Yahageshii's fists pounded one after another, flames dancing like celestial stars amidst the ruins. Each strike carried the determination to burn everything away. Yet no matter how hard he tried, his blazing light couldn't pierce the abyssal darkness surrounding Watcher 20. That pitch-black aura, akin to a bottomless chasm devouring all light, filled him with frustration and fury.
Watcher 20 dodged effortlessly, each movement calm and fluid. His figure flitted through the darkness like a ghost, his attire untouched by the raging flames. With a mocking smile and an icy, disdainful tone, he sneered, "What's the point? You swing so desperately, yet you hit nothing. How is this fight any different from that rooftop battle? You're just the same pitiful failure—unchanged and unimproved."
Yahageshii's eyes burned brighter with rage at those words. He stomped the ground, his flaming fists roaring as they tore through the air towards Watcher 20. But the latter remained unperturbed, merely tilting slightly to the side to avoid the attack. His smile deepened, and his gaze turned taunting.
"Such pathetic punches. They pose no threat," Watcher 20 said coldly.
As he finished speaking, he raised a hand. The power of darkness coalesced into a long, thin blade in his grasp, its obsidian edge exuding a suffocating aura of menace.
"If you insist on your folly, then I'll end your stupidity myself."
Watcher 20 swung the blade, and darkness surged forward like a tidal wave toward Yahageshii. Yahageshii sidestepped swiftly, the blade narrowly missing him and carving a deep gash into the ground. Yet, just as he thought he had evaded it, an eerie chill swept over his back.
"What…" Yahageshii whipped around, only to see the dark blade reappearing, slashing at him from another direction.
"You're too slow," Watcher 20 murmured with a cold smirk.
This strike was unavoidable.
The blade cut through Yahageshii's chest like a phantom, leaving a deep wound. Blood gushed like a fountain, soaking his fiery fists. He stumbled back several steps, dropping to one knee as his breath grew labored and heavy.
"Damn it…" Yahageshii glanced at the wound on his chest. Flames still flickered around him, but their once-violent energy had dimmed. Clenching his teeth, he braced himself, struggling to stand.
"Yahageshii!!" Harutemi's eyes brimmed with tears as she watched, her heart heavy with indescribable worry. She instinctively reached out, wanting to rush to his aid, but stopped herself at the last moment.
Yahageshii turned to her, his gaze fierce and unwavering. His voice was low but firm: "Don't come closer, Harutemi! This is my fight—"
Watcher 20 stepped forward, his eyes cold and sharp like a blade. "How disappointing. I thought you might offer me some entertainment, but it seems this is as far as you go."
Yahageshii clenched his fists again, blood dripping down his arm and pooling on the ground. Mustering all his strength, he raised his head, eyes ablaze with unyielding determination. "You'll never win."
Watcher 20 sneered, his dark blade rising once more. The oppressive aura of darkness surged forth, aiming for Yahageshii's head.
Just as the blade was about to strike, Yahageshii's flames erupted in a dazzling explosion of light. Like a blazing comet, the fiery radiance surged skyward, the searing heat forcing Watcher 20 to retreat several steps.
"What?" Watcher 20 narrowed his eyes, a hint of caution flashing across his face.
"Think I'll fall that easily?" Yahageshii's voice was deep and seething with rage. Slowly, he stood tall, his chest wound still bleeding, but his presence had transformed. The flames enveloping him grew more intense, shifting from fiery orange to a radiant mix of gold and crimson, exuding an aura that made even the air tremble.
With a roar, Yahageshii's flames surged outward, scorching the ruins around them. The intense heat blackened the debris, collapsing weakened structures. The acrid scent of burning filled the air.
Watcher 20 scoffed, his expression a mix of surprise and disdain. "Hmph. Trash is still trash. No matter how fiercely it burns, it'll only end up as ash."
He raised the dark blade once more. The inky power radiating from it pulsed like a living thing, humming ominously. His figure blurred as he moved, appearing before Yahageshii in an instant, the blade slicing downward.
Yahageshii didn't retreat. Instead, he roared and charged forward, his fists blazing as they collided with the dark blade.
Boom!
Fire and darkness clashed mid-air, erupting in an explosion of blinding light. The deafening sound shook the air, and it seemed as if the world itself might fracture. A shockwave ripped through the battlefield, sending rubble and dust spiraling upward to obscure the scene. The mingling scents of fire and decay lingered, and even the ground quaked in dread of what was unfolding.
Yahageshii gritted his teeth and pushed hard, forcing the dark blade back a fraction. But Watcher 20 smirked coldly, pouring more power into the blade and overwhelming the flames once again.
"Is that all you've got? Pathetic." Watcher 20's voice dripped with contempt. He pressed harder, his blade slicing through the remnants of Yahageshii's fire.
As the dark wave rippled outward, it threatened to engulf everything in its path. Harutemi, still paralyzed by grief over her grandfather's death, remained unaware of the impending danger. Her body was rigid, her gaze unfocused.
In that critical moment, Yahageshii lunged forward, positioning himself between Harutemi and the encroaching darkness. His flames surged once more, forming a protective barrier that shielded her completely. His arms spread wide, taking the full force of the attack without hesitation.
The searing flames danced around him, scorching his flesh. Yet his expression was resolute. He would not yield.
"Yahageshii…" Harutemi's voice broke as tears streamed down her face. She reached out instinctively, wanting to hold him, but hesitated, afraid to cause him more pain.
"Don't worry, Harutemi. I can handle this," Yahageshii said, his voice weary yet resolute.
Watcher 20 steadied himself, his tone tinged with irritation. "Still standing? How amusing. Let's see how long you can keep this up."
He raised his blade once more, its dark energy spiraling ominously.
Yahageshii stood firm, his breath heavy but his spirit unyielding. "As long as I'm here, you won't lay a finger on Harutemi."
The air grew tense again, fire and darkness colliding in a precarious balance. The battle wasn't over yet.