The battlefield lay in utter ruin, reshaped by the ferocity of combat. Jagged mountains were reduced to rubble, deep fissures ran through the cracked ground, and molten rivers of chaos energy hissed as Taiyou's flames licked the earth. The once-burning white flames that coated Taiyou now flickered erratically, consuming what remained of his tattered clothing. His torso was bare, blackened by burns where his own flames had scorched him, and his skin was slick with blood and sweat. His left arm hung limp, the dislocated shoulder a gnawing ache, while his ribs throbbed with every shallow breath.
Taiyou's breathing came in sharp gasps, each inhale a struggle against the weight of exhaustion. Yet, despite the pain and the damage, he stood tall. His smoldering gaze locked on Valanor, who loomed amidst the chaos like a harbinger of destruction.
Valanor's scorched armor clung to his massive frame, glowing faintly with the pulsing rhythm of chaos energy. His eyes gleamed with malevolent confidence as decay spread outward from his feet, consuming the earth beneath him. Despite the battle's toll, his presence was overwhelming, a storm of destruction incarnate.
"You still stand, boy?" Valanor growled, his voice a thunderclap that echoed across the wasteland. His tone was laced with disbelief and irritation. "All that power of yours, yet you're crumbling. No amount of fire will ever burn brighter than chaos itself."
Taiyou clenched his fists, the white flames coiling around them flaring slightly. The heat was unbearable, even to him, but his resolve burned hotter.
"I've come this far. If I stop now, all of this… everyone… will be for nothing. I can't lose. Not to him."
Valanor's sneer twisted into a grin. "So be it. Let me end this pathetic display."
Valanor charged, the earth quaking under his every step as he closed the distance in an instant. His fist, wreathed in raw chaos energy, came down like a falling meteor. Taiyou pivoted at the last moment, flames erupting from his feet to boost his movement. He barely avoided the strike as Valanor's blow cratered the ground, molten rock splintering upward in a fiery burst.
Taiyou retaliated with a spinning kick, flames roaring around his leg as he aimed for Valanor's exposed side. Valanor intercepted the strike with a forearm reinforced by chaos energy, the impact sending a shockwave rippling outward.
Valanor snarled, lashing out with a sudden uppercut. Taiyou ducked, the force of the punch tearing through the air above him, and countered with a quick jab toward Valanor's ribs. But the chaos commander twisted away, his armor absorbing the heat as he retaliated with a vicious backhand.
The strike connected, and Taiyou was sent flying. His body skidded across the broken terrain, rolling to a stop against a jagged boulder. Blood dripped from his split lip, and his vision swam, but he forced himself upright, spitting crimson onto the cracked ground.
*"He's overwhelming me," Taiyou thought as he staggered forward, flames still flickering in defiance. *"Every move is faster, stronger, but there's a pattern. If I can last just a little longer, I can find it."
Valanor wasted no time, his decay-infused palm slamming into the earth. Waves of energy spread outward, dissolving the ground in their path. Taiyou leapt skyward, flames bursting from his feet, just as the decay consumed the spot he'd been standing.
Mid-air, he twisted his body, flames spiraling around him as he rocketed toward Valanor like a comet. His fist burned brighter than ever as he aimed for Valanor's head.
But Valanor was ready. He sidestepped with unnerving precision and delivered a brutal knee to Taiyou's midsection. The force cracked another rib, and Taiyou wheezed as he crumpled to the ground.
Valanor loomed over him, his expression a mixture of disgust and triumph. "You're predictable. Raw power without refinement is nothing. Die already."
He raised his arm, chaos energy coalescing into a destructive sphere that pulsed with decay.
But Taiyou wasn't done. With a guttural yell, he rolled to the side, flames erupting from his hands to propel him forward. Valanor's attack detonated where Taiyou had lain, the explosion tearing apart a nearby mountain.
The shockwave sent Taiyou tumbling, but he used the momentum to regain his footing. He steadied himself, wiping blood from his mouth, and planted his feet firmly.
"He's right. I can't match him in raw power. But I don't need to. I just need one opening. One perfect strike."
Taiyou's flames flared anew, concentrating around his fists. He focused everything on precision, on timing. His eyes locked onto Valanor's chest, studying every movement.
---
Valanor growled in frustration and surged forward again, his attacks relentless. He swung with savage fury, each punch carrying the weight of chaos itself. Taiyou dodged, narrowly avoiding each blow, the heat of his flames and Valanor's energy scorching the air around them.
Valanor's chaos-infused roundhouse kick came dangerously close, but Taiyou ducked low, countering with a sweeping kick of his own. Flames trailed his movement, forcing Valanor to leap back.
Then, Valanor made a mistake. He overcommitted, slamming his fist into the ground in an attempt to catch Taiyou off guard. The moment of recovery was all Taiyou needed.
Taiyou dashed forward, flames spiraling around his body. He channeled all his strength and speed into five precise punches, each one striking the exact same spot on Valanor's chest in rapid succession.
The blows seemed insignificant at first, Valanor barely flinching as he stepped back. He let out a mocking laugh. "That's it? That was your grand strategy? You can barely—"
The armor over his chest cracked.
Valanor froze, eyes widening as a sudden burst of heat erupted from the spot. The crack spread, and then a portion of his armor exploded outward, molten shards scattering as flames licked at the exposed flesh beneath.
Valanor staggered, clutching his chest. His skin, blackened and rough like charred stone, glowed with faint red veins. The flesh writhed unnaturally, chaos energy surging in response to the injury.
"You… burned me?" Valanor's voice was a mixture of shock and fury. "Impossible. No flame can pierce my armor, let alone harm me. This kid is going to be trouble if he masters his powers. I have kill him now "
Taiyou stood tall, his flames flickering wildly but his smirk cold and confident. "What's wrong valanor? Surely my human flames can't be hurting you now can it?" he said, his voice hoarse."
Valanor's rage boiled over, his chaos energy flaring uncontrollably. But beneath the fury was something new: doubt.
Taiyou raised his fists, flames reigniting despite his battered form. "Let's finish this."
The stage was set for their final clash, the battlefield trembling under their combined power. The fight had reached its climax, the line between predator and prey blurring as Taiyou's resolve turned the tide.