Yuto's chest heaved as black flames flickered around his body. The dark energy of the Abyss surged through him, an overwhelming force that threatened to tear him apart from the inside, yet it was the only thing keeping him standing. The Voidspawn stood across from him, his own aura swirling with malevolence, like a vortex of darkness ready to consume everything in its path.
"You're finally starting to use it," the Voidspawn said, his grin widening. "But it won't be enough, Yuto. The Abyss is limitless, and you're just a child playing with fire."
"I don't care how strong you think you are," Yuto growled, his voice strained with the effort of keeping the power in check. "I'll take you down, even if I have to burn myself out to do it!"
The Voidspawn chuckled darkly. "Let's test that theory."
In an instant, the Voidspawn disappeared from sight, his speed beyond anything Yuto could follow. The air around Yuto distorted, a heavy pressure building from all sides. His instincts screamed at him to move, but before he could react, a fist slammed into his back, sending him crashing into the ground.
The impact sent shockwaves through the earth, creating a crater where Yuto's body hit. Pain shot through his ribs, and he struggled to push himself up, but the Voidspawn didn't give him a chance. Before Yuto could stand, the Voidspawn appeared again, this time in front of him, and delivered a brutal kick to his chest.
Yuto flew back, skidding across the ground and slamming into a nearby wall. He coughed violently, blood splattering from his mouth as he struggled to breathe. His vision blurred for a moment, but he forced himself to stay conscious.
"You're too slow, Yuto!" the Voidspawn taunted, his voice echoing through the battlefield. "The Abyss doesn't care about your willpower. It's about power and dominance. And right now, you're nothing but prey."
Yuto clenched his fists, the black flames intensifying around him. He could feel the Abyss tugging at the edges of his mind, begging him to let go, to fully embrace the chaos within. But Yuto knew that if he lost control, it wouldn't just be the Voidspawn he'd destroy—it would be himself.
The Voidspawn appeared again, this time aiming a crushing blow to Yuto's skull. Yuto's eyes flared with dark energy as he met the attack head-on, catching the Voidspawn's fist in his hand. The ground cracked beneath them as their auras collided.
"Not… yet!" Yuto growled, forcing himself to stand, pushing back against the Voidspawn's overwhelming strength.
The Voidspawn's smile faltered as Yuto gripped his wrist and pulled him forward, throwing his knee into the Voidspawn's gut. The Voidspawn staggered, and Yuto didn't waste the opportunity. He spun, delivering a backhanded punch to the Voidspawn's face, followed by a powerful roundhouse kick that sent him crashing into the ground.
For a brief moment, Yuto felt the tide of the battle shift. His heart pounded in his chest as he fought to catch his breath. The Abyss's power was coursing through him, giving him strength, but he knew he couldn't hold out much longer. His body was reaching its limit.
But the Voidspawn wasn't finished.
With a snarl, the Voidspawn pushed himself off the ground, his body emanating even darker energy. "You think that was enough? You're still holding back, Yuto! You haven't even touched the real power of the Abyss!"
The Voidspawn charged again, faster than before, his fists a blur of motion. Yuto barely managed to block the first strike, but the impact rattled his bones. The second punch broke through his defense, slamming into his ribs with enough force to knock the wind out of him.
Yuto stumbled, but the Voidspawn wasn't done. He grabbed Yuto by the collar, pulling him in close and driving his knee into Yuto's stomach. Yuto gasped, doubling over in pain, but the Voidspawn followed up with an elbow to the back of Yuto's head, sending him crashing face-first into the ground.
The Voidspawn stood over him, breathing heavily, his eyes glowing with cruel satisfaction. "Do you understand now? The Abyss isn't something you can control. It controls you. And you… you're nothing but a vessel."
Yuto groaned, his body refusing to cooperate as he lay in the dirt, barely able to move. His mind was spinning, his vision blurring. He could feel the Abyss inside him, pulling him deeper into its grasp, whispering to him to let go, to surrender. But Yuto couldn't—no, he wouldn't.
With a shaky breath, Yuto dug his fingers into the dirt, forcing himself to rise. His body screamed in protest, but he ignored it. The Abyss wanted control? Fine. He would use it. But on his terms.
The Voidspawn watched him with mild curiosity, his smile returning. "Still standing? Impressive. But you won't last much longer."
Yuto's eyes burned with determination as he stood to his full height, the black flames around him flaring to life once more. "I don't need to last," he said, his voice low and fierce. "I just need one chance."
The Voidspawn laughed, stepping forward. "One chance? Against me? You really are delusional."
Before the Voidspawn could attack, Yuto moved. In a burst of speed, he closed the distance between them, his fist crackling with dark energy as he aimed for the Voidspawn's chest. But at the last second, Yuto feinted, ducking low and spinning behind the Voidspawn, catching him off guard.
With a roar, Yuto drove his elbow into the Voidspawn's spine, following up with a brutal punch to the back of the head. The Voidspawn stumbled forward, and Yuto capitalized on the opening, launching a flurry of blows—punches, kicks, elbows—each one fueled by the Abyss's power.
For a moment, it seemed like Yuto had the upper hand. His strikes were relentless, each one hitting harder than the last. The Voidspawn tried to counter, but Yuto was faster, more focused. He wasn't holding back anymore. He was all in.
But just as Yuto prepared to deliver the final blow, the Voidspawn's eyes flared with dark energy. With a roar, he caught Yuto's fist mid-punch, his grip tightening like a vice. "Enough!"
The ground trembled as the Voidspawn's power surged, and with a savage twist, he flung Yuto across the battlefield. Yuto crashed into a boulder, the impact shattering the stone and leaving him sprawled on the ground, gasping for air.
The Voidspawn stood tall, his aura flaring to new heights. "You had your fun," he growled, his voice seething with anger. "But playtime is over. Now, you die."
Yuto struggled to stand, every muscle in his body screaming in pain. He could barely move, barely breathe, but he forced himself to his feet one last time. His vision blurred, but his mind was clear. He wasn't done yet.
The Voidspawn raised his hand, a swirling mass of dark energy forming in his palm. "Say goodbye, Yuto Kisaragi."
Yuto clenched his fists, the flames of the Abyss flaring one last time around him. His body was broken, his strength failing, but he wasn't going to give up. Not now. Not ever.
Just as the Voidspawn unleashed his final attack, Yuto gathered the last of his power, preparing for one last desperate move. But whether he would survive it—whether he could win this fight—was a question that neither of them could answer.
The battlefield exploded in darkness, and everything was consumed.