The beach was unrecognizable—half of it swallowed by the sea, the other half scorched and shattered. Smoke curled above the wreckage as waves hissed against molten glass.
Lacolone knelt in the sand, blood running from his forehead into one eye. Every breath was agony.
Valgor stood before him, untouched, golden claws gleaming under the broken sunlight.
"He's barely scratched…" Jessica whispered, her voice trembling.
Lacolone glared up through the blood and sweat.
This guy… is an immovable wall.
Valgor's calm footsteps cracked the sand into glass.
"What's wrong? Already slowing down?"
Lacolone gripped his blades tighter, panting.
Every hit… feels like my bones shattering.
Valgor tilted his head, smiling cruelly.
"You don't belong in my league."
Something snapped. Lacolone lunged forward, reckless and raw. His sword swung for Valgor's throat—but the titan barely moved. A slight tilt, a whisper of motion, and the strike missed.
Then came the counter.
A golden claw ripped across Lacolone's shoulder, spraying blood. He spun, teeth clenched, slicing back with a desperate slash that scraped Valgor's armor, sparking gold and red.
Valgor looked down at the scratch, almost amused.
"Not bad… but still shallow."
He vanished in a blur.
"—Where?!"
Before the question finished, Valgor reappeared behind him. The world seemed to shatter with his speed.
Jessica gasped.
"Too fast—!!"
A brutal slash tore across Lacolone's back. He stumbled forward, roaring in pain.
"You can't react to me," Valgor said coldly.
If I can't see him… I'll die.
Lacolone's eyes trembled—but then his breath slowed. In the chaos, a memory flickered—Maya, unconscious in the sand, Jessica's voice echoing in his head: "She'll surpass me one day."
No… I can't collapse here. Not in front of them.
His aura flared, crimson light pushing back the golden haze.
Valgor lunged again, claws slicing for Lacolone's neck—but this time Lacolone ducked at the last instant. His sword flashed upward, grazing Valgor's cheek. Blood.
Valgor paused, touched the cut, and smiled wider.
"Heh… you copied my rhythm."
The distant spectators roared.
"He dodged it! He cut him!!"
Jessica's eyes widened.
"He's adapting mid-fight… just like…"
Valgor grinned.
"Interesting. You're not just muscle."
Lacolone answered through his teeth, eyes burning.
"I don't need to be. I just need to read you."
They collided again, speed blurring into streaks of gold and red. Swords and claws met mid-air, each impact bright enough to light the clouds. Valgor's power forced Lacolone back, feet carving trenches in molten sand.
His strength is endless… but his patterns… aren't.
Lacolone fired his gun mid-dash. The bullet deflected off Valgor's palm in a burst of light—but Lacolone used that flash as cover. He darted in, blade cutting deep across Valgor's side.
"Clever bastard," Valgor laughed.
The laughter turned into violence. An elbow strike crashed into Lacolone's chest—ribs cracked, blood burst from his mouth. He fell to one knee, sword buried in the sand for support. Still, he smiled.
"This pain… is proof I'm alive."
Valgor's golden aura surged like a storm.
"You're still smiling? Are you insane?"
"Maybe…" Lacolone rasped. "Or maybe I'm enjoying this fight as much as you are."
Valgor's grin widened, excitement blazing in his eyes.
They clashed again—relentless, inhuman. Claws slashed, swords tore, bullets screamed. Sand became a storm, waves rose like mountains, thunder shattered the horizon. Jessica shielded Maya with trembling arms.
"They're fighting like gods…"
The world around them ceased to exist—only destruction and will remained.
"Let's end this charade!" Valgor bellowed.
Golden energy gathered around him, shaping into twin blades that stretched skyward. Lightning cracked across the heavens.
Far away, spectators watched the sky split open.
Lacolone steadied his stance, aura roaring hotter. He crossed his blades before him, crimson-black flames condensing along their edges.
If I can't overpower him… I'll outlast him.
Valgor charged. Lacolone screamed as their powers collided.
Red and gold met in a cataclysm. The impact birthed an explosion so massive the sea reared up like a wall, swallowing half the arena. Waves crashed outward for miles; the light blinded all who watched.
When the smoke cleared, both men still stood.
Lacolone's swords were cracked, his armor shredded. Valgor's claws were dented and scorched. Both bled, both smiled.
"Not bad…" Valgor admitted. "You've pushed me further than anyone."
"Good…" Lacolone coughed blood, eyes blazing. "Because I'm just getting started."
The wind changed. His aura flickered—then darkened. Crimson flames twisted into black, streaked with silver veins. The air itself recoiled.
Valgor's eyes widened for the first time.
Jessica's gasp broke the silence.
"That aura… it's not human!"
From the crowd, voices trembled.
"What… what is he becoming?"
Lacolone lifted his head, eyes glowing white-hot, a grin carved in blood and resolve.
"TO BE CONTINUED – Awakening of the Shadow Flame!"