The battlefield stretched across the shattered streets of central Tokyo, a ruin-scape of broken buildings, cracked asphalt, and glowing fragments of Mul-infused energy. The city itself seemed to hold its breath, as if aware that history was about to be written on its battered stones.
Yuka stepped forward, cursed ring gleaming on her finger, Mahoraga coiling beside her like a living shadow. Her hair fluttered in the wind, her eyes sharp, unwavering. This was not merely a fight—it was the culmination of her family's legacy, the fate of humans and Simurians, and the protective instincts that bound her to her youngest brother, Yutsumi.
Dabura rose from the rubble, massive claws glinting, energy crackling with unnatural intensity. His presence warped the air itself, manipulating gravity, space, and energy in ways that bent perception.
"You've come far, little one," Dabura's voice rumbled, vibrating through the city. "But courage is nothing without strength."
Yuka inhaled sharply. "I don't need courage. I need control—and I will master it!"
Mahoraga erupted beside her, wings unfurling, energy pulsing violently. The summoned entity's immense cursed energy created a shockwave that cracked nearby streets, yet Yuka's form remained stable, anchored by focus and inherited power.
Tsurugi and Yutsumi moved to the edges of the battlefield, forming a protective perimeter. Tsurugi's sword glowed faintly as he prepared to intercept residual attacks, while Yutsumi's adaptive energy flowed, analyzing patterns of Dabura's movements and anticipating energy fluctuations.
Dabura's first strike shattered the ground in front of Yuka, his claw slicing a path through the concrete with terrifying precision. Mahoraga surged to block, but Yuka's control faltered for a moment, and the entity recoiled slightly.
"Focus!" Yutsumi called, his energy flaring subtly. Adaptive Perfect Copy scanned the attack, adjusting for Dabura's unpredictable manipulation of space and energy.
Yuka inhaled, synchronizing with Mahoraga. Energy flowed like molten metal through her body, forming precise arcs around her attacks and defenses. She countered Dabura's next strike with a forceful sweep, Mahoraga's claws lashing, creating a dome of energy that stabilized the surrounding ruins.
Dabura's eyes narrowed. "Impressive… but raw energy is not control!" He twisted his body midair, creating a distortion in space that redirected Mahoraga's attack harmlessly into the rubble.
Tsurugi readied himself to intercept the residual energy, slashing through lingering shards with Rika's fused energy, but Yutsumi's analysis reached deeper. Adaptive Perfect Copy extended beyond copying techniques—it now predicted Dabura's manipulations in real-time, sending subtle energy pulses to stabilize Mahoraga and prevent the battlefield from collapsing.
Yuka's voice rang out, strong and clear. "I control Mahoraga, not the other way around! Listen to me!"
The energy responded, pulsing in harmony with her voice and intent. Mahoraga lunged forward, faster, more precise, mirroring her command.
Dabura laughed, a low, rumbling sound that echoed across the ruined streets. "You wield a great power… but can you sustain it?"
He slammed his claws into the ground, sending a wave of energy that warped space, creating fissures that threatened to swallow Yuka. She leapt, Mahoraga surging beside her, but the distortion twisted her trajectory. Yutsumi's adaptive energy flared, aligning with her movement, compensating for the spatial manipulation, allowing her to land safely.
Tsurugi called out, "Yutsumi! Now's your chance—adjust Mahoraga's energy with hers!"
Healed by instinct and observation, Yutsumi extended his cursed energy, flowing subtly into Mahoraga, not to control it, but to harmonize its movement with Yuka's. The synchronization created a resonance that stabilized her, allowing her to counter Dabura's next wave of attacks with controlled strikes.
The duel escalated. Dabura's claws sliced through energy barriers, twisting space, firing pulses of Mul-infused cursed energy. Yuka summoned Mahoraga repeatedly, each time refining control, balancing raw destructive power with precision, all while under the watchful guidance of Tsurugi and the subtle stabilizing influence of Yutsumi.
"You're learning fast," Dabura remarked, his voice laced with grudging respect. "But power without understanding is dangerous—to yourself and others!"
Yuka gritted her teeth. "Then I will understand! I will master this power, and I will stop you!"
Yutsumi's adaptive energy now pulsed in perfect harmony with Mahoraga, reading the battlefield, the city, and Dabura himself. Even as space twisted and energy surged, he maintained a precise equilibrium, ready to intervene if Yuka faltered—but so far, she remained steady.
Tsurugi slashed through a collapsing building nearby, creating a path for Yuka to maneuver. "Keep moving! Don't let him pin you down!"
Yuka nodded, summoning Mahoraga into a towering form. Its massive fists struck the ground, sending shockwaves that Dabura barely managed to counter. Each strike demonstrated not just strength, but Yuka's growing mastery of her inherited techniques.
Yet Dabura's power was relentless. He manipulated energy to distort the environment, forcing Yuka to adapt continuously. Adaptive Perfect Copy hummed from Yutsumi, reading Dabura's patterns, predicting attacks milliseconds before they occurred, adjusting Mahoraga's responses in real-time.
"You… are unlike any human I've faced," Dabura admitted, his claws pausing midair, energy swirling like a storm around him.
Yuka's eyes blazed with determination. "And you'll see why humans—and our family—never yield!"
The city trembled under the immense clash. Shockwaves radiated for blocks, Mul-infused energy flared and dissipated, and the ruins of Tokyo became a chaotic arena of power, strategy, and sheer will.
Mahoraga, now fully synchronized with Yuka and stabilized by Yutsumi, lunged forward with a precise strike. Dabura countered, but the blow landed, creating a shockwave that rattled the remnants of nearby buildings.
Yuka's chest heaved, sweat and energy radiating from her. "This… this is just the beginning!"
Tsurugi stepped closer, ready to intervene if necessary. "Yuka… stay focused. You're doing incredible."
Yutsumi's hands glowed faintly, Adaptive Perfect Copy flowing through him as he continued to harmonize Mahoraga's energy with hers. Every motion, every strike, every defense was being analyzed and optimized in real-time, preparing for the next phase of the duel.
Dabura's expression shifted, eyes narrowing. "So, the humans… are resilient. But can you withstand the full extent of my power?"
Yuka's gaze met his, unwavering. "I will. And I will fight—for everyone!"
The first true clash of titanic energy, strategy, and familial resolve had begun.
Tokyo, scarred and trembling, bore witness.