The city was alive with the buzz of the early evening, its golden hues illuminating the streets. It was 5 PM, and Yaxoc and Marcus strolled leisurely through the bustling lanes, the chatter of civilians forming a comforting background.
"Moonlight's been busy recently. I wasn't able to talk to her," Marcus began, kicking a stray pebble along the path. "Surely she's doing some work." He turned to Yaxoc with a raised eyebrow. "What about Yaxocara? She's always hanging around with you."
Yaxoc shrugged, the faintest smirk on his lips. "Yaxocara's been gone. Who knows where, but I'd guess she's playing at the arcade."
Marcus chuckled at the thought. "A gamer who doesn't change. How ordinary."
"Yeah, no wonder she plays better than me," Yaxoc admitted, sighing dramatically. "And who knows what she's up to?"
Before Marcus could respond, a dark blur shot past them with a gust of wind. A demonic figure suddenly appeared before Yaxoc, claws poised for a lethal strike. Yaxoc reacted instantly, raising his blade to block the blow, sparks flying.
Marcus stepped back in shock. "No way..."
The demon before them was unlike any they had encountered. Its sleek, dark-blue body shimmered with an unnatural energy, lightning crackling from its glowing horns. Its chest bore a glowing symbol of a lightning bolt, and its eyes burned with an electric blue intensity.
"A speedy demon, huh?" Yaxoc said, a smirk tugging at his lips as he assessed the creature. "You don't look that fast."
The demon's gaze narrowed. "What was that? I'm just using my 0.5% speed force!"
In a blink, the demon disappeared, its movements so swift that afterimages surrounded Yaxoc.
Marcus's eyes darted around, struggling to keep up. "Such speed… That demon is faster than I expected. Any ideas? I don't think I can react to this!"
"Hmph, he matches my speed somehow," Yaxoc muttered. His eyes gleamed with determination. "So yeah, I can handle this."
The demon didn't waste time. With a feral snarl, it lunged forward, unleashing a barrage of lightning-fast claw strikes. Each attack came faster than the last, the sound of air splitting filling the street.
But Yaxoc was ready. He leaned into the strikes, his movements fluid as he dodged each attack with razor-sharp precision, employing his Sonic Sway technique.
"Is that all you've got!?" Yaxoc yelled, pivoting and delivering a powerful blow to the demon's chest.
The impact sent the demon stumbling backward, but its smirk didn't waver. Instead, it turned its focus to Marcus.
"Marcus!" Yaxoc shouted in warning.
Marcus clenched his fists, his eyes blazing. "I've got it!"
He slammed his hands into the ground. "Ice Magic: Ice Slam!"
A series of jagged ice spikes erupted from the ground, racing toward the demon. The creature's reflexes proved exceptional as it weaved through the onslaught, its movements impossibly swift. However, just as it aimed for Marcus's throat, a single spike struck its chest, halting its momentum.
"You fell for my trick, didn't you, demon?" Marcus said, smirking.
The demon glanced at the spike lodged in its chest but showed no sign of pain. "You… How did you do that?"
Marcus's grin widened. "I used my spell to summon six spikes, aiming for you directly. But I also summoned a seventh spike from Urantica—60,000 kilometers from here. That spike traveled at over 20,000 miles per hour to strike you."
The demon's smirk returned, its voice dripping with disdain. "Foolish human. That ice spike didn't even hurt."
Before Marcus could react, the demon vanished, reappearing behind him in an instant. With a devastating blow, it sent Marcus crashing into a nearby building.
"That's a speedster for you," the demon said, its grin widening as it approached Marcus. "You're nothing compared to me."
But as it reached out to finish Marcus, his body vanished like mist.
"Gotcha," Marcus said, standing beside Yaxoc with a triumphant grin.
The demon froze, its smirk faltering. "What!?"
"Thanks to Yaxoc, I created a clone to distract you," Marcus explained. "Your speed may be impressive, but it's nothing against our strategy."
Yaxoc pointed his sword at the demon. "And I know your name—Sodo. You're one of Ogamak's disciples."
At the mention of Ogamak, Sodo's expression twisted into a snarl. Blue lightning surged around it, its wings glowing brighter.
"You shouldn't have done that," Sodo growled, splitting into five afterimages that surrounded them.
"I'll show you true speed!"
The demon blurred into motion, its afterimages racing around Yaxoc and Marcus at dizzying speeds. The air seemed to hum with its energy, their surroundings distorted by the sheer velocity.
"Damn it, he's even faster than light!" Marcus exclaimed, his head snapping in every direction. "I can't even track him!"
Yaxoc remained calm, pulling out a device. "I'll use the speed scanner."
Marcus gaped at him. "That's what Hight used to measure speeds beyond light! How are you—"
The scanner beeped, displaying a single result: UNKNOWN DATA.
Yaxoc frowned. "If the device doesn't register, his speed must be beyond measurable limits. That's… not good."
"Then we need to find a way to stop him," Marcus said, sweat beading on his forehead.
Yaxoc narrowed his eyes, watching the afterimages closely. One of them caught his attention—it lacked the slight expression shifts the others had.
"Got you," Yaxoc muttered, lunging forward and delivering a decisive punch. The afterimage dispersed, revealing the real Sodo.
The demon crashed into a vending machine, groaning in pain. "Agh… How did you—"
"Simple," Yaxoc said, his voice calm. "Your afterimages don't mirror your expressions perfectly. That makes it easy to pick out the real one."
Sodo's glare burned with hatred. "You think you've won, scum? My speed is unmatched!"
With a roar, Sodo vanished, its speed escalating to an incomprehensible level.
"We have to keep up!" Marcus shouted.
Yaxoc smirked, tapping into his magic. "I've got this."
And with that, the ultimate clash of speed began.
Yaxoc bolted through the city streets, his eyes locked on Sodo, the speedy demon darting ahead. The wind roared in his ears, and his mind raced for a strategy.
"Damn it... Can't find an opening," Yaxoc muttered under his breath, frustration etched across his face. His speed matched Sodo's, but matching wasn't enough. He needed to surpass it, to end this chase decisively.
Yaxoc clenched his fists. "If I use Angelic Essence... It'll be easier to track him."
A faint golden aura enveloped him as he activated Angelic Essence, heightening his senses to supernatural levels. Time seemed to slow as his perception expanded, allowing him to see every micro-movement Sodo made.
Sodo glanced back, his glowing blue eyes narrowing as he saw the shift in Yaxoc. "Angelic Essence?" he hissed, his tone laced with frustration. "Oh no, he has the advantage now..."
The demon abruptly stopped running, leaping onto a nearby building in an attempt to confuse Yaxoc. But Yaxoc anticipated the move. He jumped from an adjacent rooftop, his sharpened senses guiding him effortlessly to Sodo's position.
The two stood across from each other, the city skyline framing their confrontation.
"Your Angelic Essence doesn't matter to me, Yaxoc," Sodo said, his voice echoing with an unnatural growl. "I'll still win this fight. But tell me something… Have you seen a girl named Yaxocara?"
Yaxoc raised an eyebrow, smirking. "And what if I don't say where she is?"
Sodo's glowing eyes darkened, his voice dripping with malice. "Then I'll kill you myself."
Yaxoc laughed mockingly at the threat, his voice cutting through the tense air. "Oh, you think so?" He stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "Then go ahead. Fight me without running away, you coward."
Sodo's eye twitched in fury. "Excuse me?"
"Did I stutter?" Yaxoc asked with a smirk, the taunt sharp enough to draw blood.
Growling, Sodo lunged at him, his claws crackling with energy. But Yaxoc was ready. He sidestepped the attack with ease, planting a swift kick into Sodo's gut. The impact forced the demon to stumble, but before he could recover, Yaxoc teleported behind him.
With a devastating punch, Yaxoc struck Sodo across the face, sending him skidding across the rooftop. He didn't relent, landing five rapid strikes with his Angelic Hits, each blow crackling with divine energy.
"You're too slow," Yaxoc taunted, his voice calm yet mocking. He finished the barrage with a powerful spinning kick, sending Sodo hurtling through several buildings. The crashing sound of stone and glass filled the air as debris rained down onto the streets below.
Yaxoc descended gracefully to the ground, landing amidst the chaos. He dusted himself off and glanced at the destruction. "What's wrong, Sodo?" he called out, his voice laced with mockery. "Use your magnificent speed to catch me off guard! Don't keep me waiting."
A roar echoed from the rubble as Sodo emerged, his glowing horns crackling with fury. "You dare mock me!?" he snarled, dashing toward Yaxoc in a blur.
This time, Sodo unleashed a barrage of attacks, his claws striking faster than the eye could follow. But Yaxoc met each strike head-on, blocking effortlessly as if reading Sodo's moves before they happened.
"You're predictable," Yaxoc said calmly, countering with a manji kick that struck Sodo squarely in the chest.
The force sent Sodo stumbling backward, but before the demon could recover, Yaxoc lunged forward, pinning him against a nearby wall.
"You're done," Yaxoc muttered, raising his hand as a radiant purple energy began to swirl around it. "Imagination Magic: Purple!"
A massive purple explosion erupted from Yaxoc's hand, the energy engulfing Sodo entirely and launching him into the air. The force sent shockwaves through the surrounding area, shattering nearby windows and causing the ground to tremble.
As Sodo flew uncontrollably through the air, Yaxoc teleported above him. With a powerful sledgehammer strike, Yaxoc slammed both fists into Sodo's back, driving him into the ground with a thunderous crash. The impact created a massive crater in the street, cracks spider-webbing outward from the point of collision.
Sodo groaned in pain, struggling to rise from the rubble. His once-pristine dark blue form was battered and bruised, his glowing horns dimming.
"You're not so fast anymore, are you?" Yaxoc said, landing a few feet away. He folded his arms, his smirk unwavering. "What happened to all that confidence?"
Sodo coughed, his glowing eyes flickering. "You… You think this is over?"
Yaxoc tilted his head, amused. "Oh? You've got more tricks? Go on, impress me."
Sodo's body began to tremble as he unleashed a surge of energy, his form glowing brighter than ever before. The ground around him began to crack, and his aura radiated pure speed.
"I'll show you my true power!" Sodo roared, splitting into dozens of afterimages that filled the battlefield.
Yaxoc raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "Back to this old trick?"
The afterimages moved erratically, dashing around at blinding speeds. Yaxoc closed his eyes, focusing his enhanced senses. He knew the real Sodo was among them, but finding him would require precision.
"Let's end this," Yaxoc muttered, his golden aura flaring brighter.
In a flash, Yaxoc dashed through the battlefield, weaving between the afterimages with surgical precision. His eyes scanned for the slightest inconsistency, the faintest sign of the real Sodo.
"There!" Yaxoc shouted, appearing directly in front of the real demon.
Sodo's eyes widened in shock as Yaxoc delivered a devastating uppercut, launching him skyward. Yaxoc followed, teleporting above him once more.
"You're done," Yaxoc said, his voice calm and final. He raised his hand, golden energy gathering into a concentrated orb.
"Angelic Smite!"
The orb exploded with divine power, engulfing Sodo in a brilliant flash of light. The shockwave rippled through the city, forcing Yaxoc to shield his face from the intensity.
When the light faded, Sodo lay motionless in the center of the crater, his body barely moving. Yaxoc descended to the ground, his aura fading as he approached the fallen demon.
"Next time," Yaxoc said, his tone cold, "think twice before threatening someone."
Sodo groaned, his voice weak. "You… won't… win…"
Yaxoc scoffed, turning away. "Keep dreaming."
As Yaxoc walked away from the smoldering crater, he paused, sensing a strange shift in the air. The faint aura of Sodo, battered and defeated moments ago, had vanished entirely.
"What the hell?" Yaxoc muttered, spinning around. His golden eyes scanned the area, his senses heightened. The city was silent, save for the crackle of broken power lines and the groans of shattered buildings.
He looked skyward, his instincts screaming at him to stay alert.
"This isn't over, you brat," Sodo's voice hissed, echoing ominously.
Far above, Sodo hovered, his battered form crackling with intense electric energy. His aura burned brighter than ever before, crackling bolts of blue and white lightning surging around him. The pain and humiliation of defeat fueled his rage.
"You'll see my true power, Yaxoc!" Sodo roared, the sound shaking the heavens. His body began to morph, muscles bulging, claws elongating, and a massive pair of demonic wings erupting from his back. He grew to over six times his original height, his glowing eyes radiating unrelenting malice.
The transformation was complete. Sodo's voice now reverberated with a guttural, otherworldly tone. "Check out my true form," he muttered, his sharp claws sparking with electric energy. His smirk widened. "Be grateful, Yaxoc. You're the first and last to witness this before you die!"
In a flash, Sodo dove toward Yaxoc, his claws aiming directly for Yaxoc's throat.
But Yaxoc had anticipated the move. With a subtle flicker, he teleported behind Sodo just as the strike came close.
"Grateful, you say?" Yaxoc asked, his tone dripping with mockery. "Grateful to see… this?" He gestured toward Sodo's monstrous form with a smirk. "Funny how you say that, looking like the Speedy Boss from Tower Defense Simulator."
Sodo snarled at the insult, but Yaxoc continued, undeterred. "Want to see what this finger can do?"
With a flick of his finger, a golden pulse rippled through the air. Sodo's right arm snapped backward with a sickening crunch, dislocating instantly.
"Oops," Yaxoc said, feigning innocence. "Looks like I accidentally broke your arm. My bad." His smirk widened. "Oh boy, I wonder what happens when you get soooo mad~."
Sodo's eyes burned with fury, his lips curling into a sneer. "You think this is funny? You haven't seen anything yet."
"FLASH!" Sodo bellowed, his body disappearing in a streak of light.
In an instant, he began dashing between buildings, his speed creating afterimages that surrounded Yaxoc from every angle. The demon's movements were faster than lightning, the air itself rippling with the force of his velocity.
Yaxoc stood in the center of the chaos, observing calmly. "Interesting," he muttered, analyzing the rapid movements. "At this rate, his speed is climbing exponentially. But I think I know how to handle this."
As Sodo zoomed past, Yaxoc timed his strike perfectly. He delivered a bone-shattering punch to Sodo mid-dash, sending the demon flying backward. Sodo's massive form skidded across the ground, tearing up the concrete before slamming into a crumbling building.
Yaxoc approached, dusting off his hands. "Your speed may rival light itself," he admitted. "I'll give you that. But using afterimages? Again?" He smirked. "That's a rookie mistake."
Sodo, panting heavily, pushed himself to his feet. His demonic form, though powerful, now showed signs of wear.
"So answer me, Sodo," Yaxoc said, his voice cutting through the silence. "How can someone as powerful as you be dumb enough to use the same failed strategy twice? You're faster than me, sure. But you're also reckless. Lucky for me, dumb decisions like yours made this fight easier."
Sodo glared, his breathing labored. "It doesn't matter," he growled. "I'll use my speed..."
He lunged forward, but his legs gave out beneath him. Sodo crumpled to the ground, clutching his leg in pain.
"You see that?" Yaxoc said, crouching near him. "That's an Angelic Essence cut." He tapped his temple. "When you went for my throat earlier, I reacted just fast enough to leave a mark on your leg. Your speed made it hard to land, but it burned you out. Now, here you are, a powerless speed demon."
Sodo snarled weakly. "You think this is the end?"
"You tell me," Yaxoc said, standing over him. "Demons like you pride themselves on strength, speed, and invincibility. But you're nothing without your speed. Vulnerability doesn't suit you."
Sodo chuckled bitterly. "Ogamak warned me," he said, his voice softening. "He told me to balance my power. But I didn't care. I wanted to be the fastest, the strongest. My speed, my durability—they made me untouchable. I didn't care about defense." He looked up at Yaxoc with a hollow smirk. "I guess my hunger to win left me blind."
As the words left his lips, Sodo's body began to flicker, his form breaking apart like shards of glass.
Yaxoc frowned. "Vanishing? Typical demon move. Guess this fight wasn't all that satisfying after all."
Sodo's voice echoed as his body dissolved completely. "You haven't seen the last of me, Yaxoc. Ogamak's will… is eternal."
Yaxoc sighed, turning away. "Yeah, yeah. I'll be waiting."
As the eerie silence settled over the battlefield, Yaxoc walked away, his golden aura fading into the dim light of the ruined city. He knew this was just the beginning. Sodo's defeat was a small step in a much larger war.
But for now, he allowed himself a rare moment of peace, his thoughts already preparing for the next battle.