The spikes vanished, and Haven fell outside the battlefield. Her body, battered and bruised, began to regenerate slowly. She winced in pain but pushed herself up, her senses heightened by adrenaline.
As her vision cleared, she saw a familiar figure in the distance.
"Huh...? What's up with him?" Haven mumbled, her eyes squinting at Yaxoc's towering presence.
Something about him was different—feral, almost. Then it hit her.
"Wait..." she murmured, her mind racing. "This has to do with his awakening. Heraphiel mentioned he mastered Imagination's magic... but I've never seen him use it. That doesn't make sense."
Meanwhile, Yaxoc's voice roared across the battlefield.
"GET OUT OF THERE!" he shouted at the radio, his fury palpable.
On the other side, Zarzock scoffed, unimpressed.
"What an irritating idiot..." Zarzock muttered. His voice sharpened as he addressed the fighters. "Fine, let's raise the stakes."
He extended his hand, energy crackling at his fingertips. A wave of his magic surged, engulfing the fighters and enhancing their power.
"Here's your new objective, fighters," Zarzock declared, his tone icy. "Take down Yaxoc and bring him to me. If you succeed, your lives will be spared."
The fighters, now charged with new energy, exchanged uncertain glances. But the promise of survival overrode their hesitation. They lunged at Yaxoc with renewed vigor.
Yaxoc, unfazed by the incoming threat, stood firm.
"Sweet... DREAMS," he chanted ominously.
A massive aura erupted from his body, an explosion of energy so intense that it forced the fighters to stagger back. They hesitated, now wary of what they were up against.
"WOAH! THIS KID'S GOT SOMETHING WEIRD!" one fighter exclaimed.
"STOP HIM!" another shouted, rallying the others.
Two fighters charged ahead but were swiftly knocked out by the sheer force of Yaxoc's untapped potential.
His head tilted upward, and when his eyes opened, they gleamed with a radiant, unearthly light. Even Zarzock felt a flicker of unease.
"What... is... that?" Zarzock mumbled, his voice wavering. "I've never seen something so... cold before."
Yaxoc raised his hand, his voice steady and resolute.
"Dream Magic: Purple."
A colossal purple orb materialized behind him, pulsating with raw energy. With a simple motion, Yaxoc closed his fist. The orb detonated in an instant, obliterating the battlefield and the station in a massive explosion.
Zarzock crashed to the ground with a loud thud, groaning in pain.
"Ugh... That bastard is powerful..." he muttered, struggling to his feet.
He glanced toward Yaxoc, who was now glaring at him with unrelenting intensity.
"Damn... He's dangerous now," Zarzock whispered. "I've heard of awakening magic before... Hight explained it happens when someone masters all spells or fuels it with rage. Looks like Yaxoc achieved awakened Imagination magic through rage."
Yaxoc wasted no time. He charged at Zarzock, his punch shattering the barrier Zarzock hastily conjured. The impact sent Zarzock skidding across the ground.
Before Zarzock could react, Yaxoc teleported behind him, aiming for a decisive blow to the head. But before the strike landed, the remaining fighters intervened.
"GOT HIM!" one fighter yelled as they swarmed Yaxoc.
Zarzock used the distraction to retreat, glancing over his shoulder as he fled.
"Oh no, you don't!" Yaxoc roared, attempting to chase him.
But the fighters blocked his path, forcing him into a battle. With no other choice, Yaxoc fought back, dispatching each opponent with swift precision.
As the fighters regrouped, Yaxoc raised his hand again, his voice ringing out.
"Dream Magic: Spiral Blue!"
A massive spiral-shaped blast of blue energy erupted from him, creating a gravitational pull that trapped the fighters. The swirling force intensified before detonating in a cataclysmic explosion, scattering his opponents.
The battlefield fell silent, save for the crackling remnants of Yaxoc's magic. He stood tall, his glowing eyes scanning for Zarzock, his rage unyielding.
The tension in the air was palpable as the leader of the Skullcrushers stepped forward, his demeanor cold and composed.
"Hey," he said, his tone calm but firm. "Calm down. I'm not here to harm you."
Yaxoc turned to face him, his eyes still glowing with the remnants of his awakened power. Scoffing, he asked, "What the hell do you want?"
The leader crossed his arms, his gaze unwavering. "You've put everyone in danger because of your awakening. I managed to save all of them before you could." He paused, then added with a hint of disdain, "I suggest you stop this nonsense and tell me who that guy is—the one who hijacked the radio."
Yaxoc rolled his eyes, his frustration evident. "It's none of your business. Leave it to a savior—"
The leader cut him off sharply. "You can't be a savior if you cause enough destruction to endanger civilians."
Yaxoc clenched his fists but remained silent as the leader continued, his voice carrying the weight of experience.
"I've been a savior once," the leader said, his tone almost nostalgic. "I retired because I realized something—you can't call yourself a savior if you're so focused on taking down enemies that you forget the people you're supposed to protect. This has to stop. You're going down a path that isn't worth it."
"But—" Yaxoc began, only to be interrupted again.
"Admit it, kid," the leader said coldly. "You joined the academy for popularity, didn't you? A real savior defends not just themselves but their people—ensuring their safety in every situation, even when it's almost impossible."
The leader's voice hardened. "Let's face it. You know nothing about what it means to be a savior. And let me tell you something else."
He stepped closer, his eyes locking onto Yaxoc's. "The president himself admitted it. Civilians rely on us not out of gratitude, but because we're tools—pawns for power and the future."
Yaxoc's fists trembled as his anger built.
"I know you're mad," the leader continued. "But let's quit this nonsense and leave it to the higher-ups—"
His words were cut short as Yaxoc's fist collided with his face, sending him crashing into a wall with a resounding impact. The leader groaned in pain as Yaxoc grabbed him by the hair, pulling him close.
"You're wrong," Yaxoc snarled, his voice filled with rage. "Saviors have been thanked—multiple times—by people who truly support us. The ones I've saved believed in us, trusted us, and stood with us!"
He leaned in closer, his voice rising. "And you? You're not a savior. You're just an ignorant, self-absorbed little [censored] with a twisted mentality! You're no better than the enemies we fight! You're just here to spread lies and recruit others to your cause!"
With a roar, Yaxoc punched the leader again, sending him flying into the sky.
"If anyone's wrong, it's YOU!" Yaxoc shouted after him, turning away and walking toward his next target—Zarzock.
From the shadows, Zarzock observed the scene with amusement, though a hint of unease crept into his expression.
"Oof," Zarzock muttered, shaking his head. "What a dumb way to convince Yaxoc. That guy really doesn't know when to quit. Guess I'll have to step in myself."
He smirked, raising his hand as his body began to shimmer and morph. "Good thing I've got this shapeshifting technique. With this, I'll be able to match Yaxoc's power—"
Before he could finish, an explosion erupted nearby. Zarzock instinctively dodged as blasts rained down around him. His head snapped up, and his heart sank.
Hovering above him was Yaxoc, his glowing eyes locked onto him.
"CRAP!" Zarzock yelled, bolting from his hiding spot. "How did he find me so easily?! I wasn't even visible—"
"YOU FREAK!" Yaxoc roared, streaking through the air toward Zarzock like a missile.
Panicking, Zarzock weaved through the wreckage of the destroyed stadium, desperately trying to escape. "This kid's relentless!" he shouted, narrowly avoiding another blast.
But Yaxoc was gaining ground, his rage propelling him forward with unstoppable force. "You're not getting away this time!" he bellowed.
The tension escalated as Yurgion suddenly intervened, his awakened magic crackling with dark energy.
"Not so fast," Yurgion said coldly, his voice echoing with malice. "Yaxoc, you will be taken down... just like your alternate version."
Yaxoc glared at Yurgion, his fists tightening. "So, you got stronger, huh? BRING IT ON!"
Without hesitation, Yurgion charged forward, his awakened darkness shrouding him like an unholy aura. He unleashed a flurry of punches, but Yaxoc dodged with swift precision, countering with a devastating kick to Yurgion's jaw.
"Dream Magic: RED!" Yaxoc chanted, his voice resonating with power.
A massive explosion erupted, sending Yurgion hurtling through the air. He crashed through several mountains, leaving trails of destruction before collapsing onto the ground, groaning in pain.
"He's... strong," Yurgion mumbled, wiping blood from his lip. He struggled to his feet, determination burning in his eyes. "I won't last long... so I'll have to weaken him before using my ultimate attack. Well... here goes nothing."
Yurgion surged forward, his speed unparalleled, and landed a powerful kick to Yaxoc's face, sending him flying. Without giving Yaxoc a chance to recover, Yurgion teleported behind him and slammed him into the ground with immense force, summoning 600 dark spears that hovered ominously above.
"Your life ends here," Yurgion declared coldly, his voice carrying a chilling finality. The spears shot toward Yaxoc with blinding speed.
Yaxoc reacted swiftly, grabbing Yurgion's body and using him as a shield.
"What the—!?" Yurgion gasped, wide-eyed.
The spears impaled Yurgion mercilessly, drawing cries of agony from him.
"AGH!" Yurgion groaned, his voice filled with rage and pain. "Damn YOU!"
Yaxoc capitalized on the opening, kicking Yurgion's face away and grabbing his feet mid-air to slam him into the ground repeatedly before hurling him into the sky.
"Dream Magic: NIGHTMARE ROLLS!" Yaxoc roared.
From the ether, countless dark snakes materialized, their fangs glistening with deadly venom. They lunged at Yurgion, injecting him with spores and poison that sapped his strength. The snakes attacked relentlessly, slamming him to the ground, constricting him, and then unleashing a devastating blast that shook the continent.
Yaxoc stood still, staring coldly at Yurgion as he struggled to his feet, barely able to stand.
"Not... yet..." Yurgion muttered weakly, his body trembling. "I... I'm going to... finish this!"
With a guttural cry, Yurgion unleashed his ultimate spell.
"Eternal Darkness: Domain of the Void!"
A colossal dark orb enveloped both fighters, plunging them into an abyss where no light could reach. The room was pitch-black, and Yaxoc found himself unable to see.
Suddenly, Yurgion attacked from all sides, his slashes relentless. Yaxoc winced but pressed forward, each step defying the onslaught.
"Wha... WHAT!?" Yurgion yelled in disbelief. "No way... he's resisting all my slashes! How can he—"
His voice faltered as he saw Yaxoc's deadly expression piercing through the darkness.
"He's... really out for blood..." Yurgion whispered, fear gripping him. "The way he's adapting to my slashes... it's just unbelievable!"
Yaxoc seized Yurgion by the neck, lifting him effortlessly. With a ferocious roar, he slammed Yurgion into the ground repeatedly, shattering the domain entirely.
The battlefield reemerged in chaos as Yurgion collapsed, barely able to move. Weakly, he reached out, calling for aid.
"Master... Ogamak... help... me..."
A voice echoed coldly in response. "You think I'll help you? You're a weakling... but fine. You asked for it."
In an instant, Yurgion vanished, leaving Yaxoc alone amidst the destruction.