The crowd settled into silence, spectating the extensive stares between Xavier and Chrome. "Protector of the Phantoms versus the leader of Fire Moon!" Chrome narrated, a bright smile stretching across his tattooed face. The stare raged on for a few more seconds before Xavier's eyes abruptly shut, influencing murmurs of confusion across the streets. Chrome's teeth rested on his tongue, realizing the faint power emanating from Xavier was slowly growing into something stronger - something mythical. Five more seconds passed, and his power surge became visual - a glow of pure white coated Xavier's entire body, scattering across the Town Square and compressing into miniature, snow-like flurries. "Looks like my father's speeches held a deeper meaning," he monologued, releasing a large exhale that dispersed his surging power. His fists tightened, and the enormous sum of power reappeared, surging through his veins. "Enough waiting - let's see what you've got, Chrome!"
Chrome smiled, widening his stance and stretching his arms towards the scorching sun. "Warming up by surging your power through the air, then compressing it into your fists? Hopefully my image of you won't be stained by your battle performance, Protector of the Phantoms!"
Xavier's eyes bulged open. "Phantom versus flame. Let's see who stands victorious."
---
Riley parkoured across Uraview's vibrant roofs, focusing his eyes beyond the Great Reza Bridge towards the Town Square's direction. His expression grew stronger, sensing Xavier's immense power blowing along with the Grand Province's moderate wind currents. "Seems like the battle is beginning…" he observed. "Despite its status, I won't let it discourage my mission!" He leaped through the air, now soaring above the body of water standing below the Great Reza Bridge. Without a second of hesitation, Riley slid a grappling hook out his robe pocket, aiming it towards the nearest bridge pillar.
Right before his body catapulted into the sea, the hook anchored between the wide, metal pillar and one of the many dense ropes holding the bridge up, propelling him across the lake. Celebrating with a short sigh of relief, he continued the flight across the vehicle-crowded bridge without losing a single second.
Volume 13, Chapter 50 - Phantom vs. Flame
With blazing arms, Chrome breezed through the thin air towards Xavier, who instantly deflected the attack with his hands. "Alan brought an end to my winning streak, so I'll use you to begin a new one!"
Xavier leaped into the sky with his legs, creating distance between him and Chrome. "Creating a good show for tourists and citizens alike, eh?" Xavier joked, slicing through the air with a swift punch, altering the wind currents blowing into the Town Square. "I assume Alan was the individual guarding the wall at the time of our entrance!" he predicted. "I was growing suspicious of his sudden location shift!"
Chrome and Xavier danced through the streets, relieving the suspenseful emotions among the crowd and changing them into shouts of excitement. "Both sides are moving so swiftly - no wonder Xavier was chosen to be a member of Team Pyron!" acknowledged a woman tourist standing within the crowd.
Xavier's finger reformed into a spear, striking towards Chrome with zero hesitation, who quickly blocked with his elbows. The white glow across his fists strengthened, adding to Chrome's struggle. "Let this be a little disclaimer to you," began Xavier, closely tracing Chrome's movements as he flipped through the air. "I'm not planning to go anywhere until I become the man I want to be, the Protector of the Phantoms!"
Chrome smiled, his shoes brushing against Town Square's stone tiles from his perfect landing. "Unlike yours, my dream stands immediate! I'm going to use Pyron's firepower to create a new world, now or never!"
The battle stood at a standstill - both Xavier and Chrome were out of breath and drenched in sweat, determined to fight until their last breath. "For an obnoxious runt, your fighting skills are rather impressive," Xavier admired. "Been a while since I've fought someone so swift and precise." The crowd surrounding them returned to their scattered murmurs. "This is one of the best fights I've seen!" "Who do you think is going to win?" "I have 100 dollars set on Chrome, Xavier's no match for him at all!"
Chrome took a large breath, modifying his fractured stance once again. "We can't let our fight stand unfinished," he complained, raising his left hand towards his screaming heart. "The question asked for years will finally be retired with this very battle - would phantom win against fire, or fire win against phantom?"
A malicious dark-red glow emerged from Chrome's skin, combusting into raging flames that scattered across the Town Square. "Using the body of Princess Azul, we'll destroy the Grand Province to leave room for a new capital ruled completely by Fire Moon!" Xavier maintained his relaxing expression, restraining the emotional shock awakened by Chrome's speech. His hands lifted into the air, followed by small, wispy souls blooming from the crowd. "The job of the Phantom Protector is to avenge the fallen who have set the stage for this generation and others to come!" he shouted. "I'll make sure none of their sacrifices are in vain, and create a path leading towards the next Golden Age!" His hands closed, and the spirits began spiraling through the darkening sky, pouring into his fist. "Until my very last breath, I won't stop working towards my dream!" Chrome's tattoo illuminated, encouraging the windmill of fire dancing above the Town Square. "This is it, Protector of the Phantoms - this will be the day you fall to Fire Moo-"
The air surrounding them compressed into one large ball, slamming both men against the Town Square's concrete tiles. The white ball dispersed into the air, revealing Riley's shining robe and his messy, brown hair to the crowd. "How many times do I have to tell you all, no fighting in the Town Square!?"