From a satellite view, the lush Aokigahara Forest, commonly known as the Sea of Trees, sprawled like a green crescent at the southwestern base of Mount Fuji.
Deep within the forest, two streaks of light one golden, the other silver raced through the trees, colliding with explosive force as they clashed at high speeds.
Boom!
Boom!
Each impact sent shockwaves through the air, the sound reverberating with rapid intensity.
Kaminari currently the golden streak, was flung backward by yet another powerful strike from the relentless silver figure behind him. As he steadied himself mid-air, his mind raced with confusion and frustration.
"What's going on? Why isn't Edgeshot affected by my electricity at all?"
Although their duel had only lasted a short time, the sheer speed of both combatants meant they'd already exchanged numerous blows.
But what puzzled Kaminari most was how Edgeshot remained unaffected by his High-Voltage Mode. The golden electric flames surrounding Kaminari's body, which should have deterred any close combatant, didn't seem to faze Edgeshot in the slightest.
Each time the Hero lashed out whether by stretching his paper-thin limbs or darting in for a direct hit, his body inevitably made contact with Kaminari's electrified aura. Yet, aside from the occasional flicker of sparks on his silver form, Edgeshot's movements remained smooth and unaffected.
Boom!
Another elongated paper limb struck Kaminari, sending him flying. Sparks of golden electricity climbed up the extended limb, briefly lighting up Edgeshot's body.
Zap!
This time, Edgeshot let out a faint grunt from the jolt, but his expression remained calm, and his attacks continued as if nothing had happened.
"Damn it!" Kaminari cursed as he regained his footing mid-air, balancing himself just in time to avoid crashing into a tree.
The situation was frustrating. "He's not just ignoring my electric shocks," Kaminari muttered to himself, "but every attack he throws lands like it's guided, like some sort of homing missile. No matter how I dodge, he still connects!"
His back and shoulders ached from repeated impacts. The force behind Edgeshot's blows was no joke, each hit felt like getting slammed by a speeding freight train.
And yet, despite having countless opportunities to pass him, Edgeshot remained just a meter behind Kaminari, deliberately holding back.
"Why doesn't he overtake me?" Kaminari thought, gritting his teeth. He could feel Edgeshot's presence lingering just out of reach, like a shadow.
Even when Kaminari slowed down, Edgeshot mirrored his pace, refusing to take the lead. It was as though the Pro Hero was intentionally staying at his heels, keeping the pressure on without finishing the race.
---
Unbeknownst to Kaminari, Edgeshot had his reasons for holding back. Though his calm expression betrayed nothing, the Hero was reaching his physical limits.
Kaminari's electric aura wasn't something he could simply ignore, it was a constant assault on his body. Every strike, every close encounter, left Edgeshot enduring sharp, stinging jolts of electricity.
It wasn't immunity that kept him moving; it was pure endurance. Years of training and discipline allowed him to push through the pain, but even he had his limits.
"I can't take too many more of these shocks," Edgeshot thought to himself, his movements still precise despite the strain.
But there was a lesson he wanted Kaminari to learn, one that couldn't be taught through words alone.
At the beginning of their clash, Kaminari had shown a dangerous overconfidence in his electric aura. He'd relied entirely on its defensive and deterrent properties, neglecting to evade attacks altogether.
Edgeshot had deliberately continued his relentless assault to drive the point home: not everyone will fear your electricity.
"If I were wielding a blade instead of fists," Edgeshot thought, "this battle would've been over before it started. He'd be lying in a pool of his own blood."
Edgeshot hoped to instill a crucial lesson: Kaminari needed to use his speed not just for offense, but also for defense. His high-speed capabilities were wasted if he didn't dodge attacks when he had the chance.
"Let's see if he's starting to figure it out," Edgeshot thought as he adjusted his movements, temporarily pulling back on his attacks.
---
Kaminari, noticing the sudden change in pace, furrowed his brows. "Why isn't he attacking anymore?"
Before he could dwell on it, Edgeshot's voice rang out from behind him.
"We're here."
Kaminari's gaze shot forward, and for the first time, he spotted their destination: a compact camp nestled in a clearing.
The camp was simple yet well-constructed, consisting of wooden buildings surrounded by high wooden walls. While it wasn't massive, it was more than spacious enough for two people.
But before Kaminari could get a good look, a sharp sound whistled through the air.
"No way…" Kaminari's eyes widened. He recognized that sound instantly, it was the distinct noise of Edgeshot stretching his paper-thin limbs.
Instinctively, Kaminari attempted to dodge, but, as always, Edgeshot's precision left no room for escape.
A thin, paper-like arm snaked out, wrapping around Kaminari's ankle and yanking him off the tree trunk.
"What?!" Kaminari yelped as he was thrown to the ground.
Thud!
He crashed onto the forest floor, rolling several times before finally coming to a stop. His combat suit box flew from his grip, landing a few feet away.
"Damn it!" Kaminari groaned, lying flat on his back. Above him, the dense canopy of trees let in fragments of sunlight, casting dappled shadows across the ground.
"First, he warns me we're close to the destination," Kaminari muttered bitterly. "Then, just as I let my guard down, he throws me off the course."
He let out a resigned sigh, staring up at the fragmented sky. "Is he trying to teach me not to get distracted by my opponent's words?"
After a moment, Kaminari pushed himself to his feet, dusting off his clothes. Picking up his fallen combat suit box, he trudged toward the camp.
There was no point wasting any more energy. He'd already lost the race, so he deactivated his High-Voltage Mode to conserve what stamina he had left.
"There's no way I'm wasting what's left of my charge. Who knows if this camp even has proper electricity?" Kaminari thought wryly.
---
Soon, Kaminari arrived outside the camp's wooden walls. To his surprise, he couldn't find a gate or entrance anywhere.
"Huh?" Kaminari muttered, looking around in confusion. "Where's the door?"
Before he could start circling the perimeter, a familiar voice called out from above.
"What are you doing down there? Hurry up and get inside!"
Kaminari looked up to see Edgeshot standing atop the wooden wall in a crouched ninja stance.
"Where's the entrance?" Kaminari asked helplessly.
"There isn't one," Edgeshot replied flatly. "Just jump over."
Kaminari stared at him, dumbfounded, before letting out an exasperated sigh.
"Fine, fine… you win," he muttered, a small spark of electricity crackling around him as he prepared to leap.
"You really don't make this easy, do you?"
***
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