and strengthen my body! Give me a few years... and I might actually stand a small chance against Uvogin, even without my Hatsus. This is getting exciting... still, I am so incredibly tired. I just want to sleep.
Auren remains sprawled out on the cold ground, head still pounding, until his blurred vision finally clears enough to spot Goreinu and Neffi standing over him—both wearing matching expressions of worry and awe.
"Let me help you… by carrying you," Goreinu explains, stooping down and lifting him onto his back with an awkward smile.
"You idiot!" Neffi snaps, smacking him sharply on the back of the head. "You overdid it! I was so worried! Asshole, don't you ever pull something like this again!"
"It was just a spar…" Auren mutters, sounding half-dazed. "And if you keep smacking me like that, I might end up with some actual permanent damage. If I become an idiot and can't use Azure Restoration anymore, it's your fault."
"I've got to side with Neffi on this," Goreinu adds, carrying him across the warehouse with steady steps, heading toward the rooftop. "What were you thinking, going this far? I really don't get it. Why did you do it?"
"Experience," Auren breathes out, his voice low but firm. "This was… an invaluable experience. I learned so much. I'll heal up, and once I do, I'll be stronger. A lot stronger. The pain was worth it. The next real-life and death battle will be a joke compared to this spar."
As they approach the airship, Auren spots Machi waiting silently by the entrance. She watches him with a strange look and looks like she has something to say—but remains silent, as she walks away from the airship.
"Take me to my cabin," Auren orders, barely able to keep his eyes open. "I need to rest…"
Without a word, Goreinu carries him straight to his room, gently places him onto the bed, and then steps back, quietly closing the door behind him.
Finally alone and settled in a vaguely comfortable position, Auren awkwardly undresses, stripping down to just a shirt and boxers. He immediately activates Azure Restoration. His Aura flares to a luminous azure glow as he stops some of his bleeding, then shifts focus toward the damage on his body and in his legs, letting the healing Aura seep into every fractured bone and torn ligament.
The wave of relief that follows his Hatsu is incredible—his pain immediately replaced by something close to pure bliss. Auren lets out a short, almost delirious laugh, smiling widely. However, just as the healing process is nearly complete, his Hatsu suddenly stops—his Aura reserves completely used up.
He sighs, switches to Zetsu, and closes his eyes.
Guess I'll finish healing the rest once I wake up…
His senses sharpened, and he noticed the door to his cabin opening and Vanessa and Neffi appearing, looking a little embarrassed.
"What are you doing…?" he asks, barely mustering the energy to lift his head.
"I wanted to see you," Vanessa replies, voice unusually soft. "But she didn't want to let me in alone."
"You can't be trusted," Neffi says, crossing her arms with an accusing huff.
"What do you want then…?" Auren groans, clearly not in the mood for small talk.
"I saw the whole fight," Vanessa says at last, her gaze locked onto him. "I've never seen anything like it. Even against that… monster in human form… you didn't flinch. You stood your ground. You fought like your life depended on it. I've never been this impressed—not in my entire life. So I've decided—there's no way I'm letting you go. Ever."
"It's not your decision," Neffi cuts in immediately, staring at her in annoyance. "Stop being ridiculous."
"I'm really not in the mood for this," Auren grumbles as he shuts his eyes again. "Just let me sleep…"
But instead of leaving, both girls begin undressing. Before he can even react, they slip beneath the sheet beside him, pressing their warm bodies against his still bruised and injured body.
Too exhausted to argue or resist, Auren lets out a silent sigh as sleep finally claims him, his Aura fully depleted, his body heavy, and his thoughts finally coming to a halt.
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