Hiro stands in the middle of the cracked ground. Dust still floats in the air. His body had previously been shattered by the impact, yet now those wounds close rapidly.
Torn flesh reconnects. Fractured bones make faint sounds as they return to place.
Krak.
Krek.
Thin vapor rises from his skin.
His eyes open.
There are no pupils.
Only a cold, empty color.
Several meters before him, Lucifer stands upright.
Hiro slowly raises his hand, opening and closing his fingers as if ensuring his body responds correctly.
Then he exhales briefly.
"That was not his true self before," he murmurs quietly.
Lucifer frowns.
Hiro continues, his voice slightly louder.
Paragon raises his head.
"That was merely him…"
His gaze locks directly onto Lucifer.
"You guided him to the true pinnacle, bastard."
The wind blows past them, carrying dust and small fragments of stone.
Lucifer finally furrows his brow.
"Because he is the right kind of man," Lucifer says coldly. "He would never become as arrogant as you, you bastard."
The corner of Hiro's mouth slowly lifts.
A faint smile appears on the face without pupils.
"Oh really?!" he replies.
"I have been waiting for a day like this, you know."
He lowers his body slightly.
His left foot moves one step forward.
The ground beneath his sole cracks.
"Because I," he continues quietly, "will settle my problem with you."
BOOM!—In an instant, his body launches forward.
The ground behind him shatters as he kicks off the earth.
Lucifer does not move immediately.
He simply stares straight at the shadow approaching with extraordinary speed.
But just before Hiro reaches striking distance—
Lucifer steps forward.
Only one step.
"With me?" Lucifer says.
His body suddenly surges forward as well.
WHOOM!
"I thought you still had not changed until now."
He rolls his shoulder.
"Because the problem lies within you—"
In a fraction of a second they close in on each other.
"Bast—"
BOOM!
Hiro's fist arrives first.
Lucifer raises his left arm.
BAAM!
A violent collision explodes in the air.
A shockwave spreads outward from the point of impact.
The ground around them immediately CRACKS!
Lucifer is pushed half a step backward.
Hiro gives no space.
The second punch comes from the right side.
WHAM!
Lucifer blocks again.
But Hiro's leg has already moved.
A low kick sweeps upward from below.
WHUUSH!
Lucifer leaps slightly.
The kick slams into the ground.
KRAAASH!
Stone and earth explode into the air.
While Lucifer is still in the air, Hiro spins.
His left leg rises rapidly.
BAM!
The kick strikes the side of Lucifer's body.
Lucifer is thrown several meters to the side.
BOOM!
His body slams into the ground, dragging a long line before stopping.
But before the dust can fall—
Hiro is already there.
He appears directly above Lucifer, who has just risen.
WHOOSH!
A fist drops straight downward.
Lucifer twists his body.
BANG!
The ground where he stood shatters as the punch strikes empty air.
Lucifer has already shifted to the side.
Yet Hiro has already turned.
A spinning kick comes from the opposite direction.
WHAAAM!
Lucifer blocks with both arms.
The impact pushes him back two steps.
The ground beneath his feet cracks each time he shifts.
KREK!
KREK!
Hiro continues advancing.
There is no pause.
Left punch.
BAM!
Right punch.
BAM!
Elbow.
THUD!
Side kick.
WHAM!
Lucifer withstands them all.
Each strike collides with his arms, shoulders, or palms.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
The sounds of impact echo continuously.
Dust swirls around them like a small storm.
Hiro steps forward again.
His body moves with speed and precision.
A straight punch aimed at Lucifer's face.
Lucifer blocks.
But Hiro immediately rotates his body.
A knee strike rises from below.
BANG!
Lucifer is pushed half a step.
Hiro does not stop.
The next spinning kick comes from the opposite side.
WHAAAM!
Lucifer blocks with his right arm.
The impact makes the ground beneath him CRACK!
Lucifer continues stepping backward.
One step.
Two steps.
Three steps.
Hiro keeps pressing.
Punch.
Kick.
Elbow.
Relentless attacks pour forward without pause.
BAM!
WHAM!
THUD!
BANG!
Lucifer blocks them one by one.
His left arm rises.
His right arm absorbs the blows.
He lowers his head to avoid one strike.
He rotates his shoulder to deflect a kick.
But the pressure does not stop.
Hiro leaps forward.
His left foot slams into the ground.
BOOM!
The force launches his body forward again.
His right fist slams into Lucifer's abdomen.
THUD!
Lucifer is pushed backward.
Before he can stabilize—
The next kick already arrives.
WHAAAM!
The impact strikes the side of his body.
Lucifer slides several meters again.
Dust rises high.
Yet Hiro appears again in front of him.
Left fist.
BAM!
Lucifer blocks.
Right fist.
BAM!
Lucifer holds it.
A low kick.
WHACK!
Lucifer leaps backward.
But Hiro has already spun.
His right leg sweeps horizontally.
BOOOM!
Lucifer blocks with both arms.
The pressure from the collision shatters the ground beneath him.
Cracks spread several meters.
Lucifer finally stops retreating.
His feet press firmly into the ground.
KRRRCK.
He blocks another punch.
BAM!
Then another kick.
WHAM!
Dust swirls around them.
Hiro stands several steps away.
His body is still ready to attack.
His chest rises and falls slowly.
Yet his face remains calm.
His pupil-less eyes stare at Lucifer without emotion.
Lucifer stands upright.
His left arm remains slightly raised.
Dust slowly falls from his coat.
The ground around them is filled with cracks and impact craters.
Wind blows across the shattered battlefield.
Lucifer slowly lowers his arm.
His head tilts slightly downward.
Several seconds pass in silence.
Then his shoulders move slowly.
Lucifer raises his face.
The corner of his lips lifts.
A smile appears on his face—an eager smile clearly carved there.
His eyes burn sharply.
His body leans slightly forward.
The true battle has only just begun.