The moment both of them moved again, the atmosphere snapped back into motion like a tightened wire finally released. Kairo forced his body forward despite the pain screaming through his muscles, his grip tightening around the Black Spartan as Reikou energy flowed unevenly through him. Across from him, Reji stepped in with far more control, his movements calm but decisive, his kusarigama already in motion before Kairo could fully stabilize his stance.
The chain cut through the air with precision, forcing Kairo to react instantly. He raised his sword to block, the impact ringing sharply as sparks burst outward from the clash. The force pushed him back again, his feet dragging against the cracked arena floor, but this time he didn't fall. Instead, he pushed forward again, refusing to give space, refusing to give Reji control.
"Still coming?" Reji said quietly, almost unimpressed, yet watching more carefully now. His chain twisted again mid-air, redirecting toward Kairo's blind spot with unnatural speed.
Kairo reacted a second too late.
The blade grazed his side, reopening an earlier wound, and the pain shot through his body like fire. His breath hitched, but he didn't stop. He swung the Black Spartan again, this time putting everything he had left into it, the Reikou energy surging violently along the blade as he aimed straight for Reji.
Reji blocked.
But the impact forced him to shift.
Just slightly.
For the first time, Kairo saw it clearly.
"…I can still reach you," Kairo muttered, his voice strained but determined.
Reji's expression didn't change, but his grip tightened slightly on the chain.
"You can try."
The pace increased again.
Reji moved faster, his body flowing with controlled precision as the kusarigama spun, struck, and redirected without pause. Each movement carried more weight than before, his strong force manipulation reinforcing every attack, making each impact heavier, denser, harder to withstand.
Kairo tried to keep up.
He blocked.
He dodged.
He stepped forward when he could.
But it wasn't enough.
The chain wrapped around his arm suddenly, tightening before he could react. Reji pulled sharply, dragging Kairo off balance before delivering a clean kick to his midsection. The impact sent Kairo flying backward, his body hitting the ground hard as the sword slipped from his hand and slid across the arena.
A sharp sound echoed as it hit the floor.
Kairo coughed, his body refusing to respond immediately as he struggled to breathe again. His vision blurred slightly, his chest rising slowly as the weight of everything finally caught up to him.
From the stands, the whispers grew louder again.
"It's over."
"He's done now."
"He can't even hold his weapon anymore."
Some laughed.
Not loudly.
But enough.
Reji walked forward slowly, his steps calm, controlled, as if approaching something already decided. His eyes shifted briefly to the fallen Black Spartan sword lying a few meters away.
"…That sword," Reji said quietly, almost to himself.
Then-
He moved.
Before Kairo could react, Reji's foot came down hard.
CRACK.
The sound echoed through the arena.
The Black Spartan split.
The blade fractured under the pressure, a clean break running through its center as pieces of it scattered across the ground.
For a moment-
Everything stopped.
Kairo's eyes widened.
"…No…"
His voice came out barely above a whisper.
That wasn't just a weapon.
That was something Shougo gave him.
Something that believed in him.
Something that helped him stand.
And now-
It was broken.
Something inside him cracked with it.
"…You shouldn't rely on tools you can't protect," Reji said calmly, stepping forward again.
Kairo's hands trembled slightly as he pushed himself up, his body barely responding now. His gaze stayed locked on the shattered pieces of the sword, something deeper than pain forming in his chest.
"…That was…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
He couldn't.
His eyes slowly lifted.
Something had changed.
The exhaustion was still there.
The pain was still there.
But beneath it-
Something darker flickered.
A faint red tint formed in his gaze, subtle at first, almost unnoticeable.
Reji saw it.
"…Emotion?" he asked quietly.
Kairo clenched his fists.
"…You broke it…"
His voice was low.
Not loud.
Not angry.
Just heavy.
Reji didn't hesitate.
He moved instantly, closing the distance before Kairo could fully react. His leg came up in a clean motion-
And struck.
The kick landed directly, sending Kairo backward again before he could even lift his guard. His body hit the ground hard, sliding across the arena before coming to a stop.
This time-
He didn't get up immediately.
The red in his eyes flickered… then dimmed.
The strength he was trying to force out
Was gone.
His body had reached its limit.
Reji stood there, watching him for a moment longer.
"…It's over," he said simply.
The announcer's voice followed shortly after.
"Kairo… is unable to continue. Winner… Reji."
The crowd reacted, some cheering, some simply watching in silence. The result had been expected by many but the way it ended left something heavier behind.
Kairo remained on the ground, his breathing slow, uneven, his gaze barely focused now.
From the stands, Tyouro clenched his fists slightly. "…Damn it."
Yura's expression didn't change, but her eyes stayed locked on Kairo. "…He didn't give up," she said quietly.
Kimimaru said nothing, but his gaze shifted briefly to the broken blade on the ground.
Reji turned slightly, resting the kusarigama over his shoulder as he began to walk away.
"…You weren't weak," he said without looking back. "Just not strong enough yet."
Kairo didn't respond.
He couldn't.
But his fingers moved slightly against the ground.
Gripping.
Not in defeat.
But in something else.
Something unfinished.