Rain had just started to pour, and strong gusts of wind burst out every time the Tiktik and Ramel clashed. They dodged and parried each other's attacks in rapid succession—until Ramel finally landed a solid hit on the Tiktik's side, slashing its hip with his axe.
Tiktik: "Nice try."
The Tiktik quickly countered with a powerful kick, launching Ramel backward.
Tiktik: "My turn now."
In a flash, the Tiktik rushed at Ramel. Ramel raised his axe just in time to block, but the impact still rattled through his arms. Before he could recover, another swift kick came—this time aiming for his head. Ramel barely managed to block it with both arms, avoiding a deadly blow. The force threw him into the cliffside, his body slamming hard and left motionless.
Tiktik: "What a disappointment."
The Tiktik opened his mouth, revealing a long tongue with a sharp, spear-like tip. He launched it straight at Ramel's head—but Ramel caught it.
Ramel: "This move again? Good thing I fought the kid before you."
Thanks to his fight with Tasyo, Ramel had gotten used to this kind of attack. With a roar, he drove a crushing uppercut into the Tiktik's jaw, forcing it to bite down on its own tongue. Wasting no time, Ramel grabbed his axe and drove the sharp tip of the handle into the Tiktik's gut. Blood spilled from the Aswang's mouth as Ramel kept stabbing the same spot, forcing it to back off.
The Tiktik bit his tongue to cut it of and jumped away, trying to create distance. But this time, Ramel didn't let him. He rushed forward and hacked at the Tiktik's leg. The blow didn't cut it off, but it was enough to slow him down. In return, the Tiktik landed a strong backhand, knocking Ramel's with his axr the Tiktik's then leapt away distance himself to Ramel.
Ramel was now exhausted, breathing heavily, every part of his body screaming in pain. The Tiktik was trying to regenerate its tongue and heal its wounds.
Ramel: [I have to end this now. I'm almost out of strength… and every part of my body hurts. Good thing he can't fully heal—not with the poison I stabbed him with.]
Tiktik: [I've been focusing on healing the damage, but it looks like that axe has something special—my regeneration's slowed down. And this boy… he's keeping up with me. I need to kill him before he becomes even stronger.]
They locked eyes, both standing still, trying to read the next move. That moment of stillness was broken when Ramel glanced at the cliff and the ground below. He looked back at the Tiktik, then walked over to his axe. With a loud grunt, he slammed it deep into the ground to keep it in place. He cracked his knuckles, a grin forming on his face.
Ramel: "Round two… shall we?"
The Tiktik grinned back.
Tiktik: "We shall."
In the blink of an eye, they both charged—and landed punches right to each other's faces. Ramel, using the last of his strength, had chosen to fistfight a supernatural being.
After the hit, Ramel grabbed the Tiktik's arm and headbutted him straight in the face. The enemy growled and kicked Ramel in the ribs, sending him flying into the cliffside again. The Tiktik followed up with a punch, but Ramel dodged at the last second—letting the Tiktik's fist slam into the cliff, shaking the ground.
Ramel countered with a punch to the Tiktik's stomach—right at the spot he stabbed earlier.
Tiktik: "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Ramel followed up with a brutal knee to the jaw.
Ramel: "Shut up."
Then, with every last ounce of strength, Ramel clasped his hands together and slammed them down on the back of the Tiktik's head. The Tiktik crashed into the ground with a sickening thud—hard enough to break the cliff beneath them. The entire area gave way, collapsing and dragging both of them down with it.
Minutes passed.
A hand rose from the rubble—it was the Tiktik. He pulled himself up from the debris, bloodied and breathing heavily.
Tiktik: "Damn… he never planned to fight me in a fistfight. He was weakening the ground the whole time. He used the rain, the axe, even my missed punch hitting the cliff… he set me up."
The Tiktik looked around, then chuckled—his face twisted into a grin.
Tiktik: "HAHAHAHAHAHA! This guy is insane. Willing to bury himself just to take me down. No wonder they're called Enigma's Bane."
Suddenly, an explosion echoed in the distance—from the direction of Tasyo's house.
The Tiktik's eyes snapped toward it.
Tiktik: "Yeah… that's right. There are still two of them inside. The other Tiktik should've finished them by now… unless he's struggling too."
Just then, the Tiktik sensed something. He looked up—and there it was. A silhouette against the rain. Ramel, standing above with his axe raised high.
Tiktik: "So that was your plan all along?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Ramel dived down from above, axe overhead. The Tiktik quickly clasped both hands together, catching the axe mid-swing. A powerful gust exploded from the clash.
Tiktik: "Round three it is."
Ramel grabbed the Tiktik's shoulder and slammed his forehead into the Aswang's face. The Tiktik countered with a sharp kick to Ramel's gut—hard enough to make him vomit blood. But just before he could be thrown back, Ramel latched onto the Tiktik's leg, pulled him in, and launched a brutal dropkick straight into his chest.
The force sent the Tiktik flying—slamming hard into a nearby tree, cracking the trunk from the impact.
Ramel didn't stop. He charged forward, pushing through the pain, and leapt toward the stunned Aswang. With all the momentum he could gather, he swung his axe straight at the enemy. The Tiktik raised his arm just in time to block—but the blade sank deep, cutting through flesh and stopping only when it struck bone.
Ramel tried to pull the axe free and strike again, but before he could—the Tiktik's tongue shot out, spear-like, piercing Ramel's shoulder.
Tiktik: "Tell me your name, boy."
Ramel gritted his teeth, blood dripping down his lip, his body barely holding together.
Ramel: "Ha… ha… ha… Ramel Mabati."
Tiktik: "Then Ramel… it's time to end this. I'll remember you."
The Tiktik locked his arm muscles around the embedded axe, trying to trap it. His tongue, still lodged in Ramel's shoulder, began to curl upward, aiming to strike through Ramel's head.
But just before it could—
a slicing sound can be heard
The tongue was severed clean.
Elayna: "Time to end this, Ramel."
Ramel closed his eyes for a moment, then opened then stared down the Tiktik.
Ramel: "Yeah."
His voice sent a shiver down the Tiktik's spine.
Tiktik: "W-wait—"
Ramel: "HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"
Ramel used every last bit of strength to push down the axe embedded in the Tiktik's arm, forcing it closer to his core.
Elayna: "HAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"
She dropped from above, landing a powerful kick to the back of the axe. The combined force was overwhelming.
The blade tore through the Tiktik, slicing him clean in half.