Ultimate Defense

"Are you both prepared?" Nekro asked.

"Yes, Father," Ash confirmed with his usual calm demeanor.

"I am," Klaus affirmed, adjusting his stance into a combat-ready posture.

For a brief moment, silence filled the room, thick with anticipation. Then, Nekro's voice echoed once more.

"Then... you may both begin the sparring session."

As soon as the words left Nekro's lips, Ash shifted his stance. His hands relaxed, his breathing steadied, and his eyes closed as if he were preparing for something crucial. Klaus instantly recognized what Ash was about to do and quickly decided to intervene.

"Wait!" Klaus called out, making Ash pause and open his eyes. "Before you do that, would it be okay if I spar with you specifically?"

Ash stood still, considering the request as Klaus continued.

"I know Drake is your offensive half, which is why you were just about to switch places with him," Klaus pointed out. "But would it be fine if I fought you first?"

It wasn't often that someone specifically asked to fight Ash instead of Drake. Most challengers sought out the latter, drawn to the raw aggression of his offensive style. Yet, despite the rarity of the request, Ash remained unfazed.

"That's fine," he finally agreed.

Klaus nodded. "Then we can begin now." He sank back into his stance, muscles tensing in preparation.

The two warriors locked eyes, each analyzing the other. A stillness settled between them, an unspoken exchange of strategies unfolding in their minds. Then, in the span of a single heartbeat, Klaus launched himself forward.

Even without Burst Speed, Klaus moved with staggering velocity, covering the distance between them in a single second. His approach was direct, his left fist cutting through the air in a powerful arc aimed at Ash's head. Yet, just as his attack was about to connect, Ash simply leaned back, evading the strike with effortless precision.

Klaus wasted no time recovering. His body twisted, unleashing a rapid succession of punches. But Ash remained unshaken, his arms folding as he shifted from side to side, dodging each attack with almost insulting ease.

Klaus had expected Ash to be formidable, but this was something else entirely. Even with all his recent training, his blows weren't landing. Ash's movements were impossibly smooth, as if he were predicting Klaus's every move before he even threw it. The way he weaved through each strike reminded Klaus of the fight he had once witnessed between Ash and X in the Cosmic League.

Determined, Klaus pressed on, studying Ash's movements, searching for a pattern, an opening, anything. He needed to break through his opponent's formidable defenses. Gathering power into his left fist, he prepared to unleash a devastating blow. But suddenly...

The world stopped.

Klaus's mind reeled. His body remained motionless, yet his consciousness remained active. He knew this sensation all too well; his Perfect Precognition had activated, warning him of imminent danger.

Focusing on his surroundings, Klaus suddenly noticed that Ash's left fist was just inches from the right side of his face. He was completely baffled; only a fraction of a second earlier, Ash's hands had been folded in a defensive stance.

Despite his impressive perception, Klaus had missed the exact moment when Ash switched from defense to offense, a clear testament to his opponent's incredible speed. Klaus chose not to dwell on it too long, aware that maintaining his Perfect Precognition was draining his energy.

He deactivated his Perfect Precognition, and the world around him resumed its normal flow. Ash's fist continued its trajectory, but as it neared Klaus's face, it began to phase through him. Klaus had activated his Phantasmal State to evade the blow, knowing that it was nearly impossible to dodge the attack by conventional means.

As Ash's fist passed harmlessly through Klaus's head, Klaus saw an opportunity to counterattack. Deactivating his Phantasmal State, he swung his prepared left fist. However, before his strike could connect, the world suddenly froze again.

Baffled, Klaus shifted his focus downward and noticed that Ash had swung his other fist from below. This sudden, unexpected movement only served to irritate Klaus further.

"Just how fast is he?" Klaus wondered silently.

Within only a few encounters and seconds in combat, Klaus had determined that, without any ability enhancements, Ash was potentially the fastest demigod he had ever battled, a title only narrowly contested by X.

After deactivating his Perfect Precognition once more, Klaus used the same method as before to evade the second strike and then retreated from his opponent. He backed away, realizing he needed to reassess the situation after witnessing the frightening speed of Ash's attacks.

Klaus understood that Ash was not solely defensive; his speed was even more impressive than anticipated. This meant that Klaus needed to adopt a more tactical approach. Initially, his main concern had been landing a single hit on an opponent with such impenetrable defense. Now, with Ash's offensive capabilities also warranting caution, Klaus knew he had to fight on his own terms, relying on his destructive potency.

Recognizing the one area where he might have an advantage, Klaus rushed back toward his opponent, extending both palms as he closed in.

Meanwhile, in the observation room, Jhin was visibly awestruck by what he was witnessing. Everything that had happened had taken only a few seconds, yet he could barely comprehend the rapid sequence of actions.

"Amazing," Jhin muttered in shock. "So this is what a battle between two demigods looks like?"

Nekro observed the fight with a smile, impressed by the strength and skill displayed by both combatants.

As Klaus advanced toward Ash, two orbs of light began to form in the center of his outstretched palms, rotating and gathering photons with intense speed. Before long, Klaus had created two first-grade Solar Balls, one in each hand.

Klaus swung the Solar Ball in his right hand with immense force at Ash, but his opponent simply stepped backward, evading the attack. Then, Klaus raised his left hand over his head and pointed the ball of light toward Ash. By compressing it further, he managed to detach it from his grasp, something that was normally impossible with the first-grade of the attack.

This maneuver, reminiscent of his fight with Rose, allowed Klaus to launch the attack. As the ball of light struck its target, it exploded, pushing Klaus back several meters as the intense light engulfed the room for a moment.

After regaining his footing and as the light faded, Klaus observed a thick fog of grey smoke forming exactly where Ash had been when taking the blow. Yet, his opponent was nowhere to be seen. Klaus stood silently until the dense smoke began to swirl and gradually take shape, eventually coalescing into a figure. In moments, Ash reappeared, his expression unchanged and not a scratch in sight.

"This ability, huh," Klaus muttered to himself.

He recalled Ash's previous fight with X, where Ash had turned his body into particles of smoke faster than his opponent could activate True Accuracy. It was the same tactic he had just employed to evade the Solar Ball. Ash stood silently, his calm expression only deepening Klaus's frustration as the battle resumed.

As their fists clashed, Klaus couldn't help but be impressed by Ash's nimbleness. Ash moved with significant ease, as if he bore little to no weight, and maintained a defensive stance throughout the encounter, a fact that was not surprising. However, Klaus struggled to land a single hit on his elusive opponent.

Though Ash was also unable to connect his strikes, the situation differed markedly. Ash's speed and agility meant that he was virtually untouchable, while Klaus had to rely on his Phantasmal State and Perfect Precognition to avoid every attack.

These abilities, though extremely beneficial, drained Klaus considerably, each use costing him as much energy as required to create a Solar Ball. Given the pace of the battle, Klaus knew he couldn't depend on them indefinitely if he wanted to endure.

Klaus was also very aware of Ash's seemingly infinite energy reserves, as evidenced by his previous fights. Analyzing his strikes, Klaus concluded that Ash's stamina was nearly limitless since the demigod never appeared fatigued during the Cosmic League. Consequently, Klaus realized he needed to conserve his own energy. Assessing the situation, he decided to switch tactics once more; close combat was clearly not working for him.

After evading another attack, Klaus leaped backward, creating space between them. He then extended his hands and summoned two new Solar Balls, which expanded until each reached a second-grade level. Seizing the opportunity, Klaus hurled the two large orbs at Ash.

Anticipating the attack, Ash instantly transformed his body into a cloud of smoke and used his ability to dash away, evading the trajectory of the orbs. However, Klaus had anticipated this move.

Following Ash's evasion, the Solar Balls collided, triggering a massive explosion that engulfed the entire battlefield in a burst of blinding light.

Jhin flinched, unable to see anything beyond the observation room. "This light ability is pretty annoying," he muttered, frustrated by his inability to witness the aftermath of the attack.

Within the blinding light, Ash appeared stunned by the massive cloud of light particles that engulfed the room. His vision was heavily impaired, and his movements became somewhat sluggish as Klaus seized the opportunity to launch his assault. Yet, despite these disadvantages, Ash continued to evade every attack Klaus sent his way.

Klaus pressed on relentlessly while the blinding light filled the space, his own vision clearly unaffected by the glare. His ferocity increased as he recognized this rare, brief window before Ash's vision could recover and adapt. Klaus knew he couldn't rely on his blinding light for long since all the demigods shared a universal ability to adapt, and sooner or later, Ash would eventually adapt to it. But despite his clear advantage from the temporary loss of vision, Klaus still found himself unable to land a decisive blow on his opponent.

After several seconds, the light gradually began to dissipate. Klaus moved away quickly, and as the brightness faded, he realized why Ash had managed to evade his strikes. Klaus observed that Ash had enveloped a small area around him in a faint smoke cloud. Each time Klaus swung an attack, it would first come into contact with the smoke, alerting Ash to the direction of the blow and allowing him to dodge effortlessly within its confines.

Klaus exhaled softly; his relentless assault had drained more of his energy than he had anticipated. Conjuring two second-grade Solar Balls and maintaining the blinding light effect for an extended period was energy-intensive. He knew he could no longer afford such gambles.

Meanwhile, Ash had regained his vision and could now clearly see the battlefield. Standing silently without remarking on Klaus' desperate attempts, Ash's calm demeanor only served to frustrate Klaus further.

"Is he just going to remain silent throughout the fight?" Klaus wondered to himself, irritation mounting.

Klaus felt tense and worried that he might never match his opponent's might. He was aware that close combat, after numerous trials and errors, had become a losing proposition. Ash was a seasoned fighter, reminiscent of Lance and X, likely with years of training and experience, a fact that made sense given the cultural reverence demons held for battles.

Unlike Ash, Klaus had only a few months of training under his belt. Though he had taken sparring lessons when he was younger and engaged in gym and parkour training during his time as NightShade, he knew that his skills were no match for Ash's. With that in mind, Klaus concluded that close combat was no longer an option, especially since he needed to conserve his Phantasmal State, which he had already overused.

Recognizing his predicament, Klaus decided that his best strategy was to rely on his Solar Balls. Not to blind his opponent, but rather to force Ash into using his smoke ability, thereby depleting his energy. This approach would give Klaus a chance to see and capitalize on any opening while managing his own energy consumption by choice.

It was a risky plan, but Klaus was aware that Ash's only significant threat was his incredible speed since he had a lack of offensive abilities in his arsenal. After what felt like an eternity condensed into mere seconds, Klaus raised his left hand again, summoning the photons necessary to create another Solar Ball.

"He's doing the ball thing again?" Jhin questioned from the sidelines.

"He has no other choice at the moment," Nekro explained with a knowing smile as he observed Klaus's struggles.

Klaus continued to grow the Solar Ball in his palm, preparing to use it for an attack. However, before he could launch his assault, something surprising happened. Ash, noticing Klaus's plan, took a deep breath and performed a long exhalation toward Klaus. A thick smoke, laced with ash particles, erupted from Ash's mouth and pierced through the air, directed precisely at the Solar Ball.

The streamlined smoke cut swiftly through the space, colliding with the ball of light before Klaus could utilize it. The interference between the two abilities disrupted the photon compression, causing the Solar Ball to explode while still in Klaus's grasp.

The explosion of light was instantaneous, and moments later, as the brightness subsided, Klaus was seen on one knee, gasping for breath and placing a palm on the floor in exhaustion. Ash's tactic to neutralize Klaus's attack had worked, but although Klaus was visibly affected, he did not appear seriously harmed.

"What just happened?" Jhin asked from the observation room. "He isn't hurt, but he clearly seems affected by the Prince's attack."

"It's because he had to use his ability for objects to phase through him once again," Nekro confirmed. "But after using it so many times, he's starting to feel the strain."

Jhin pressed on, "But how was the ball attack even stopped in the first place?"

"Because when Ash's smoke contacted the ball of light, it obstructed the photons that Klaus normally creates to envelop and compress the rest. Smoke absorbs light as any opaque material would, which is precisely why Ash opted for a thicker version of his smoke," Nekro explained.

"Ah, I see," Jhin responded. "Apologies for needing the explanation, my Lord. My vision is still recovering from all that blinding light, so I couldn't fully perceive the smoke's properties."

Klaus took several deep breaths. He knew he could no longer sustain his Phantasmal State ability, so he chose to deactivate it, a feat he had been unable to accomplish before his rejuvenation training. Disabling the ability left his body more vulnerable, but he decided that enduring a few punches was preferable. As his panic grew and the chances of winning seemed almost nonexistent, he noticed something crucial.

For the first time, Klaus saw Ash exhale briefly from exhaustion. Although it was only a fleeting moment, it meant that even Ash's supposedly infinite energy reserves were, in fact, finite.

A small smile crossed Klaus's face as he recognized that he still had a chance. "If he can get tired," he thought, "then this is simply a battle of stamina."

From a distance, Ash noticed Klaus's smile and realized that his opponent had detected his own fatigue. Capitalizing on the success of his last attack, Ash devised a new tactic. This idea would cost him significantly more stamina than he had already used, but it would also prevent further unnecessary energy expenditure. Tactically, he believed this was the best way to secure his victory.

Agreeing to act on his plan, Ash suddenly extended his palms to his sides. "Apologies, Jhin," he muttered softly before taking a deep breath.

Instantly, particles of smoke and ash burst from Ash's palms, rapidly covering the area around him and extending further into the room. Klaus's eyes widened as he watched his opponent envelop the entire training room in a semi-thick cloud of smoke and ash.

This move baffled Klaus since it was clear that such an action would drain a tremendous amount of energy from Ash. Recalling Trent's fight with Arthur during the Diving Tournament, Klaus recognized that Ash was using a similar technique, transforming the surrounding air into his natural element. The similarity in ability made sense, given that both were second-generation demigods.

As Klaus contemplated why Ash had chosen this tactic, his shock grew. "No," Klaus muttered in disbelief. "He's trying..."

"...to stop Klaus from compressing his light anymore," Jhin muttered softly in the observation room.

Jhin observed the unfolding battle and quickly deduced Ash's plan, a testament to his intellect as a demon. "Because the dark smoke absorbs light, Klaus can no longer compress the photon particles as he used to or have access to a large amount, effectively nullifying his range and destructive advantages."

Jhin stood in awe, fully grasping Ash's decision in mere seconds. "Impressive as always, my Prince," he murmured, "though it's a bit annoying since I'm the only one who can't see how the fight continues."

Jhin then turned his gaze to Nekro, who continued to survey the battle, clearly unbothered by the thick smoke that now filled the training room.

Klaus realized he was in serious trouble. He attempted to gather enough photons to form a Solar Ball, but he was unable to do so. He knew he could try something similar to what Ash had done, transforming the surrounding area into light particles, but that would take even more energy, as creating light was far more exhausting than merely manipulating it.

As Klaus pondered his next move, Ash suddenly appeared beside him. Before Klaus could fully register his opponent's presence, Ash delivered a devastating kick directly to Klaus's head, sending him hurtling to his right and slamming him against the wall.

The attack was so powerful that Klaus nearly lost consciousness; he had let his guard down while overthinking. After a few seconds of disorientation, Klaus managed to pull himself back up.

Despite the thick smoke still blanketing the room, Klaus could barely make out Ash's form due to his enhanced vision, a benefit granted by Nyxia's lack of sunlight. Nevertheless, Ash maintained a clear advantage within the smoke.

Ash charged at Klaus once more, blending with the smoke and ash as he closed in and launched another strike. Klaus barely evaded the attack by leaping backward, creating a crucial gap between them.

Klaus took a deep breath, shocked that Ash was moving even faster than before. It felt as if all hope was lost, but he knew he had to keep fighting; he couldn't give up.

Klaus believed he still had a chance because Ash was expending an enormous amount of energy, far more than he was. If he could endure his opponent's relentless onslaught a little longer, he might eventually gain the upper hand. It was the same tactic Ash had used against him earlier in the fight.

Ash continued to launch swift, lethal strikes. Klaus dodged some but still took several devastating hits. Yet Klaus pressed on, convinced that if he could remain standing long enough, Ash's stamina would eventually wane. But despite expending little energy in his movements, Klaus found himself panting from exhaustion.

Klaus was baffled by how drastically he was getting fatigued by the second before it finally dawned upon him. "The smoke!" he thought. "It's wearing me out."

Klaus realized that the dense smoke, filled with ash particles, was irritating his lungs and reducing his oxygen intake, making each breath a struggle. The lingering ash also stung his eyes and skin, diminishing his combat effectiveness. With Ash's relentless strikes in play as well, Klaus barely had time to think or strategize.

Klaus knew he was outclassed, and it was only a matter of time before he would be defeated. Yet, he was not done fighting.

As Ash continued his relentless flurry of attacks, the world around Klaus suddenly froze. Klaus had activated his Perfect Precognition once more, not to dodge an attack but to give his mind a brief moment to think. Although this ability drained a great deal of energy, Klaus recognized its necessity at the moment. With the toxic air no longer affecting his breathing during this state, he was granted what felt like an eternity to strategize.

When he deactivated the ability, the world snapped back to normal, and Klaus resumed evading Ash's strikes. However, as he stepped back to create distance, Klaus suddenly took a deep, massive breath, inhaling the thick smoke that filled the arena.

Ash was puzzled by Klaus's unexpected action, but without altering his expression, he dismissed his thoughts and charged at his opponent once again.

After drawing in the smoke, Klaus held his breath and closed his eyes, attempting to steady his mind. Meanwhile, Ash continued to swing his fists, and for a few brutal moments, Klaus found himself on the receiving end of every attack, each blow leaving him bleeding. Then, something shifted; Klaus managed to calm his racing thoughts.

He recalled the sensations from his previous fight with Jhin and Xhin: the gentle flow of air, the dance of light particles on his skin, and most importantly, the tranquility he had felt in that moment. Drawing upon that memory, Klaus placed a palm in front of him and suddenly grabbed Ash's arm, intercepting an incoming strike. Klaus had successfully countered the attack, but that was only the beginning.

After retreating a short distance, Klaus exhaled deeply, his eyes remaining closed as calm returned to his mind. Although Ash continued to launch several more strikes, this time, something was different. Despite his superior speed, Ash failed to land a single hit on Klaus. With his eyes closed, Klaus evaded every attack with remarkable precision.

From the sidelines, Nekro offered a broad smile. "Truly remarkable," he commented, clearly impressed. Nearby, Jhin let out a frustrated sigh, annoyed that he was the only one unable to observe the unfolding battle.

Ash noticed that despite the ongoing pressure, Klaus was now breathing normally, clearly unaffected by the smoke that had once choked his lungs.

Earlier, after Klaus had inhaled that dense smoke, it had critically strained his breathing, but this was what he had wanted: to force his body to rejuvenate and adapt. The toxic air forced his lungs and the rest of his body to adjust and fortify themselves rapidly against the harmful particles. Although this adaptation was a risky idea at first, Klaus had observed Ash's own ability to adapt to his light earlier, and that realization gave him hope.

Klaus wasn't entirely immune to the smoke; its foreign compounds still irritated him. But he no longer felt the fatigue and irritation as before. Having trained to fight with his eyes closed before, he also avoided risking damage to his vision from the ashes in the smoke by keeping them shut.

Despite Klaus's best efforts, a few of Ash's attacks began to land. Klaus knew he wouldn't be able to defeat Ash under these conditions, but that had always been his plan: to survive long enough for Ash to exhaust a lot of his energy. Indeed, Ash's strikes were noticeably slowing compared to earlier in the fight when he had spawned the smoke.

After several intense minutes of combat, Ash eventually realized he was in an unfavorable position and paused his assault. He backed away, and slowly the thick smoke dissipated, reverting to clean, normal air. Klaus had observed that Ash required energy to maintain the smoke, and when he became exhausted, the air returned to normal, much like what had happened to Trent during the Cosmic League.

As the room became clearer, Jhin let out a soft sigh. "Finally," he muttered, frustrated at having missed so much.

When Jhin finally looked upon the fighters, he saw them both gasping for air, visibly fatigued. Ash had expended an immense amount of energy, and Klaus had done the same to keep pace.

For a few long moments, both stood in silence, barely able to use their abilities. Ash was clearly exhausted, perhaps more than he had ever been in his life, and his respect for Klaus's endurance grew. Determined not to give his opponent any further opportunities to catch his breath, Ash charged again.

But as Ash advanced, Klaus raised his hands. "Wait!" Klaus called out, halting Ash in his tracks. "That's enough."

Ash stood in silence, clearly confused and surprised by Klaus's words, yet Klaus continued to explain immediately.

"I can tell you're not going to quit," Klaus began. "The same goes for me. I'm sure you've noticed, our stamina is almost identical, and if this battle continued as it has, it could go on for days before we find a victor."

Ash relaxed his posture, acknowledging that Klaus was right. Even though Klaus hadn't landed a single hit on him, they were both equally exhausted, and if the fight continued, they would simply alternate between offensive and defensive stances.

It was a cycle: Klaus would overwhelm Ash with destructive power, forcing Ash to stay on the defensive until he could gather enough energy to recreate the smoke around them, then use that to launch a barrage of physical strikes. Klaus would then be unable to retaliate effectively due to the lack of photon availability, forced back into defense until Ash's energy ran low.

Ash understood why Klaus had chosen to cease his assault. The loop was destined to continue because of their unyielding nature. But both recognized that, given the circumstances, Klaus had little chance of eventually winning, making the prolonged battle simply not worth the gamble.

After a moment of silence, Ash finally responded, "I understand," his quiet words belying the thoughts swirling in his mind.

They both took time to recover, regaining their strength. Klaus still bore wounds, though none severe enough to require medical attention, and some had already begun to heal from remaining in constant combat.

"So the match has already ended?" Jhin asked from the observation room. "What a letdown. I barely saw less than half of it."

Jhin was frustrated at missing most of the fight, yet he remained impressed by what he had witnessed. However, the battle was not over.

"That's not the end," Klaus suddenly said to Ash, regaining his opponent's attention. "If you wouldn't mind, I'd also like to fight Drake."

Klaus's words caught Jhin completely off guard. "Despite his fatigue and wounds," Jhin began, "he still has the strength to challenge Drake? These demigods are truly formidable."

"Would that be alright, Ash?" Klaus asked, his neutral expression contrasting sharply with his underlying thirst for battle.

After a brief silence, Ash replied softly, "That's fine."

Following his words, Ash relaxed his stance completely, closing his eyes to clear his mind. Then he took a deep breath, and as he exhaled, his features began to change: his skin took on an ashen hue, horns emerged from his forehead, his signature silver hair darkened from root to tip into a deep crimson, and his nails morphed into sharp claws.

In a single deep breath, Ash's human-like appearance transformed into something distinctly demonic. When he finally exhaled and opened his eyes, they revealed a black sclera with yellow vertical pupils, much like those of other demons.

From a single glance, Klaus knew this was no longer Ash; he was now in the presence of Drake.