The group trudged through the dense forest, their clothes still tattered and bloodied from the last battle. The air was heavy with moisture, and the towering trees cast long shadows over the uneven ground. Ken led the way, his eyes scanning for any sign of danger, while Simon and Mrs. Mi exchanged quiet words. Akamatsu, however, walked in silence, his face unreadable.
Suddenly, a rustling sound caught their attention. The group halted, their hands instinctively moving toward their weapons. From the shadows stepped a figure—a man, tall and lean, with a cocky grin and an aura of confidence that was impossible to ignore. His dark hair was tied back, and his piercing eyes sparkled with mischief. He carried a blade strapped to his back, and his stance was relaxed, almost mocking.
"A friend of yours?" Ken asked Akamatsu, his tone skeptical.
Akamatsu's expression hardened. "Anji."
The man smirked. "Well, well. Akamatsu. It's been a while." His eyes flicked to the rest of the group. "New friends? How unlike you."
Akamatsu stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "What are you doing here?"
"Passing through," Anji replied casually. "But seeing you here... I couldn't resist saying hello. Though I never thought I'd see you leading a team. Still playing the demon card?"
Ken frowned. "What does he mean by that?"
Akamatsu ignored him, his focus locked on Anji. "Hmph. No time to explain. Anji, let's fight. If I win, you join our team. If I lose..." His voice dropped. "Then I'll go away."
The rest of the crew exchanged confused glances.
"Akamatsu, what are you—" Mrs. Mi started, but Akamatsu cut her off with a sharp glare.
Anji chuckled, unfastening his blade and resting it on his shoulder. "Straight to the point, huh? Alright. I'll humor you. Let's fight."
Akamatsu drew his sword, its dark energy crackling in the air. His eyes glowed faintly as he settled into a fighting stance. "Are you sure you have the right to face me? You said it yourself—I'm just a demon born in the wilderness."
Anji's grin faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "You've changed, Akamatsu. Let's see how much."
Without warning, Akamatsu lunged forward, his blade slashing through the air with blistering speed. Anji parried with ease, their swords clashing with a deafening metallic ring that echoed through the forest. The ground beneath them cracked under the sheer force of their strikes.
---
The Fight
The battle was relentless. Akamatsu moved like a shadow, his dark energy swirling around him as he attacked from every angle. Anji countered with incredible precision, his blade glowing with a faint, golden light that contrasted sharply with Akamatsu's aura.
"Still the same wild beast," Anji taunted, dodging a powerful swing. "No discipline, no control."
Akamatsu didn't respond, his strikes growing faster and more ferocious. He unleashed a wave of energy that tore through the trees, forcing Anji to leap back. But Anji was ready. He spun his blade in a wide arc, sending a crescent of golden energy hurtling toward Akamatsu.
The impact was explosive, shaking the ground and sending debris flying in every direction. When the dust settled, Akamatsu emerged unscathed, his aura pulsing with intensity. He smirked. "Is that all you've got?"
Anji narrowed his eyes. "Don't get cocky."
The fight escalated. Both fighters moved with blinding speed, their attacks leaving trails of destruction in their wake. The crew watched in awe, unable to intervene as the two clashed again and again. Each blow sent shockwaves rippling through the forest, splitting trees and shattering rocks.
Anji feinted to the left, then spun around to deliver a devastating strike aimed at Akamatsu's back. But Akamatsu anticipated the move, twisting mid-air to block the attack. Their blades locked, and for a moment, they were face-to-face.
"You've gotten stronger," Anji admitted, his tone grudgingly respectful.
"And you're still predictable," Akamatsu shot back, shoving him away.
---
The Turning Point
As the battle raged on, it became clear that Akamatsu's sheer determination was overwhelming Anji's calculated technique. Anji launched a flurry of attacks, but Akamatsu countered each one with ruthless efficiency.
"You can't beat me, Anji," Akamatsu said, his voice calm despite the chaos around them. "Not anymore."
Anji gritted his teeth and unleashed his ultimate technique, a massive wave of golden energy that consumed everything in its path. The crew gasped as the forest was engulfed in light.
When the light faded, Akamatsu stood in the center of the devastation, unharmed. His dark energy had formed a protective barrier around him, and his eyes burned with an unrelenting resolve.
"Your mistake," Akamatsu said, stepping forward, "was thinking I was the same person you knew back then."
With a final, devastating strike, Akamatsu shattered Anji's defenses, sending him crashing to the ground. Anji's blade clattered to the side as he lay on his back, panting heavily.
---
The Aftermath
Akamatsu sheathed his sword, extending a hand to his fallen opponent. "You've lost. Now, as promised, you join us."
Anji stared at him for a moment, then laughed softly. "You really haven't changed. Fine. A deal's a deal."
He took Akamatsu's hand and pulled himself up, dusting off his clothes. "I'll admit, you've gotten stronger. Maybe this team of yours isn't such a bad idea."
Ken crossed his arms, still skeptical. "Are we seriously taking him in?"
Akamatsu nodded. "He's one of us now."
Anji smirked, slinging his blade over his shoulder. "Looks like I've got some catching up to do."
As the crew resumed their journey, the tension eased, though the air between Akamatsu and Anji remained charged. For better or worse, their pasts were now intertwined with the team's future.