As the two glowing fists collided with earth-shattering force, time seemed to come to a standstill, the very air around them crackling with tension. For a brief, fleeting moment, the world held its breath in anticipation, as if frozen in time by the sheer magnitude of their clash.
Then, with a deafening roar that reverberated across the desert landscape, a sonic boom echoed through the air like a thunderclap, heralding the unleashing of unimaginable power. An explosion of energy erupted forth from the epicenter of their collision, sending shockwaves rippling through the air with unbridled fury.
The force of the explosion was enough to send both fighters hurtling through the desert landscape, their bodies propelled with bone-jarring force in opposite directions. Kris soared through the air like a ragdoll, his form careening through the sky before crashing into the unforgiving embrace of numerous boulders scattered across the desert floor.
Meanwhile, Sanemi was blasted straight through the sand, his body becoming a blur as he was propelled through the shifting grains with unstoppable momentum. The desert sands offered little resistance as he hurtled through them, leaving behind a trail of destruction in his wake.
In the midst of the swirling sands and echoing cries of battle, a separate confrontation unfolded between two figures standing in the distance, their gazes locked in a silent exchange of challenge and determination.
Haruko and TrueMonarch stood opposite each other, their forms tense and ready for the impending clash. TrueMonarch's eyes bore into Haruko with an intensity that matched the blazing sun overhead, a silent warning of the ferocity of the battle to come.
"I don't want to hear your big mouth anymore. You better fight like you mean it," TrueMonarch declared, his voice carrying the weight of his determination as he issued his challenge to Haruko. His words hung in the air like a gauntlet thrown down, a challenge to Haruko's resolve and strength.
Haruko met TrueMonarch's gaze with a steady stare, his expression betraying a hint of resignation as he sighed in response. "I have many questions, but let me not bore you with them," he conceded, his voice tinged with a mixture of weariness and determination.
But before he could say another word, Haruko sprang into action, his reflexes lightning-fast as he dodged a surprise kick from TrueMonarch with ease. "You sure like sneaking around," he remarked, his words laced with a hint of amusement as he countered with a swift punch aimed straight at TrueMonarch's torso.
The sound of their blows echoed across the desert landscape, punctuating the air with the rhythm of their battle. With each strike and dodge, they danced the dance of combat, their movements fluid and precise as they sought to gain the upper hand in their relentless struggle for supremacy.
TrueMonarch's voice carried across the dunes like a whisper on the wind, his words laden with a mixture of admiration and resentment. "No wonder you earned the moniker Akuma," he remarked, his tone tinged with a hint of grudging respect for Haruko's formidable reputation.
Meanwhile, Haruko stood his ground with a grin playing at the corners of his lips, his eyes alight with a spark of mischief. "Can I not even know what you do in life?" he quipped, his words laced with a hint of playful curiosity. "You are quite strong..."
TrueMonarch's expression darkened at Haruko's words, his gaze narrowing as he regarded his adversary with a steely resolve. "What I do is none of your business," he retorted sharply, his tone brooking no argument as he prepared to engage in battle once more.
With a silent understanding passing between them, Haruko and TrueMonarch surged forward simultaneously, their movements synchronized as they raced towards each other with unstoppable force. The desert sands trembled beneath their feet, echoing the thunderous beat of their impending clash.
And then, with a deafening roar, they collided in a whirlwind of fists and fury, their blows landing with bone-jarring impact as they fought tooth and nail for dominance. Haruko's grin widened with each strike, a glint of exhilaration dancing in his eyes as he relished the thrill of battle.
But for TrueMonarch, there was a complexity to his emotions, a tangled web of hatred and enjoyment that fueled his every move. As he exchanged blows with Haruko, his expression remained inscrutable, a mask of determination masking the storm of conflicting emotions raging within him.
As they soared through the air, locked in a deadly dance of combat, Haruko's gaze lingered on TrueMonarch, a flicker of recognition sparking within him amidst the chaos of battle. "You look familiar..." he remarked, his voice tinged with curiosity as he continued to rain down blows upon his adversary.
TrueMonarch's response was a silent one, his fists moving with increased intensity as he poured all his focus into the relentless onslaught. His teeth clenched with determination, he refused to acknowledge Haruko's words, his gaze fixed firmly ahead as he pressed forward with unwavering resolve.
Suddenly, TrueMonarch leaped back, a bone-chilling cold spreading outward in a one-kilometer radius, sending shivers down the spines of all who felt its icy touch. Haruko's expression shifted, a hint of shock registering on his features as he glanced around at the sudden change in temperature.
"Is this your doing?" Haruko questioned, his voice laced with a mixture of disbelief and suspicion as he turned his attention back to TrueMonarch, searching for answers amidst the frozen landscape.
But TrueMonarch remained silent, his palm glowing with an arctic blue hue as he summoned forth his formidable powers. "Snow Magic: Frozen Bone Rain," he intoned, his words echoing across the frozen expanse as he unleashed his chilling attack upon Haruko.
Incomprehensible symbols appeared in TrueMonarch's hands, swirling with an otherworldly energy as they coalesced into a barrage of frozen bone shards.
As Haruko raised his guard, his gaze bore into TrueMonarch with a newfound seriousness, his mind racing with the implications of his adversary's abilities. "You really are from the Ashura Realm," he stated matter-of-factly, the realization dawning upon him as he connected the dots. "Seeing that you are using Magic."
In the vast expanse of the universe, each realm was endowed with its own unique power system, a reflection of the diverse nature of the cosmos. The Heavenly Realm, the Middle Realm, and the Ashura Realm each operated on distinct principles, their energies flowing in accordance with the laws of their respective domains.
As Haruko's smirk spread across his face, a sense of determination radiated from him like a beacon in the desert night. "But-" he declared, his voice tinged with confidence, "I won't be outdone."
Suddenly, the atmosphere within a one-kilometer radius seemed to shift, growing heavier with each passing moment. A palpable weight settled upon the air, as if the very fabric of reality had been bent to Haruko's will. "Gravity Manipulation: Overton Gravity," he intoned, his words resonating with the power of the cosmos as he unleashed his formidable ability upon the battlefield.
TrueMonarch's attack had already been set in motion, a barrage of spear-like icicles hurtling down from above with deadly precision. But as they descended towards Haruko, their trajectory suddenly shifted, their descent slowed by the invisible force of gravity itself.
With a flick of his wrist, Haruko's manipulation of gravity altered the very nature of the icicles, increasing their mass to the point where they became too heavy to maintain their flight. Like a rain of metal, they plummeted towards the desert sands below, their deadly potential neutralized by Haruko's mastery over the forces of nature.
As the dust settled and the echoes of their clash faded into the night, Haruko stood triumphant amidst the aftermath of their confrontation.
With a sneer of contempt, TrueMonarch wasted no time in springing into action, his movements swift and decisive as he closed the distance between himself and Haruko. In his hands, magic circles shimmered with arcane energy, a prelude to the devastating power he was about to unleash.
"Don't get cocky, Akuma," TrueMonarch taunted, his voice dripping with scorn as he invoked his formidable abilities. "Snow Magic: Snowstorm Step," he declared, his form beginning to disperse into a flurry of crystalline snowflakes that danced upon the desert breeze.
Haruko's senses sharpened as he watched TrueMonarch's transformation with a wary eye, his muscles tensing in anticipation of the impending attack. In his missions within the Ashura Realm, he had learned the hard way never to underestimate adversaries who could transform their bodies into manifestations of their powers.
With a quick reflex born of experience, Haruko sprang into action, his mind racing as he summoned forth his own abilities to counter the threat before him. "Gravity Manipulation: Graviton Pulse," he intoned, channeling his mastery over gravitational energy into a powerful wave of force that rippled outward from his form.
As the wave of gravitational energy surged forth, Haruko wasted no time in ensuring that the encroaching snowflakes would not get the chance to close the distance between them. With a determined focus, he unleashed the pulse of energy, sending a shockwave rippling through the air that repelled anything in its path with unstoppable force.
.
.
.
.
That's it for chapter 30.
And because I have finally arrives on chapter 30, I will be uploading every 3 days. To read 5 chapters ahead. Please support me on Patreon. Using this link:
patreon.com/UniversalStories761