"(Weakly, from her hospital bed) Blackthorn... I'm sorry... I failed to win..."
"(Sitting beside her, his expression grim) Don't apologize. You fought valiantly." He muttered.
"(Her voice barely above a whisper) But I wasn't strong enough... I let you down..."
"(Placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder) No, Valeria. You did your best. And that's all anyone can ask for."
"(Closing her eyes) What happens now?"
"(His jaw clenched) Now, we prepare. We train harder. We become stronger. So that next time, we won't be caught off guard."
"I am so Weak" Valeria thought.
.......
Weeks passed, and Valeria was now recovering, her strength slowly returning with each passing day. But Blackthorn remained restless, his mind consumed by thoughts of the upcoming battle.
"(Clad in training attire, his muscles tense) I need to push myself further. I can't afford to hold anything back against X." He thought.
"(Watching him with concern) Blackthorn, you've been training non-stop for weeks. You need to rest, and besides, we know you are way stronger than X." She uttered.
"Well, that was before I lost my powers." He thought.
"(His gaze unwavering) Rest won't help me win this battle, I need to be ready. Underrating my opponent just because I am stronger, would be a big mistake." Blackthorn spoke.
"(Sighing) promise me you would not overdo it," Valeria said.
"(Nodding) I promise." He replied.
"(Her expression softening) We will get through this together, Blackthorn. I believe in you.
"I think you are putting too much trust in me already Valeria, however, I will assure you one thing... We will surely get through this." Blackthorn said inwardly.
Nevertheless; despite his relentless training, Blackthorn found himself unable to restore his lost shadow abilities. Each attempt ended in frustration, his powers eluding him like shadows slipping through his fingers.
"(Punching a training dummy with frustration) Damn it!"
As the days passed, Blackthorn trained tirelessly, pushing himself to his limits and beyond. He knew that the battle ahead would be the toughest he had faced so far since they were sent back in time, but he was determined to emerge victorious.
With the memory of Valeria's defeat fresh in his mind, Blackthorn prepared himself for the ultimate showdown with X.
*_*
"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the moment you've all been waiting for! It is finally the day for the final fight, X versus Damien!" The announcer screamed at the top of his lungs, while the crowd roared with excitement.
"Both fighters have shown incredible skill and determination throughout this tournament. Now, they face off in the ultimate showdown for glory!" The other announcer chipped in.
"This is it..." Valeria thought as she watched from the sidelines, her heart pounding with anticipation."
Across the arena was X, who had a dark plum aura swirling around him.
Scout 1: "(Observing from the stands) What was her name again?"
"Valeria, although she was brutalized by X in the semi-finals, she is very promising." One of the staff of the academy replied.
Scout 2: "(Nodding, jotting down notes) Interesting..."
Scout 3: "(Glancing at the paper in his hands with a grin) These three recommended students have certainly made a name for themselves in this tournament. Let's see how they fare in the finals."
As the finalist stood face to face and opposite each other, everyone held their breath in anticipation.
"(Smirking) I've been looking forward to this, Damien. Let's give them a show they'll never forget." X muttered.
"And now, without further ado, let the final match begin!" The announcer echoed, and a bell was rung, to signify the start of the match.
"(Watching intently) Show them what you're made of, Blackthorn," Valeria spoke inwardly.
As the bell rings, X wastes no time. He launches himself at Blackthorn with ferocious speed, fists aimed to incapacitate. Blackthorn, caught off guard, quickly raises his arms to block the incoming barrage.
The crowd could only let out gasps and cheers as the fight kicked off with a bang.
X's strikes came fast and hard, each blow reverberating through the arena as Blackthorn struggled to keep up. Despite his best efforts, he finds himself on the defensive, forced to absorb the brunt of X's relentless assault.
"(Gritting his teeth) This guy's relentless... I knew he was different from the others," Blackthorn mused.
With every punch thrown, Blackthorn feels the impact, his muscles straining under the pressure. But he refuses to yield, pushing back against the onslaught with sheer determination.
"(Watching with bated breath) Come on, Damien! You can do this! Just use your ability!" Valeria mused.
The intensity of the fight reaches its peak as both fighters exchange blow after blow, their movements a blur of speed and precision. The crowd watches in awe as the two warriors clash, each refusing to back down.
"(Summoning his inner strength) I can't let him overwhelm me... I have to fight back!"
"Syrah!!!" Blackthorn yelled, his eyes flashing red for a moment before returning to its chilling shade of silver, while shadows flickered in his eyesight for a second.
With a surge of adrenaline, Blackthorn counters X's attacks with renewed vigor, landing his strikes with pinpoint accuracy. The arena erupts with excitement as the tide of the battle begins to turn.
"(Taken aback by Blackthorn's sudden resilience) You are tougher than you look, Damien..." X spoke.
But Blackthorn doesn't let up, pressing his advantage and driving X back with a relentless assault. Blow after blow lands with devastating force, each strike bringing him closer to victory.
"(Determined) This ends now, X!" Blackthorn thought.
With a final burst of energy, Blackthorn delivers a punishing blow that sends X staggering backward, his defenses shattered. The crowd erupts into cheers as Blackthorn stands victorious, his determination unwavering.
"(Beaming with pride) That's it, Bl- Damien! You did it!" Valeria yelled.
But as the dust settles and the cheers fade, it becomes clear that neither fighter is willing to concede defeat. With a fierce battle cry, X charges back into the fray, his eyes blazing with determination.
"(Voice filled with fury) You think you can defeat me that easily, Damien? You're sorely mistaken!" X cried, his voice reverberating throughout the arena.
Blackthorn braces himself for another round, his muscles tensed and ready for the onslaught. The arena pulses with energy as the two warriors clash once again, each determined to emerge victorious.
The crowd roared with excitement, the tension in the air palpable
As the fight rages on, the combatants exchange blow after blow, their movements fluid and precise. The sound of fists meeting flesh echoes throughout the arena as the crowd watches on in awe.
"This is incredible... They are evenly matched!"The announcer ululated.
With every strike, Blackthorn and X push themselves to their limits, their determination unwavering. Each blow lands with bone-crushing force, the fighters locked in a fierce battle for supremacy.
With a primal roar, Blackthorn unleashes a flurry of attacks, each strike aimed with deadly precision. X responds in kind, his movements fluid and calculated.
The arena trembles with the force of their clash, the energy crackling in the air as the two warriors continue their fierce battle. Neither willing to yield, they fight on with everything they have, their spirits unbroken.
Another wave of cheers and gasps went off in the stands, as the intensity of the fight reached its peak
As the dust settles and the echoes of their battle fade, both Blackthorn and X stand battered and bruised, their breathing heavy and labored. But even as exhaustion threatens to overcome them, they refuse to give up.
With a renewed sense of determination, Blackthorn and X charge back into the fray, their spirits unbroken and their wills unwavering. The ultimate showdown for glory has reached its climax, and only one fighter will emerge triumphant.