After dinner everybody heads to bed exhausted as Togata gets ready to sleep a bit nervous.
''Well young master, goodnight, after tomorrow we can get back to building the spaceship, rebuilding our home and finding sir Takakura's missing....um appendage''. Tick says.
''Yeah goodnight Tick''. Togata says as he rests his head.
''That's if I can...''. Togata thinks to himself as he drifts off to sleep.
Suddenly he's back in that dark place, as he looks in front of him he sees it again, his friends on the floor as he stands over their bodies.
''Took you long enough''. Dark Togata says as he turns around to face him.
Just then the terrain changes, everything goes dark but then Togata looks around, emptiness for miles as he looks down, ripples like moving water emanate from his feet in what seems to be a sea, but somehow he stands on it. Underneath the glassy layer come what looks like spirits, picking and banging at the water from below, but blocked and unable to grab him.
''Well that's new''. Dark Togata says.
Togata doesn't look up. ''You changed the vision''.
''Nah, you did''. Dark Togata chuckles.
Togata finally faces him.
''Round two huh? Lemme guess, you practiced?''. Dark Togata says amused.
Togata doesn't respond he just stares with determination.
''Ohhh, I'm shaking. This fight is important to you ain't it?''. Dark Togata asks.
Togata doesn't respond once again.
''Hahah''. Dark Togata laughs as he looks up in joy. ''Yeah I sense it, this terrain change, your nerves, you have to win don't you? If you don't you won't fight tomorrow huh? Tryna stop the vision before it starts''.
Togata just listens.
Dark Togata looks down in amusement and kicks at the glass which angers the crying spirits below and they pound on it even more. ''And this, this represents your fear. This is it isn't it? You beat me, you prove you're point, but you lose and....You join those dudes down there, if you let your fear beat your faith you sink. Hahah! It's kinda poetic ain't it?''.
''Alright enough yapping!''. Dark Togata says with amusement, manifesting his scythe. ''Let's get it over with''.
Dark Togata looks more serious now, grin still there but tighter. He circles slowly dragging the scythe head against the glass as it makes a screeching sound, like the sound of scratching a chalk board.
Togata just closes his eyes and exhales his cloak wrapping around him, but his hood off as he holds his scythe.
''Oh?''. Dark Togata says.
Dark Togata lunges.
Fast. Brutal.
Togata doesn't counterattack, he steps aside, lets the blow pass, grabs Dark Togata's wrist and twists, redirecting the force into the ground. The impact shakes the space. He throws him away.
Dark Togata skids back, blinking. ''Huh, that's annoying''.
Togata opens his eyes and finally speaks still, calmly. ''You only win when I panic''. Togata says.
Dark Togata grins wider. ''Oh you still panic''.
Before he can even finish his own sentence. Dark Togata is already moving. No warning.
A scythe tears out of the air, forcing Togata to lean back as the blade skims past his throat. He pivots, uses his own, and parries, metal shrieking as the clash sends sparks of pale light scattering into the void.
They separate.
Dark Togata claps once, impressed as he jumps around. ''Ok yeah, you got better I have ta admit''.
He vanishes.
Togata spins just in time to block a strike from above. The force drives him into the ground, he shakes a bit causing him to be drawn into the glassy surface below, but he manages to compose himself. He slides, recovers, swings low. Dark Togata hops over it effortlessly and plants a kick into Togata's chest, launching him backward through the space as he feels his leg sink.
Togata tumbles, catches himself mid-air, and throws his scythe.
Dark Togata twists aside effortlessly but Togata snaps his fingers.
The scythe curves back like it's alive.
Dark Togata barely blocks in time, skidding back, boots carving sparks through nothingness.
''Oh that's sick bro!''. Dark Togata says as he smiles excitedly. ''Glad we thought of that''.
Dark Togata throws his own as the two scythe's seeming fight on their own mid air, ricocheting and smashing into one another, before eventually returning to their owners.
They rush each other again.
Strike.
Block.
Feint.
Counter.
Their movements mirror each other almost perfectly, but Dark Togata is always half a step ahead, predicting angles before Togata commits.
Dark Togata ducks inside Togata's guard and whispers. ''Still thinkin' to much''.
Elbow to the ribs.
Knee to the stomach.
''You gotta stop overthinkin' things bro! Stop holdin' back! Let the killer instinct take over! Let it flow and you will. Through you're opponent that is''. Dark Togata narrates as he continues fighting.
Togata grunts, retaliates with a wide slash that Dark Togata lets pass straight through him. His body going shadow-thin for a split second.
''Then you can do stuff like that''. Dark Togata says amused as he reforms behind him and hooks the scythe around Togata's neck, slamming him face-first into the ground.
The world shakes.
Togata struggles, digs his heels in, and forces himself up, ripping free and swinging blindly. Dark Togata laughs as he backsteps, letting the blade miss by inches.
''See! You fight like yer scared of winning!''. Dark Togata comments.
Togata steadies himself breathing hard. ''If becoming you it's what it takes then yeah''.
''That's the problem''. Dark Togata replies tilting his head.
Dark Togata is on him instantly.
One strike to the wrist, his scythe flies away.
Another to the shoulder, numbness spreads.
Dark Togata grabs him by the collar and lifts him off the ground, eyes burning with excitement.
He hurls Togata downward.
The ground begins to swallow him, as his legs sink through the spirits below start to grab him pulling him below even more.
''Ohh smell that? Round two goes to me''. Dark Togata says.
Togata struggles to get free pulling away.
''If you want to get out just stop being afraid, what are you scared of? what's so wrong with me? I don't see what's so wrong with that to be honest''. Dark Togata jokes.
''Everything, we are not the same, you can take as many forms as you want Death but I see right through you''. Togata grunts back.
''See the problem with you is you're scared of the truth, I'm Death? See that's what you got wrong, another thin' ya got wrong is that I'm a choice. Nah I'm the future bro, you'll get to me eventually. Either you learn to let go or I take over when you can't''. Dark Togata says as Togata sinks into the ground.
''You see me as something to fight against, you don't hate me you hate what people will think, but the thing is fight against yourself and you'll drown''. Dark Togata says.
Togata says nothing sinking into the ground, before he knows it, he is underneath the water, holding his breath as the spirits pull him below.
''And drown you will''. Dark Togata says as he watches from above.
He wakes up panting as Jiji tells him to get up.
''C'mon dude today is the day!''. Jiji says punching the air excitedly.