The Flames of Judgment
The battlefield became a furnace. Walls of fire erupted in all directions, trapping Ryuji and his companions in a ring of searing heat. The flames coiled and twisted, their tongues flickering like hungry serpents.
The Elder stood beyond the inferno, untouched by the raging fire. His black and crimson robes barely moved despite the howling winds. His silver hair gleamed under the glow of the inferno, his expression unreadable.
"You should feel honored," the Elder said, his voice smooth, calm—too calm. "Not many have witnessed the Fire of Judgment and lived to tell the tale."
Sweat beaded on Ryuji's brow. His body screamed in pain, still recovering from the fight with Kenshiro, but he forced himself to move.
Daigo clicked his tongue. "Yeah… We're dead."
Akari took a defensive stance. "Not if we kill him first."
Ryuji gritted his teeth. No. Something was off.
He watched the flames carefully. They weren't just for show.
They were draining the oxygen.
His chest tightened. Each breath was becoming harder.
"He's suffocating us," Ryuji muttered.
Akari's eyes widened. "Damn it… He's waiting for us to pass out."
The Elder smirked. "You're quick. That's good." He raised a hand.
The flames tightened.
Breaking the Cage
Ryuji's mind raced. He could try slicing through with wind, but would it be enough?
"Best bet?" Daigo muttered. "We stall and run."
Akari shot him a glare. "We're not running."
"Oh? You wanna burn to death? Be my guest."
Ryuji wasn't listening. His fingers clenched around his sword.
There had to be a way.
The Elder took a step forward, his presence pressing down like a mountain of heat and power.
"You have ten seconds before the air is gone." His voice was pure certainty. "Choose wisely."
Ryuji's instincts screamed.
The Gamble
Ryuji moved.
He raised his sword and slashed through the air, sending a powerful gust outward. The flames split for an instant—just enough.
Akari didn't hesitate. She rushed through, her katana flickering with blue energy as she aimed for the Elder's throat.
The man barely moved.
With a single step, he vanished—reappearing behind her.
Akari's eyes widened. "Wha—"
BAM.
A force slammed into her back, sending her crashing into the ground.
Ryuji's vision went red. Too fast. Too strong.
Daigo cursed. "Well, we're screwed."
Ryuji ignored him. His feet moved on their own. Wind surged around him as he launched himself at the Elder, blade flashing.
The Elder finally reacted.
CLANG!
Sparks exploded as their swords met. The force sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. Ryuji barely kept his footing.
The Elder's strength was monstrous.
"Not bad," the man mused. "But still weak."
He twisted his sword—
And Ryuji felt a sharp pain in his shoulder.
His vision blurred. Blood. His blood.
The Elder had slashed him faster than he could react.
Too slow. Too weak.
The Elder stepped forward, raising his blade for the finishing strike.
"This is where you break."
Ryuji's knees buckled. No… Not like this.
Then—
A roar split the sky.
A Monster Awakens
The flames trembled. The ground shook.
A new presence descended.
The Elder hesitated. "What—?"
Then something massive crashed into the battlefield.
The sheer pressure sent waves rippling through the air.
A beast.
Towering, black as the abyss, its golden eyes pierced through the smoke.
Ryuji staggered. "That's—"
The Elder's expression finally changed. Annoyance.
"Tch." He sheathed his sword. "I'll deal with you later."
And then—he vanished.
The flames died instantly.
Ryuji barely managed to stay on his feet. His body was wrecked. His mind, spiraling.
But he knew one thing.
The real battle was only beginning.