Chapter 18: You vs You
Hiro stood in the middle of a vast, dark space, his sword gripped tightly in his hand. His heart pounded in his chest as he took in the endless void around him. It felt cold, empty, yet there was something lurking in the shadows, something he couldn't quite see.
"This is my inner world…" Hiro muttered, his breath visible in the chilly air.
Suddenly, the darkness ahead of him began to shift. A figure stepped forward, emerging from the shadows. Hiro's eyes widened as the figure came into view—it was him.
Or at least, it looked like him. The figure had the same face, the same build, but something about it felt different. The way it moved was fluid, as though it carried a confidence Hiro hadn't yet found in himself. And the eyes—they were cold, intense, like they had seen more battles than Hiro could count.
"So… you're what I'm supposed to fight?" Hiro said, taking a step forward, his sword raised defensively.
The shadow version of Hiro said nothing, simply staring back at him with a faint smirk. Without warning, it lunged forward, moving faster than Hiro could react. The shadow's blade came down in a swift arc, and Hiro barely had time to raise his own sword to block it.
CLANG!
The force of the blow sent Hiro stumbling back, his arms trembling from the impact. The shadow didn't wait for him to recover. It pressed forward, slashing at Hiro with a speed and precision that seemed almost inhuman.
Hiro gritted his teeth, trying to parry the strikes, but each hit was stronger, faster. Every time their swords clashed, it felt like his body was being pushed to its limit. Sweat dripped down his face as he struggled to keep up.
"This thing... is stronger than me…" Hiro thought, his muscles aching from the relentless assault.
The shadow was relentless, not giving Hiro a moment to catch his breath. It swung again, and this time, Hiro was too slow. The blade grazed his shoulder, and a sharp pain shot through him as blood dripped down his arm.
Hiro gasped in pain, but the shadow didn't stop. It pressed the attack, and Hiro barely managed to dodge another strike aimed at his chest. His mind raced. The injuries were real. This wasn't just some mental test—he could actually die here.
"I won't lose!" Hiro shouted, forcing himself to focus. He tightened his grip on his sword and swung back with everything he had, aiming for the shadow's midsection.
CLANG!
The shadow blocked it effortlessly, not even flinching. It retaliated with a powerful kick to Hiro's chest, sending him flying backward. Hiro crashed onto the ground, gasping for breath as the impact knocked the wind out of him.
"You're too weak," the shadow finally spoke, its voice cold and emotionless. "Is this really all you have? After everything you've been through?"
Hiro gritted his teeth, anger flaring inside him. "I'm not done yet!"
He forced himself to his feet, ignoring the pain in his body. His shoulder throbbed from the earlier strike, but he pushed the pain aside. He couldn't afford to hesitate now. This was a fight against himself—his strongest opponent yet.
The shadow lunged at him again, and this time Hiro was ready. He sidestepped the attack, pivoting quickly to slash at the shadow's side. His blade connected, cutting through the dark figure's flesh. But the shadow barely reacted, its expression unchanged.
"Not enough," the shadow said, its voice mocking.
Hiro's eyes narrowed. He needed to fight smarter, not just harder. The shadow was faster and stronger, but it was still him. That meant it had the same weaknesses. Hiro took a deep breath, calming his racing thoughts. He couldn't let fear or doubt take over. He needed to focus, to stay calm.
The shadow came at him again, but this time Hiro didn't meet it head-on. Instead, he moved to the side, using the Specter Mirage technique to create afterimages. The shadow's eyes flickered with surprise as Hiro's form split into multiple copies, each moving in different directions.
Hiro took the opportunity to strike. He darted in from the side, swinging his sword with all his might. The blade slashed across the shadow's back, drawing a deep wound. The shadow stumbled, clearly caught off guard.
But it wasn't enough.
The shadow spun around, its eyes blazing with fury. It swung its sword with deadly precision, aiming for Hiro's neck. Hiro ducked just in time, the blade whistling past his ear. He countered with a quick slash to the shadow's leg, hoping to slow it down.
The shadow hissed in pain but didn't stop. It pressed forward, its strikes becoming even more aggressive. Hiro's body ached with every movement, his muscles screaming for rest, but he refused to back down.
"I can't lose here," Hiro thought, gritting his teeth as he blocked another powerful strike. "I've come too far."
The shadow swung again, and Hiro saw his chance. He ducked under the attack and delivered a powerful upward slash, aiming for the shadow's chest. The blade connected, cutting deep into the shadow's torso.
The shadow staggered back, its form flickering as dark mist began to pour from the wound. Hiro took a step forward, his breathing heavy but steady. He raised his sword, ready to deliver the final blow.
"You think this is over?" the shadow said, its voice distorted by the pain. "You can't defeat me. I am you."
Hiro paused, his sword still raised. The words echoed in his mind. He wasn't just fighting a random opponent—he was fighting himself. His fears, his doubts, his weaknesses.
The shadow smirked, seeing Hiro's hesitation. "You're still holding back. You always have. That's why you'll never win."
Hiro's grip tightened on his sword. He knew the shadow was right. He had always held back, afraid of the chaos inside him, afraid of losing control. But now, he couldn't afford to be afraid anymore. If he wanted to master the nine techniques, if he wanted to achieve his revenge, he had to face everything within him—even the darkness.
With a deep breath, Hiro lowered his sword. The shadow's eyes widened in surprise.
"I'm not afraid of you," Hiro said quietly, his voice steady. "You're right. You are me. And I'll never run from myself."
The shadow growled, lunging at Hiro with one final, desperate attack. But this time, Hiro didn't move. He stood his ground, his eyes locked onto the shadow's as the blade came down.
At the last second, Hiro raised his sword, blocking the strike with ease. The force of the blow sent a shockwave through the air, but Hiro didn't budge. His eyes were calm, focused.
"You can't win," Hiro said, his voice unwavering.
With a swift motion, he knocked the shadow's sword aside and delivered a powerful slash to its chest. The shadow gasped, dark mist pouring from its wounds as it fell to its knees.
Hiro stood over it, his sword at the ready, but he didn't strike again.
The shadow looked up at him, its form fading. "You've won… for now..."
Hiro lowered his sword, watching as the shadow dissolved into the darkness. The void around him began to shift, the cold air growing warmer. He had done it. He had faced himself—and won. But his body is still in his inner world, so he walked... endlessly... until...