As Shadow and Sereph stand across each other with smiles on there faces
The ground around them begins to shake violently as pebbles,dust particles jump around and before another sound could be heard the two flash towards each other as Sereph throws a jab Shadow effortlessly dodges as he says
"Come on you have to have better moves then this"
Shadow counters with the same jab but his was much sharper and faster
Sereph smiles as he says
"Well it seems you're adapting well,you've even copied it and might say it perfected it...well then I guess let's AMP THE DIFFICULTY"
After Sereph utters those words the black streaks similar to runes markings began to glow a scarlet red
His irises shifts to a red glow
Shadow's smile slightly falters as he thinks
"This guy is close to break a through...well then I guess I'll assist in that"
Shadows body began glowing a weird shade of red before shifting to orange
[Guidance prompt]
[Congratulations on successfully assimilating both the basic form and mutated version of the ripples fighting technique]
[Creating a sub variant inferior to the blood ripples technique interms of power however with the increase in physical speed]
[Drawback is if you exceed a certain speed you're body will go under a temporary numbed state and if pushed to the limit]
[It may cause permanent damage to the physical body or cause immediate death]
Shadow smiles as he acknowledges those words
He readies himself
The clash between the two start with a bang that sends tremors across the battlefield
Shadow dodges a kick to the head he counters with punch to the ribs but Sereph blocks it and throws a devastating punch that Shadow evades once more as they exchange attacks,dodging and countering,Serephs fist glow red
"Dragonic fist"
He whispers
Sereph aims for Shadows head as a dragon in that same moment began appearing out of his fist
Shadow instinctively tilts his head barely avoiding the raging dragon Sereph unleashes as he simoteniously accelerates his body and delivers a tornado kick to Sereph head
Sereph blocks the attack with his left arm instantly grabbing his ankle as he throws Shadow to the floor and follows up the attack with a shout of his technique
"DIVINE RED FLAME DRAGON!"
Sereph unleashes the attack but at the same time flashes next to Shadow
Immediately pulls out his Spear that began emanating black flames around as he whispers
"Crimson spear arts...DARK HELL THRUST"
Sereph Unleashes a deadly flaming Thrust as Shadow is pinned by the two lethal attacks he thinks
"DAMN..."
He suddenly vanishes both of Sereph's attack collided with one another causing an explosion of black and red flames erupt
Sereph stood in the flames he thought
"He'll come soon enough"
He says that when the view shifts to the spirit plains where Shadow stood but before he could even think he saw a dark fist by his chest about to land as he hears Jagik yell excitedly
"DID YOU FORGET I WAS HERE!"
And the next second Shadow vanishes once more but he was met with Sereph's spear head about to pierce his face
Shadow thinks
"Crap this isn't fair at all"
Shadow dodges the strike with a side step but Sereph pairs up with a follow up attack as he thrusts his spear towards Shadows neck yet again Shadow shift to the spirit plain before Immediately bending backwards to dodge a kick to the stomach by Jagik who immediately follows up with a fist to the face Shadow shift again as he hands stands and jumps into the air narrowly dodging a slash by Sereph
Shadow thinks
"At this rate I'm going..."
Sereph Leaps into the air as he attacks Shadow with a barage of lethal thrusts
"Im going to die"
Shadow continuesly switches between plains narrowly dodging and evading both Serephs and Jagiks aggressive onslaughts
Shadow began rapidly thinking
'If even one of they're attacks hit me...im screwed...what do I do what do I do?'
Shadow continued to dodge when Jagik suddenly jumped back as he says playfully
"Hey Shadow buddy...you know I hate you right?"
Shadow with a serious expression remarks
"Yeah the feelings mutual"
Jagik tilts his head slightly as he says now with a eerie and ominous voice
"I actually decided im going to help you again"
Shadow stays silent as he stares intently at Jagik
Jagik then says with his left eye now glowing purple
"Here let me help you decide Which plain you want to fight in for abit...actually on second thought I'll let you have both"
Everything then darkens as Jagik utters
"Corruption simulation...reailty plain assimilation of individual file...Shadow"
After he utters those few words everything around Shadow began warping and spinning as a timer appears above his head
600 seconds
Then before Shadow realized it he was existing in both reailty and the spirit plain
The timer above his head ticks as before he could let out another breathe his body instinctively dodges both Jagiks and Sereph attack
Everything then clicked in Shadow's head as his body flows like water narrowly dodging each progressively sharpening attack Jagik and Sereph we're inflicting
Shadow began thinking as everything began to fade
Small cuts around his body began appearing as Serephs spear cut through him
Black bruises around his body only increased as Jagik Relentlessly attacks
'At this rate I'm going to die...how am I suppose to...counter....this?'
As everything fade both Sereph and Jagik lands devastating attacks on Shadow as his body is sent hurling across the harsh brown rocky field with spirit essence floating around him
There was now a small whole by Shadow heart where Sereph pierced right through and also black streaks began spreading through Shadow's body starting around his heart
Then the scene pans to Shadow corpse laying seamlessly lifeless on the ground
Jagik walks up to Shadow as he sits on his body observing every detail,he smiles gleefully as he thought
"I knew you wouldn't break that easily"
The scene shifts to Doshi fiercely clashing with Jaress and fir a brief moment Doshi loses concentration allowing Jaress to land a clean punch across her face sending Doshi flying into a mountain but she didn't pay mind as her face twist in shock
She thinks in utter terror
"No...no no no
no...Shadow...where's...where's...where's your spirit energy gone?"
As the scene shifts again to Mystery who's walking down a weird corridor with test tubes filled with green liquids and severed limbs of different beings alike float within them
Mystery looks in a certain direction as he thinks
"Huh...I wonder where Shadows spirit went...hmp i guess his dead...i can't really do match about it...I'll care about it later,this is far more important"
The scene shifts again this time to Unknown who's staring at the lifeless body of Shadow from afar as he thought
"Hmmmm well it seems you're dead but...not really...interesting"
The scene shifts again to Kogetsu who's laying on the ground as he senses something he snaps his eyes opens and thinks
"Huh where did Shedodens life force go?"
The scene cuts again to Shenky who's eating ramen while laying on Ellens lap before Ellens says uncaringly
"So what you gonna do about that kid dying"
Shenky retwarts
"I really don't care plus whatever that thing is inside him should save him or something like that"
"Well what about the reaction of the foot soldiers"
"Who cares at the very least they'll perceive Shedodens physical body dying not that parasite of a being hosting that body"
"Of right i forgot not everyone can actually feel that kid accept SS rank beings and above"
"My point proven yet again"
The scene shifts once more to the observing Plague doctor as he thinks
"Well lets see what that forbidden god can do...sadly I have to deal with another speciman"
Plague doctor says this as he stands right in front of Mystery
The scene cuts again to Shadow who is floating through darkness
"Huh so this is how dying spiritually feels like...well I guess my times up"
As shadow thought those words he began to slowly open his eyes as he saw a being cloaked in white energy extending its hand towards him
Shadow then says
"Cut the crap you forbidden god and just say you want to take over my body already"
"Actually nevermind don't even say it I'd rather be dead then accept the power from another"
After he said that the being dissappears as he hears a voice echoe
"You truly are a stubborn one huh"
Shadow replies
"Yeah I'll stay that way"
The being continues
"Well since you already know my plan I'll cut the conversation and make it quick...I shall heal you to your peak condition"
"And what do you want back?"
The being stays silent for a moment before it says
"Give me a name"
"A name?...heheheh....well then I'll take the deal...Shio...Shio will be your name you damn god"
As Shadow is engulfed in a bright white light the scene opens up to Jagik still sitting on him before white energy began emanating from Shadow's body once more
Jagik jumps back Shadow slowly floated back to his feet all the injuries he had instantly healed as he snaps his eyes opens
[Guidance prompt]
[You have now been restored to peak condition]
Shadow got into a fighting stance before he lunges towards jagik who's calmly standing across him with his arms out smiling innocently
his eyes closed
The timer above his head hit zero
he shifts into the spirit world and is about to strike Jagik in the face
but then Shadow suddenly fell into Jagiks arms as he closes them and says
"Honestly im happy for the hug but I don't need it though...also if your wondering why you can't move it's because I placed a spirit virus on you so yeah enjoy it"
Shadow was then forcibly shifted to reailty as he's met with a red glowing fist by Sereph The the next second it lands flatly on Shadow as Sereph whispers
"RED death fighting arts...mental dragon fist"
Everything went dark once more for Shadow as he thinks
"Why...why...why why why! why! WHY WHY WHY WHY WHYYYYYYYYY!....I just wanted to live...live without problems...live without bastards like Jagik fucking with it"
[Guidance prompt]
[HOST you are-]
"SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!"
"I don't want to suffer anymore"
As Shadow curls up into a ball one word kept echoing in his mind
"Why"
Red energy began emanating around his body as if hands gripping on to him
He heard Mystery's,Kogetsu's,Unknown's and Shedodens voice
Mystery says
"Honestly I know you're a loser and all but get up...some rival of mine you are"
Unknown says
"Don't break yet"
Kogetsu says
"If you survive I'll probably teach you some imaginenary arts"
Shedoden says
"Get up or I'll end you myself moron"
After Shadow heard those words he smiles as a tear falls then he says
"Honestly your not so bad at all huh...Shio"
Shadow stretches his body out but then his hit with a sharp pain around his whole body
when memories,predictions of horrible things flash through his consciousness as he thinks
"Fine if I can't dispel this suffering I'LL JUST USE AS FUEL TO PUSH PASS...MY LIMITS"
Everything went silent as Shadow in reailty got up hus head bled
He snaps his eyes opens now glowing red He makes a sign with his index and middle fingers straighten,his other fingers clasps
Everything around him went dark and silent when he yellled
"SEKIDO!"
The next moment an eye two times bigger then him appears behind as Sereph senses something he shuts his eyes immediately then the next second
The eye opened as it let ot an intense red light that covered the battlefield
Enemies and allies alike that saw this light stare at it begins slowly desintagrating from the sheer intensity
The scene shifts to Jagik as he curiosly stares at the eye in the spirit plain
"Hmmmmm well even if the ability is practically useless against S ranks and above I'd rate it a 0.01 of out 10 for effort"
[Guidance prompt]
[You have e unlocked Sekido]
End of chapter 20:Part 3