The battlefield was littered with destruction. Smoke and dust hung heavy in the air, and scorched earth stretched as far as the eye could see. Axel, bloodied and battered, struggled to rise. Each breath was a battle in itself, his body trembling from the sheer force of Kagetsu's onslaught.
"This… isn't over yet…" Axel muttered, his voice hoarse. But even he knew the truth he was beaten.
Kagetsu stood tall, a dark grin spreading across his face. His aura pulsed like a living storm, a terrifying combination of power, malice, and arrogance. Luna hovered nearby, her eyes cold as she surveyed Axel's failure with a mix of amusement and impatience.
"Pathetic," Kagetsu sneered.
"Did you really think you could defeat me, Axel?"
Axel groaned, his body trembling with pain. He tried to stand, tried to summon his energy, but his aura flickered weakly like a dying flame. The adrenaline that had carried him this far was fading, leaving him vulnerable.
"I… I won't let you…" he whispered, but the words were swallowed by the wind.
Across the battlefield, Alex and Malia watched in horror. Alex's fists clenched tightly, her nails digging into her palms. Malia's eyes were filled with tears of frustration, rage bubbling within her. Axel, their protector, was being overwhelmed and there was nothing they could do to help.
"Brother…" Alex whispered, the anguish in her voice barely audible.
Kale and Kalifa were still locked in combat with Kagetsu, their bodies battered but unbroken. Yet even their combined efforts could not tip the scales; Kagetsu's strength was overwhelming. Luna circled Alex like a predator, ready to strike again.
And then… something shifted.
A sudden crackling surge of energy tore through the battlefield, shaking the ground beneath their feet. The air shimmered, charged with an intensity that made the hair on Alex's neck stand on end.
"What…?" Kale muttered, eyes narrowing.
Axel, sensing it faintly even in his weakened state, looked up. His vision blurred, but he saw them two figures descending from the energy storm, moving with a speed and grace that defied comprehension.
It was Sanny and Zane, returning from their rage states. Their auras burned bright, a combination of raw power and controlled fury. Flames of energy, electric sparks, and pure strength radiated from them, cutting through the battlefield like twin comets.
"Impossible…I thought that blast vaporised you both" Kagetsu muttered, his confident smirk faltering.
The moment Sanny's eyes locked on Kagetsu, time seemed to slow. Every muscle, every strand of hair, every heartbeat thrummed with unstoppable energy. Zane followed close behind, his fists crackling with newfound power. The two of them had returned stronger than ever before.
Alex and Malia's eyes widened in shock. Tears and blood streaked faces turned toward the approaching figures, and for the first time since the battle began, hope sparked in their hearts.
"They… they came back," Alex whispered, disbelief and joy mixing in her voice.
"Sanny… Zane…" Malia muttered, a smile breaking through her tears.
Kagetsu's grin faltered completely. The dark energy around him seemed to waver as he prepared himself for the new threat. Luna, sensing the shift, tensed, her eyes narrowing on Alex. But Sanny moved first.
With a sudden burst of speed, Sanny closed the distance between himself and Kagetsu in a heartbeat. His fist, burning with an aura of pure energy, struck Kagetsu squarely in the chest. The impact sent him flying backward, crashing into the ground with a thunderous roar.
"How… how can they be this strong?" Kagetsu gasped, struggling to rise.
Zane followed up immediately, his movements fluid and precise, each strike landing with pinpoint accuracy. Kagetsu blocked some, but others broke through his defenses, tearing at his muscles and draining his energy. The two brothers moved in perfect sync, covering each other's weaknesses while attacking Kagetsu relentlessly.
"Together… unstoppable," Sanny muttered, determination blazing in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Alex and Malia stood back, awe and relief washing over them. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, they could smile freely, knowing that the battle was no longer hopeless. The rage, despair, and fear that had weighed on their hearts melted slightly, replaced with hope and admiration.
"You two… they're amazing…" Malia whispered, her hands trembling.
"My friends … our friends…" Alex said softly, her gaze never leaving Sanny and Zane.
Axel, though injured, lifted his head slightly and watched his younger brother and Zane in action. Pain and pride battled within him. Even in his weakened state, he could feel the overwhelming power radiating from them.
"I… I'm proud…" he muttered, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Kagetsu, now on the defensive, realized he had underestimated them. The combined strength of Sanny and Zane was unlike anything he had faced before. Every attack he tried was countered, every opening he exploited was blocked. Even Luna's relentless strikes were repelled with ease as Sanny and Zane adjusted their movements, protecting Alex and Malia while keeping Kagetsu off balance.
The brothers' synergy was terrifying. Sanny's speed and energy strikes were complemented perfectly by Zane's precision and brute force. Kagetsu staggered under the combined assault, his aura flickering and dark energy leaking like a broken dam.
"No… this cannot be!" Kagetsu roared, frustration and fear flashing across his face.
Sanny's eyes narrowed, and with a sharp gesture, he summoned a wave of pure energy that surged toward Kagetsu, forcing him to retreat. Zane followed up with a rapid barrage of strikes that landed with explosive force, each hit leaving Kagetsu reeling.
Axel, watching from the ground, felt tears sting his eyes. His little sister's hope, his own hope, all rested on Sanny and Zane's shoulders, and they were carrying it magnificently.
Alex, smiling through her tears, clenched her fists.
"That's my Man… that's our family…" she whispered.
Malia nodded beside her, a grin spreading across her face despite the chaos around them.
"Finally… things are looking up."
Kagetsu glared, struggling to stay upright. Luna hovered beside him, her eyes narrowing on Sanny and Zane with a dangerous intensity. The battle was far from over but the tide had undeniably shifted.
Sanny and Zane exchanged a glance, silent communication passing between them. Together, they moved forward again, a perfect storm of speed, strength, and raw power. Each strike, each movement, left the battlefield trembling, leaving Kagetsu and Luna on the defensive for the first time.
The brothers were back. And this time, they were stronger than ever.
Alex and Malia, watching from the sidelines, could only smile through their tears, feeling hope and pride well up inside them.
"No more losing… no more fear," Alex whispered.
"We fight with them… together."
The energy on the battlefield surged, the earth quaking beneath the clash of titans. And as Kagetsu prepared to strike once more, he realized something chilling: this battle had only just begun, and the ones he underestimated had returned stronger than ever.
TO BE CONTINUED!!!
Until Next Time On Sanny Tenom.