I'm My Own Enemy

I charged forward and threw a spin kick. My former self noticed and he caught me by my leg. He then swung me around and threw me away.

I caught myself and got onto my feet. My former sel- alright, I need a name for him because I am not calling him my past self every time. Maybe…

"Troubled? Are you that afraid of me, Seiya?"

"No, I'm just thinking of a name that would suit you."

"If you want, you can call me Kage."

"Kage. Kage for shadow?"

"Yes, like how I can control your shadow."

"What?"

Wham!

I felt a blunt force fly across my face and I stumbled onto the wet floor. When I turned around, my shadow had separated from my body and punched me in the face.

"How did you do that?"

"Easy, I placed mana into you when I made contact, then I manipulated your shadow from there. Though I can only do it once, all I need to do is touch you again and I can repeat it."

So he can basically manipulate shadows by touch. Luckily for me, I can do the same.

I placed my hand on the ground and focused mana into the ground. However, when I tried to do that, nothing happened. I wanted to perform Sable Chains but nothing happened.

"What?"

"Oh, I may have forgotten to tell you but… I've taken your power to control shadows. I've taken that trait away from you. Though it seems I wasn't able to take the rest."

"And what weren't you able to take."

"Well, your spirito and the rest of your magic."

He took my ability to use shadow magic. That's not something I want to hear. Guess I won't be able to use doppelganger or shadow knives for a while.

"Whatever, I don't need shadow magic to defeat you. In fact, I know exactly how to beat you."

"Hoh, aren't you talkative for someone who is about to die in four minutes."

Well, he is right. I only have four minutes left before he takes over my body and I fade away. I should stop wasting time and beat him right now.

Since he doesn't have my spirito, that means-

I looked at my arms and legs which had just transformed. I also felt a weird sensation on my back and even a familiar humming noise.

Crack!

My tail whipped the air making a crack sound and I felt ready. This is just what I needed to defeat Kage.

I dashed forward and zipped past Kage, even he seemed to be surprised when I flew past him with bizarre speed.

I turned around to deliver a heavy roundhouse kick but Kage performed the same, our strikes clashing.

I tried once more and tried right overhand but again Kage did the same. I did many kinds of punches and kicks but it would just be countered by Kage. Right jab, left dropkick, uppercuts, everything.

Damn it, why won't it work?!

Kage smiled and shook his head.

"You think I won't be able to counter martial arts? You dumbass, we are one and the same, so that means our skills and our instincts are the same as well."

Then he delivered an unexpecting spin kick and I flew back.

Damn, of course he could use the same martial arts like me. I almost forgot we were the same being.

But he doesn't have a spirito. That is something he doesn't have. But how is he still able to parry my attacks without even transforming?

"Die."

I turned and Kage appeared in front of me. He placed his palm on my chest and a sudden force blasted me away.

I rolled across the field with a burning pain in my chest.

As I attempted to lift myself up, I received a hard blow to the back and fell flat again. Crap, that must be my shadow again. I can't let Kage touch me or he'll just keep using… whatever that move is called.

"Hmm, I should name that. Let's call it… shadow puppet."

Well, looks like he even took my skill of naming things.

But how-

"How are you able to fight back even though I'm-?"

"Just because you've kept your spirito doesn't mean you have the upper hand. After all, I have my own."

"What?"

And then something sprouted out from Kage's back. I couldn't see it clearly because it was pitch black but as the rain kept on falling, I could eventually see a part of what it was. Not only that, I saw black feathers on the ground.

He had one black wing coming from his back and a smaller one on the other side. He had uneven black feathered wings that could match the color of the pitch-black sky. The one wing of his was probably the same size as one of my wings as it was thrice the size he was.

"So… what are you? A raven?"

"Hmph, I think you know what I am."

Well, I don't wanna say it but I guess I will. As I thoroughly inspected his wings, I could see that it was kind of torn-like. With that, I would say his spirito is-

"A fallen angel."

Kage smirked and his hand was encased in darkness. When the darkness faded away, his right hand was replaced with an obsidian-textured blade. His arm became a literal sword.

"Now then, how about we finish this?"

Well, that is just great. He has a blade hand while I'm stuck with dragon claws, not that I'm complaining, just saying that a weapon would be useful right now. Actually, I do have weapons, and they are right on my arms.

I got into a stance and so did Kage.

"HyaaaAAAH!!!"

"GrraaaAAAH!!!"

We both lunged towards each other and how arms clashed, heavy amounts of sparkles emitting from the collision.

I slid across the ground and so did Kage who had to stop himself with his blade arm. I got up and fired Scarlet Bullets at him. Kage did the same but instead with dark-colored beams.

Kage vanished and appeared in front of me while attempted a forward thrust with his bladed-arm. Luckily I evaded it just before it pierced my neck and I slammed him to the ground.

Now that I had him pinned, I need to finish his quickly before he escapes.

Dmmmm~!

I prepared a Tyrannical Fist, mostly all of my energy was focused on this one attack which I directed towards Kage.

"Rest in peace…"

My Tyrannical Fist was ready and I plunged it down towards Kage. However, when I had hit the ground and the smoke cleared up, Kage was either decimated and turned into ash or he had escaped.

My senses tingled and I managed to block an incoming strike which was headed towards my heart. Even though he didn't hit me, it felt as he did because I felt my heart stop for a second.

I kicked Kage away from me and he slid away. There was now a large space dividing us. Kage looked up at me and spoke.

"I'm impressed that even after all the torturing I gave you, you can still fight as if nothing happened. You are finally concentrated, aren't you?"

"That is because I had one goal. To defeat you."

"Hmph, but will you be able to achieve that in one minute? Can you take me out in the sixty seconds left for you?"

"Not if we keep playing around like this. I think it's about time we finished this."

"As much as I want to play around a little more, I agree."

We both got into battle stances. I could see he was directing his mana into his bladed arm. Looks like he's going for a final resort. If he's doing that, then I guess I'll do the same, not that I have a choice.

I prepared a Tyrannical Fist but this time I won't be smashing the ground, I'll be aiming directly for Kage's heart.

"I'm focused... are you?" Kage said as his arm began to glow.

Guess we both aiming for one part of the body. IF I were to guess, he'd go for my head.

I smiled and nodded.

"I'm prepared and concentrated."

WHOOSH!

We both lunged forward and made a beeline for each other. I could almost hear a motorcycle sound as I flew.

In just a matter of seconds, we were in each other's faces. And when we collided, a huge explosion erupted.

BOOOOOOOOM!!!

I landed on my knees and my arms and legs had reverted to the normal form. My wings were torn off and my tail was cut in half.

I clenched my heart and spat blood on the floor.

"Hehe..."

I looked over my shoulder and Kage was cackled as he saw the state I was in.

"You were never a match for me, Seiya. The past will always overcome the present. No matter what you do, you will never get rid of me. I can hardly say that we are even the same now."

Crack!

A loud sound came from the side and a winged shaped portal opened up.

"It seems your time is up. Once I enter that portal, you will fade and disappear. You will be Forgotten."

He began walking towards the portal.

"Don't worry though, I'll be the only one to remember you when I'm the only person to stick around."

When he got closer to the portal, I couldn't help but laugh. He would stop and turn towards me.

"What are you laughing for?"

He- he really thinks he's won?

"Kage... you and I are the same."

Kage stared at me with narrowed eyes and his smile faded.

"Don't compare me to you. What makes you think that you are even me anymore?"

"Because... we are both too presumptuous."

"What?"

Suddenly, a painful expression appeared on Kage's face. The feathers on his wings began to shed and his bladed arm exploded.

"NOOOOOOO!!!!!!"

He then stumbled onto the ground as he stared at his missing arm.

"How... how did you-?!"

Not only that, but blood also gushed from his legs and he was unable to stand.

"Isn't it obvious? I also landed my attack though I missed the spot I was going for. I made contact with your arm just before you cut off my mana, my tail, and my wings. Not only that, but I also did the same for your wings and your legs, just to get even. Though, I'm kinda surprised we both missed our targets."

Kage clenched his teeth and tried crawling towards the portal. Luckily for me, I could still walk normally so I easily passed him.

Now, I just need to enter this portal... and return to my body.

"YOU BASTARD! I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL HAUNT YOU EVEN FROM THE DEPTHS OF HELL! YOU CAN'T RUN FROM ME NOR HIDE FROM ME!" he cursed and exploded as I walked closer to the portal.

"HOW?! How... how can you still walk forward...?"

I stopped.

"How can I still walk forward? Well, I guess you can say I have someone waiting for me."

I turned around at Kage. There were tears trickling down his cheek and he didn't even attempt to hold them back.

"Is that so..."

He then laid down on the ground and kept on weeping.

Even though I didn't want to, I knew it was the right thing to do.

I walked towards Kage and had my hand out. He looked up at my hand with swelling eyes.

"What are you-?"

"Come on, take my hand. We'll go through together."

"But why? After all, I've done, why would you still want me?"

"Because nothing should be forgotten. Even in the past. Those mistakes we made, they will be compensated in the future. I'm taking back what I lost and you are attaining what you wanted."

Kage inspected me, searching for any lies but he looked away, knowing everything I said was true.

"I don't deserve this."

"Neither do I, so let's go."

He hesitated, but eventually took my hand. Then I picked him up and together we walked through the portal.

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