The air vibrated with the intensity of our battle. I activated my aura, feeling my body grow stronger and my speed increase exponentially. In front of me, the Herald of Judgment did the same, unleashing a radiant golden aura. The sky lit up with every clash, shockwaves rippling in all directions as our blows collided in midair.
Even though I couldn't fly, I managed to stay on his level by using my jumps and the force of my aura. My body held up, but the wounds from the previous fight began to reopen. It felt like my scars were tearing with every move—a painful reminder of everything I had endured.
The Herald launched a direct strike. I barely managed to block it with both arms, but even so, the force of the impact sent me crashing into the forest. The noise was deafening as my body smashed through the trees, breaking them like paper.
I tried to get up, gasping, and then I saw it.
The Herald was preparing a new attack. His speed doubled, moving twice as fast as light itself. My body could barely react. I knew I didn't have time to dodge.
For the first time in a long while, I felt fear.
There was nothing I could do.
Frustration clouded my mind—not just for myself, but for everyone I had sworn to protect. I felt deep disappointment, a heavy weight in my chest that made me want to scream.
The hit landed before I could even think of a response.
The Herald's blow tore through my defenses like they were nothing, slamming into my abdomen with indescribable force. My entire body convulsed. I felt my bones crack, my breath was knocked out of me, and the world around me blurred.
It felt like the end.
My consciousness started to fade. In that moment, memories of my life flashed before my eyes.
I remembered the monotony of my old existence.
I remembered the day my fate changed.
I remembered that being in white robes, the voice that gave me this power, and the reason I was fighting.
And most of all, I remembered Kaori.
The kiss we shared appeared in my mind with overwhelming clarity. I felt her warmth, her closeness. A wave of emotion surged through me.
Then, a voice echoed within me.
"Giving up is not an option. Treasure this life. Fight for the innocent. Love and protect with all your heart. That's what makes a true warrior."
A new energy awakened deep within me.
Suddenly, my body began to emit an intense gray aura with bluish flashes. A surge of energy coursed through every cell of my body, revitalizing me. The agony vanished, replaced by an electrifying sensation.
A blinding light shot up from my body into the sky.
My body rose on its own, hovering slightly above the ground.
When I opened my eyes, they were no longer the same. My irises turned pitch black, my hair bristled, and my body was now covered by a shining white trench coat, as if the very essence of the void was wrapping around me.
I clenched my fists, feeling the immensity of this new power.
—"This… is fascinating…"
The Herald of Judgment watched me warily. For the first time in the entire fight, I saw a flicker of uncertainty in his golden eyes.
I smiled.
The real battle was just beginning.
I shot toward the Herald with a speed that surpassed light. My blows landed precisely, each one making his body shudder. Despite the force of my attacks, he stood his ground, enduring the punishment. Seizing a brief opening, I delivered a brutal kick to his chest, sending him crashing to the ground with devastating force. As he hit, an explosion of dust rose, hiding his silhouette for a moment.
I landed softly after launching myself from the treetop. My breathing was steady, my body radiated power, but my eyes remained cold and calculating. I waited, watching as the dust cloud slowly settled. When visibility returned, I saw the Herald on the ground, his body motionless. But I didn't lower my guard.
Then, with slow and heavy movements, he began to rise. His body was covered in wounds and marks from my attacks, but his gaze was still sharp, full of determination. Suddenly, a brilliant aura surged from his body, surrounding him in a blinding glow. Something was changing.
Without looking away, I saw him start to absorb his own energy, concentrating it within. A chill ran down my spine, but I didn't flinch. Then, small glowing fragments began to break away from him, floating around as if reality itself was unraveling at his touch. His transformation had begun.
When the glow faded, his appearance had completely changed. His entire body was now cloaked in silver vapor that moved as if it had a life of its own, rippling and twisting around him. His presence felt even more powerful, more threatening.
The Herald looked at me intently and, with a deep, firm voice, said:
—"Show me your full power."
I remained silent, showing no reaction. My expression didn't change. This wasn't the time for words—it was time to fight.
Without warning, the Herald lunged at me with overwhelming speed, leaving a trail of silver light behind him. But I was ready. In the precise moment, I countered with all my strength. The impact was colossal—the ground shook, nearby trees were ripped from their roots, flying in all directions.
The real fight was only just beginning.
We exchanged blows with speed and force that defied all logic. Every impact shattered the ground beneath us, deep cracks spreading like veins through the earth. The sound of our fists colliding echoed like thunder, and the air itself vibrated with unleashed energy.
We kept up that relentless exchange for nearly ten minutes, neither of us giving an inch. Our auras clashed, tangled, and exploded with every move. The battle's pace grew faster and faster, and soon we were darting across the entire battlefield, leaving a path of destruction in our wake. Trees were ripped from their roots, massive boulders shattered to pieces, and the ground trembled as if the earth itself feared our fight.
For a moment, I realized how perfectly matched we were. It was as if our powers had been designed to cancel each other out. But then, something shifted.
The Herald rose into the air, letting out a deep, deafening roar. His body glowed with an even brighter light, and the silver mist around him began twisting wildly, moving like it had a will of its own. Soon, those vapors transformed into long, writhing tendrils of energy, whipping in all directions and distorting the space around them.
My body tensed as I watched. The tendrils started converging at a single point, slowly forming a golden sphere. The energy inside it was dense and unstable, like it contained the power of a star. The air around me grew heavy, and a chill ran down my spine.
For the first time in the entire fight, I felt fear.
My hands trembled involuntarily, and a wave of desperation washed over me. I knew that if that attack hit the ground, it wouldn't just destroy this place—it would level everything for miles. This wasn't just a powerful strike. It was the kind of attack that could wipe out an entire country.
The whole world was at risk.
I took a deep breath and clenched my fists tightly. I couldn't let it end like this. I couldn't afford to fail.
My aura erupted with even greater intensity. I pushed my power to its absolute limit, channeling every last drop of energy I had left. There was no room for fear now. No time for doubt.
I braced myself to face the attack—no matter the cost.
The Herald hurled the gigantic sphere with a commanding motion, and the instant it shot toward me, the air around me became unbearably dense. A searing heat swept across the battlefield, warping the surroundings as if space itself were burning.
Without hesitation, I got ready.
I channeled half of my power into my arms and hands, focusing it to the absolute limit in order to stop that attack. I knew I couldn't dodge it. If I did, the devastation would be absolute. I had to stop it—no matter what.
When the sphere finally collided with my hands, a colossal shockwave tore through my entire body. It's impossible to describe exactly what I felt. It wasn't just an unbearable weight... it was something far worse. The pressure was crushing, like a thousand mountains had fallen on me at once. An indescribable pain surged through my arms, burning my muscles and bones down to their core.
My legs shook violently, struggling to stay grounded on the fractured earth.
Sweat poured down my face, but I couldn't let myself give in.
My transformation started to break apart. My white cloak—symbolizing my full power—began to catch fire with golden flames, slowly burning away. Cracks appeared across my skin, flickering with light, as if my own body was collapsing under the immense energy I was holding back.
I couldn't hold on much longer.
Desperation began to take over. I tried to ignite my aura again, even just to give myself courage, to push myself forward—but nothing happened. My energy wouldn't respond. It was as if my very essence was being devoured by that sphere of destruction.
"I'm going to fail…"
The thought whispered through my mind like a dark echo.
No.
I clenched my teeth, fury building inside me, and in a final act of pure desperation, I spread my arms wide, as if trying to embrace the sphere. If I couldn't stop it with force, I would do it another way.
I gathered every last bit of aura left in my arms and hands, pulling it together for one final effort. My body screamed in agony, but I refused to stop.
And then, with a roar that tore from deep within me, I unleashed all my energy in a massive burst.
The impact was catastrophic. A blinding flash of light exploded in every direction, and for an instant, the entire world seemed to plunge into absolute nothingness...
After that immense explosion, the battlefield was shrouded in a thick curtain of dust and debris. Breathing was difficult, and the echo of the blast still rang in my ears.
My mind was hazy.
"How had I survived such a massive detonation? How had my body endured that kind of pressure without completely breaking apart?"
My vision blurred as I struggled to stay on my feet. I could barely move my arms, and my muscles felt like they were about to tear apart at any moment. The exhaustion was so overwhelming that even breathing hurt. Yet, despite everything, my legs somehow remained standing, as if an invisible force refused to let me fall.
Slowly, the dust began to clear.
And then I saw him.
The Herald was still standing. His expression was serious, but there was no anger or disdain. Instead… there was respect.
I immediately tried to activate my aura again, but something was different. This time, it wasn't the overwhelming energy from before. My aura looked strange, almost transparent, as if it was on the verge of disappearing. Even so, it was still faintly visible.
The Herald watched me in silence for a few moments, as if studying me. Then, with a deep sigh, his body began to change.
His transformation faded.
His once-imposing figure, surrounded by that silver mist, returned to its normal state. Now, without the overwhelming energy cloaking him, his presence seemed… more human.
—You are worthy of possessing my father's power,— he said firmly. —Your courage, your determination to keep fighting even when you were on the verge of collapse that is admirable.
His words caught me completely off guard.
—Don't worry about the damage or the people who might have been hurt,—he continued. —From the beginning, this battle took place within a special field. Humans were never in any danger.
I froze.
—A… field?— I asked with difficulty, feeling my body barely respond.
The Herald nodded.
—From the moment our fight began, this place was cut off from the real world. All the chaos, the shockwaves, the destruction… none of it affected the humans.
I couldn't believe it. When had he done that? How was it even possible?
I was barely processing the information when my knees finally gave out, and I collapsed to the ground.
The Herald stood silently, as if waiting for my reaction. But only one question burned in my mind.
—Why?— I murmured, feeling the exhaustion pull me into unconsciousness. —Why did you do all of this…?
Before I could hear his answer, darkness consumed me.