Chapter 36 : Crimson (Part 3)
*SWOOSH*
As the cold wind softly blows around them, Rei and Banzana had to face each other again for the second round.
The bright moonlight washed over the two of them, making the thing that Rei held in his hands to be visible.
It's a beautiful spear with dark blue blade that gleamed like a crystal under the moonlight.
'[The Night Fang]'
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[The Night Fang]
Grade: Epic
Type: Spear
STRENGTH: +70
Durability: 100%
A spear that was created using the core and remaining materials from an unknown beast that roamed the night. Under the moonlight, it will let out a mysterious power no one can imagine.
Skill:
[Night of Rampage]
A skill that allows its user to let out the hidden power of the unknown beast, the user will gain +100% overall status, but it can only be used once and after it was used, the durability will go down to 0 and breaks.
[Used skill: 1]
Duration : 30 min.
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'This spear is a bit if a failure because of that skill...I don't have any plan to use this since it's one time thing but....I guess I don't have any other choice now.'
'Kiritsuka.' Ray called him.
'What is it?'
'Are you sure about this?' Ray asked to confirm his decision.
'I am 100% sure...you can do it now.'
'Then...this is gonna hurt as hell.'
As Ray warned hin, he touched Rei's head from behind.
'[Transfer].'
*BZZZTT*
"U-ughh..."
With that one word, suddenly a surge of golden aura suddenly ran through his body as it mixed together with his own red aura.
"Huh?"
Banzana noticed the change of his opponent who stood there silently for some reason without making any noises.
Inside of Rei's mind, the memories, the image of Ray's training and the fight from before went through into his head.
Through those memories, he could feel the pain started to wash over his body.
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[Notice!]
[Skill [Pain Resistance] activated, reducing the pain]
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After a while, Rei opened his eyes and stared at Banzana as he began to prepare his stance...
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In that moment an image of someone relapse on how he do the stance.
Just like [Nel Shubert]'s movement.
Banzana who saw this, grinned manically. "Hah, I never thought I would meet his technique again!! Hahaha!!! So your name is Kiritsuka Rei? Such a weird name, but I shall remember it!"
The man swung his sword and aimed it at Rei.
"Before we start, I shall recognized you as a fellow warrior and let's do this properly now shall we~?"
Banzana offered as Rei only gave him a nod as an answer.
Then they went into their own stance while Rei hkept himself focused and steady.
"I, [Banzana] shall challenge you to a duel... warrior. Tell me your name again."
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"[Kiritsuka Rei]." Rei replied.
"Will you accept this challenge?" Banzana asked and on that moment...
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"I shall accept!–" Without missing a beat, Rei dashed forwards to Banzana in such a high speed.
"Then shall the fight begin!!!~ Come at me!!!" Banzana shouted as he welcomed Rei who dashed in front of him with a swing of his sword from above.
Rei quickly stopped one step before him as his sword pass through, hitting the ground.
*THUNG*
Rei dodged it perfectly and swiftly hold on the shaft of his spear before thrusting it towards his head.
*SWOOSH*
It passed through as Banzana dodged it in the nick of time, but it did scratches his cheek a bit.
As they exchange blows, they deftly stepped back to keep their distance.
*SWOOSH*
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*TAP*
Rei spun his spear around and gave a swing from his right side.
*TING*
Banzana blocked the strike with his sword, but the impact was surprisingly strong despite it was just a simple swing of his spear.
Rei didn't stop and spun his spear around again then gave another swing from the other side.
"Huft!"
*SWOOSH*
*TING*
"Heh!"
Banzana quickly caught up with it, blocking it once again and made him stepped back a bit.
"Hah!"
With a shout, Banzana directed his sword up, lifting his spear along with him.
*TSSSKKK* *TING*
Rei deftly pulled his spear, spinning it around again while Banzana swung his sword down from above.
*SWOOOSH*
*TSSSK*
*BOOM*
Rei directed his sword line with his spear's shaft, making it slip and crashed to the ground smoothly as if he was used to it, somewhat.
'It's rough...yet steady, as if I'm fighting with a seasoned [Spear Master], how come a Sword user like him can handle a spear this good.' That's what Banzana thought in the middle of fight.
Inside Rei's mind, Ray chuckled, 'Heh, of course he is...I did train with him using a spear while he used a sword. We also changes weapon sometimes.' Ray commented.
'Added with our memories that can be shared through [Transfer] we can easily filled in the gaps, but of course [Transfer] required you to withstand those pain in order to change your muscle memory.' Ray explained as he observed the way Rei fought Banzana.
'Right now...Banzana, in front of you...you are not fighting him alone, but you also fighting two on one with me as well.'
As Ray spoke, their weapons clashed some more.
*TING*
*SWOOSH* *TAP*
And then both of them jumped back to keep their distances once again.
"Heh! Here I thought you were a Swordsman...it seems I was wrong the whole time. You...you are a spear type user aren't you!" Banzana exclaimed while pointing his finger on him.
"....?!" Rei widened his eyes a bit.
"From that reaction...I guess I was right all along! You trickster!!" As Banzana claimed that was the truth, Rei was silent for a moment...
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In his head, he thought,
'Uhhhh...no...I'm a [Blacksmith].'
Rei's face behind that helmet was a mixture of surprise and bewilderment. He couldn't comprehend how this man got to that kind of conclusion...though he could only keep those words inside his head and stayed quiet.
"...."
"Heh, I'll take that silent as yes~ since I know your secret now, it's time for me to use all of my power...so make sure you're ready!! Or you will be crushed!!!"
'Kiritsuka, Becareful!'
All of a sudden...
*SHUUSTH*
Banzana disappeared from his sight...
Rei who already prepared, spun his spear around swiftly, and then...
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*SHUUSTH*
When Banzana teleported to his back and swung his sword down...
"Haha!!–Huh?!" Banzana widened his eyes when he saw something
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Rei was surrounded with a mysterious dark blue aura around his body...
'[The Night of Rampage].'
[Notice!]
[You activated skill "The Night of Rampage", you will receive +100% on your overall status. After the skill over "The Night Black Fang" item durability will go down to 0]
[Countdown : 29:59]
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*THUNG*
In that moment...he moved his spear and deflected Banzana's sword away that was coming from behind using his spear's shaft that he spun around.
Rei only gave him this calm glance after deflecting his sword, "Hm."
'Heh, this bastard!~' Banzana grinned widely after he saw his eyes.
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*SWOOSH*
Rei spun his spear again and then turned around to perform his skill.
'[Spear Arts: One Strike].'
Rei held the spear with one hand, steadying his position and then aimed...he thrusted his spear towards his chest.
*SWOOSH*
When his spear was about to hit him...
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*SHUUSTH*
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Banzana disappeared again, as his spear passed through nothing.
'Caught you~' Banzana rejoiced in his mind after he teleported behind Rei.
The man swung his sword from above again but...after Rei activated a skill, he didn't see it coming...
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*SWOOOSH*
The tip of sword passed through when Rei moved his body aside and then...
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*BUGH*
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A flying kick came towards Banzana's unguarded stomach, sending him flying away from him.
"Ack!"
*SWOOSH*
*TAP*
Banzana quickly on the ground and still grinned widely while he hold onto his stomach.
"Hahaha! How did this happen?!~ After that short of time, you are getting improved and stronger~ Is it due to that spear?~"
"...."
When Banzana asked, Rei didn't answer to his question again.
'Heh, Ignored again huh...but that was a pretty hard kick. it seems that spear gave him some sort of buff.'
Banzana licked his own lips and raised one of his eyesbrows while grinning widely once more.
'Aahhh~ this is soo much fun!~'
In that moment...he moved his spear and deflected Banzana's sword that was coming from behind using his spear's shaft that he spun around.
Rei only gave him this calm glance after successfully deflecting his sword, "Hm."
'Heh, this bastard!~' Banzana grinned widely after he saw his eyes.
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*SWOOSH*
Rei spun his spear again and then turned around to perform his skill.
'[Spear Arts: One Strike].'
Rei held the spear with one hand, steadying his position and then taking aim before he thrusted his spear towards his chest.
*SWOOSH*
When it was about to hit him...
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*SHUUSTH*
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Banzana disappeared again, as his spear passed through nothing.
'Caught you~' Banzana rejoiced in his mind after he teleported behind Rei.
The man swung his sword from above again but...after Rei activated a skill, he didn't see it coming...
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*SWOOOSH*
The tip of his sword passed through when Rei moved his body aside and then...
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*BUGH*
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A flying kick came towards Banzana's unguarded stomach, sending him flying away from him.
"Ack!"
*SWOOSH*
*TAP*
The man landed on the ground and let out a slightly broken chuckle as he held his hand on his stomach.
"Hahaha! How did this happen?!~ After that short amount of time, you improved and got even stronger...is it because of that spear?~"
Once again, Rei didn't answer to him.
'Heh, Ignored again huh...but that was a pretty hard kick. Seems like that spear gave him some sort of buff.'
Banzana licked his lips as he raised one of his eyesbrows.
'Aahhh~ this is going to be sooo much fun!~'
In that moment, he let out his orange aura around him. The aura slowly getting darker, giving off this creepy yet disgusting feelings.
*SWOOOSH*
Rei could feel it from where he was standing, it was that strong.
'What is this...' Rei knitted his brows, BREAKING a bit of sweat.
'This is...[Bloodlust].'
'[Bloodlust]?'
'It's quite different from your [Intimidate] skill. [Intimidate] makes people feel like you're above them...but this one is more like someone's nature who...was [prepared to kill]. They will shout out those thoughts towards their opponents by saying...
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[I'm gonna kill you]' Ray explained.
Rei gulped as his lips curved a bit, forming a smirk behind that helmet and then...
*SWOOSH*
Rei let out his own aura, causing both auras to clash against one another.
*BZZZTT*
*BZZZTT*
'Heh...if he wants to kill me...then I will kill him first!' Rei thought as he couldn't help the eager smile forming on his face.
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'[Shukuchi].'
'[Teleportation]~'
*SHUUSTH*
They disappeared from where they stood after using their skill, and then...
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*TING*
They clashed to one another, creating large waves of impact.
*TING*
*TANG*
*TING*
As they exchanged blows after blows, none of them let their guard down.
When Rei thrusted his spear, Banzana dodged by moving his body aside before swinging his sword to counter it.
*TING* *TSKKKK* *TANG*
On reflex, Rei blocked his strike then deflected it while spinning his spear.
*SWOOSH*
After that, he thrusted his spear with such a high speed that the image of Nel relapsed together with his movement.
Banzana who noticed that, smirked and blocked those relentless thrusts with his blade then swung his sword Horizontally.
*SWOOSH*
Rei stabbed his spear to the ground, using it to jump over Banzana's body to dodge his strike.
And when Banzana turned his head around.
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*SWOOSH*
The tip of his spear was about to hit Banzana's left eye.
*SLASH*
The man could barely dodge the strike by moving his head aside a bit but the tip of his spear scratched the skin right below his left eye.
Rei pulled his spear back and quickly spun it then aimed it right towards his stomach.
*TUNG*
A flying kick came towards it by Banzana who wanted to keep his distances away from him.
Rei was sent flying but quickly landed on his feet, spinning his spear again and get into his stance while taking a deep breath.
"Hah...."
Banzana looked a bit tired now after exchanging those blows with him. He was trying so hard to dodge his deadly unpredictable movements. Just like how Nel used to do it back then.
'like you said...if you predict all of his movements just like rock, paper and scissors. you can easily dodge and block them.' Rei spoke with a smile to Ray inside his mind.
'Yes...for example, his swing from above become a rock while his kick and punch are paper...while the swing from the sides are scissors.' Ray explained.
*SWOOSH* *CLINK*
'...but it seems now we are out option...'
'Yeah...he is...
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*SHAKES*
*SHAKES*
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getting serious..'
As the ground began to shake, Banzana created a large aura around him as if he was preparing his next attack.
"I guess...normal skill won't be able to defeat you. So I will be showing you my real Warrior skill!!~" Banzana shouted as his aura spiked up even more.
'Oi oi...does he mean...after all of that, he's still not serious?' Rei looked at him with big blown eyes as he prepared his spear.
"Shall we start it again?~" Banzana spoke, lifting his sword up, and then...
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*CRACK*
He smashed his sword to the ground and made it stuck in there for a moment.
Rei who noticed it spun his spear a bit in anticipation, 'Come now...'
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An uncomfortable silence settled down among them, but not for long...
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Banzana grinned widely and suddenly pulled out his sword with so much force, "[Ground Splash]!" From it, a wave of dirt and rocks were thrown at him.
Since Rei knew about this skill, he quickly moved out of the way by focusing his aura on his eyes to enhance his visuals, making it possible for him to dodge the incoming dirt and rocks that passed through him with ease.
But...he missed something.
'Huh?!– He's gone...[Teleportation] again huh.'
Rei who noticed his presence appeared from behind him, quickly spun his spear around to be ready to block his strike.
As Banzana swung his sword down...Ray noticed something weird...
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A maniacal grin appeared on his face as if he was looking at something that brought him absolute joy.
'Kiritsuka!! Dodge!!–'
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"[Ground Smasher]!!"
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*BOOM*
Banzana shouted, creating a large explosion of dirt and rock when his sword came in contact with the ground and he noticed that Rei was standing right beside him.
'Caught you now.'
Rei who already aimed his spear, started to thrust it towards his head.
'[Spear Arts: One Strike]!–'
SWOOSH
'–....?!'
Rei widened his eyes as his spear passed through. The man dodged the tip of his spear in the nick of time.
Banzana grinned and pulled his sword that was stuck on the ground then swung it with such speed and precision towards his stomach.
'Dammit!–' Rei who reacted slower than him, pulled his spear and ready to block that strike with the shaft that was added with, '[Focus Block]!' to gather his aura on that single point.
'Still...do you think that's enough! [Rock Splitter]!' Banzana shouted as his saber sword was clad in dark orange aura.
TING BZZZTT
Their weapon clashed to one another, creating a strong shockwave of energy around them.
But...
Since the two of them have different experiences, they already knew who would lose this battle of endurance.
BZZT
SWOOSH
Rei was sent flying after his aura got overpowewed by Banzana's. Rei quickly adjusted himself, landing safely on his feet then stabbed his spear on the ground.
But suddenly...
*COUGH*
Rei coughed out blood, 'U-ughh..! Dammit...even after blocking it...I'm still getting damage…' he panted as he could feel his fatigue point already reached its limit and his HP also getting lower and lower.
Fortunately, it seemed like, he wasn't the only one who gets tired...
Banzana was breathing heavily, eventually exhausted himself from using those powerful skills in a row.
"Heh...dammit, I never thought I would use all my strength and power just to defeat you. I shall praise you." Banzana spoke with a chuckle.
"....." Rei ignored him again like he always were from the start of this fight, moving to assume his battle stance again.
After that, Banzana gripping his sword with his two hand this time and leting out his aura around him.
"But...this one...shall be the last!!" His aura spiked up as he lifted his sword as if he was ready to perform his skill.
Rei knew this would be Banzana's last resort and knowing that he doesn't have much choice to use a skill that he just managed to think of how exactly to use it earlier in their fight.
'Houston.' Rei called.
And he responded to that, 'I know.'
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At that moment, Rei let out his red aura as his red left eye shined.
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*SHINGGGG*
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[Notice!]
[Skill "Persona" has been unlocked!]
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"[Persona]."
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[Persona]
A skill that allow the user to switch their soul with another soul that live within the user body. Increasing +50% overall status.
Duration: 10 Min.
Penalty: Decrease -20% overall status for 1 hour
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*SWOOSH*
Suddenly his yellow right eye shined as well, and his body let out a golden aura that was starting to mix with him.
"Amazing!! A dual aura?!! Hahahaha!!! You are amazing Kiritsuka Rei!!! I'm glad to meet you in this old life of mine!!!" Banzana shouted in glee.
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*SWOOSH*
As two of them created large wind current around them...silence settled in between them before it was broken by Rei.
"[Fire]."
'[Fire].'
As soon as he said that, the tip of Rei's spear starting burn as he created [Fire] on it.
'This time...let's do it together, Kiritsuka.' Ray spoke.
'I understand, I leave all the instructions to you.' Rei nodded.
'This will be hard...but fine...first, pour all your mana into [Fire].'
Then that small fire slowly got bigger as Rei poured down his mana into it and they began the process.
'Secondly, compress the fire....I will do it from the outside while you compress it on the inside...'
The two force of [Fire] split into two as one of them was sucked into the tip of his spear while the other one rotated around the spear, creating a swirl of flame.
*SWOOSH*
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'Then lastly just like that skill–...'
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"–Burn it out!"
*SWOOSH*
As Rei shouted, the flame began to spread out and getting even bigger, creating an intense heat around him.
A notice popped out after the swirl of flame was finally created on the tip of his spear.
[Notice!]
[You acquired a skill!]
Banzana who saw this...grinned widely as he could see an image of Nel Shubert relapsed around Rei again.
But then...
"Huh??!–"
Banzana was taken aback seeing how Rei's stance had changed.
Rei was holding onto the shaft of his spear and lifted the spear above him, preparing to throw his spear.
"Hehehe...HAHAHAHAA!!! Let's settle this...KIRITSUKA REI!!!"
Banzana yelled as he was overcame with excitement after seeing his new development and then the man raised his sword above his head.
"I will come at you...BANZANA!!" Rei shouted as his aura spiked up and using the last bit of his strength.
'I shall put 50 point at my [Strength]!!'
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Level: 36
[HP: 400/4300]
[MP: 286/510]
[FATIGUE: 1000] red color
EXP: 100/38500
STATUS POINT : 62 >>> 12
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STRENGTH : 106 >>> 156(+156)(+78) = 390
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As the two forces clashed to one another...waiting…
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*BZZZTT* *BZZZTT*
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They finally released their skill at the same time.
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"[Mother Earth]!!!" Banzana swung his sword down on the ground just like before...but this time, he created a shockwave that he could focus exclusively to the ground...and was directed towards Rei.
*BOOM* *SWOOSHHH*
A wave of dirt and rocks came towards him like a storm...
But it didn't cause Rei to waver when faced with such things...
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"Uncle Nel...Thank you..."
*SWOOSH*
The flame spun faster around the tip of his spear and then...
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"This is my and Houston's creation...
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*TWINGGGG*
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*SWOOOSH*
[Spear Arts : Gungnir]!!"
Rei threw his flaming spear towards the incoming wave of dirt and rocks.
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*SWOOSH*
Banzana widened his eyes....
*TWINGGGG*
The spear passed through, creating a giant hole from the wave that was big enough to swipe up everything in its wake
And now it's coming towards Banzana...
*SWOOSH*
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In front of a spinning flame spear, Banzana stayed still from where he was currently standing, and clad himself with [Iron Body].
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*BOOM*
*TSSSKKK*
As his spear hit his chest, it continued to clash against his iron skin.
"U-ughhhhh!!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!! You think this would be enough to defeat–!!"
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*CRACK*
"Huh–?!" Banzana looked at his chest and found something that made his eyes go wide with surprise.
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*CRACK* *CRACK*
His iron skin began to crack as he could feel the heat from his spear.
"U-ughhh....hehehe...HAHAHAHA!!! AMAZING!!! KIRITSUKA REI!!"
Banzana shouted at the top of his lungs as he looked at Rei who lifted his right arm, keeping himself focused in order to control the flame.
"HAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"
Pain surged though his body, spreading fast through his nervous systems. His blood came out from his eyes and mouth for exhausting his mana to zero while his HP started to deplete bit by bit.
But Rei didn't give up....
His spear spun faster and faster and the heat got much stronger that it created a large spiral of flame on the tip.
*TWINGGGG* *SWOOOSH*
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In that moment, Banzana could see something in front of him...
The sight of a man in his black armor... with his red scarf that fluttered around just like a blazing crimson flame. The sight alone carved itself deep into his memory.
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'Ahhhh...This is the best–'
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*CRACK* *CRACK*
*SHATTERS*
*SWOOSH*
His spear went through, leaving a large hole on Banzana's left chest after it successfully broke through his [Iron Body]. The spear whizzed past to the forest and destroyed almost everything in its path.
*CRASH*
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*CRASH*
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And when it crashed...It created a large explosion...
*BOOOOOM*
*WOOSH*
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As the dust slowly cleared up by the wind current, sun rose at the horizon…a sign of dawn.
After the battle, In the midst of the destroyed forest...
…a lone man stood there while looking up at the sky.
His red scarf fluttered at the morning breeze. His previously gleaming black armor was now battered, and when he took off his helmet, it revealed a young boy with brown hair underneath.
The boy's eyes that was yellow and red, glinted slightly
He heaved a deep sigh and his mouth parted as he muttered something, "Now...
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"...I'm starving..."
Kiritsuka Rei...won the battle.
To be continue...