The battle between Benny and Frank raged on, echoing through the cracked and shattered training arena. The stands, once pristine and orderly, now resembled a battlefield themselves, shaken with the intensity of the combatants' blows. Metal twisted and groaned as Benny pushed the limits of his powers, but the strain was starting to show.
Frank was relentless, his steel-covered fists smashing through Benny's defenses. Every swing seemed to have the power of a wrecking ball, sending shockwaves across the arena. Benny's metal shields, once a reliable defense, were beginning to shatter under the repeated impact.
"Come on, Benny! Show me what you've got!" Frank roared, his grin wide, teeth flashing in the lights above. He lunged again, his massive fist aimed straight for Benny's chest.
Benny gritted his teeth. Sweat was dripping down his face, his breathing labored. His body screamed for a break, but he refused to give up. He wasn't just fighting for himself anymore. This was for Akio. For the world that had left them behind. This was for the glory of the Flag-bearers — all of them.
He thrust his hands forward, manipulating the surrounding scrap metal into a jagged, sharp spear. The energy it took to mold it was enormous, but Benny refused to let the pressure get to him. He hurled it at Frank, the spear cutting through the air with a hiss.
Frank dodged with ease, twisting his body out of the way, and retaliated with a massive stomp, shaking the ground beneath them. Benny barely managed to leap backward, the shockwave knocking him off balance.
"Is that all you've got, Benny?" Frank's voice boomed through the arena, taunting him. "You think you can keep up? You're not even in my league."
Benny's heart pounded. He felt his energy draining, his powers flickering like a dying flame. He couldn't keep this up much longer. But there was no way he was going to let Frank win. Not like this. Not when he had come so far.
He summoned another shield of metal, this time more intricate, with interlocking layers designed to absorb the force of Frank's blows. The metal hummed as it formed, but Benny could feel the strain on his body. His powers were running out of stamina.
Frank took advantage of Benny's weakened state, charging forward with a vicious uppercut. The shield cracked as the blow landed, forcing Benny to stumble back. He was on the edge, but he wouldn't fall. Not now.
With a roar, Benny slammed his hands down on the ground, causing the arena floor to ripple. Shards of metal shot upward, some rising into the air like jagged spikes, others swirling into a protective storm around Benny. It was his last-ditch effort, an all-out attack. He was going to make it count.
Frank grinned, sensing his opponent's desperation. "You're done, Benny. It's over!"
He charged forward, faster than Benny could react. With a single swing, he shattered Benny's metal defense, sending him crashing to the ground with a sickening thud. Benny's vision blurred as he struggled to push himself up. His body felt like it was made of lead, each movement a painful reminder of his limits.
"Stay down, Benny," Frank said, his voice softer this time, almost... respectful? "I'm stronger. Accept it."
Benny's chest heaved as he tried to push through the agony. He could hear the crowd roaring, the energy in the arena reaching a fever pitch, but all he could focus on was Frank looming over him.
He knew he had to act now, or he'd lose everything.
Frank raised his fist for the final blow. But Benny's hand shot out, grabbing a nearby piece of metal, his last reserve of strength. With a final, desperate cry, he hurled it at Frank's face, catching him off guard. The projectile collided with Frank's jaw, knocking him backward, but not enough to take him down.
Frank's grin faltered, his eyes narrowing in annoyance. "You're stubborn, I'll give you that," he muttered. He lunged forward once more, but Benny wasn't finished yet. Not quite.
With every ounce of strength left in him, Benny forced his body to move, rolling to the side as Frank's fist collided with the ground, leaving a crater in its wake. Benny used the opportunity to stagger to his feet, summoning what little power he had left. His limbs felt like lead, his vision swimming, but he refused to give in. He summoned a large chunk of metal, shaping it into a jagged shield just in time to block Frank's incoming punch.
But even as Benny held his ground, the pain in his body was undeniable. The exhaustion was overwhelming. His knees buckled, and the shield wavered in his hands.
"Not enough..." Benny gasped, barely able to form the words. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to his knees, his powers finally fading entirely. His shield shattered, and he slumped forward, breathing heavily.
Frank stood over him, victorious but breathing heavily as well. The fans roared, their excitement palpable, but Frank didn't seem pleased. He knelt beside Benny, reaching out a hand.
"Good fight, man," Frank said, his voice quieter now. "You've got guts. You almost had me."
Benny couldn't bring himself to speak. His vision blurred, and his body ached with every breath. He had fought with everything he had, and yet, it wasn't enough. He had failed.
Frank helped him up, though Benny could barely stand on his own. As he rose, he turned his head toward the stands, where the other Flag-bearers were watching. The excitement in the air had dimmed, and for the first time, Benny saw them for what they had become.
They were no longer the kids he had once known. They were something else now—more powerful, more confident, but distant. They were no longer his friends.
"That was amazing!" one of the other Flag-bearers shouted from the stands, his voice loud and full of admiration. But it wasn't the same. There was no mention of Akio. No recognition of what they had all been through together.
Benny's heart sank as he realized the truth. They had moved on. They had forgotten.
Frank helped Benny to his feet, but Benny's mind was elsewhere. He couldn't stop thinking about Akio—how they had all left him behind. How Akio's sacrifice had been reduced to nothing more than a symbol. And now, Benny was starting to feel like that symbol too. Just another tool, used and forgotten.
The arena was still buzzing with excitement, but Benny's world had gone quiet. His fight was over, but the real battle was just beginning.