"You two better survive this."
Before Miyamoto could spare another glance toward Lucy and Amanda, Alaska disappeared.
"Switch Mode!"
A golden flash erupted directly in front of him.
Miyamoto reacted instantly, crossing his twin swords to intercept Alaska's descending blades.
CLANG!
Sparks burst between their weapons as the impact forced Miyamoto to adjust his footing in midair.
He twisted his wrists, deflecting one blade before countering with a diagonal slash aimed at Alaska's neck.
Alaska leaned aside, allowing the blade to graze his scales, then drove his second sword toward Miyamoto's abdomen.
Miyamoto used Switch Mode just in time to escape.
But Alaska had already anticipated his movement.
"Switch Mode!"
He reappeared behind Miyamoto and swung again.
Miyamoto barely managed to turn and block the attack.
Their swords collided repeatedly as they vanished and reappeared across the battlefield. Each exchange lasted only moments, yet several attacks and counters unfolded within those brief intervals. The air cracked beneath the force of their clashes, while streaks of golden and crimson light flashed across the sky.
Alaska suddenly disengaged, twisting his body as golden Renshi surged through his scales.
The scales along his back detached and spread outward, spinning around him in a rapidly expanding circle. Their sharpened edges multiplied until they formed a massive wheel of blades.
Miyamoto's eyes widened.
That's not good.
Alaska thrust his arm forward.
The spinning wheel shot toward him.
Miyamoto crossed his swords to block, but the moment the two forces collided, the impact overwhelmed his defence. He was hurled downward, crashing into the earth with enough force to shatter the ground beneath him.
BOOOOOOM!
A massive crater formed around his body as dust and broken stones erupted into the air.
Alaska hovered above the destruction, watching the smoke with a satisfied grin.
"Not bad. You actually managed to block the worst of it."
He raised both arms.
The golden scales covering his body began separating one after another, transforming into countless razor-sharp arrows. Within seconds, the sky around him was filled with glittering projectiles.
"Now, let's see how long you can keep that up."
He swept his arms downward.
The arrows rained upon the battlefield.
Miyamoto emerged from the crater just as the first volley struck.
"Switch Mode!"
He vanished from the incoming barrage, reappearing on a nearby outcrop before switching again. Arrows tore through the ground where he had stood moments earlier, exploding against rocks and sending fragments in every direction.
He continued switching positions, but the relentless attacks left him little room to counter.
One arrow grazed his shoulder.
Another sliced across his thigh.
Miyamoto gritted his teeth.
I can't keep dodging like this forever.
Beyond the battlefield, the ruined town lay beneath a thick cloud of dust. Buildings had collapsed under the stray impacts, while the surrounding forest had been reduced to broken trunks and scorched earth.
Miyamoto landed on a fractured section of ground and drove one of his swords deep into the earth.
Renshi surged through the blade, spreading beneath the surface.
The ground trembled.
Enormous stone slabs tore free from the earth, rising into the air around him. With a movement of his free hand, Miyamoto rearranged them into a rotating formation.
The next volley struck.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Arrows shattered against the stone barriers, while others were deflected into the surrounding wilderness.
Miyamoto pulled his sword free and leapt onto the nearest floating slab.
Then another.
And another.
Each platform shifted beneath his control, carrying him closer to Alaska while shielding him from the incoming projectiles.
Alaska narrowed his eyes.
So, you're using the terrain to cover your approach.
He snapped his fingers.
The remaining arrows changed direction, curving around the stone barriers to attack Miyamoto from multiple angles.
Miyamoto immediately raised his hand.
The stone slabs rotated, forming a moving defensive formation around him. Several intercepted the arrows, while others accelerated toward Alaska from his blind spots.
But Alaska's spinning arrows intercepted every incoming attack before they could reach him.
Miyamoto seized the opportunity.
He switched between the floating platforms, using their shifting positions to conceal his movements. Whenever Alaska redirected his arrows, another slab moved into place, blocking his line of attack or forcing him to adjust his aim.
Miyamoto was gradually taking control of the battle's rhythm.
I've figured out your pattern.
His eyes narrowed as he watched the arrows circling Alaska.
You can attack and defend simultaneously, but you still need to direct your Renshi. If I disrupt your timing, I can create an opening.
Miyamoto crouched on a floating slab, preparing to launch himself forward.
"If that's how you want to fight, Alaska..." he muttered, tightening his grip on his swords. "Then I'll play by your rules."
He vanished.
"Switch Mode!"
Miyamoto reappeared above the incoming arrows, both swords raised.
Their colours began changing as Renshi flooded through the blades. The flames surrounding the crimson sword faded, while the icy aura of the blue sword intensified until both weapons shone with a brilliant sky-blue light.
The temperature plummeted.
Miyamoto brought his swords down.
A wave of freezing Renshi swept through the air, engulfing the incoming projectiles. One after another, the golden arrows froze solid, their momentum dying as ice spread across their surfaces.
Within seconds, a vast section of the barrage hung motionless in the sky.
Miyamoto kicked off a floating slab and charged through the frozen formation.
The ice shattered around him.
Thousands of fragments scattered like glittering glass as he closed the distance, both swords aimed directly at Alaska's neck.
Alaska's grin widened.
"Just as expected of you, Miyamoto..."
"Switch Mode!"
He vanished a split second before the blades could connect.
Miyamoto's swords cut through empty air.
Alaska reappeared several metres away, his golden eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Always hiding something up your sleeve. I was wondering when you'd bring out that technique."
He spread his arms, and the remaining golden arrows dispersed around him.
"Come on, then. Give me your best shot."
Miyamoto landed on a floating stone platform.
"Don't complain when you get what you asked for."
He surged forward.
Their swords collided again.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Miyamoto's twin blades moved in a relentless sequence of slashes, thrusts, and feints. Both swords radiated freezing Renshi, and every successful strike left a layer of frost across Alaska's armour.
Alaska answered with brutal precision, using his greater reach and strength to keep Miyamoto from getting too close.
When Miyamoto attacked from the left, Alaska blocked with his right sword and countered with the other. When Miyamoto changed direction, Alaska adjusted his stance and intercepted the next strike.
Then Alaska abruptly retreated.
His body blurred as he used Switch Mode to create distance, leaving Miyamoto standing on a floating stone platform.
Miyamoto immediately raised his guard.
Alaska's remaining scales began gathering around his right arm, fusing together to form a massive sword. Layer upon layer of golden armour accumulated along its length, making the weapon grow larger until it towered over him.
Golden Renshi pulsed through the blade.
Even from a distance, Miyamoto could feel the immense energy gathering within it.
Some of Alaska's scales formed smaller swords and continued attacking independently, forcing Miyamoto to defend against them while the enormous weapon took shape.
"Tch!"
Miyamoto swung one sword to deflect an incoming blade and used the other to intercept a second. He shifted between floating stone platforms, narrowly avoiding the remaining attacks.
But his attention never left Alaska.
He's concentrating an enormous amount of Renshi into that weapon.
The golden sword continued growing until its tip pointed toward Miyamoto like a spear.
Alaska tightened his grip.
"This next attack will end everything, Miyamoto."
Miyamoto steadied himself on a floating slab, raising both swords in front of his body.
His jaw tightened.
I can't let that attack hit me directly.
He could attempt to evade, but Alaska's Switch Mode would allow him to adjust his aim. And with the amount of Renshi gathering in that blade, even a near miss could devastate everything behind him.
I have to stop it head-on.
Miyamoto drew a deep breath.
Forcing himself to ignore the pain in his arms, he began pouring his remaining Renshi into both swords.
Alaska's enormous weapon blazed with golden light. A radiant circle formed at its tip, growing brighter as energy compressed within it.
His grin widened.
"GOLDEN PIERCE!"
He thrust the sword forward.
The circle erupted.
A colossal torrent of golden Renshi surged from the weapon, concentrating into a devastating beam that tore through the sky. The force shattered the floating rocks in its path, leaving nothing but fragments in its wake.
Miyamoto crossed his twin swords.
The blue light surrounding them intensified until the two blades were almost impossible to distinguish from the energy gathering around his body.
His expression remained calm and composed.
"ABSOLUTE... ERASE."
A tremendous wave of light erupted from his swords.
The two attacks collided.
KRAAAAAAAAAAASH!
Golden Renshi and brilliant blue-white light surged against each other, illuminating the entire battlefield. The collision sent a shockwave racing across the land, tearing through the remaining forest and sending debris flying in every direction.
The ground beneath Miyamoto's platform crumbled.
He immediately switched to another floating slab, planting his feet firmly as he continued pouring Renshi into his technique.
Alaska's attack pushed forward, forcing Miyamoto to lean into the clash.
The pressure was immense.
His arms trembled as he struggled to maintain the output of Absolute Erase. Every second consumed more of his remaining Renshi, and the strain was beginning to spread through his body.
Gradually, the wave of light began swallowing the golden torrent.
Alaska's eyes narrowed as his attack started losing ground.
"What is going on?"
Miyamoto pushed harder.
The blue-white light surged forward, devouring the golden Renshi and forcing it back toward its source.