Growing restless, even Sayuri begins to jump on Reina's back and shout for attention.
"Reina, can you carry me too?" she pleads.
But Reina remains unamused, retorting, "Unlike Nobu, I don't like you clinging to me. So don't do anything reckless, okay?"
" 'kay! Will do!" Nods Sayuri in agreement as Satomi chimes in, "Can't you stay quiet, please!! The match is about to start."
"Oh, she's jealous," Reina teasingly replies, "I can give you a piggyback if you want," He adds, implanting a flirtatious smile on his face.
"No time for your love confessions, Reina." Interjects Katsu as he points to the screen, "The match has started."
With that, the group turns their attention to the arena as the two participants are about to engage in an intense battle, leaving everyone on the edge of their seats.
Ash stands tall, his eyes narrowing as he focuses his energy. With fierce determination, he summons forth his sword. The weapon materializes in a burst of darkness, horns protruding from the end of the grip and strange, almost invisible markings etched all over its surface.
With a steady hand, Ash grasps the sword, feeling its weight and power flow through him. As he does, a transformation begins to overtake him. Black horns burst forth from his forehead and a black tail sprouts from his lower back. His skin takes on a dark, greyish hue, and his elbows become sharper and more angular.
But the changes don't stop there. Ash's teeth and nails become razor-sharp, and demonic energy surges forth from his body, swirling around him and filling the arena with otherworldly power. The onlookers gasp in amazement and excitement as they watch Ash's transformation, the energy emanating from him making them feel alive and on the edge of their seats.
Ash's eyes lock onto Nobu, his gaze unwavering and filled with intensity. He crouches down, his muscles tensing as he prepares to unleash his attack. And then, in a burst of lightning-fast movement, Ash dashes forward with incredible speed, his sword held tightly in his grip.
With a fierce battle cry, Ash swings his sword with all his might, aiming to land the first blow on his opponent. But Nobu is no ordinary foe.
With incredible speed and agility, Nobu jumps high into the air, easily surpassing the dashing Ash. He lands gracefully, placing his foot on Ash's head in a mocking gesture.
But Ash is not so easily deterred. With lightning-fast reflexes, he turns to face Nobu, readying his sword for another swing. The two warriors clash once more, the sound of their swords ringing out through the arena.
Nobu seizes the opportunity, using the clash to his advantage. He puts his whole weight onto the hand gripping his sword, putting pressure on Ash and attempting to force him off balance. But Ash is not one to be taken down so easily. He plants his feet firmly on the ground, using his strength to resist Nobu's attack.
With Nobu's weight bearing down on him, Ash grits his teeth and pulls his body with all his might. His muscles strain as he tries to resist the pressure, but it's too much for him to bear. In a split-second decision, Ash leaps back, narrowly avoiding any serious injuries.
"Not yet," With a fierce determination in his eyes, Ash raises his left arm, generating intense magical energy that crackles and swirls around him. Nobu watches closely, his body leaning forward as he holds his Soul Edge behind his back.
As Ash continues to summon his power, a thick demonic cord emerges from his left hand, snaking its way through the air. He raises his arm higher, the magical energy coursing through his body as he prepares to unleash his attack.
Ash unleashes the spell, the demonic cord lashing out toward Nobu with incredible speed. The cord covers a large area, aiming to trap Nobu within its grasp.
Despite the incredible speed and power of Ash's attack, Nobu proves to be a formidable opponent. Ash's eyes widen in shock as he realizes that the demonic cord he had summoned was not fast enough to capture Nobu.
In a split second, Nobu appears right in front of Ash, staring him dead in the eyes. Ash's arm is still stretched high, and the cord hangs limply at his side, having failed to even flinch as Nobu evaded it effortlessly.
Nobu is incredibly fast, even faster than Ash had anticipated. The demon warrior can hardly believe what he's seeing. He had thought he had the upper hand, but now he's not so sure.
"I'm not done yet either, you know!" Nobu declares, his right palm facing Ash's chest without even touching him. The air around them crackles with energy as Nobu summons his power.
Ash gulps nervously as he realizes what's about to happen. But before he can react, he's hit with a powerful force that sends him flying backward, slamming into the wall with incredible force.
The dust settles, and the audience erupts into cheers and applause at the incredible attack Nobu just landed. Even Kaeya and Shinso can't help but be impressed by the display of power.
"Mr. Kaeya," Shinso mutters, a smile on his face, "That wasn't All For One just now, right? Nobu didn't use All For One!"
"No," Kaeya explains, his sharp eye focused on the scene, "He didn't even touch Ash, and his Chi didn't decrease. That was his own technique, not All For One."
As Nobu walks towards the settling dust, more dark demonic energy emanates from Ash, and his form evolves even further. Furious wings grow, flapping powerfully as a dark horn forms at the back of his neck. The demonic energy surrounds Ash's sword as he takes flight toward Nobu, ready for another clash.
Nobu is taken aback by Ash's sudden dash, but he quickly recovers and leans backward to avoid Ash's sword. As he lands on the floor, he puts his right arm down and starts spinning his body. With incredible speed, he lands a powerful kick on Ash's face with his heel.
Nobu focuses all of his weight onto his leg a second time, standing up at Ash's head as he presses it to the floor. He then leaps backward, swinging his sword in a series of badass moves before finally settling it in front of him.
Reina focuses on the ongoing battle between Ash and Nobu, using his perfect vision technique to keep up with their movements. "What did you feed the dude in that one sparring session that you shared with him?" he asks Sayuri, impressed by Nobu's fighting style.
"I just told him to adapt breakdancing as his fighting style, and kept spamming him with shadow bolts," Sayuri replies, equally amazed by Nobu's improvement. "Nono did everything on his own, I didn't help him that much if you really think about it."
As Ash struggles to stand, he tightens his grip on his sword and steadies himself. He refuses to give up, glaring at Nobu with determination as the two face off. Nobu holds his sword towards Ash, inviting him to continue the battle.
This only fuels Ash's frustration, and his teeth begin to elongate as he grows more agitated. With a fierce battle cry, Ash thrusts his body upwards toward the sky, opening his mouth to unleash a powerful blast of demonic energy. A dark, mysterious sphere takes shape within his mouth, as his thoughts urge him on with a single word: "Win".
Nobu can sense a greater power emanating from Ash's attack and mutters to himself in unease, "I need to act fast this time." His eyes lock onto Ash as he prepares to make his move, and with a sudden shift, he disappears and reappears a couple of inches higher in front of Ash.
Caught off guard, Ash quickly cancels his spell and lunges forward with his sword. The two swords clash in a shower of sparks, but this time, the force of the impact causes Ash to lose his balance. His body is blown back against his will, and he tumbles a little away from Nobu.
Unable to fly, Nobu quickly throws out his right hand and catches Ash's clothes, pulling him downwards. Ash finds himself face to face with Nobu's outstretched palm, and once again, an invisible force slams into his chest, sending him hurtling back toward the ground.
With a thud, Ash lands heavily on the ground, while Nobu gracefully rises to his feet, still kneeling lightly. The power dynamic between the two seems to have shifted, as Nobu exudes newfound confidence and strength, while Ash struggles to get back up.
Reina gasps in disbelief as he watches Nobu execute his technique with precision, "Nobu...just used Overpower? He's the first soldier from this generation to master two techniques before even going to the capital!"
Satomi nods in agreement, "Unlike Ash, Nobu's movements are well executed and calculated. I have to admit, I thought Ash would have the upper hand. It seems I was wrong."
But Katsu's expression turns serious as he interrupts, "Something bad is going to happen."
Reina is taken aback, "Something bad? What are you talking about?" He asks
Katsu's eyes dart back and forth as he starts to sweat, "Ash can't be allowed to feel like he's going to lose. If he does, it could end in disaster."
Reina chuckles nervously, dismissing Katsu's warning, "Relax, Katsu. Nothing serious is going to happen. Let's just watch the match, okay?"
"Win... Win... WIN", Ash's eyes blaze with intense demonic energy, as his body transforms into something more terrifying. Black markings appear all over his grey skin, making him look as if he has just stepped out of the underworld. With his arms on the ground, Ash charges toward Nobu, his mind consumed with the singular goal of winning.
As he approaches, Ash reaches out and grabs hold of Nobu after gigantifying his hand with demonic energy, his grip like a vice. With a mighty heave, he tosses the soldier into the air, causing Nobu to panic as he realizes he can't fly.
"Tsk." Desperately, he tries to focus his powers and switch with something, anything, that will prevent him from taking too much damage. But Ash is not finished yet. He summons another cord of demonic energy, even stronger and faster than the last, and wraps it tightly around Nobu's body. The force of the impact breaks the battlefield, sending debris flying in all directions. Yet Ash seems unfazed, his mind consumed with the desire to win at all costs.
As Ash hurls his opponent using a cord, Nobu gets buried under a pillar of rocks. Refusing to give up, he rises to his feet, blood flowing from his forehead and down his nose to his chin. With his right hand, Nobu raises the pillar, slowly lifting his head to reveal a badass stance despite the disaster.
"Ash," says Nobu, his face expressionless but his eyes radiating a purple aura. "You're consumed by your emotions right now..."
As Nobu utters a few words, Ash swiftly siphons the demonic energy coursing through the cord and channels it into his sword. With a manic leap, he charges towards Nobu, their weapons clashing in a resounding clash of metal. Despite Nobu's valiant efforts, he slowly but surely begins to falter under the onslaught of Ash's overwhelming attack.
With a fierce determination, Ash continues to press his advantage, driving Nobu back towards the wall. The sound of metal ringing against metal echoes through the arena as the two warriors continue their deadly dance. Nobu's sword suddenly finds purchase in the wall as he uses it to gain a foothold, carefully planting his feet and jumping before wrenching the weapon free.
Undeterred, Ash continues his assault, pushing Nobu towards his limits. The air crackles with demonic energy as the two fighters exchange blows, each one struggling to gain the upper hand. Finally, with a powerful strike, Ash sends Nobu flying across the room.
Despite the force of the impact, Nobu manages to land on his feet, gritting his teeth as he feels the bruises arising even more. He raises his sword once more, ready to continue the fight, even as he struggles to get the upper hand.
"I will win," Ash growls, his voice filled with a dark intensity. "Even if it means killing you for my victory."
His eyes blaze with a fiery determination as he prepares to strike again, a force to be reckoned with and an unstoppable foe for anyone who dares to cross him.
As the battle between Ash and Nobu reaches a dangerous climax, their friends watch with growing concern. Suddenly, Satomi jumps off her seat and speaks up.
"I'm going to ask Master Kaeya and Shinso to consider canceling their battle," she declares, her voice urgent and determined.
Without hesitation, Satomi rushes out of the room, her mind racing with worry for her friends. As she hurries down the hallway, she hopes that Master Kaeya and Shinso will heed her warning and call off their match before it's too late.
As the "Win" word echoes throughout the arena, Nobu gets pummeled by Ash's uncontrollable rage. The others start to worry as Ash's power level continues to skyrocket.
"Katsu, what's going on?" asks Reina with concern. "Why is Ash so fixated on winning right now?"
"It's time to reveal something about your friend," Continues Reina, turning to Katsu with a hint of desperation in his eyes.
Katsu sighs, leaving an unwanted silence to fall on the group. "Ash made a promise," he says slowly. "He promised her that he would keep winning, no matter what."
"Who is she?" asks Sayuri, climbing off of Reina's back. "And where is she?"
Katsu's head droops as he speaks. "She's not here," he says, barely audible over the sounds of Ash's brutal attacks. "And she'll never come to his aid again."
The whole group turns to Katsu, their mouths slightly agape as his words echo painfully in their ears. Reina musters the courage to speak. "Kaeya... don't tell me..."
Katsu nods his head, confirming Reina's suspicions. "She's already dead," he says quietly. "She died 7 years ago."
(This chapter appears to be shorter than usual, so sorry for the inconvenience ^^)