The battlefield was in chaos. Flames danced alongside waves of shadow, casting strange, flickering lights that gave the scene an otherworldly quality. Cries of battle echoed through the air, punctuated by the crackling of energy attacks and the roar of dark creatures. Yuto stood at the center of it all, his breathing heavy, his Saiyan blood boiling in response to the overwhelming challenge before him.
Kael floated a short distance away, his dark aura pulsating like a living entity. The smirk on his face betrayed his amusement at Yuto's relentless struggle. He raised one hand, and tendrils of shadow extended outward, snaking through the air like predators searching for prey.
"You're stubborn, I'll give you that," Kael said, his voice dripping with mockery. "But even the strongest candle eventually burns out."
Yuto didn't respond immediately. Instead, he wiped the sweat from his brow and tightened his grip on his sword. His golden aura flared, pushing back the encroaching darkness. He could feel the weight of the battle pressing down on him—his muscles ached, his energy reserves were dwindling, and his comrades were growing desperate. Yet, within the storm of exhaustion and chaos, a single thought burned bright in his mind.
I can't lose.
"Kael," Yuto said, his voice steady despite the storm around him. "You talk a lot for someone who's about to lose."
Kael's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second, and Yuto seized the moment. With a roar, he launched himself forward, his speed surpassing anything he'd displayed before. The ground shattered beneath his feet as he propelled himself toward Kael, his sword gleaming with golden light.
Kael's eyes narrowed as he raised his hand, summoning a wall of shadows to block the attack. But Yuto was ready. With a sharp twist of his body, he changed direction mid-flight, appearing above Kael and bringing his sword down in a powerful arc.
The golden blade met Kael's dark energy with a deafening explosion. Shockwaves rippled through the battlefield, forcing nearby combatants to shield themselves from the force. The clash sent both warriors hurtling backward, but Yuto recovered first, flipping in midair and landing gracefully on the ground.
Kael, on the other hand, stumbled slightly as he landed, his expression darkening. "You're stronger than I expected," he admitted, his voice laced with annoyance. "But strength alone won't save you."
As if to prove his point, Kael extended both hands, and the shadows around him surged like a tidal wave. They spread outward, swallowing the light and plunging the battlefield into near-total darkness. Yuto felt the oppressive energy pressing down on him, like a physical weight threatening to crush him.
But he refused to be intimidated. Gritting his teeth, he channeled his energy into his aura, pushing back the darkness with his golden light. The two forces clashed, light and shadow battling for dominance.
Yuto's mind raced as he tried to come up with a strategy. Kael's control over the shadows was unparalleled, and his minions were still overwhelming Yuto's allies. Even with the Celestial Flame Sect's formations active, the battle was far from won. If he didn't end this quickly, they would all be doomed.
Think, Yuto, he told himself. What do Saiyans do best?
The answer came to him almost immediately. Saiyans were warriors—beings who thrived in battle and grew stronger through conflict. Every challenge, every injury, every brush with death only made them more powerful. If he wanted to defeat Kael, he had to push himself to the limit.
Closing his eyes, Yuto took a deep breath and allowed himself to focus. He let the battle around him fade into the background, his senses narrowing in on Kael's energy. He could feel the ebb and flow of the dark aura, like a stormy sea. It was powerful, yes, but it wasn't invincible.
When Yuto opened his eyes, they burned with renewed determination. He tightened his grip on his sword and took a step forward. His golden aura flared brighter than ever, the light cutting through the darkness and illuminating the battlefield.
Kael raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the change in Yuto's demeanor. "What's this? Have you finally accepted your fate?"
Yuto smirked, his confidence unshaken. "No. I've just realized that I've been holding back."
Before Kael could respond, Yuto moved. His speed was blinding, his golden aura leaving streaks of light in his wake as he closed the distance between them. Kael barely had time to react as Yuto unleashed a flurry of attacks, his sword striking with precision and power.
Each swing of Yuto's blade sent shockwaves through the air, the golden energy slicing through Kael's shadows like a knife through butter. Kael was forced to go on the defensive, summoning barriers of dark energy to block the relentless assault. But Yuto was relentless, his attacks growing faster and stronger with each passing moment.
Kael growled in frustration as he struggled to keep up. "What is this? How are you getting stronger?!"
Yuto didn't answer. He didn't need to. His Saiyan blood was burning, his power increasing with every clash. He could feel himself evolving, his body adapting to the intensity of the battle. This was the essence of being a Saiyan—a warrior who thrived in the face of adversity.
Kael's frustration turned to anger as he unleashed a massive wave of dark energy, forcing Yuto to leap backward to avoid being engulfed. The dark wave tore through the battlefield, leaving destruction in its wake.
"You think you're special?" Kael snarled, his voice filled with venom. "You're nothing but a speck of light in an endless sea of darkness. And I will snuff you out!"
Yuto landed on the ground, his golden aura flickering but still strong. He wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth and smirked. "You can try."
With a roar, Yuto charged forward once more, his sword glowing with golden lightning. Kael responded in kind, summoning a blade of pure shadow to meet him. The two warriors clashed in a storm of energy, their attacks shaking the very foundation of the battlefield.
The fight was fierce and unrelenting, neither warrior willing to give an inch. Yuto's golden light clashed with Kael's dark shadows, the two forces locked in a battle for supremacy. Sparks flew as their blades met, each strike sending shockwaves through the air.
But as the battle raged on, Yuto began to notice something. Kael's movements were becoming slower, his attacks less precise. The dark energy that surrounded him seemed to flicker, as if it were losing its strength.
He's weakening, Yuto realized. The light is pushing back the darkness.
With renewed determination, Yuto poured all of his energy into one final attack. His golden aura flared to its maximum, the light blinding in its intensity. Kael raised his blade to block, but Yuto's strike was too powerful. The golden energy shattered the dark blade and slammed into Kael's chest, sending him flying backward.
Kael crashed to the ground, his dark aura flickering like a dying flame. He struggled to rise, his expression a mixture of anger and disbelief. "This… this isn't possible…"
Yuto stood tall, his golden aura illuminating the battlefield. He pointed his sword at Kael, his voice steady and resolute. "It's over, Kael. Your darkness ends here."