Temoshí bent his upper body forward, his hand slipping beneath his chest as flames ignited behind him, spiraling outward like an infernal vortex. His azure eyes flickered with an ethereal glow, activating his Inspection. The world around him dimmed, its details lost to shadow, leaving Aurelio illuminated in radiant red hues. Every motion, every faint shift of his opponent's muscles was now as clear to Temoshí as a candle in the dark. His muscles tightened, and he disappeared in a streak of flame, moving faster than a human eye could track.
In the blink of an eye, he reappeared behind Aurelio, suspended inches above the ground, his leg arcing downward in a blistering kick, flames cascading along his motion. The air itself seemed to part around him, his speed warping the sound of his movement into a faint whoosh.
Aurelio's grin remained intact, sharp and confident, though his brow twitched as if sensing something wrong. Without turning, he swung a calculated backhand, the air around his fingers humming with stored energy. The strike cut through the space Temoshí occupied an instant before, but he was already gone, vanishing into fiery embers with a crackle of heat.
Aurelio's eyes darted to his side, his smirk faltering. "What the—?"
Temoshí reappeared crouched low behind him, his body coiled like a spring ready to explode. He moved again, his fiery form almost skipping through dimensions as he blurred out of sight once more. Aurelio reacted with lightning speed, pivoting sharply and sending a booted kick hurtling toward Temoshí's blurred form. But before his attack could land, Temoshí streaked away in another fiery afterimage, his movements faster than the moment it took Aurelio to adjust.
The captain reappeared at Aurelio's left flank, bent forward with his fist cocked, flames spiraling tightly around his arm. Aurelio lunged in response, hurling a glowing coin that sliced through the air like a bullet. Yet even as it flew toward its target, Temoshí was gone again, the coin passing harmlessly through the afterimage of his silhouette. His speed made it impossible to anticipate his position, each appearance lasting barely the span of a heartbeat.
Aurelio spun, his teeth clenched now, every movement faster, sharper, more desperate. He turned to where he instinctively sensed Temoshí's presence. But before he could attack, Temoshí appeared crouched again at Aurelio's right side, flames flickering softly around his silhouette. The heat warped the air around him as if time itself bent to his will. Aurelio lashed out with a furious elbow strike, his body twisting with raw power. The force shattered the ground in a burst of energy, but Temoshí had already blurred away, his body vanishing like smoke in the wind.
"Stay still, you damn bird!" Aurelio growled, spinning wildly now, his eyes scanning every direction in a vain attempt to track the blur of flames.
Temoshí materialized above him, leaping into the air with a dancer's precision. Trails of fire traced his movements, looping like ribbons in the sky. He hovered for a fraction of a second, his flaming form streaking like a comet as he vanished mid-leap. The arena lights struggled to catch up with him, their beams delayed by the sheer pace of his movements.
Aurelio flung an arc of coins upward, their metallic gleam cutting through the air toward where Temoshí had appeared. But as they closed in, Temoshí flickered out of sight again, his body dissolving into a streak of glowing embers that floated harmlessly downward. His evasions were seamless, each one faster and more precise than the last, leaving even Aurelio struggling to keep up.
Temoshí reappeared once more, crouched low just behind Aurelio, flames burning hotter around him now. Aurelio whipped around, his hand outstretched, summoning a swirling shield of golden coins to defend himself. The defensive move was almost instant, but before the shield fully formed, Temoshí flickered away again, reappearing mid-air at Aurelio's front.
Temoshí bent slightly to the side, his flames surging outward in spiraling patterns of blue and orange. His speed blurred the edges of his form, making it seem as though he existed in several places at once.
"Enough," Temoshí growled, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. With both arms thrust forward, he unleashed a colossal blast of fire. The flames roared to life, surging toward Aurelio with the force of a collapsing star.
Aurelio's eyes widened in the fraction of a second he had to react. With a sharp flick of his hand, he summoned a shimmering barrier of luck-infused energy. The two forces collided in an earth-shaking explosion of heat and light. The barrier groaned against the relentless inferno, sparks of golden energy flying in all directions.
Temoshí stood his ground at a safe distance, his silhouette exuding the commanding presence of a seasoned captain. His arms hung loose by his sides, his expression unreadable, but the faint azure glow in his eyes added an intimidating edge. Slowly, the glow faded as he deactivated his Inspection technique.
"Interesting…" Temoshí began, his voice calm but cutting. "You're quick on your feet. I won't deny it—probably faster than myself. But your fortune? It's nothing compared to what I own. A single slip-up from you, and this fight will end faster than you can move."
Despite the weight of his words, there wasn't the slightest trace of concern in his tone. Temoshí exhaled slowly, his shoulders relaxing as he began to move.
With a casual motion, he ran a hand through his disheveled hair, scratched behind his ears, and stretched his neck. Finally, he sighed deeply, like a man dealing with a headache that no amount of aspirin could cure.
"Man…" he muttered, rubbing the back of his head, his tone suddenly shifting to one of exaggerated exasperation. "You don't even know how badly I wanna beat the living daylights outta that mouth of yours. Like, forget the fight—if I could just shut you up for two minutes, it'd be a victory worth celebrating."
He pointed vaguely in Aurelio's direction, now pacing a little as he continued. "You talk more than a drunk sailor who thinks he's got a sea monster story, but the whole time it's just a big fish tale! Like, do you ever shut up? Ever? No breaks, no pauses, no moment of silence? Not even a hiccup to throw you off rhythm?"
Temoshí gestured wildly, his tone dripping with theatrical frustration. "I swear, every time you open your mouth, my soul tries to pack up and leave my body. I'm starting to think I'll lose this fight, not because of your powers, but because you'll annoy me into punching a wall instead of you!" He slapped his forehead for emphasis. "You're like a mosquito with a microphone, buzzing around while giving a damn TED Talk. And guess what, nobody's listening! God, you annoy the hell outta me, seriously."
Aurelio blinked, his confident smirk faltering slightly as he squinted at Temoshí, genuinely surprised by the sudden tirade. For a moment, he was caught off guard, his poised demeanor cracking just a little.
"That's… kind of rude," Aurelio replied, his voice slower and more measured than usual. "Really. I was just being polite. Engaging in a little banter. But alright." He folded his arms, narrowing his eyes as if actually offended. "No need to get personal about it."
Temoshí rolled his eyes dramatically. "Oh, now you're hurt? Did I offend the man who's literally spent this whole time talking down to me? Forgive me, your royal loudness."
Temoshí smirked, clearly sensing he'd rattled Aurelio's polished ego. He crossed his arms, leaning to one side like he had all the time in the world, his tone mockingly apologetic.
"Oh, my bad, Your Royal Majesty of Chatter. I didn't realize I was interrupting your groundbreaking TED Talk: 'How to Flip Coins and Lose Respect in Record Time.' Please, don't let me stop you. The crowd must be riveted."
Aurelio's eye twitched as he adjusted his cuffs with deliberate precision. "I'll have you know," he said in an icy tone, "that these 'big shiny coins'—as you so crudely put it—have more value, power, and finesse than anything you've ever held in your grimy, flame-singed hands." He flicked a coin into the air, catching it with a flourish. "And let's not forget, I didn't exactly invite a fire-obsessed street performer to my stage."
Temoshí raised an eyebrow, tapping his chin as if in deep thought. "Oh, this is a stage now? Guess that explains why you're performing like a third-rate magician at a birthday party. What's next, pulling a rabbit out of your hat? Maybe a disappearing act? Because I would pay to see you disappear, man."
Aurelio bristled, straightening his already perfectly tailored suit. "A third-rate magician?" he hissed, his tone dripping with indignation. "You dare compare my elegant precision to... to parlor tricks?"
"Well," Temoshí said with an exaggerated shrug, "if the coin fits."
Aurelio stared, deadpan. "You've clearly lost your mind."
"Lost my mind? Nah," Temoshí said, waving him off. "Just trying to help you spice things up. You know what would really sell this whole 'classy fighter' vibe you're going for? Picture this: you, juggling flaming swords, riding a unicycle, and—wait for it—wearing a sparkly top hat. Boom. Instant icon."
Aurelio froze, visibly struggling to process the absurd image. "...Flaming swords and a unicycle?" he repeated slowly, as if confirming Temoshí had truly lost it. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."
"Exactly!" Temoshí shot back, grinning like he'd just solved world hunger. "That's what makes it genius! Who wouldn't pay to see that? I mean, come on, man. Right now, all you're doing is flipping coins and lecturing me like a substitute teacher. At least give the people a show!"
Aurelio's hand went to his temple, his patience visibly fraying. "I am surrounded by idiots…" he muttered under his breath.
"Welcome to my world," Temoshí quipped, his grin widening. "Now, are we throwing hands, or should I start looking for a unicycle rental nearby?"
For a moment, Aurelio just stared at him, utterly dumbfounded. Then, against all odds, a strangled snort escaped his lips.
Temoshí immediately burst into laughter, pointing a finger at him. "Ha! I knew you'd crack! Mr. Sophisticated finally lost it!"
Aurelio quickly composed himself, coughing into his fist as if trying to erase the moment. "Enough of this nonsense," he said, flicking another coin into the air. "Let's get back to the fight before you embarrass yourself even further."
Temoshí wiped a tear from his eye, his grin turning mischievous. "Oh, don't worry. I'll embarrass you first. And when I do? You'd better start practicing that juggling act."
Aurelio squinted, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone. "You are... insufferable."
"Thanks," Temoshí replied with a wink. "It's part of my charm."
Aurelio's sharp glare cut through the air, his coin twirling between his fingers like a loaded weapon. "You've talked enough, Captain," he said, his tone as cold as steel. The coin in his hand flared with a golden glow before vanishing into thin air. "Let's see if you can back up that mouth of yours."
Temoshí's grin faded into a more serious expression as he cracked his neck. "Finally. I was starting to think you'd never shut up." His fists ignited with roaring orange flames, his body lowering into a fighting stance. The fiery glow reflected in his eyes, now focused and unyielding.
Without warning, Aurelio snapped his fingers. A storm of golden coins materialized in the air, spinning like a cyclone around him. Each coin radiated an intense energy, crackling with invisible power. "Let me remind you, Captain," Aurelio said smoothly, "fortune always favors the bold."
"And let me remind you," Temoshí retorted, slamming his foot into the ground and launching forward like a bullet, flames trailing behind him, "that boldness burns brighter than luck!"
The battlefield erupted into chaos as Aurelio flung his arm forward, sending a barrage of glowing coins spiraling toward Temoshí like guided missiles. Each coin cut through the air with precision, their edges sharp enough to slice steel.
Temoshí weaved through the onslaught, his movements a blur of agility and fire. He twisted mid-air, spinning like a flame-coated whirlwind, each rotation sending arcs of fire that collided with the coins and exploded in bursts of heat and sparks.
Aurelio stepped back, calculating his next move. He raised his hand, and a single coin flew into his palm. It shimmered brightly as he infused it with concentrated luck energy. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled it toward Temoshí. The coin shot forward like a comet, its trajectory unpredictable and impossibly fast.
Temoshí's eyes flared azure as he activated his inspection technique. Time seemed to slow as he tracked the coin's erratic path. "Not this time," he muttered. At the last possible second, he twisted his body, the coin grazing past him and embedding itself into the ground with an earth-shaking impact.
Using the momentum of his dodge, Temoshí propelled himself forward, closing the distance between them in an instant. His fist, engulfed in searing flames, came crashing down toward Aurelio.
Aurelio smirked and snapped his fingers again. A shimmering golden barrier materialized around him just in time to absorb the impact. The flames roared against the barrier but failed to break through. "Impressive speed," Aurelio said, his voice calm. "But you're still playing by my rules."
Temoshí landed, skidding back slightly. He clenched his fists, his flames growing hotter and more intense. "Your rules, huh? Guess it's time I rewrote them."
With a sudden burst of energy, Temoshí lunged again, his movements faster and more relentless than before. Flames erupted around him like an inferno as he unleashed a barrage of strikes, each one testing the limits of Aurelio's golden barrier.
Aurelio's confident grin began to waver as the intensity of Temoshí's assault increased. The flames roared louder, and cracks started to form in the barrier.
"You're not the only one who knows how to turn the tide," Temoshí said, his voice steady despite the exertion.
Aurelio's eyes narrowed. "Then let's see how long you can keep up." With a sharp gesture, he summoned another wave of coins, their energy swirling dangerously as they circled him like an impenetrable storm.
To be continued...