Chapter 85-Noah vs Smokey, Part Three

The fierce fight between Smokey and I resumes. Smokey continues trying to get the best of me by using his sword slashes and smoke spells. But by turning my body into boiling-hot water -water so hot that Smokey's white-hot smoke can't burn me- I'm able to resist all of Smokey's spells.

"It seems like I'll have to change up my fighting style," Smokey says.

Smokey then aims his sword at me again, just as medium-blue sparks of energy begin to burst and swirl around Smokey's body.

"Steam Charge, Level One…"

My eyes widen.

"So you've finally decided to start chanting spells, eh? And STEAM CHARGE, eh? Not smoke."

But Smokey ignores my taunt, as he finishes chanting and E-Charging his next spell.

"-SMOKE HARPOON!"

One moment, Smokey stands across from me, with his sword aimed towards me. But then, in the next moment…the sword is gone.

A wave of pain courses throughout my body as a glob of blood explodes from my mouth.

Weakly, I peer down to my chest, where I see Smokey's sword piercing it, and attached to the rest of Smokey's body via a line of steam.

"How did…?" I begin to say, my voice quickly growing faith and cutting out.

"Before, I was using my Devil Eye to swiftly E-Charge, then attack," Smokey explains, "But now, I'm E-Charging, THEN using my Devil Eye to attack."

"So you…warped your arm…?"

"You could put it like that."

Smokey then retracts his steam arm back to his body and converts it into flesh, thus ripping his sword out of me in the process, cauisng me to drop to the ground on one knee, clutching my second stab wound.

"I'm surpised your still kicking."

"I'm surprised you haven't killed me yet."

"That can be aranged," Smokey replies as he resumes his Charge Stance, "-Steam Charge, Level Two-"

In response, I jump back up to my feet and resume my Charge Stance.

"Water Charge, Level Five: Liquid Body!"

"-SMOKE FANG!"

Before Smokey can finish E-Charging, I turn my body into water. Then, once Smokey appears before me in the last moment to pierce me, his spell has no effect. I then shoot a hand out, and latch onto Smokey's shoulder.

"Dammit," he sneers.

"What's wrong?" I taunt, "Can't use your Devil Eye while I'm touching you?"

Smoley growls at me.

"So I'm right."

"Steam Charge-" Smokey begins to shout, but before he can finish, I resume my Charge Stance.

"Water Charge, Level Three: Rapids Claw!" I roar as my fist begins swirling with water, which I then smash into Smokey's jaw, sending the man flying backwards before he has a chance to chant his spell.

"YOU RELY TOO MCUH ON YOUR DEVIL EYE!" I boom, "WITHOUT IT, YOUR ACTUAL SKILLS AS AN E-CHARGER ARE WEAK, SMOKEY!"

"DAMN YOU, WATER CHARGER!" Smokey roars.

"That's why-" I begin to say with a smirk, but before I can finish, a wave of pain explodes from within my eye.

I begin to pant heavily, as I drop to the ground on one knee, clutching my eye in pain.

The pain is so intense I begin to scream.

"WHAT…WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MEEEE?!?!?!"

Smokey recoils, and stumbles backwards a step.

"A-are you okay, Water Charger?!" Smokey stammers.

The pain continues emanating throughout my eye, and I can feel a warm, moist, sticky substance begin to pool around then trickle around my right eye.

After a while, the pain stops, and so does my screaming.

I continue gasping for breath, while clutching my eye.

Eventually, I lower my hand from my right eye, and once I do, Smokey gasps.

"What…is it…?" I groggily ask.

"Y-your eye…" Smokey stammers, "Is…a DEVIL EYE!"

My eyes widen.

"WH-WHAT? Can those even be randomly awakened like that?!"

"I-it's extraordinary rare, but it CAN happen," Smokey answers, "Most Devil Eye-users are BORN with theirs, however. As was I."

"Wh-why would mine awaken now?" I ask.

"Perhaps…your own Devil Eye was stimulated in response to mine…?" Smokey suggests.

"W-well…what does the symbol say?!" I ask.

"Your eye…your scelra is black and the eye is medium-blue," Smokey explains, "The pupil itsels is that same seaform-green color as your other eye, and the pupil…says "purifiy"."

"Purify?" I ask, "What could that mean?"

"Well let's see," Smokey answers as he resumes his Chrge Stance, "FREEZE!"

Upon chanting the word "freeze," something strange begins to happen. The colors of the world and sky all around Smolkey and I begin to dull. The air around me feels still, trees no longer sway in the breeze, and birds in the sky over head freeze in place. I can't even feel the warmth of the sun.

"Steam Charge-!" Smokey begins to shout, but I cut him off.

"Woah, what the Hell did you do?!" I cry as I look around.

Smokey's eyes widen.

"Y-you're moving."

"Yeah?" I reply as I raise an eyebrow at Smokey, "Why wouldn't I be?"

Smokey continues staring at me for a few seconds, in awe.

Baffled, Smokey reaches up and rips off the eyepatch covering his left eye, revealing his Devil Eye; an eye with a black scelra, white eye, and medium-blue pupil in the shape of a peculiar symbol.

"My Devil Eye…is FREEZE," Smokey explains, "With it, I can freeze even time itself. NO ONE can move in my world of frozen time, except for the Lord, and now…you. Yet again, Water Charger, it seems like by fate or some other circumstance…our abilities are PERFECTLY designed to counter one another."

"I don't want to share a fate with you," I growl.

My eyes then widen.

"Freezing time, though, that's insane! Although…it does explain a LOT about your fighting style…"

Smokey's eyes widen as well.

"Could it be…your Devil Eye…it's similar to the Lords!" He exclaims, "So I see…"

"What is it?"

"Your Devil Eye, PURIFRY…most likely grants you the ability to "PURIFY" Devil Eyes," Smokey explains, "Thus negating their effects on your body!"

"I-I see."

Before our conversation can continue any further, the world around Smokey and I reverts back to its usual vibrant colors. The wind continues blowing, the birds continue flying, and once again I can feel the warmth of the sun on my face.

"Woah, what happened?" I ask as I look around.

"I can only freeze time for seven seconds," Smokey explains, "And once time resumes, I must wait seven seconds before freezing time again."

"Makes sense," I reply as I reuse my Charge Stance, meanwhile, Smokey resumes his.

"Now then, Water Charger…" Smokey begins to say, "-Let's see how well you do in my Land of Frozen Time."

"FREEZE!"