The blast tore through the sky like a falling star. The shockwave ripped across the entire forest, flattening trees into dust, scattering mountains of debris, and spreading its devastation all the way to the border of the nearest kingdom. Villages crumbled, rivers evaporated into steam, and even the air itself shook with violent pressure.
Deep within that storm of destruction, Amanda's jade talisman cracked under the force of the shockwave. The teleportation spell sealed inside burst open like a flare, dragging both Amanda and Lucy into its spiral of light. In a blink, the two were pulled away—teleported directly back to the Kingdom of Purity.
And the instant they vanished… the town below was erased. Entire districts vaporized in fire and dust. The two peak Special Darkside Spirits stationed there were obliterated instantly, swallowed in the cataclysm. Had Amanda and Lucy not been whisked away by the jade, they would have been reduced to ash alongside everything else.
From above the ruins, Miyamoto dropped down, his body wrapped in an invisible cloak of Renshi. The protective aura shimmered faintly, unseen by ordinary eyes. His chest rose and fell, each breath ragged as if the weight of his own attack threatened to crush him.
"I guess… that did it," he muttered, his voice low but sharp with exhaustion. "I poured everything into that strike. He has to be dead… or at least too broken to fight again."
But before the words left his mouth, a shadow loomed overhead.
A massive golden blade came crashing down from above like a meteor. Miyamoto's instincts flared—he vanished in a blur, activating Switch Mode. The giant sword cleaved into the earth where he once stood, splitting the ruined battlefield even further.
"—Tch!" Miyamoto clicked his tongue, reappearing a distance away. "No way. How the hell are you still alive?"
The dust parted, and Alaska emerged. His scales cracked, his body battered, but his eyes burned with fury. His right arm was gone—torn from his body by Miyamoto's earlier attack. Yet his left hand gripped tightly onto a glowing blade forged from his last reserves of golden dark Renshi. The sword's radiance lit the battlefield, burning like a dying sun.
"You're persistent," Miyamoto said coldly. "But look at you. One arm gone, your body collapsing. Step aside, Alaska—I don't want to waste my time bullying you."
Alaska's lips twisted into a savage grin. Blood dripped down his chin, yet his voice thundered with mad conviction.
"Bullying me? HAHAHAHAHAHA! Don't fool yourself, Miyamoto. You think one arm is enough to end me? You optimistic fool. I can't regenerate this wound thanks to your cursed light Renshi… but this fight isn't over. Not yet. Not until one of us is dead!"
He slammed his scales shut over his severed arm to seal the wound, golden dark Renshi flaring around him like molten armor. His blade's brilliance intensified, threatening to blind the battlefield.
"If I am to die here," Alaska roared, charging forward, "then I'll make sure you die with me!"
Miyamoto's eyes sharpened. His two blades gleamed as he stepped into stance. And when Alaska swung down, Miyamoto was already there—Switch Mode carrying him directly into the path.
Their swords collided, exploding the air into shockwaves. The battlefield howled with sparks and lightning-like cracks of Renshi colliding.
The duel began.
Alaska, even with one arm, swung with monstrous speed. His fury drove him forward, every strike fueled by years of hatred. Miyamoto answered with precision, both swords spinning and clashing in perfect counter rhythm. The forest around them—what little remained—was shredded further with every clash.
For five endless minutes they battled. Sparks painted the sky. Each missed swing gouged trenches in the earth, splitting open the ground and turning the battlefield into a wasteland of craters and dust. The forest was vanishing—each strike reducing more of it into nothing, transforming the land into a barren desert.
"Why won't you fall?!" Miyamoto growled, pushing his twin blades harder.
"You'll never surpass me!" Alaska bellowed, scales flaring brighter.
Miyamoto uses his technique—the earth beneath them shattered. Chunks of stone and soil twisted into two colossal fists under his control. They swung down like titans' hands, trying to crush Alaska.
Alaska roared, summoning his scales into a giant golden shield, blocking the first strike with deafening force. But Miyamoto was already gone, Switch Mode flashing him directly into Alaska's blind spot. His blade cut deep across Alaska's chest, spraying blood.
"Ghraaagh!" Alaska staggered, but he refused to fall. He flickered with Switch Mode, darting around the battlefield with terrifying speed, his sword lashing from every angle.
But Miyamoto pressed harder. His light Renshi outshone Alaska's corrupted dark essence, burning into every wound. Blood poured as Alaska's body refused to heal.
The tide was turning.
Chunks of earth rained down like meteors as Miyamoto's twin swords danced through the storm. Every direction Alaska turned, Miyamoto's blades were there waiting, carving away at him piece by piece.
Alaska's teeth ground in rage. His mind screamed in desperation: There's no way… I can't lose. Not after all these years! I can't lose to him!
He exploded in fury, Switch Mode igniting wildly. He blurred around Miyamoto, attacking from every angle, his voice rising into a roar of denial.
"I can't let this happen! Not now! Not ever!"
But his focus slipped. He forgot about the giant earth fist still suspended in the air.
BOOM!
The fist smashed down, slamming Alaska into the ground. The impact tore a pit ten feet deep, dirt and rubble flying skyward.
Alaska coughed blood, struggling to rise, sword still trembling in his grip. His scales flickered weakly, cracks spreading across them.
Miyamoto stood above the pit, one sword sliding back into its scabbard. His eyes were calm, merciless.
"It's over, Alaska. Your time is finished."
"Impossible…" Alaska wheezed, dragging himself upright, eyes bloodshot with rage. "I can't lose… not now… not ever!"
He flickered forward with Switch Mode one last time, appearing before Miyamoto in a desperate final charge.
But Miyamoto was ready. His fist crashed into Alaska's face the instant he appeared, slamming him back into the dirt.
"If only you had fought me head-on…" Miyamoto said, his voice heavy with finality. "If you hadn't wasted all your Renshi on that suicidal attack, you might've survived another two hours. But you threw everything away the moment you went all out."
Dust settled around them, and Alaska's struggling form went still.
The battlefield was silent.