Chapter 9 – The Scorching Mist
Group C – Match 2: Pakura (Hidden Sand) vs. Mangetsu Hōzuki (Hidden Mist)
A circular arena emerged from the mist, built over deep water. Pillars of coral and jagged rock surrounded it like teeth. The floor shimmered with a thin film of chakra—any step too strong could shatter the surface.
On the left stood Pakura of the Scorch Release, once betrayed by her own village, now reborn and deadlier than ever.
On the right: Mangetsu Hōzuki, older brother of Suigetsu, wielder of multiple Mist swords and master of the Hydrification Technique.
[SYSTEM INITIALIZING…]
Group C – Round 2:
Combatants: Pakura (Sand) vs. Mangetsu Hōzuki (Mist)
Arena: Mistwater Platform
Match Type: Chakra Absorption – Non-lethal.
Timer: No Limit. Begin!
A flash.
Mangetsu lunged in immediately, spinning with the massive Helmsplitter Sword in both hands. Water splashed with each step. His form was a blur of strength and aggression.
Pakura slid back.
Scorch Style: Superheated Halo!
A ring of orange fire spiraled from her palms and expanded outward, distorting the air. Mangetsu's charge halted just inches away as the wave of heat forced him to leap back.
The surface cracked under the sudden temperature change. Steam hissed from the impact zone.
"You'll evaporate yourself," Mangetsu chuckled.
His body splashed into water—and reformed behind her.
Hydrification Technique: Water Clone Shift!
The clone exploded as she turned, dousing her in water.
Then—
Lightning-Infused Slash!
He brought the Helmsplitter down with a bolt of crackling electricity through it.
Pakura sidestepped narrowly and thrust her palm upward.
Scorch Style: Sunfire Needles!
Tiny spears of pressurized, superheated chakra fired from her fingers in a burst.
They hit his chest—but he burst into water again.
She backflipped, landing on a rock pillar just above the arena.
"You can't cut what's steam," she whispered.
Scorch Style: Solar Bloom.
A small sun glowed between her hands. Then it burst—shooting three spirals of radiant energy across the arena. The water boiled. Steam enveloped everything.
[STATUS: VISIBILITY DOWN TO 20%]
Environmental Modifier Applied – Mist x Heat = Vision Disruption + Chakra Fatigue (1.4x)
Mangetsu's voice echoed through the fog.
"You're strong. But can you fight a body that doesn't need to stay solid?"
From the water behind her, his sword erupted like a shark fin, cleaving straight through the pillar.
Pakura dropped.
Backhand Flame Burst!
Her chakra ignited like a mine as she fell—forcing the sword away and catching Mangetsu mid-rise with heat shock.
His body sloshed apart into several water blobs.
Then his full body reformed farther out on the arena, kneeling. Breathing heavy.
That burst had burned through part of his shoulder. Even with his hydration, the Scorch Release had taken its toll.
Pakura landed. Both panting now. Mist turning orange.
"I'll give you that one," he admitted.
"Yield or I'll vaporize your lungs."
"I think I'll let the system decide that."
He rushed in again.
They clashed—not swords and hands—but heat waves and streams of water. Mist exploded in every direction. Boiling water sent chakra ripples through the ground.
Finally—
Pakura ducked under his blade, slammed her palm into his gut.
A seal appeared.
Scorch Style: Flashbrand Mark.
The mark ignited.
BOOM.
Steam burst upward in a column of light. Mangetsu flew backward, skipping across water like a rock.
He landed hard.
Didn't move.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
Winner Confirmed: Pakura.
Opponent incapacitated via direct chakra combustion.
Battle Duration: 6 minutes 49 seconds.
Commencing absorption…
The digital sky flashed above the mist.
[ABSORPTION COMPLETE – RESULTS:]
+10% Chakra Reserve
+7% Hydrification Resistance
+5% Sword Combat Instincts
+3% Water Style Prediction
+8 EXP – Scorch Path
Skill Trait Gained: Mist Visibility Compensation I
Mangetsu groaned from where he lay, coughing steam.
Pakura exhaled, singed hair and all.
[RETURN TO STAGING PLATFORMS – NEXT ROUND IN 4 MINUTES]
She turned.
No applause.
Only silence, boiling mist, and the quiet hum of the system preparing for another fight.