The dust settles from the massive explosion dealt by Shii and Haydes' final attacks. The group was protected by a shield created by Gaia. They remained still in a field of pure nothingness. Only the shield keeps them from flowing into its endless depths.
Gaia: "I highly doubt they actually survived that. Their forms could only withstand one more universal explosion and that attack caused about 5."
MorZick: "I'd agree… if Shii weren't the one down there."
Gaia: "Hmm… welp, the dust is clearing so we'll get our answer right now, cousin MorZick."
The dust settles completely and to everyone's surprise, Shii and Haydes had survived the explosion. Using their shields and holding back on the final attacks they launched.
Gaia: "So, they did survive. I'm honestly surprised, I thought I'd have to revive the two of them. But if this is the case… they're out of essence without a doubt. Their studies won't be usable now and their elements are spent for now due to their low essence pools. They only got their Birthrights and skills winning them this match."
MorZick: "You may be right, cousin. Seems they only have their wits about them. This'll be quite the show!"
Zenki: "I agree wholeheartedly."
Zigorim: "Hmm… (So I finally get the Chance to see…)"
Everyone: (True Mastered Death-Yu.)
Shiishii: "G-Godd-dammit. I didn't expect such a harsh lashback from that. I'm pretty restricted now."
Haydes: "T-Tch! This ain't looking good by any standards. Feels like my essence is almost completely spent. But I can keep going. And I'll keep pushing in order to complete my goal. SHII!!!"
Shiishii: "Hmph! You bastard! What'll it be?!"
Haydes: "I'm going to put an end to Death!"
Shiishii: "Then it'll be your sealing event yet again. I'm going to end your ambition now. *Fwoo* *Swish* My Death-Yu will be your downfall."
Haydes: "My HellSen Sin Zenfist will stop anything you can dish out. This'll be your sad end."
Shiishii: "Alright then. Let's end it all here! Your soul will be forfeited when this'll all be over."
Gaia: "Well then, lets see who comes out on top. Considering that Haydes has a leg up on the Power Scale. Shii still has him in skill and speed."
Zenki: "This shall be worth the witnessing, so everyone… pay close attention to these two titans."
Haydes dashes in on Shii seeing as he's slightly more fatigued than Haydes himself. Shii readies himself and gets into the Base Death-Yu stance. "HAAAA!!!", screamed Haydes as he threw a strong left hook at Shii's face. Shii covers up with a box guard, but he still staggers from the force put behind the blow.
Haydes: "Hmmm… (This could be my shot. Gotta take this!!)"
Haydes follows up with four quick jabs to Shii's injured left arm. Shii feels a jolt of pain and his left arm goes slightly down for a mere moment. Haydes capitalizes on the opportunity and punches Shii square in the face with a right hook.
Shiishii: "Guah!"
Haydes continues pressing forward and throws a hard left uppercut to Shii's ribcage. Shii blocked the blow with his right arm, but couldn't retaliate quickly enough to stop the drop kick that came right after. Shii plummeted onto the platform formed by their combined essence(such a thing takes little to none). After two rolls, Shii is able to rebound and get back to his feet.
Shiishii: (Seems the bastard is purposely aiming for my left side. If that's the case, I'll just have to…) *Vwimp*
Haydes: "What's that bastard up to?" *FWIP*
Shii uses the bit of essence he built up and summons some death particles and wraps them around his right index and middle finger. Then he pierces his left arm with the two fingers and commands the death particles to cause "Death" to the injuries. His arm was healed shortly after.
Haydes: "Hmm!? (His left side is fine once more! This could be trouble.)"
Haydes continues rushing in on Shii. Shii gets back into his base Death-Yu stance and prepares for Haydes promptly.
Shiishii: "I'll release a quick burst and…"
Haydes makes contact with Shii and tries to break his balance with a heavy uppercut to Shii's ribcage. Shii blocks the blow by balling up and shifting his body to the point that the punch is forced to make contact with the center of his guard. Shii endures the force and immediately punches Haydes in the jaw, Haydes staggers and tries to catch himself. Shii takes the opportunity to follow up with a five punch jab combo and a quick left high kick to end it. Haydes blocks the first three jabs, but the last two slip through and hit Haydes square in the face. The jabs aren't strong enough to disorient Haydes and he ducks under the high kick. He then immediately kicks Shii in the back of his right leg then spins with a low sweep kick and trips Shii. Shii goes into the air a few feet above the platform. Before Shii can catch himself, Haydes lands a heavy right kick to Shii's back. Shii endures it then rolls down Haydes' leg and kicks him square in the face with his right leg.
Haydes: "Damn! (That one hurt!)"
As Haydes falls back, Shii immediately enters a stance in "mid-air".
Morpheus: "He's preparing the five kick combo."
Zo'Elaniece: "Will it be better than when Morpheus used it? I wonder…"
Zoshen: "That's major deja-vu."
Amera: "No kidding."
Malikai: (This should be incredible.)
Haydes: "Hmph! *Grin*
And just like that… Shii unleashes his famous five kick combo created only after he mastered Death-Yu. *PRCH* *PSH* *PCH* *PRCH*… *SMASH*
Shiishii: "Well I'll be damn…."
Gaia: "Did he just…?"
Morpheus: "He… just blocked the five hit combo."
MorZick: "I was able to see it clearly… Haydes summoned essence to each part of the body that was being directly touched hy Shii's attacks. He blocked each one with precision… He's grown."
Shiishii: "Impressive…let's go then!"
Haydes: "Bring it heathen."
Haydes attacks first and throws four heavy jabs. Shii blocks the blows and retaliates with a quick flurry or jabs. Haydes uses a box guard and immediately counter attacks with a quick, heavy right hook. Shii leans back and avoids the hit while also attacking Haydes' shin in the process. Haydes feels a quick jolt of pain, Shii uses that opening to try and land a heavy jab on Haydes' face. Haydes dodges then counters with a quick left hook to Shii's jaw.
Shii: "Ngh!"
Haydes tries to follow up with an uppercut to the stomach, then a right hook to the jaw followed by a left haymaker to the temple. But all three strikes were blocked then a counter was made and Haydes had a palm hit him square in the face. A right, high kick immediately followed but Haydes ducked. Then a right, low kick but Haydes jumped over that. Shii spins around then throws a right punt kick that Haydes leans out the way of. Shii holds his leg high and brings it straight down on Haydes who hadn't gotten his barings back yet. Haydes uses a high scissor guard above his head and endures the shot.
Haydes: "That was quite the heavy shot brother! I'll have to get you for it."
Shiishii: "Heh! This style of yours is quite advanced and adept for defense. But I'll go beyond it in no time."
Haydes: "Tch!" *FWIP*
Haydes rapidly bends down to the floor and tries to hit Shii in the back of his leg. Shii jumps above it then immediately stomps on the back of Haydes' leg. "ARRRGH!!" - screamed Haydes as he was forced into a kneeling position by the blow. Shii then immediately lands a heavy, right kick against Haydes' head and sends him flying. Haydes is disoriented and nearly faint, but recollects himself and enters a quintuple backflip which led right into a straight, left heel-kick to Shii's jaw as he dashed in to follow up. Being thrown off by the kick, Shii is left wide open and Haydes doesn't falter. He delivers a heavy right kick to Shii's side. Shii slightly curls up from the impact, allowing Haydes to land a heavy right hook on Shii's Jaw. Sending him into the platform face first.
Shiishii: "GAHH!!! (D-Dammit! The bastard really did create a style that counters my own. He knew he'd be fighting me upon my return!)"
Haydes: "As I said before, you won't be winning this fight brother! I've prepared my skill set and arsenal for this day for the last thousand years! Heathens like you need to be dealt with in this fashion."
Shiishii: "Urgh! *CLENCH* You're still under the… Mhph! That I actually am being pushed back here? And with martial arts of all things!? You're a fool just as you were back then. Every move you make only helps me grow my boy. I… just like Kishin, am a true martial arts warrior. I am, martial arts' incarnate. You'd be better off mixing in essence based-"
Haydes: "Hmph!" *BLAST*
Shiishii: *PEW* *VWIMP* "… Attacks. Hmm…. What a cheap shot."
Haydes: "What!? (What did he just do!?)
Gaia: "Seems he was learning while trapped in that self split for all these years. To believe he's learned to absorb literal Death. It's quite impressive to say the least."
Hideaki: "What do you mean… he can absorb literal Death?"
Gaia: "Well-"
Jollister: "Err- Gaia? Mind if I explain?"
Gaia: "Ah… go right ahead Jolli."
Jollister: "Heh! Thanks Gaia. Now Hideaki, what she means is simple. In the way that we use death to monitor life that'll be coming to an end soon. We're also able to actually cause said deaths by writing in our books or causing them directly. Something else we can do on top of the many other things is…. Absorb the deaths we cause. From here it looked like Shii extinguished the blast then absorbed what couldn't be extinguished. But it was actually different from that. What Shii just did was cause "death" to that blast's exact concept then absorbed the "Death" to fuel himself. Haydes basically just…"
Hideaki: "Helped Shii out a bunch. W-Well I'll be… seems I've still got some ways to go huh father?"
Zenki: "Yes, yes you do but it'd be a lie to say the other two didn't have MUCH more room to grow as well. You're still not at the point where you can cause true Death to concepts. Including the concept of death itself."
Hideaki: "Ah… right. Seems we all have to grow, but… Shii and Jollister are something else man."
Shiishii: "Thanks for the replenish. Now time for my comeback."
Haydes: "Soundin' like one of those corny Shonen made on the Earths. Mainly Earth 52."
Shiishii: "Yeah, yeah yeah. Just bring it already. I want to go home and catch up on everything."
Haydes: "Why you arrogant piece of shit! Fine!" *FWIP*
Shiishii: "Hmm?"
Haydes: "Take THIIIIS!!!" *FWOOSH...*
Shiishii: "Hmph! (You've really grown since our last bout. To believe you could push me this far in pure martial arts now. Welp… as your brother. I can't let you hawk me down!) *Catch* *GRIP* (Nor… Show me UUUUPPP!!) HYAAAAAAA!!!"
Shii grabs Haydes' punch with ease. Then cocks his right fist all the way back and releases his heaviest blow as Haydes is pulled in. Haydes manages to block the blow but a quick crack in his arm's bone structure makes him regret the action. But Haydes endures the shot and immediately retaliates with some smooth, kickboxing style, kick combos. Shii checks and blocks each kick using Taekwondo with added calmness from his Taichi mastery. Upon outlasting the combo, Shii follows up with a back spin, right backhand. Haydes bobs out of the way, but wasn't ready for the heavy, right round-house kick that followed. Knowing he'd take the blow, Haydes quickly releases a three hit jab combo that hits Shii dead center, in his chest. This lowers the impact of the kick, which Haydes is able to endure.
Shiishii: "I like it in ya! But… I do have to ask. Are you feeling fatigued yet?"
Haydes: "Tch! Cocky son of a- Why would I be fatigued- *THUD*
Haydes suddenly falls to his knees. The strength in his legs were on the low side.
Haydes: "Wh-What the hell is going on here?! Why are my legs so damn weak all of a sudden?!"
Shiishii: "Well that's easy. Your strength had been getting attacked and killed little by little from my death particles. Its Death-Yu brother, every strike still uses and has… death particles in them."
Haydes: "D-Damn… I was careless in our last few exchanges and dropped my anti shield. But… my essence levels are more than high enough to invoke my final contract. Gift of Regen!"
Shiishii: "Damn he was still conscious enough to protect his building essence pool. Now that damn right eye of his can activate."
Gaia: "I can feel… life essence coming from Haydes. This may be bad for Shii."
Shiishii: "Perfect."
Haydes: "Hmm?!"
Shiishii: "Your plan has been scanned."
Jollister: "Uh-ohhh!"
Zenki: "Heh!"
Hideaki: "Is that!?"
Gaia: "Oh wow!"
Thermias: "Oh it's THAT eye eh?"
Shiishii: "My Eyes of the Strategist will cancel out any plan. Your contract will not be signed today. Those wounds…"
Haydes: (That… that DAMN EYE!?)
Shiishii: "Are all you'll be able to heal… little bro."
The Eyes of the Strategist
(are one of the three Legendary Eyes of Death. These eyes have the ability to see through and thwart any plan that a foe, foes or many foes may form. Being able to cause death to anything that's part of that plan. All techniques/abilities that may be new to the viewer and user of the eyes may be adapted to their Death Chronicles and easily destroyable by the next encounter.)
Shiishii: "Your plans have been destroyed and now…"
Haydes: (He got me honestly! But I was able to regenerate quite a bit using cousin Gaia as a beacon. I'll be fine now. No… more thinking.)
Shiishii: "You're mine!" *FWIP*
Haydes: "Hmmm."
*SMASH* The two brothers clash once more with Shii throwing a quick, right elbow at Haydes, yet… Haydes dodges with ease. Shii leans back and quickly tries a barrage of swift, left kicks. Haydes dodges those as well then counters with a well timed, right kick to Shii's stomach. Shii uses a scrunched "X" gaurd to endure the blow, but is still sent flying back.
Shiishii: "Damn. Seems you still healed quite a bit. Doesn't matter though. *WOOSH* *Swish* Your style is mine."
Haydes: "What!? As if your version would trump my own!" *Fwip*
Shiishii: *INHALE* "… HMPH!"
And with a mighty step Shii extends his right fist and matches Haydes' charged, left fist evenly. Shii steps forward with his right leg and extends his right arm with added force. Forcing Haydes to be spun about to Shii's six o'clock. Shii leans back and throws a huge, left backhand at Haydes. It comes so quickly that Haydes is barely able to block in time. Shii adds a bit of force and creates a small shockwave that breaks Haydes' guard and forces a few steps back. Haydes looks up to see a dashing Shii with both his arms flowing behind him. Haydes waits for the attacking arm only to find a foot to his chin, a high, left heel kick from Shii. It hit heavy as Haydes was slightly stunned. Just then Shii crouches down and pauses his charge. He then leaps off their platform and does a back spinning right kick that hits home on Haydes' chin.
Haydes: "Doh!"
Shii continues the spin and throws another right kick to Haydes' chest. Haydes blocks while Shii performs one last spin as he hits the platform and goes for a low, right sweep kick. Haydes jumps over the attack and does a spin of his own. Charging up a mighty, right drop kick from atop of Shii.
Haydes: (Got your ass now elder brother!)
Shiishii: "Hmph! (Much too slow!)"
Shii blocks the strike using a small bit of essence to negate any damage at the direct point of contact. Then before Haydes could even blink, he delivers a heavy, right hook to Haydes' stomach forcing him to flinch. Then a left hook meets 'em in his chest in a flash. A final blow to Haydes' chin, sends him flying high off the platform and smashing straight back into the platform headfirst.
Shiishii: "Alright then. Time to switch to Death-Yu, again. Hmph! Death Entrance!!"
Shii dashes forward at high speeds as Haydes rises back to his feet. By the time Haydes rose to his feet Shii had already threw, a left jab. Haydes was able to catch the blow. Shii follows up with more than 5 more straight jabs to Haydes' face. Haydes blocks and dodges each one then retaliates with a heavy right uppercut that hits Shii square in the chest. Shii endures the blow and counters with a left cutting elbow. A quick left finger jab to the throat, then a heavy right hook to the jaw completely discombobulates Haydes as Shii spins around and delivers a heavy high kick to Haydes' chest. Left floating right above Shii on the platform.
Shiishii: "Now then… time for my new technique." *Fwip* *Swish*
Gaia: "What's… that stance?"
Morpheus: "That's… not the same stance for the five kick technique. What's going on?"
Katrina: "I'd say we're seeing a birth today and right after a rebirth no less."
Divina: "Oh… I get what you're getting at."
Morpheus: "Hmm?"
Dante: "Seems as though Shii will be showing us something…"
Gaia: "New."
Shiishii: "Hidden Stance: Eight Gates of the Alheim."
Shii releases a series of spinning kicks similar to the Five Gates of Alheim. The first two kicks aim for the center of the head and throat. Both containing pressure points, then the next two kicks hit the center of his chest and waist. Then the final four strikes that smash four of Haydes' ten bells to induce a heavy paralysis.
Haydes: "GAAAAAAAHHH!!!!"
Gaia: "Uh...u-uh… he actually smashed the first four of Haydes' essence bells. He wasn't playing at all today. Guessing he'll be sealing him."
MorZick: "Mmmhhm."
Kishin: (I hate this part.)
Vashjai: "Gotta go through this again."
Morpheus: "W-Wait! Shii is actually going to seal Haydes for good right now?!"
Tristan: "… Yeah."
Morpheus: "A-Ah… Tch!" *Clench*
Jollister: "(Seems none of my cousins want to see their brother sealed again.) Hmm?"
Hideaki: "My…. Essence is being extracted."
Shiishii: "I'll be using your guys' essence to strengthen my sealing technique. I definitely need the extra essence due to him being slightly stronger than myself. Now then… Come forth DEATH SCYTHE!!"
Shii brings forth his Death Scythe and gets ready for the attack. He dissolves his sense of sight and focuses solely on Haydes' soul and essence. Once the soul was pinpointed, Shii wrote in a soul seal meant to keep Haydes' soul locked away for an eternity. The soul is to be sliced through with the scythe and left with the mark of chambers which transfers the soul to a pocket dimension. A timeless pocket dimension.
Shiishii: "Hmph! See you soon…"
Haydes: "Ngh!"
Shiishii: "BROTHER!!!" *FWIP*
A slash was sent through Haydes' chest. Of course it never actually cut Haydes' physical structure, but his soul had been completely severed and sent into Shii's personal pocket dimension where it would be trapped until Shii chooses to release it. Leaving Haydes' body no more than a simple husk of what it once was.
Shiishii: "It's heavier than I thought it would be. Haydes' soul is a whole lot more than what I expected. But it's over now, thankfully. *Glare* Sorry for this Haydes. It's what I thought would be right, brother."
Kishin: "This feels exactly like before."
Vashjai: "Yeah, this doesn't feel right… just like the last time."
Ebon: "I agree, Vashjai. There had to be another way."
Jollister: "Well it was either this or actually kill Haydes. Had neither happened Shii would be gone yet again. Haydes'll be back. Trust me."
Morpheus: "It's not like we don't get it… its just that we all had to just watch our brother go down at the hands of our eldest brother."
Jollister: "Hmm. I understand little cousin."
Vashjai: "Mhm."
Morpheus: "It was what was necessary, but… this doesn't sit well with me. Death Gods and their roles… are truly dangerous for all. Especially *Glare* brother Shiishii."
Gaia: "Hmmm… *Turn* He… may be right Shii."
Shiishii returns with a flare of glory as he reigns victorious against his brother Haydes. But in this wake… many start to look at the truth behind Death Gods and their roles. With everything being done and gone, Strife can move forward and Shii & Gaia can now pursue their dreams. They will surpass their PREDECESSORS!
???: "And with that… the events have sprung out and my path to Everything has become all the more illuminated. Keep working towards your goals, Shiishii. It shall only bring you and your concepts closer to… MEEE."
Next Chapter: A New Day at D-Drag.