The fight has already been going on for a while, and we are now reaching its conclusion: Hajime against the monster Guy. The two savage beasts are engaged in unprecedented violence, and inside the dark cave, their clashes echo against the walls, shattering the rock. Each of them trades blows relentlessly.
Both fighters pause for a brief moment, as if each were assessing how the situation is unfolding.
— It's incredible… usually it's my twin brother who manages to make me feel this way.
He even wonders if he should go all out for once. Hajime stands there in a guard stance, realizing the situation is not in his favor. Guy is thrilled and charges forward without any delay. Hajime understands that he will have to give everything he has to fight this madman.
« I think… I THINK IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN THIS ANGRY IN MY ENTIRE LIFE! »
He unleashes his aura and takes a combat stance. Guy circles his opponent with a burning, fiery gaze and continues his charge without hesitation. His sword strike is still blocked by Hajime, who then pushes him back by creating ice spikes, narrowly missing piercing him. Guy shatters the ice with his blade.
Hajime launches himself into the air using his spear. Guy, however, continues his relentless attacks, his blade grazing and tearing Hajime's clothes. Hajime causes a small collapse by destroying a central pillar, surrounding himself in dust. Guy slices through the rocks like paper before unleashing a powerful inferno that disperses the cloud.
— LET'S KEEP GOING!
Plunged into darkness, Hajime is not betrayed by his senses. He dodges a spear strike at point-blank range and counters with an explosion that forces Guy back. The situation is becoming increasingly critical for him.
Hajime's innate technique is called Zero Eden. With this technique, he can manipulate, remove, or transform any heat exchange within a radius of about twenty meters around him. Guy is already preparing to charge again, his excitement and determination reaching their peak.
« Should I go all out against him… This is getting really fun! »
Hajime returns to a guard stance, but doubt creeps into his mind. He uses the world's natural chaotic energy to lower the temperature, freeze the water in the air, and create ice in various forms: blades, spikes, freezing mist, defensive or offensive structures.
Guy teases him with an amused shout. Hajime observes his position and attempts a spear strike. But it was a feint by his opponent, who hurls a fireball at him, causing a massive explosion that shakes the cave walls. Hajime manages to escape in time.
« This is bad… my power only works if there is water in the air. But his fire attacks have almost completely dried out all the humidity in the cave. I can't use any techniques anymore… »
He grits his teeth and charges forward himself, the tip of his spear scraping the ground. Guy dodges the attack, but it was a setup: Hajime lands a punch to his face.
« This is my only option… please let it work. »
Hajime forces a smile.
— THIS MONSTER, DON'T YOU THINK?!
These words, instead of disturbing Guy, only fuel his joy. Hajime attempts an attack with the Valence pole, but it is stopped dead, followed by another explosion.
« My determination will not be diverted from this trajectory. »
In a moment seemingly suspended in time, as he sees Guy charging at him, he realizes he is facing a true genius. Yes—those people who have elevated their art to the highest peak.
He recalls his little sister in his imagination, in that dark space, standing upright and elegant, a presence that commands respect. Someone he has always wanted to surpass.
His determination grows.
Plants stretch across the ground and regain their balance.
He dodges the opponent's attack at the last second, resists as best he can, then crashes into him, sending him slamming into the wall.
As soon as he opens his eyes again, Hajime is already on him, striking with all his strength. A massive wound opens on Guy's torso, but it is not over. Hajime throws himself at him like a madman, chaining attacks; his movements are no longer ordered—he is completely unleashed.
« What's gotten into him? »
Guy lands a blow that forces him back, but it is not enough to slow him down: he comes right back at the attack.
« He's gone berserk… »
As he expects his opponent to be overwhelmed by violence, Guy's joy erupts like fireworks and his adrenaline surges. His blade collides with Hajime's spear.
— COME ON! THAT'S IT! KEEP GOING!
They exchange blows with such intensity it feels like they intend to kill each other. For several minutes in the cave, there is no respite, neither of them showing any sign of weakness. A key realization appears in Guy's mind.
« 40% »
His aura ignites and he resumes his frenzy, but this time his strikes are much stronger and more intense. He has decided to fight at 40% without realizing it—and that is exactly what his opponent wanted.
Hajime blocks attack after attack.
Guy then launches his first real technique. He leaps into the air, his smile widening. Hajime prepares to block.
And then it comes: flames concentrate in the pyromancer's hand, forming a massive fireball.
— FLAME DOXIS!
The attack is unleashed. Hajime remains strangely calm. The inferno engulfs the entire cave, now bathed in infernal heat that melts the rock. Guy, lost in his own madness, watches this blazing spectacle, while even his hands begin to burn.
The small water puddle Hajime had noticed earlier in the cave begins to boil, then evaporates.
Something happens.
A crack.
Then another.
The ground begins to split.
Then a powerful explosion of steam erupts from the ground, extinguishing Guy's flames instantly.
« What? »
Lost in the thick cloud of steam, Guy does not understand what is happening. But suddenly, a hand emerges from the mist, appearing right in front of his face.
Then—
— Seikatsu. « -273.11 °C »
In a fraction of a second, the steam turns into a frost mist that cools everything in its path. The walls are covered in ice. Some surfaces expand, others contract. Cracks begin to appear. The freezing wind locks away all heat: only cold remains, omnipresent in the air. 4 minutes after the attack.
Guy opens his eyes again, on the ground, his body completely frozen.
« What… what is happening here? »
What he didn't know is that from the very beginning, Hajime had already prepared the field for his victory. When Hajime arrived in front of Guy, he took the time to check beneath his feet. He circulated his energy into the ground, covering it with frost.
He detected a massive water reservoir directly beneath them. But since he couldn't use it directly in combat, he decided to use his enemy and his flames.
He started slowly, provoking small attacks to weaken the ground. Then, once it was done, he forced him to unleash one of his strongest attacks. Since the "lid" was damaged, the sudden temperature change caused it to explode, turning the water into steam, which he then used to trigger his ultimate technique.
Guy only realizes all of this now.
« No way… so even if I had fought at 100%, I would have still lost… »
The only reason Guy did not die instantly from the extreme temperature is because his chaotic energy instinctively activated, releasing heat so intense that, under other circumstances, it would have killed him instantly.
« And him? »
In front of him, Hajime's crystallized body is kneeling on the frozen rock, unmoving, completely still. Guy stares at the scene in shock.
« Wait… he really used this technique knowing full well it would kill him? This guy is even more suicidal than me… »
But he notices something else.
His heart is still beating, and even unconscious, he continues to produce chaotic energy as a reflex…
« Impossible… »
Very slowly, the ice on his body begins to melt, drop by drop. Heat starts circulating in him again. Guy is stunned.
« His powers only allow him to create cold… so how is he producing heat with his… »
But unable to finish his thought, the young monster's eyelids slowly close.
« You really are someone full of surprises… »
Next chapter: A child's will