The dark paths await the arrival of the third group member. As Yoshiru took the left path, the light shone before him. "I thought this place didn't have lights.." Yoshiru took his step toward the end of the path.
The feeling of unease and presence that surrounds the area haunted Yoshiru; the coldness of the air slowed his movements. "What's the purpose of this necklace then...?"
As he continued walking, a red carpet outlined by gold seemed to appear. Suddenly, the entrance in front vanished from his sight. "Weird.."
Footsteps echoed behind him, "Yeah, i knew there was someone following-" Yoshiru tilted backward, his eyes narrowing to catch who was trailing him. He froze for a second, staring at the number of demons running toward him.
"Wait...WAIT!" He ran forward in the hope of the door appearing again, "COME HERE INTRUDER!" The sounds of the demons running before him.
The walls collapsed, as tremors shook the path. "WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW!??" Then the shape of the path shattered, reshaping into a wide arena. The torches were held on the walls, and pillars rose from the ground.
Yoshiru was forced to stop, leaning around to see if they came here with him. His confusion appeared on his face, seeing that they all stood formally. "Welcome intruder..." A shady figure lowered from the ceiling, going through it.
Upon the figure's arrival on the ground, the demons bowed in fear. He wore a mask, though his mask was different. "How confused am i..." Yoshiru stood in his place waiting for responses.
The appearance of the figure was nothing like the others; his horns were tilted back, and the color of his skin drew Yoshiru's attention. His mask had the drawing of a snake.
"You're now in my arena, a place where nobody comes out of alive." He then proceeded, "Ahem...How rude am i? Not introducing myself to a guest."
Yoshiru's eyes narrowed back, focusing on the creature in front. "I am Barau, the lord of snakes." He stepped forward, "As you see, the place you entered is my main chamber. The rules are obvious: win and take a reward." Barau proceeded to walk toward a dark place, raising his arm forward into the dark.
"Light.." The torches there lit up, showing a cell holding a woman inside. Yoshiru stood frozen in his place, "NORMI!" He tried to leave the arena, but a barrier held him off.
"I forgot to specify the reward..." Barau lifted his mask, "Win the fight and free this girl..." He smirked.
"You bastard!" Yoshiru punched the barrier, though he couldn't break through. The shape of Normi broke his heart. The girl was chained up, blood still spilling from her forehead; her body was in bad condition, as if they had tortured her.
Barau proceeded to her cell, opened the door, and stepped toward her. "I SWEAR IF YOU TOUCH HER!" Yoshiru's eyes glared. "No, i have no business with her." Barau spoke as he reached his throne inside the cell.
Yoshiru calmed down, then leaned back, staring at the standing demons. "I will do what it takes...to free you!" He pointed at Normi.
Barau smiled, "Rules are simple, you defeat those soldiers to get a chance against me, but...if you lose, the consequences are severe."
"What kind of consequences..." Yoshiru questioned, "...you get chained next to her and watch each one of my dear soldiers torture this beautiful lady."
"You damn bastard..." Yoshiru raised both his arms upward as a dragon mark appeared on the back of his hand. Suddenly, Reikonryoku flew upward to his fingers, then downgraded below them, rushing to the marking. Clenching his fists triggered an aura to erupt from his hand to the wrist. "...This is a motivation not to lose!" His eyes opened, as they glared like flames.
Barau lifted his right arm upward, "May the battle begin!"
"DIEEE!!" The demons ran toward Yoshiru, "As you wish!" Yoshiru replied, lunging toward them. A blow toward the first one's stomach led his Reikonryoku to burst out of the demon's back, blood splashed everywhere.
4 Demons caught up to him, "!" Yoshiru dropped to the ground, sending 2 blows toward the front ones, landing them perfectly on their faces. Snapping bones echoed, reflecting on the barrier.
Slipping forward toward the other two with an elbow on the jaw of the right one, blocking the other demon's punch. When the first was sent flying, Yoshiru exchanged blows with the 4th demon.
"Quite a strong fist.." Barau muttered, observing the scene.
The shockwave of Yoshiru's fist crossing with the demon's sent the weaker ones backward.
Is it me, or is this demon different than the others.. Yoshiru felt the other demons observing, not interfering.
The demon smirked when Yoshiru smiled. "Alright...THEN!" Yoshiru stepped forward, keeping his defense state to illusinate the demon. He then let a gap in the defense to trick his opponent into striking.
The demon charged his fist backward, sending it toward Yoshiru,
"NOW!" Yoshiru grabbed the demon by his arm, pulling him closer while charging his other fist. "GRHH!" Cracking noise as Yoshiru's fist struck the demon's face, leading Reikonryoku to ascend from the demon's back head. The shockwave of the hit broke the ground beneath the two.
Yoshiru pulled his fist backward while blood splashed out of his opponent's face, letting him fall onto the ground.
The other soldiers had already made their move, in a hurry to strike Yoshiru at once.
"A finishing strike..?"
As the gap between them closed, they jumped at Yoshiru with all fists charged backward.
Yoshiru immediately stepped one step backward, closing his eyes. Thanks Kaien, for teaching me this..
His Reikonryoku flowed at a fast pace, fueled by anger. "Hayai...style..." As his eyes were wide open, his Reikonryoku surged, allowing him to see through his opponents. Vanishing from his place when traces of his Reikonryoku remained, seeing nothing but crimson red lightning flying toward every demon in order.
"Impressive speed...-" Barau was shocked, "No..that's a technique!"
When Yoshiru returned to his original place, the flow of his Reikonryoku calmed. He tilted his head to Barau, "You're next.." As those words spilled out, each one of the demons exploded, splashing blood everywhere.
The extended smile on Barau's face widened as he stood up. "Don't get me wrong once again..." He vanished from his place, "!?" The freezing breeze passed Yoshiru.
"I'm not like anyone you've seen...weakling." A sound wave passed through Yoshiru's ears from behind, freezing his blood, sending shivers down his spine. Immediately, he spun with a kick to whoever was behind him.
"What! How?" Yoshiru's eyes widened when he saw nobody was behind, the landing leg of his echoed.
"OP-!" As a breeze roamed, Yoshiru flew due to an unknown force striking him from behind. He raised his leg forward, landing on the wall, then side-dashed to the ground. Looking forward, Barau stood behind the original place of Yoshiru, lowering his leg.
"How did...Doesn't matter i will find a way!" Yoshiru's fists lightened with his Reikonryoku. Afterward, he darted from his place, charging his fist toward Barau. Upon the arrival of Yoshiru's fist, Barau vanished, "Forgot to tell my actual nickname..." He appeared behind, "THIS TIME!" Yoshiru tilted to his back with a ready punch, "Uraeus." The fist was stopped, and multiple strikes landed on Yoshiru's body.
"GH-!!" The pain paralysed him when Barau grabbed him by the hair, "See what it costs to save a friend...?" Barau kept staring into Yoshiru's fist as a spit closed one of his eyes.
"You disgusting monkey!" He threw Yoshiru front, "You're named after a snake? That's what snakes do!" Yoshiru stood up from the ground, removing dust from his clothes. "Oh man...this is getting me dirty...Kuro will get mad if i tell him to buy me new clothes!"
Barau wiped the spit. He opened his eyes as it glared; his aura erupted, surrounding him. Shouting, "I WILL KILL YOU!!!!!"
"Alright, time to get serious...even tho speed was never my speciality" Yoshiru got into his stance, raising his fists upward. The uraeus vanished from his place when the dragon closed his eyes, "To the right!" Yoshiru threw a fist on his right side, landing it on Barau.
Reikonryoku clash occurred when their fists met, leaving sparks of Crimson Red and Navy Blue to float. "Gotcha this time..."
Barau twisted sharply with a spinning kick sent toward Yoshiru, vanishing before it lands. "Dirty-!" Yoshiru ducked, avoiding the kick that passed from above. Twirling back with an elbow from below impoured with Reikonryoku toward Barau's stomach.
"RH!" Landing it perfectly on his opponent's stomach led to a flow of Reikonryoku to pass from the back of the demon. The disappearance of the figure in front of him left him shocked, "Unfortunate..." Multiple strikes thrown on Yoshiru's back sent him flying into the wall outside the arena, landing on his face.
As a clash of fists echoed from behind, the figure who landed on the wall vanished as well.
"I can create a clone as well!" Yoshiru exchanged fists with Barau, clashing with sparks of Reikonryoku flying with each punch. The clashes intensified, causing red lightning to spread beyond their boundaries.
"mm.." Normi's eyes slowly opened; her dizziness wouldn't let her see in front correctly.
It faded away, allowing Normi to see the falling Reikonryoku sparks. "Yo..shiru...?" The last clash led to a reaching shockwave that weaved her hair from her face. Normi muttered with a broken voice, "Wh-y did you co-me..."
The fight in front presented Barau vanishing and appearing everywhere around Yoshiru, striking him. "Grh..GH!" Yoshiru screamed, spiking his Reikonryoku to stop his opponent.
"Angry already..?" Barau stood above one pillar on the corner, "No, i just wanted to see your ugly face one more time." Yoshiru got to his stance again, facing Barau.
"Then...allow me to show you what this ugly face can do!" His shout echoed, vanishing from his place, appearing mid-air, flying toward Yoshiru. Once he arrived, Yoshiru blocked his fist strike with his left hand, slamming his other one toward the demon's face.
Barau twirled his head to the side, dodging the passing strike. Taking action, grabbing Yoshiru's fist, burying his fist in the gut of his opponent.
"GRH!" Yoshiru splashed blood from his mouth, leaving an opportunity for the vanishing Barau to appear behind him, with his raised foot slamming into Yoshiru's head.
"Why...just why are you doing this to me..." Normi kept muttering.
Mid-fall, the demon reappeared, catching the falling Yoshiru, driving his fist toward his face.
Sending him flying away, landing on his back on the ground.
Yoshiru's blood poured to the ground from his head. "Mmmm..." His eyes were closed.
Barau stood observing him, "Well...seems like you're already done." His eyes narrowed at the awake Normi. "Oh? Sad to see your lovely friend get beaten up?" Barau moved his foot forward and took a step toward her.
"Keep your hands away from her...or..." Yoshiru was on his knees, getting up slowly. "I knew you weren't done!" Barau vanished, going toward Yoshiru.
In a fast motion, Yoshiru got up, raising his fists to deflect his opponent's strike.
"Yoshiru run...just run, why are you doing this for me!?" Normi's tear fell while she screamed at Yoshiru. "Just..why-"
"SHUT UP!" Barau vanished, "Hayai!" Yoshiru's Reikonryoku boiled faster as he vanished.
They both appeared in front of Normi's cell, with Yoshiru gripping the demon by the collar.
"I TOLD YOU TO KEEP YOUR FILTHY HANDS AWAY FROM HER!" He threw him across the arena.
"Yoshiru...please...just leave...i don't want you to get harmed..." Normi's crying was interrupted by Yoshiru, "If any of my friends die...MY FEELING WILL DIE WITH THEM...so why would i turn my back on you...Friend."
Normi stared speechless as her tears fell more, "...stupid..."
"BLAH BLAH BLAH YOU BOTH WILL DIE HERE AND NOW!!" A scream echoed, "Right!" Yoshiru made his stance, waiting for the next strike.
Barau's Reikonryoku flew to the ceiling as lightning struck from the ceiling to the ground, destroying everything around him. His aura's color reflected the color of blue, "I don't understand why you monkeys fight for each other...How about teaching you a lesson for your next life..." The Reikonryoku descended from the ceiling, gathering to form a snake-like shape.
Yoshiru's fists clenched, "Normi...close your eyes..."
Barau's Reikonryoku's power increased significantly, and he then slid to the nearby wall.
"Get ready..." He charged his foot against the wall, and lightning reshaped, hitting that wall on multiple places.
"Hayai...style" Yoshiru closed his eyes, spiking his Reikonryoku many times than before.
The sounds of the two forces breaking the concrete around them increased, and the torches' light faded away as they lit the whole place.
"lightning...speed..."/"Fast...pace..."
The speed of their dashes left trails behind, destroying the ceiling and ground. Defying physics led the human eye to see nothing but destruction. They appeared in the midst of the arena, charging their fists backward.
"SNAKE BITE!"/"DRAGON FIST!" Their slamming fists created more chaos while Reikonryoku flows clashed as well. Types of lightning are born due to the clash hitting everywhere.
"A..mazing..." The colorful sight in front glared in Normi's eyes.
Both of their auras flew backward, shaping a symbol: one presented a snake, the other a dragon. The colorful sight stopped, the atmosphere calmed, and chaos disappeared.
There were no traces of the fallen soldiers anymore.
The visible sight barely saw the scene; Yoshiru's fist landed on Barau's gut. Descending below, Barau's fist was slammed into Yoshiru's chest.
"Yo..YOSHIRU NO!" Normi's voice cracked while she screamed. Yoshiru and his opponent each fell on their backs, losing the ability to breathe.
Normi kept trying to break free from her chains, "Yoshiru...YOSHIRU!"
Suddenly, a demon was crawling toward her.
Her eyes met with his, "..."
The demon was the person who kept up with Yoshiru earlier. He raised one of his arms forward as his presence faded slowly. "Free.." He pointed at the main chain attached to the walls, then blasted Reikonryoku toward it.
"Thank..me later..." He disappeared.
Normi broke free, running to the fallen Yoshiru, putting her ears to his heart. Happiness was cast upon her when she heard a heartbeat. Then, she put her hands on his chest.
"By fractured light...may return the grasp to those who lost it..Virelia!" Green particles gathered on the palm of her hands, pressing into Yoshiru's chest. Normi's mana consumption made her weave right and left. Not yet..not until i heal him! She caught herself back, proceeding to heal Yoshiru.
-
"Light, darkness, friendship...all illusions. In the end, they fight because I allow them to." - The masked man
Moonlight poured into the darkness of the room, though it was fading slowly as he continued, "May the next fight begin...my pawn against a test subject."
-
"PHOO-!" Yoshiru's eyes were forced wide open when he stood up suddenly.
He coughed then raised his head forward, "Where am i..." His eyes were narrowing around.
Then it caught Barau, who was dead on the ground. "OH YES NORMI!!" He immediately turned around to the cell.
"Where is she..." He lowered his head, lowering his eyes to see a figure unconscious on the ground.
"Wait..did she heal me...?" She was lying on the ground, "Welp... at least we're finally done..."
He carried Normi on his back.
Tremors shook the place, "!?" The place completely fell apart. Destroying everywhere, then reshaping into the main hallway.
"Phew..i thought we were about to face another one of these demons..." Yoshiru stared at the dark hallway.
"I don't think it was dark when i got here...doesn't matter." He steps forward toward the exit.
Chapter End.