The Battlefield Burns
The valley had become a battlefield of legends—earth cracked, skies churned, and thunder growled like a beast roused from slumber. Sakata stood firm at the eye of the storm, his robes fluttering in the wind, eyes locked on Xandros and Tym. The two Dark Peers now moved in sync, abandoning arrogance for precision.
"You've meddled long enough, monk," Xandros snarled. His demonic sword pulsed with a venomous purple glow. "Let's end this."
Sakata rolled his neck, cracking his knuckles. "You talk like I haven't heard that line a hundred times already." He tapped the butt of his staff into the dirt, and a controlled shockwave erupted, hurling nearby demons like leaves in a typhoon.
Juichi's Trial
Elsewhere, in the calm isolation of the Hidden Celestial Temple, Juichi collapsed to his knees. His breathing was ragged, body trembling as he failed—again—to activate Power On's first stage.
The clone of Sakata knelt beside him. "You're not weak, Juichi. Just impatient."
"I can't push any further," Juichi hissed. "It's like my body shuts down every time I get close!"
"Then we adapt," the clone replied.
He raised a finger. Golden energy burst forth and struck Juichi in the chest. The boy screamed—but it wasn't pain. It was pressure—a deep, searing presence inside him beginning to resonate.
His skin shimmered with gold and blue lines of power.
"This is Substitute Mode," the clone said. "A fragment of the real thing. You'll master the rest in time."
Juichi rose, fists clenched, energy swirling. "It's not perfect... but it's mine."
The clone grinned. "Then let's see how far you can go."
Dance of Death
Back on the battlefield, Sakata spun his staff midair, smacking aside a shadow spear from Tym, only to duck under Xandros' blade as it ripped the air in two. Sparks flew. The ground splintered. Every move could end a lesser man—but Sakata was no lesser man.
"Come on, boys," he said calmly, stepping between shadows. "You've got the numbers. Use 'em."
Tym activated a dark sigil in the air. "Kurai Danzai (Judgment of Shadows)!"
Dozens of black spears rained from above. Sakata dashed forward—through them—his form a blur. He caught one mid-flight and hurled it straight at Tym, forcing the mage to teleport aside.
Xandros charged in that instant, blade aimed for Sakata's heart.
CLANG.
Sakata caught the sword—barehanded.
"What—!?" Xandros stammered.
Sakata's eyes narrowed. "You shouldn't hesitate when you aim to kill."
WHAM!
His punch thundered into Xandros' gut, launching the dark general into a stone wall, which cracked like glass on impact.
Tym tried to retreat, but a single flick of Sakata's fingers summoned crushing spiritual pressure, slamming the spellcaster to the earth.
"You two came in like executioners." Sakata rolled his shoulders. "But you're going out like rookies."
The Warning
Then—his earpiece sparked to life. Static. Then a voice—deep, distorted, ancient:
> "The Lord stirs. The revival draws near. All must be ready."
Sakata's smirk vanished. His eyes sharpened.
"So... it's really happening." He glanced down at Tym and Xandros. "Guess I don't have time to babysit anymore."
His aura exploded outward—gold and teal spirals of power roaring around him. The air grew hot. The ground cracked. Even the sky seemed to flinch.
"Time to show you what happens... when an old man stops playing nice."
He stepped forward—and the entire battlefield held its breath.
To be Continued...