### **Chapter 75: The Final Blow**
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The sky was a sickly shade of crimson, casting an eerie glow over the battlefield where Haruto and Takashi had just clashed. The forest, once lush and alive, now stood ravaged by the power of their Spirit Energy, twisted and broken like the shattered bonds between father and son. Haruto's body was trembling, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. His father, Takashi, lay on the ground, battered and bruised, the last remnants of his energy slowly dissipating into the air.
But the battle wasn't over. Haruto could feel it in the air—the weight of finality that still lingered over them. He knew that as long as his father drew breath, the darkness within him would continue to spread like a plague. Takashi would never stop, not until everything and everyone Haruto loved was destroyed.
In the distance, Kai emerged from the shadows, his face set in grim determination. He had watched the entire battle unfold, his heart heavy with the burden of what he knew had to be done. As he approached Haruto, the young man turned to him, his eyes filled with confusion and pain.
"Kai... it's over," Haruto whispered, his voice shaky and uncertain. "He's done..."
Kai didn't respond immediately. Instead, he kept his gaze locked on Takashi's motionless form, his jaw clenched tight. There was a darkness in his eyes, one that Haruto had never seen before. Kai knew better. He could sense the flicker of life still left in Takashi—the faint but dangerous pulse of his Spirit Energy that was clinging to existence. If left unchecked, Takashi would rise again, more dangerous than ever.
"It's not over," Kai said softly, his voice calm yet resolute.
Haruto furrowed his brow, confusion washing over him. "What do you mean? He's beaten. He can't—"
"He's still a threat," Kai interrupted, his voice harder now. "You don't understand. If we leave him alive, he'll come back stronger. He's not like us, Haruto. The darkness inside him... it's feeding on his pain, his hatred. He'll never stop."
Haruto stared at Kai, his mind reeling from the weight of those words. He looked back at his father—broken, beaten, and barely holding on to life. Could he really allow this? Could he allow Kai to strike the final blow? The thought of killing his own father made his stomach turn, but at the same time, deep down, he knew Kai was right.
Takashi groaned softly from the ground, his eyes fluttering open. He looked up at his son, a weak smirk playing on his lips. "Haruto... my boy," he rasped. "You've grown so strong... but you'll never be strong enough... to destroy me."
Haruto winced at his father's words, but he remained silent. His heart ached with conflicting emotions—anger, sorrow, love, and regret. He had always idolized his father, looked up to him as the strongest figure in his life. But now, he saw the man for what he truly was—a broken soul, consumed by his own thirst for power.
Kai stepped forward, his hand already beginning to glow with the electric blue energy of his Spirit. The air around them crackled with tension as he slowly approached Takashi, each step heavy with purpose.
"Haruto," Kai said, his voice steady but firm. "This is the only way."
Haruto closed his eyes, a tear sliding down his cheek. He didn't respond. He couldn't. The weight of the decision was too much for him to bear.
Kai raised his hand, the energy in his palm growing brighter and more intense. "Spirit Energy: Thunder Strike," he whispered, his voice laced with finality.
Takashi's eyes widened as he realized what was happening. He tried to push himself up, but his body was too weak. "No..." he gasped, his voice filled with desperation. "You... you can't..."
Kai's gaze hardened, his eyes cold and unyielding. "It's over, Takashi," he said, his voice devoid of emotion.
With a swift motion, Kai thrust his hand forward, the crackling energy of his Thunder Strike surging toward Takashi. The bolt of electricity struck Takashi's chest with a deafening crack, and for a brief moment, the air was filled with the acrid scent of ozone.
Takashi let out a strangled cry as the electricity coursed through his body, his muscles spasming uncontrollably. His eyes rolled back in his head, and for a moment, it seemed as if the darkness within him would consume him whole.
But then, with a final, shuddering breath, Takashi fell still. The energy that had once pulsed so violently within him dissipated into the air, leaving only the cold, lifeless shell of the man who had once been Haruto's father.
Haruto stared at his father's body, his heart heavy with a mixture of relief and sorrow. He had known this day would come—had known that one day, he might have to face his father in battle. But nothing could have prepared him for the reality of it. Nothing could have prepared him for the sight of his father lying dead at his feet, killed by the hands of his closest friend.
Kai stood silently beside Haruto, his expression unreadable. The air around them was thick with the weight of what had just happened, the silence oppressive and suffocating.
After what felt like an eternity, Haruto finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "Was this... the only way?"
Kai didn't answer immediately. He glanced down at Takashi's body, his jaw clenched. "Sometimes... the only way to stop darkness is to snuff it out completely," he said quietly. "There was no other choice, Haruto. He would have destroyed everything."
Haruto's fists clenched at his sides, his emotions swirling in a chaotic storm. He wanted to scream, to cry, to lash out at the world for forcing him into this position. But instead, he swallowed his pain, pushing it deep down where it couldn't hurt him anymore.
"I understand," Haruto said, though his voice trembled with the weight of his words. "I just... I wish it didn't have to be like this."
Kai placed a hand on Haruto's shoulder, his touch gentle but firm. "You did what you had to do," he said. "You made the right choice."
Haruto didn't respond. Instead, he stared down at his father's lifeless body, his mind numb with grief. He had known that Takashi was beyond saving—that the darkness had consumed him completely. But knowing that didn't make the pain any easier to bear.
After a long moment, Kai spoke again, his voice softer this time. "We should bury him."
Haruto nodded silently, unable to trust his voice. Together, the two of them began to gather the tools they needed to lay Takashi to rest. The task was slow and methodical, and though the air around them was still heavy with tension, there was a sense of finality to it.
When they had finished digging the grave, Haruto gently placed his father's body inside, his hands trembling as he did so. He stood there for a moment, staring down at the lifeless form of the man who had once been his hero. And then, with a deep breath, he began to fill the grave, each shovelful of dirt feeling heavier than the last.
When it was done, Haruto stepped back, his chest tight with emotion. He looked up at the sky, the red hue now fading as the sun began to set on the horizon. The world felt quieter now—emptier.
Kai stood beside him, silent and watchful, giving Haruto the space he needed to process his grief. The wind rustled through the trees, carrying with it the faint scent of rain. It was a somber moment, but it was also a turning point—a moment that would shape the future of both of them.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Haruto closed his eyes, letting the cool breeze wash over him. He had lost his father, but in doing so, he had gained something far more valuable—a sense of clarity, a renewed sense of purpose.
"I'll make sure his death wasn't in vain," Haruto whispered, his voice barely audible over the wind.
Kai nodded, his gaze steady. "We will," he said quietly.
And with that, they turned away from the grave and walked back toward the academy, their steps heavy with the weight of the battle that had just been fought—and the battles that still lay ahead.
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