The battlefield crackled with chaotic energy.
Akira tightened his grip on his sword as his team regrouped. Aria wiped blood from her cheek, while Jin and Kael stood beside him, bruised but burning with resolve.
> Akira: "It ends now. No more holding back."
He looked up at the Grinder, which roared once more. Light gathered around him as he took a deep breath.
> Akira: "Divine Limit Breaker: Celestial Chain – Final Radiance!"
His sword split into multiple shards of pure light, orbiting him before launching at blinding speed. Each shard pierced a vital point.
The Grinder stumbled back, screeching, its body beginning to disintegrate from within.
> Grinder (fading): "Impossible... the Light... evolved..."
> Akira: "No. I evolved."
With a final step, Akira pierced the creature's core. It exploded into particles of radiant dust.
---
Meanwhile – Kuroo
Kuroo was drenched in shadow energy, standing in a crater formed by the battle. The Grinder before him was wounded, but not yet defeated.
> Kuroo: "I'm tired of dragging this out."
He raised his hand and darkness spiraled like a tornado around his blade.
> Kuroo: "Forbidden Surge: Abyss Execution."
A slash so powerful that the sky above split for a moment.
The Grinder froze. Its body cracked, then shattered, consumed by the void itself.
Kuroo exhaled.
> Kuroo: "Another name wiped off fate."
---
Elsewhere – The Third Grinder
The final Grinder had begun to awaken, sensing its siblings' destruction.
But before it could even rise fully—
a blinding flash of light and shadows intertwined—
Akira and Kuroo appeared together, side by side.
> Akira: "You ready, rival?"
> Kuroo: "I was born ready."
The creature lunged.
But this time, it wasn't a fight. It was a massacre.
The duo struck in perfect sync—light and shadow weaving together.
> Akira + Kuroo (shouting): "Unison Break: Eclipse Divider!"
The third Grinder was split in two mid-air.
Its corrupted energy screamed before dissipating into the wind.
---
The battlefield was silent.
Smoke rose. The ground cooled.
Akira and Kuroo stood victorious.
The Observer, from beyond realms, whispered:
> Observer: "The Gods have chosen well. The real war begins now."
---
End of Chapter 23