At Shintenseiku Education District
FLASHBACK
I’m walking through the Saint Shinten Building, a usual sight of students heading to and from class. But my mind is elsewhere. I catch a glimpse of Ziekary as she walks towards the school gate. I overhear a conversation between two students.
Student 1 says, “Did you hear? Something’s happening at the commercial district.”258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2l48qS5OwG
Student 2 responds, “Yeah, I definitely saw that one! A rift was formed.”258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mGJ1DGEFK
Student 1 replies, “For some weird reason, the public couldn’t get any closer. It’ll make you dizzy if you try to get closer.”
I glance at Ziekary, who’s listening intently to their conversation.
Student 2 continues, “Ever since that monster invasion we saw on the news the other day, weird stuff starts happening around the neighborhood.”
I see Ziekary thinking. She mutters to herself, “A rift? Hmm, should I be worried?”258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWLU6JDFhl
She pauses for a moment before deciding, “Maybe I should go check it out, see for myself before I contact Kyrie.”
FLASHBACK END
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Seralphyne looks at me with a calm, almost calculating expression.
"Not exactly. If your ability was engineered right through the circulatory system, then mine would be through the visual system," she says.
She pauses, a slight smile forming on her lips.
"My ability is called Omni View."
I raise an eyebrow, intrigued by her confidence.
She continues, her tone almost matter-of-fact. "My eyes possess various functions, allowing me to perceive in low light conditions, observe internal processes within the human body, and even transform my vision into X-ray-like capabilities, among other remarkable abilities."
I can’t help but be impressed, though I hide it behind a cool expression.
Ziekary seems unnerved, her voice shaky as she speaks. "No way... okay, you outsiders are so, so scary."
Seralphyne doesn't seem bothered by Ziekary’s reaction. "To summarize, I possess the ability to perceive everything, and the added bonus is my capability to create illusions. Illusions that can harm physically."
I let her words sink in. Illusions that can hurt. That’s a dangerous combination.
"Okay, so why are you here? Oh wait! Let me guess you’re here for me too?" I ask, keeping my tone light but focused.
She smirks, clearly enjoying the conversation. "To be more specific, I’m pursuing your Dark Matter. I intend to utilize it to my advantage. It’s unfortunate that our world has experienced a downgrade in the scale, limiting our ability to gather additional sources of energy."
I narrow my eyes. So, she’s after my power. That’s not surprising, but it’s still something I need to handle carefully.
"And that’s why I’m here," she finishes, looking up as if seeing something in the distance.
I follow her gaze. She’s looking at something above me.
"I’m seeing another figure above you," she says.
I don’t need to look to know who it is. Kiyon.
"A backup? Hmm?" she adds, a slight amusement in her voice.
"This has nothing to do with him. It’s just you against me," I reply, my voice steady.
She raises an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Oh? You’re gonna go easy on me?"
I smirk, shaking my head. "You think I’m gonna go easy on you just because you’re a lady? What you think I can’t be a hero without my MMA gear?"
I can feel the adrenaline starting to build. This is what I’ve been waiting for.
"Tsk, nonsense. Come on, show me what you got then," I say, my voice filled with challenge.
She doesn’t hesitate. "Very well."
Before I can react, she turns her attention to Ziekary. "And oh, by the way hey, young lady with the short brown hair over there?"
Ziekary looks confused, her eyes wide. "Are you talking to me?"
Seralphyne smirks, her voice cold. "I would step away from him even more if I were you."
She pauses for a moment, letting the words hang in the air. "That is, if you don’t want to get hurt."
I can’t help but laugh at her attempt to intimidate Ziekary. "Don’t worry about her. She’s tougher than she looks."
Ziekary still looks unsure, but I don’t have time to reassure her. The fight’s already started.
Seralphyne makes her move. She throws a sharp knife at me, and I’m quick to dodge it, twisting my body to the side with ease.
I back away, putting distance between us, my eyes never leaving her.
Then, out of nowhere, she’s behind me.
I almost lose my balance, but I recover just in time, landing in a perfect fight stance.
Seralphyne stands in front of me, ready for the next move. Her eyes are locked on mine, and I can tell this is only the beginning.
I can feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins as I flash a grin, ready for whatever Seralphyne throws at me next.
I settle into my usual MMA stance, every muscle in my body primed for action.
The fight kicks off, and we immediately go into a defensive dance. Every move is calculated, each of us trying to outmaneuver the other.
"You're incredibly fast, as I expected," Seralphyne says, her voice calm but filled with admiration.
I don’t respond. I’m too focused on staying one step ahead of her.
I drop low, about to land on the ground, and look up at her. "You still wanna do this, or you’re just gonna keep talking?"
She doesn’t answer. Instead, we both continue the battle, locked in a high-stakes dance of skill and agility.
As the fight rages on, I can feel Ziekary’s gaze on me from a distance. I know she’s watching closely, trying to make sense of the situation.
She’s starting to realize the gravity of it all.
"They’re not really human," she murmurs to herself, her voice barely audible.
I can’t blame her for feeling that way. Seralphyne and I aren’t your average fighters. This is more than just a brawl. It’s a clash of power, skill, and something far beyond the ordinary.
Despite the intensity of the battle, I keep my cool. I rely on my MMA skills, using everything I’ve learned to counter Seralphyne’s every move. She’s good really good but I can keep up of course.
Seralphyne, however, has an advantage. Her Omni View lets her predict my actions before I even make them. Her advanced vision makes her a dangerous opponent, and I can see her using it to launch calculated attacks.
The fight continues, and I can feel the tension building. Ziekary and Kiyon watch, captivated by the clash between us. They can see the stakes, but they don’t fully understand what’s at risk.
Then, in the chaos, I hear Ziekary’s voice, full of fear.
"Ziekary, watch out!"
I turn just in time to see a sharp knife falling toward her.
She doesn’t have time to react. The blade strikes her arm, and she falls to the ground with a cry.
I grit my teeth, anger bubbling up inside me.
Seralphyne just stands there, as if nothing happened.
"I told you to stay out of the way," she says, her tone casual, almost dismissive.
I can’t believe what I’m hearing.
"Did you just do that on purpose?" I demand, my voice low and dangerous.
She shrugs. "Why no, I didn’t. My target is only suppose to be you."
She pauses, looking at me with a hint of amusement.
"I warned you in the beginning, didn’t I?"
I can feel my fists clenching, but I don’t let my anger get the best of me and keep my cool. Ziekary’s hurt, and that’s what matters now.
Ziekary looks confused, her eyes wide with uncertainty. She doesn’t fully understand what’s happening or why she’s caught in the middle of this fight.
But I do. And I won’t let her get hurt again.
With a deep breath, I turn my focus back to Seralphyne. This fight isn’t over. Not by a long shot.
I watch as Ziekary winces, her arm still bleeding from the wound Seralphyne caused.
"I’m sorry I wasn’t careful," she says, her voice full of regret.
I click my tongue, my eyes narrowing. "Tsk, now you’ve done it, lady."
I turn my gaze back to Seralphyne, locking eyes with her. This fight just got personal.
The tension between us builds, and the fight intensifies. Every move we make is met with a swift counter, each of us pushing our limits, trying to gain the upper hand.
Seralphyne moves fast, too fast. She delivers a powerful slap to my face, and I’m thrown back a little.
"Let’s see if you can dodge this!" she calls out, and before I can react, she unleashes a storm of knives.
"A thousand Knife Fury!"
I look up, but it’s too late. The knives fall like rain, creating a thick cloud of smoke that surrounds me.
I can’t see anything. But I don’t need to.
I emerge from the smoke, my body moving on instinct, my senses heightened. I’m not going down that easily.
The battle is reaching its climax now. Both of us are giving it everything we’ve got, exchanging powerful blows, each strike pushing us to the edge. The air crackles with energy, and I can feel the weight of the moment.
I land a punch, followed by a swift kick, but Seralphyne dodges it with ease.
I don’t hesitate. I disappear in front of her, reappearing behind her in an instant. Without giving her a chance to react, I unleash another powerful punch.
This time, she doesn’t dodge. The blow sends her flying backward.
"You’re strong, I admit this much," I say, my voice filled with respect, even though I’m still bleeding from the earlier strikes.
I spit out blood, my body aching, but I’m not backing down.
Seralphyne stands tall, unfazed. "It’s not so surprising," she says, a hint of amusement in her voice. "How are you holding up? But my goal is to collect 50% of your energy. If I can’t do that, I’ll kill you as a whole instead."
She drops into her fighting stance, ready for the next round.
The outcome of this fight is uncertain. I know I’m not at my best, but I won’t give up. And Ziekary... she’s caught in the middle of all this. Her fate hangs in the balance, and I’ll be damned if I let anything happen to her.
I glance up at Kiyon, who’s watching from atop a building, observing everything below. I can’t afford to get distracted, but I know he’s keeping an eye on things.
My focus sharpens as I turn back to Seralphyne. I’m not letting up. "So, you wanna see something interesting? Let’s see if you can still maneuver this."
I take a calculated step forward, launching a series of Dark Matter Projections. I use my knowledge of long-range combat to exploit the small opening in her defense.
Seralphyne is thrown back, but she’s quick to recover.
"Wait, you can project Dark Energy?" she says, her voice tinged with surprise. "But once you do this, it means you could disrupt space-time!"
I don’t flinch. "Although I had no intention of utilizing it, your actions are compelling me to tap into 30% of my power."
I give her a confident smile. "But don’t worry, it’s still safe, or not"
Seralphyne doesn’t back down, though. She’s skilled, adapting quickly to my attacks. Every move I make, she counters with precision, dodging my strikes and retaliating with her own. The speed and intensity of our clash create a spectacle, and I can feel the weight of every blow we exchange.
But then, I see an opening. She’s injured. A cut runs along her right arm.
The fight shifts. I tap into my latent power, my body surging with energy. My eyes ignite with an otherworldly glow as I channel my hybrid abilities. Strength and agility flood my senses.
I see her heart beating rapidly, the fear creeping in.
I move. In an instant, I appear in front of her, my fist connecting with her with overwhelming force.
The impact catches her off guard. Her concentration falters, and before she can react, her body is sent flying.
Her face is blown away, and her entire form is sent spiraling.
I stand there, serious and focused.
Ziekary, watching from the sidelines, looks just as surprised as I feel.
But then, Seralphyne laughs.
"Not bad, kid," she says, wiping the blood from her mouth.
She looks up at me, her eyes filled with determination. "But I ain’t backing down that easy."
She drops back into her fighting stance, her eyes now wide with shock.
I don’t waste a second. Seizing the opportunity, I unleash a devastating flurry of blows. Each strike lands with precision and force, and though Seralphyne is resilient, she’s starting to falter.
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I can feel the shift in power. Seralphyne is struggling to keep up with my newfound strength. She’s pushing back, but it’s clear that the balance is tipping in my favor.
"Again, damn it!" she yells, frustration evident in her voice.
I don’t give her a moment to breathe. As she dodges my dark energy projections, I appear right in front of her again.
Before she can react, I deliver another powerful punch, but she counters.
I can see it in her eyes she’s not backing down. Desperate to regain control, she conjures illusions, creating mirages of herself that flood the battlefield. My vision blurs as I try to discern the real Seralphyne from the fakes.
"You’re making me tick, lady" I growl, frustration building. "Damn it, I wasn’t expecting this"
She taunts me, "That’s what you get for getting too close!"
I’m not going to let this distraction throw me off. My instincts take over, and I rely on my combat training. I trust my senses, feeling my way through the illusionary battlefield with remarkable precision.
With every strike, I tear through the mirages, until finally, only the real Seralphyne remains.
She launches more knives at me, but I dodge them effortlessly, my movements fluid and calculated.
Then, I notice something Seralphyne suddenly coughs blood and stumbles, sitting down for a moment.
"This can’t be happening right now," she mutters, disbelief in her voice.
I see her using her Omni View’s Precognition, searching for any possible way to turn the tide.
I can feel the shift.
I’m not going to give her the chance.
With a surge of energy, I charge forward, and in a single, devastating move, I launch my fist into her abdomen. The impact sends her flying backward with immense force, the shockwave reverberating through the area.
She hits the ground hard, momentarily stunned and unable to continue.
She reaches out her hand weakly, but it’s no use. She slips into unconsciousness.
I stand over her, breathing heavily, my chest rising and falling with each breath.
I close my eyes and smile.
The battle is over. I’ve won.
I see Ziekary standing there, her eyes wide in shock.
"That was literally lit," she says, her voice filled with awe.
I walk toward her, checking if she’s okay.
"You okay?" I ask, my tone softening.
She quickly snaps out of her daze. "Uh, yeah, I’m absolutely fine. That was absolutely incredible! You just proved to me that you are Kyrie."
I smile and look away, a bit humbled by her words.
From behind, I hear Kiyon’s voice. He’s clapping, still standing in the same position.
"Impressive job, brother! I assumed you could use some muscle, but evidently, I was mistaken!"
I roll my eyes, a grin tugging at my lips. "Hey Kiyon, could you give me a hand here? We can’t just leave her here."
Kiyon jumps down from the building and lands beside me, ready to help.
I glance down at Seralphyne, still lying on the ground, defeated.
But then something catches my eye. A silhouette stands atop a nearby building, watching us.
I don’t need to guess who it is. Kitsuna.
She stands there for a moment, her eyes scanning the scene.
"Battle data collected," she murmurs to herself, before turning and disappearing into the shadows.
I stand there for a moment, processing what just happened.
Ziekary looks deep in thought, her brow furrowed.
"This implies that 45% may not be the critical number of danger," she says, her voice trailing off. "Perhaps it’s closer to 10% instead?"
Akio shakes his head. "We’re not really sure yet regarding the numbers, but..."
Ziekary cuts in, her mind clearly racing.
"I remember..."
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FLASHBACK
I’m battling the Charlotte Imposter, a morph that’s far more dangerous than it first appeared.
FLASHBACK ENDED
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Ziekary snaps back to the present, her expression thoughtful.
"I remember Kyrie wasn’t using any of his powers during that time," she says, almost to herself. "Yet they were still able to detect him."
Akio raises an eyebrow. "Which leads to a clue?"
Ziekary nods. "Using a mere 5% of his powers is not an option. It could potentially attract the emergence of another formidable adversary, I guess? I’m not sure"
She pauses, looking at the others. "The motives behind why the majority of these invaders are pursuing Kyrie remain rather unclear to me. May I know at least a slice of the truth?"
Kiyon leans back, clearly frustrated. "Look, girl, we’re not really sure about it either. Do we look like Zemstan scientists to you?"
Akio shakes his head. "I have absolutely no idea either, Ms. Ziekary, about Kyrie’s resurrection process. It seems only Professor Athenaria, one of the well-known researchers of Zemstan, knows the truth for sure. She was the one who brought our Sire back. So far, nobody really knows what happened entirely."
He pauses for a moment, his gaze intense. "Only she knows."
Akio continues, his voice steady. "But I do know it has something to do with his abilities that can harness both Dark Matter and Black Holes."
Kiyon, who’s been listening intently, suddenly speaks up.
"Actually, I got something," he says, glancing at both Akio and Ziekary.
They turn to him, awaiting his next words.
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FLASHBACK of Kiyon vs Kyrie (me)
Kiyon’s voice echoes in my mind as he recalls our fight.
"During our fight, he used 28% of his power to increase his attack power using Dark Matter," Kiyon says, his tone a little strained. "Man, talking about rewind... I still feel the pain up to this day. I even lost some of my teeth."
He chuckles bitterly. "I’m telling ya’ll, that was only 28%, yet I already found myself in a near-death experience."
Kiyon leans forward, his eyes wide. "Which makes me question what Dark Matter really is."
Akio looks thoughtful. "That might be a possibility, but we require more precise information regarding his power. To be honest, I’m not really sure what’s happening either."
Kiyon shrugs. "Well, what about that lady over there?" He gestures toward Seralphyne. "She must know something."
I glance over at Seralphyne, still unconscious, her legs and arms wrapped tight.
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Akio sighs, his voice calm but firm. "We're gonna have to wait for her to regain consciousness then."
Kiyon, clearly impatient, stretches out. "And that ends this conversation. Man, I’m starving. Cook us something, Akio."
Akio narrows his eyes. "Why is it necessary for it to be me? Based on the information I received from our Sire, you didn’t even assist him in battle!"
Akio crosses his arms, looking pointedly at Kiyon. "So why don’t you cook for yourself?"
Kiyon grins. "Oh geez! I feel like there’s a second Auntie now. I’m just kidding, you know."
I hear a soft knock at my door, followed by the faint sound of footsteps. I don’t respond, pretending to be asleep, my back turned to the door.
Then I hear her voice. "Kyrie?"
It’s Ziekary. I can tell by the way she says my name, her tone full of warmth. She waits for a moment, and when I don’t answer, she speaks again.
"You seem really tired," she says, her voice gentle.
I stay still, letting her continue. "But I know you can hear me, and I just wanna thank you."
Her words hang in the air, and I can’t help but feel a sense of appreciation. "By fulfilling your promise, and for that, you further strengthen my trust in you."
I’m silent, but I feel the sincerity in her words.
"I am excited about maintaining our friendship and keeping it up-to-date. Hehe!" she adds, a playful tone slipping into her voice.
"So umm, have a good night rest, Kyrie."
I hear her footsteps retreating, and as the door closes behind her, I finally allow myself to smile, my eyes still closed.
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