Yaxoc strolled through the bustling city streets, his breath visible in the crisp winter air. The festive lights hanging from lampposts twinkled like stars, and the sound of cheerful carols filled the atmosphere. People bustled around him, shopping for last-minute gifts or enjoying the holiday season.
"Ah, Christmas is finally here," Yaxoc mumbled to himself, smiling faintly. He looked up at the snowflakes drifting lazily from the sky. "I wonder what Marcus is up to."
Curiosity sparked, he began scanning the crowd for his friend. His gaze landed on a familiar figure stepping into a small shop at the corner of the street. Without hesitation, Yaxoc jogged after him, weaving through clusters of holiday shoppers.
As he entered the shop, the scent of cinnamon and fresh pine filled his nostrils. He spotted Marcus near the back, browsing through a shelf of knickknacks.
"Marcus!" Yaxoc called out, waving.
Marcus turned, his expression neutral. Upon seeing Yaxoc, he sighed dramatically, though there was a playful edge to it. "Great, it's you. What do you want?"
Yaxoc shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing much. I thought it'd be a good idea to tag along with you."
Marcus chuckled softly and shook his head. "I guess that makes sense. You are always sticking your nose into everything."
Yaxoc smirked but noticed a flicker of something in Marcus's eyes—an unease he couldn't quite place.
After a moment, Marcus's tone shifted. "Hey," he began, his voice quieter now, "y'know, this whole thing is getting me worked up."
Yaxoc tilted his head, puzzled. "Say that again?"
Marcus sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his neck. "I said, this whole thing—it's getting to me. I need some space this time, okay? I'll go alone." He paused, his gaze suddenly cold. "So please, leave me alone."
Yaxoc blinked in confusion. Something about those words felt wrong—off. "That's not like you," he muttered, more to himself than to Marcus. His brow furrowed as he studied his friend more closely. "And besides," he added, louder now, "you rarely go to stores. What's going on?"
Marcus's demeanor darkened. His eyes narrowed into a glare. "Can't you take a hint? Just leave me alone."
Yaxoc's stomach churned. Something wasn't right. His sharp eyes caught a detail he'd missed before—a strange, inky black liquid dripping from Marcus's sleeve. It fell to the floor in slow, deliberate drops, vanishing as soon as it touched the ground.
"Wait a minute…" Yaxoc muttered under his breath, stepping back slightly. "Marcus doesn't have… that kind of thing." His gaze shifted to Marcus's face, and realization struck. "And where's your mask?"
The figure stiffened.
Yaxoc's eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous tone. "You're not Marcus. Are you… a doppelganger?"
"What?" Marcus—or rather, the doppelganger—snapped, his voice rising in agitation. "What are you looking at me for?"
Yaxoc's expression hardened, his usual carefree demeanor giving way to cold suspicion. "Marcus, I know this isn't you," he said firmly, locking eyes with the imposter.
The doppelganger flinched, the mask of confidence cracking just slightly. "You don't know what you're talking about," it hissed, its voice trembling.
"Oh, I know exactly what I'm talking about," Yaxoc retorted. He took a step closer, his sharp gaze never leaving the creature's shifting form. "You can mimic his appearance, his voice, maybe even his mannerisms. But you can't fool me."
The shop seemed to quiet as the tension between them grew, the bustling sounds of the city outside muffled by the intensity of the moment.
"What gave me away?" the doppelganger asked finally, its tone a mix of frustration and curiosity.
Yaxoc smirked, crossing his arms. "It was your attitude. The real Marcus wouldn't act like that, no matter how stressed he was. Plus…" He pointed to the black liquid seeping from its arm. "That's not something my friend would ever have. Nice try, though."
The creature snarled, its human-like facade flickering briefly to reveal a distorted, shadowy form beneath. "You're sharper than I thought. No matter—it won't save you."
Yaxoc cracked his knuckles, his grin widening. "Guess I'll have to teach you not to mess with my friends. Bring it on."
The air between them seemed to ripple with anticipation as the two prepared to clash.
The figure revealed its true form, shedding its disguise in a cascade of dark, shadowy energy. Its grey body glistened with an unnatural sheen, and its towering black horns twisted upward menacingly. A long, whip-like tail lashed the ground behind it, and its glowing yellow eyes locked onto Yaxoc with a predatory glare. The creature's name reverberated through the air, as though announced by some unseen force: Kir.
Yaxoc's sharp eyes narrowed. "So, you're one of Ogamak's disciples, huh?" His voice carried a calm disdain. After a pause, he added with a smirk, "Nothing too impressive, really."
Kir's lips twisted into a cruel grin. "Watch your step, brat. I could just shapeshift into you and ruin everything you hold dear. Or better yet," Kir leaned closer, "I'll control your body with my passive ability. Wouldn't that be fun?"
Yaxoc scoffed. "And how exactly do you plan on doing that?"
In an instant, Kir's form shifted and reassembled itself into a perfect copy of Yaxoc, down to the smirk on his face.
"Well done," Kir said, now speaking in Yaxoc's own voice. "You've challenged me. Now it's your turn to stop me!" Before Yaxoc could react, Kir bolted out of the shop and into the crowded streets.
"Oh, no, you don't!" Yaxoc muttered under his breath and gave chase. The cold wind whipped past him as he pursued the imposter through the busy city.
"Artificial Magic: Light Slash!" Yaxoc shouted, unsheathing his sword with a practiced motion. He swung four times, each slash releasing a glowing blade of light that surged forward at near-light speed toward Kir.
Kir ducked and weaved through the crowd, narrowly dodging the slashes. The last one skimmed past his shoulder, shattering a lamppost behind him in a burst of sparks. As Kir turned a corner, his eyes landed on Luna, who stood amidst the crowd, oblivious to the chaos unfolding.
"Now's my chan—" Kir began, but the words caught in his throat. In the blink of an eye, Yaxoc teleported in front of him, his sword drawn.
"Going somewhere?" Yaxoc growled, delivering a devastating punch that sent Kir skidding across the pavement.
Kir groaned, his form flickering for a moment before stabilizing. He looked up, glaring at Yaxoc. "Not so mighty now, huh?" Yaxoc taunted. "You won't be laying a finger on her."
Kir chuckled darkly, rising to his feet. "Even if I can't reach your little friend, I'll just have to take drastic measures." A wicked grin spread across his face as he began to shimmer with dark energy.
Yaxoc's eyes widened as he felt a strange resonance in the air. "Wait… Is that my energy?" he muttered.
Kir's form shifted again, but this time it was different. His appearance not only mimicked Yaxoc but also carried the same aura.
"With this power, I'm unbeatable," Kir sneered, his voice laced with triumph. "Go on, hero. Entertain me."
Yaxoc wasted no time. He lunged forward, aiming a powerful strike at Kir. Kir countered with equal precision, blocking the attack and retaliating with a swift blow of his own. Yaxoc dodged with ease, his movements fluid and calculated.
"Artificial Magic: Sharp Leaf!" Yaxoc shouted, swinging his sword in an arc. Three razor-sharp, glowing leaves materialized and flew toward Kir. Kir managed to destroy two of them with quick slashes, but the third one sliced through his arm, eliciting a guttural roar of pain.
"Damn it!" Kir growled, clutching his wounded arm.
Yaxoc seized the moment and lunged again, delivering a blow that sent Kir crashing into the side of a building. The impact left a deep crater in the wall, and Kir slumped to the ground, groaning.
"Not so invincible now, are you?" Yaxoc taunted as he approached. His voice dripped with menace. "Where's that confidence? Or should I say… Where's the hate?"
Kir's head snapped up at the word. A sinister grin crept across his face. "Hate, you say?" he rasped. "Oh, I've got plenty of hate for you."
The air around Kir darkened as he unleashed his awakening. "Rise up!" he roared, absorbing the negative energy from every corner of the city. A massive black aura erupted around him, twisting and writhing like living shadows. His form grew larger, his horns elongated, and his glowing eyes turned an ominous blood-red.
"What is this, an edgy lord from Gacha Life?" Yaxoc quipped, smirking.
"Don't compare me to those fools," Kir snarled. "I'll rid the world of you!"
Kir lunged, his clawed hand aimed at Yaxoc's face. Yaxoc blocked the attack with his sword, but the sheer force sent him skidding backward. The ground beneath him cracked as he steadied himself.
"Angelic Essence!" Yaxoc shouted, activating his own power. His body radiated a divine light, and his movements became even swifter and stronger. The real battle had begun.
Yaxoc darted forward, landing two precise strikes to Kir's chest. Kir staggered but quickly recovered, blocking Yaxoc's third strike with his forearm. He retaliated with a powerful punch to Yaxoc's torso, but Yaxoc countered with a well-timed Manji Kick, sending Kir stumbling backward. Seizing the opening, Yaxoc delivered a punch so forceful that Kir was launched skyward, disappearing into the atmosphere.
Kir floated in space, disoriented and furious. "What the…" he muttered, looking around. "I didn't expect that idiot to send me here."
Before he could react, Yaxoc appeared behind him in a flash of light. With a devastating kick to Kir's ribcage, Yaxoc sent him hurtling through space, crashing into several planets along the way. The collisions left trails of destruction in their wake, and Kir's screams echoed through the void.
"YOU DAMN BRAT!" Kir bellowed, his voice filled with unrestrained rage. "YOU'VE CROSSED THE LINE!"
Kir roared, gathering energy into a swirling, pulsating sphere of dark power. The energy crackled and grew rapidly, its ominous light blotting out the stars in the sky.
Yaxoc stood still, his jaw dropping as he watched the blast swell. "Whoa... What the hell is that?" He stumbled back, the sheer size of the attack overwhelming him. "That's... bigger than the sun! What kind of freak are you?!"
Kir sneered, his voice booming with rage. "THIS PLANET, AND EVERYTHING ON IT, SHALL BE ERASED! FEEL THE WRATH OF MY TRUE POWER!" He unleashed the massive blast, the sheer force of it distorting space itself as it hurtled toward Yaxoc.
Yaxoc braced himself, summoning every ounce of strength he had. "Alright... I got this!" He placed his hands against the oncoming energy, his entire body trembling as the impact pushed him back. "AGH! I CAN'T HOLD THIS THING MUCH LONGER!" His voice cracked under the strain.
Just as Yaxoc's strength wavered, a voice calmly cut through the chaos. "Still struggling, I see."
Time froze around Yaxoc as a figure appeared beside him. It was Xavy, his face calm and unyielding, as though the apocalyptic scene was nothing more than a passing breeze.
"Xavy?! What the—what is this?!" Yaxoc exclaimed, looking around at the frozen blast and the unmoving Kir.
"No time for questions," Xavy replied, his tone matter-of-fact. "I came to give you a little advice. After all, I can't let you completely fail here. Someone special still needs me elsewhere."
Yaxoc blinked in confusion. "Uh... advice? Sure, but what is going on?!"
Xavy continued, ignoring Yaxoc's bewilderment. "You remember how you overcame your Malevolent version? How you pushed beyond your limits? That wasn't just raw strength, Yaxoc. It was faith."
"Faith?" Yaxoc tilted his head, still holding back the frozen blast with trembling hands.
"Yes. Angelic Essence gets stronger when fueled by faith," Xavy explained, his tone steady. "It's like offering your will, your purpose, and your belief in something greater than yourself. It's not just about power—it's about resolve. It's about trust. Channel that, and you'll see what I mean."
Yaxoc stared at him, realization dawning. "So... faith is the key to boosting Angelic Essence?"
"Precisely. Think of it as drawing strength from something higher than yourself. Now, stop wasting time." Xavy turned to leave, his voice fading as he disappeared. "I've got my own battles to fight."
Time resumed, the blast pressing against Yaxoc's hands with renewed ferocity. He clenched his teeth, Xavy's words echoing in his mind. Faith... okay... let's do this.
"Faith... yeah, I'll give it everything I've got!" Yaxoc yelled, his voice cutting through the roar of the energy. His eyes began to glow a brilliant yellow, Angelic Essence surging within him. The air around him shimmered as his aura blazed with newfound intensity.
Kir's eyes widened in disbelief. "What—what is this?!"
"You really thought you could beat me?!" Yaxoc shouted, his voice filled with unshakable conviction. "You messed with the wrong guy! THE POWER OF FAITH WILL ALWAYS PREVAIL!"
The surge of energy around Yaxoc grew blinding, pushing the massive blast backward. The once-overwhelming force of Kir's attack now seemed to falter. Kir growled, his confidence crumbling. "IMPOSSIBLE! YOU CAN'T BE THIS STRONG!"
"Watch me!" Yaxoc roared. With a final push, he hurled the energy blast back toward Kir. The dark demon's screams filled the void as the blast consumed him, detonating in a cataclysmic explosion that shook the heavens. The shockwave rippled across space, shattering asteroids and trembling nearby planets.
As the dust settled, Yaxoc collapsed to one knee, panting heavily. He looked up at the remnants of the explosion. "Phew... that was way too close. If that thing hit Earth, we'd all be toast."
For a moment, there was silence. Then, the faint echo of Kir's voice rang out. "You... insolent fool... this isn't over..."
Yaxoc sighed, standing back up and gripping his sword. "Oh, come on. You're still alive?"
A shadow flickered in the distance, but Yaxoc smirked. "Fine. Round two it is. Bring it on."
The battle wasn't over, but Yaxoc was ready. With faith on his side, he knew he could face anything
As Yaxoc and Kir traded blows, their combat rippled across the galaxy. The sheer force of their clash sent shockwaves that destabilized the fabric of space, awakening something far beyond their understanding.
In a distant, distorted dimension, a fissure formed, spilling glitchy, fractured energy into their universe. Emerging from the rift was a figure draped in chaotic, shifting patterns of corrupted code. His clothing flickered with glitchy textures, his owl mask distorted and shimmering unnaturally. Beneath the mask, a glitched visor obscured his eyes, and his hair—a brown, bacon-textured mess—shifted with digital instability.
The figure hovered above the battlefield, scanning the scene with an air of detached confidence. "Well, well, well," he said, his voice layered with distortion. "What do we have here? Two insignificant specks shaking the galaxy like it's a snow globe."
Both Yaxoc and Kir paused, turning to face the intruder.
Yaxoc squinted, his curiosity piqued. "A glitch? What the hell is that supposed to be?"
The figure chuckled darkly. "I knew you'd say that." He floated closer, his presence radiating chaos. "Name's Digital Havoc. But you two won't need to remember it for long. I'm here to delete this mess."
Kir, unfazed, crossed his arms and smirked. "Ha! What makes you think you can kill me, you unstable piece of code? You're nothing more than a cosmic bug waiting to be squashed."
Digital tilted his head, his visor flickering ominously. "True. I am unstable. But that just means I don't follow the rules. And you? You're about to find out what happens when a demon glitches."
Before Kir could react, Digital Havoc appeared in front of him, his hand pressed against Kir's torso.
"What the—" Kir's words were cut off as his body began to distort. His form fractured and twisted, his torso writhing as if consumed by an invisible force. "AGH! WHAT IS THIS?!"
Digital's distorted laughter echoed. "You see, Kir, I'm no ordinary anomaly. A glitch may be unstable, but when I use my power against something like you—something bound by rules and physical limits—it's absolute torment. You're feeling it now, aren't you? The unraveling of everything that makes you you."
Kir screamed, his form destabilizing further, chunks of his essence flickering in and out of existence.
Yaxoc watched, his fists clenched. Despite the bizarre spectacle, he wasn't trembling in fear—it was something else entirely.
Digital Havoc turned his attention to Yaxoc, his visor flashing. "And you..." he began, his tone casual, "You can leave. I have no interest in dealing with you right now. I only needed this little specimen for my collection."
Yaxoc's trembling stopped. His eyes narrowed. "What did you just say?"
Digital sighed, clearly annoyed. "I said leave. Is that too hard for you to process?"
Before Yaxoc could respond, Digital Havoc raised a glitching sledgehammer, its form flickering as if it existed across multiple realities. "Since you're struggling to take the hint... let me help you."
In a single, brutal motion, Digital swung the hammer, slamming it into Yaxoc's back with immense force. The impact sent Yaxoc hurtling through the atmosphere, crashing violently into the surface of Earth.
"Jeez," Digital muttered, shaking his head. "Dramatic much."
Back on Earth
Yaxoc groaned, dusting himself off as he stood up from the crater his impact had created. He looked skyward, a smirk playing on his lips. "Huh. Aggressive and yet... so chill. Weird guy."
Stretching his shoulders, Yaxoc turned and began walking back toward the city, muttering to himself. "Well, guess I'll let them sort that mess out for now. Something tells me this isn't the last I've seen of that glitchy freak."
With his sword resting on his shoulder, Yaxoc casually made his way back, already pondering his next move.