"Damn it!
I'm gonna shove that damn spear down your—"
That bastard was strong.
If Watari hadn't helped me, I'd be six feet under by now.
I knew he was my comrade.
And yeah...
I forgive you for that punch, brother.
As for this guy—
His spear strikes were like a serpent.
Slick.
Venomous.
Deceptive.
Fucking hell.
He was shorter than me,
but I couldn't even get close.
Little freak!
Every time I went in, he was already one step ahead.
And what's worse…
he was enjoying it.
There was pleasure in his eyes.
Like this duel was some performance on a stage.
But then—
that forced smirk of his vanished.
The fire pushed past my iris.
No flicker.
No warning.
Fourth Flame.
The power surged from my fingertips into my veins.
My reflexes sharpened.
No side effects.
This control… this balance…
Probably Stage Two, maybe even Stage Three.
Now it's my turn.
I'll make you kiss my damn boot, you dwarf.
I slashed my blade toward his right chest.
He dodged at the last second.
The roles were reversed now.
I was the one attacking.
My first strike came from above—
steel clashed with spear.
Sparks scattered across the stone floor.
But he only took a few steps back.
That same smug grin crept back onto his face.
"Damn little rat…"
You won't be smirking this time.
Second strike—aimed at his waist.
But a feint.
Quick kick toward the ankle.
He leapt over it.
His laugh crawled under my skin.
Like he was peeling me open just to see what I'd do.
And in that moment—
something snapped inside me.
"Enough already!"
Third strike—diagonal slash.
He parried.
And laughed again.
Me too...
At first, I clenched my teeth.
Then I started laughing.
Low.
Quiet.
Crazy.
The chains inside me were breaking.
This duel… was skimming the edge of madness.
I struck again.
He parried again.
He smiled again.
"Just give up already!"
I shouted.
My voice echoed through the walls.
Then I noticed something.
His eyes…
They were shifting from Dark Crimson to Crimson.
He couldn't handle the side effects anymore.
But right then—
the flame spilled past the iris.
He was flaming up.
Are the gods messing with me?
No—
they were enjoying the show.
He came at me again.
Faster this time.
Wilder.
My laugh was the worst part of all this fight.
It wasn't battle-focus.
It wasn't bravery.
Something in me was splitting open.
Out the corner of my eye, I glanced around.
Arata was raging like a beast.
Unstoppable.
How was he still attacking?
Naoki's opponent was nearly finished.
Aoi wasn't defending anymore—
she was pressing forward.
But—
I couldn't see the one-eyed demon.
Where was Hayato?
Right then—
a spear struck my knee.
I staggered.
My leg throbbed like a blade was lodged in it.
Before I could react,
the second strike was already coming.
I didn't even see his shadow.
Only—
a silver flash.
I clenched my eyes shut.
I had to.
I thought it was over.
"No," I told myself.
"It can't end here."
But I closed my eyes.
Emptiness.
Darkness.
I waited.
There should've been a cold, final blow.
But it never came.
One… two… three seconds passed.
I opened my eyes.
And—
I saw Watari.
His sword had stopped the spear.
"Watari…"
My dear brother.