### **Chapter 14: The Clone of the Flame Reaper**
The scarred man staggered to his feet, breathing heavily, his muscles still twitching from the residual lightning that Kenji had unleashed on him. His face was twisted in a mixture of pain and anger, but his eyes gleamed with a cruel amusement that sent a shiver down Kai's spine.
"You think you've got me, don't you, kid?" the man growled, his voice filled with dark intent. "But you have no idea who you're dealing with."
Kenji's expression shifted slightly, his eyes narrowing. "What are you talking about? You're just some thug who showed up to get smacked around."
The man chuckled, a low, ominous sound that echoed through the battlefield. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But let me tell you something." He slowly straightened up, a twisted grin forming on his scarred face. "I'm no ordinary thug. I am a clone—created from the power of the Flame Reaper, one of the strongest beings to ever exist."
Kai's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the Flame Reaper. He had heard stories of this legendary figure—someone who was said to wield fire with such devastating power that entire cities could be reduced to ash with a single breath. But the Flame Reaper was supposed to be long gone, a distant myth. If this man was truly a clone of such a being, their battle had just taken a far more dangerous turn.
Kenji raised an eyebrow, his usual cocky smile returning to his face. "A clone, huh? I've got to admit, that's kind of impressive. But let me guess—you're supposed to be stronger than the original?"
The clone nodded slowly, his grin widening. "That's right. I was designed to surpass even the Flame Reaper himself. My fire is hotter, my strength unmatched. You've only faced a fraction of what I'm truly capable of."
Kai clenched his fists, feeling the tension in the air grow even heavier. He glanced at Kenji, who stood confidently, his body still crackling with electricity. But Kai could see the strain on his friend's face. Kenji had already used a significant amount of his spirit energy in the fight so far, and this new revelation only added to the weight of the battle ahead.
"Kenji," Kai said quietly, "be careful. If he's telling the truth, he's way more dangerous than we thought."
Kenji glanced over his shoulder at Kai, flashing a grin. "Don't sweat it, Kai. I've got a few tricks left."
The Flame Reaper clone raised his hands, and instantly, the air around him began to heat up. Flames erupted from his palms, swirling around him like a fiery tornado. The ground beneath his feet scorched and cracked from the intense heat, and his eyes gleamed with a fiery glow.
"Now, kid," the clone said in a low, dangerous voice, "let's see how you handle the full power of the Flame Reaper."
**Part 1: The Inferno Unleashed**
With a deafening roar, the clone unleashed a massive wave of fire toward Kenji. The flames surged forward, twisting and writhing like a living entity, ready to engulf everything in their path. The heat was unbearable, even from a distance—Kai could feel the searing air against his skin, and for a moment, he feared that Kenji wouldn't be able to withstand such an attack.
But Kenji didn't back down. His eyes flashed with determination as he stood his ground, his body still shimmering with electricity.
"Spirit Energy: Thunder Armor!" Kenji shouted, his voice echoing across the battlefield.
In an instant, a glowing shield of electricity surrounded Kenji's body, crackling and sparking with raw power. The flames collided with the shield, and for a moment, it seemed as though the fire would overwhelm him. But the Thunder Armor held strong, absorbing the heat and redirecting the energy back into the air.
Kenji gritted his teeth, the strain of maintaining the shield evident on his face. "You're not the only one with tricks up your sleeve, clone," he said through clenched teeth.
The Flame Reaper clone snarled in frustration, his flames growing even hotter and more intense. "You think your little tricks can save you from me? I'll burn you to ashes!"
With a flick of his wrist, the clone intensified the flames, turning the entire battlefield into a blazing inferno. The ground around them glowed with heat, and the air shimmered with fiery energy. Even with his Thunder Armor, Kenji was struggling to keep up.
**Part 2: The Final Gambit**
Kenji's breaths were growing heavier, each one labored as he fought to maintain his spirit energy. He could feel the electricity in his body beginning to flicker, the strain of the fight taking its toll. But there was no way he was going to back down now—not when his friends were counting on him.
"Kai," Kenji called out, his voice strained but steady, "get ready. I'm about to end this."
Kai's eyes widened. "Kenji, wait—what are you planning?"
Kenji didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took a deep breath, his body trembling as he gathered the last remnants of his spirit energy. He knew he only had one chance left—one final move that could turn the tide of the battle.
The clone of the Flame Reaper, still engulfed in flames, let out a mocking laugh. "You're finished, kid. Give up now, and I might let you die quickly."
Kenji ignored him, focusing all of his energy on the power building within him. He could feel the electricity surging through his veins, more powerful than ever before. This was it—his last stand.
"Spirit Energy: Storm God's Wrath!" Kenji shouted, his voice filled with resolve.
With a thunderous crack, Kenji's body exploded with a brilliant flash of light. Lightning surged from every part of him, arching into the sky and crashing down onto the battlefield with deafening force. The ground trembled beneath the onslaught of power, and the flames that had once threatened to consume him were instantly extinguished.
The Flame Reaper clone's eyes widened in shock as the massive bolts of lightning struck him from all sides. He let out a roar of pain, his fiery aura faltering under the sheer intensity of Kenji's attack.
Kenji's eyes were fierce, his entire body glowing with the overwhelming power of the Storm God's Wrath. He thrust his hand forward, sending a final, concentrated bolt of lightning directly at the clone's chest.
The bolt hit with a blinding flash, and the clone was thrown backward, crashing into the ground with a thunderous impact. The flames around him flickered and died out, leaving only the smoldering remains of the battlefield in their wake.
**Part 3: The Aftermath**
As the dust began to settle, Kai and Nohara stared in stunned silence at the scene before them. The clone of the Flame Reaper lay motionless on the ground, his body still crackling with the residual energy of Kenji's final attack.
Kenji stood tall for a moment, his body still glowing faintly with electricity. But then, his legs gave out beneath him, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
"K-Kenji!" Kai shouted, rushing over to his friend's side. He knelt down, shaking Kenji's shoulder, but there was no response.
Nohara hurried over as well, her eyes wide with concern. "Is he okay?"
Kai checked for a pulse, relief flooding through him when he found one. "He's alive," Kai said, his voice shaky with exhaustion. "He just pushed himself too far."
Nohara let out a sigh of relief. "That attack... it was incredible. But it took everything out of him."
Kai nodded, glancing down at Kenji's unconscious form. He couldn't help but feel a deep admiration for his friend—Kenji had risked everything to protect them, and in the end, he had succeeded.
As the silence settled over the battlefield, Kai felt a newfound sense of determination growing within him. They had won this battle, but the war was far from over.