Chapter 93: Kai and Mike.

Kai drew his sword, its edge gleaming ominously, while flames blazed along Mike's legs, igniting the air around him. Before anyone could react, the two launched themselves at each other with explosive force.

Though Mike was at rank E, Kai had only just reached E- after his battle with the Emperor-tier creature.

Julia and the others quickly stepped back, giving them space as they clashed. She glanced up at Elijah, who was perched in a tree, watching the scene intently. "Elijah, should we stop this?"

Elijah shook his head, his gaze focused. "No, I don't sense any killing intent from either of them. This feels more like rivalry than real hostility."

Julia sighed, settling on a branch beside him. "Then I guess we'll just watch."

In the Heat of Battle

Kai gripped his katana, which was now cloaked in darkness, while Mike's legs flared even brighter. Kai smirked and called out, "Looks like you haven't changed—you're still only using your legs."

Mike snorted, launching a kick that sent Kai skidding back. "Yeah, and that's why I'm going to roast you today!"

In a flash, the two figures vanished, their movements too fast for the naked eye to follow. They reappeared across the battlefield in a series of blindingly quick strikes, each impact rippling through the air like the crash of thunder.

Kai moved like a dark shadow, his every motion fluid yet deadly precise. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed waves of darkness from his sword, each slash carving through the air, shadowy arcs slicing toward Mike in a relentless barrage.

Mike, however, was undeterred. His body seemed to dance around each strike, nimble and light, his feet barely touching the ground as he weaved through the storm of darkness.

His legs, blazing with fire, left a trail of embers in his wake, as if he was defying the very Darkness that Kai wielded.

In a swift, calculated pivot, Mike shifted his weight and closed the distance in an instant, his body coiled with power as he aimed a devastating kick at Kai's midsection.

Kai barely had time to react. He drew his second sword, crossing both blades just in time to absorb the impact.

BOOOM!

The force of Mike's kick sent Kai rocketing into the air, his silhouette a dark blur against the sky.

But instead of faltering, Kai's aura deepened, the darkness around him growing thicker and darker as if feeding off the intensity of the clash.

Stabilizing himself mid-air, he took a breath, and with a low growl, murmured, "Two sword style: Dark Twister."

Instantly, a swirling black vortex burst to life around him, a dark tornado spinning with shadowy tendrils that reached out like claws.

At the center of this storm, Beast eyes could be seen, crafted from pure Darkness, emerged, its fiery eyes focused solely on Mike below, ready to strike.

Mike narrowed his eyes, his stance widening as he braced for the oncoming attack. With a fiery determination, he clenched his fists, his voice echoing across the battlefield. "Phoenix Kick!"

With a powerful leap, Mike launched himself skyward, his body engulfed in an intense blaze. His entire form became a flaming arrow, rocketing toward Kai's Dark Twister with deadly accuracy.

The phoenix of shadow met the fiery kick in a clash of elements that filled the air with an oppressive heat.

BOOOOOOM!

The collision sent shockwaves rolling across the battlefield, uprooting rocks, splitting the ground, and blowing clouds of dust and debris sky-high.

Both fighters were thrown back by the sheer force of their combined power, their bodies spinning through the air as they fought to regain control.

Kai managed to steady himself first, hovering in mid-air as a sinister mask materialized over his face, hiding his expression but revealing his dark yellow eyes, which now glowed with an intense, predatory gleam.

A surge of dark energy erupted from him, coating his blades in an even thicker shroud of darkness.

With a fierce shout, Kai pointed both swords at Mike below. "Two-Sword Style: Lightless Slashes!" he cried, and with a swift motion, he unleashed a blinding flurry of attacks.

The twin swords moved so fast they appeared as streaks of darkness, each slash tearing through the air in rapid succession, forming a web of shadowy, lethal strikes descending on Mike like a storm.

Mike barely had a moment to react as the onslaught rained down. Steeling himself, he clasped his hands together, summoning every ounce of his fiery strength. "Inferno Barrier!" he roared, and a blazing wall of fire erupted around him, swirling in a protective dome that shimmered with an intense heat, bright enough to make the entire battlefield glow.

The shadowy strikes met the flames in an intense burst of energy, the dark slashes dissolving upon contact with the barrier, but not without leaving scars in the air itself.

Each blow from Kai's Lightless Slashes seemed to chip away at the Inferno Barrier, leaving streaks of darkness in the flames. Mike gritted his teeth, pushing his energy into the barrier as Kai's relentless attack threatened to break through.

BOOM!

The barrier finally shattered, the flames scattering in all directions like embers in the wind. Kai landed, skidding back but standing firm, his breathing steady despite the tremendous Mana he had just unleashed. Opposite him, Mike dropped to one knee, a trail of blood on his lips as he grinned defiantly.

"That the best you got, Kai?" Mike taunted, wiping the blood from his mouth.

Kai's response was a dark smile, his eyes gleaming beneath the mask. "I'm just getting started.

Once again, they dashed at each other, their strikes sharper, faster, and more ruthless. Cracks spidered through the ground, craters formed, and all life in their wake withered.

Their movements were so swift—nearing fifty meters per second—that Adan struggled to follow the battle. Elijah's eyes gleamed with excitement, but Julia gripped his arm firmly, keeping him grounded.

"Enjoying the show?" she asked dryly.

"Absolutely. But if I joined, we'd have an even bigger spectacle," Elijah grinned.

"That's exactly why you're not going anywhere near them. Your love for battle would just add to the chaos," Julia replied, rolling her eyes.

Stella, who was watching from a safe distance, tilted her head in curiosity. "I wonder what they're fighting about."

"We'll find out when they're out of mana—and have had a chance to cool off," Julia sighed, settling in to wait out the inevitable.

Back on the battlefield, 

As the dust settled from the explosive clash, both fighters regained their footing, their eyes locked in a fierce battle of wills. Kai, now fully embracing the Darkness surrounding him, adjusted his grip on his swords, the darkness element pulsing with a life of their own.

"Let's finish this, Mike!" Kai shouted, determination flooding his voice.

Mike responded with a fierce grin, his legs still blazing with flames. "I wouldn't have it any other way!"

With a roar, Mike lunged forward, his legs a blur as he executed a series of rapid-fire kicks, each one aimed at overwhelming Kai.

"Blazing Fury!" he cried, unleashing a cyclone of fiery kicks that lit up the battlefield, the heat radiating outward and causing the ground to crack underfoot.

Kai, anticipating the onslaught, performed a graceful spin, his sword slicing through the air in a defensive arc. "One Sword Style: Lightless Slash!" He countered, unleashing a dark blade that tore through the fire, extinguishing the flames as they hurtled toward Mike.

The two attacks collided, sending sparks flying in every direction. Mike weaved through the remnants of the explosion, his body a fluid motion of muscle and fire. "Firestorm Kick!" he shouted, launching into the air with a powerful kick that left a trail of flames in its wake, aiming to slam down on Kai.

Kai was ready. He met Mike's descent with a fierce Attack. "Two sword style: Oni Black!" he declared, slashing as a Crossed Arc traveled that absorbed the impact. The heat from Mike's kick was intense, but Kai's resolve only deepened.

Not willing to let Mike gain the upper hand, Kai sprang into action. "Two Sword Style: Dark Twister!" With a swift motion, he summoned a swirling vortex of darkness around him, the dark tornado expanding outward as tendrils of shadow lashed out at Mike, seeking to ensnare him.

"Dodge this!" Mike shouted, executing a series of agile flips, narrowly avoiding the dark tendrils as he launched himself into the air once more. "Phoenix Uppercut!" He twisted in mid-air, delivering a flaming kick that arced toward Kai's head.

Kai ducked just in time, the flames brushing against his hair. "Close, but no cigar!" he taunted. "Crossing Wave!" He swung his swords in an X formation, sending a powerful wave of dark energy slicing toward Mike, determined to catch him off guard.

The attack struck true, sending Mike tumbling backward. He hit the ground hard, flames dissipating as he rolled to a stop. Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself up, a fire ignited in his eyes. "Let's keep going."

Kai could see the anger flickering in Mike's expression. "Two sword style: Dark Dragon Roar!" With a commanding shout, he unleashed a massive wave of dark energy in the shape of a dragon, its maw open wide as it charged toward Mike.

In a final act of desperation, Mike raised his legs, focusing his energy. "Inferno Eruption!" he bellowed, attempting to match the dragon's ferocity with a fiery kick aimed to counter the oncoming wave.

The two attacks collided with a cataclysmic force, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield. For a moment, the light and dark clashed in a dazzling display of power, but as the dust settled, it became clear that Kai's darkness was overpowering Mike's flames.

With a final surge of strength, the Dark Dragon broke through, engulfing Mike in its shadowy embrace.

BOOOOM!

The explosion rocked the battlefield, sending debris flying and creating a cloud of smoke. When it finally cleared, Mike lay sprawled on the ground, panting heavily, his flames extinguished and his mana spent.

Kai approached cautiously, his swords at his sides, the darkness dissipating around him as he knelt beside him. A smile broke across his face, the tension of battle melting away. "Looks like I've got the upper hand this time," he said, offering a hand to help Mike up.

Mike looked up, his breathing labored but his spirit unbroken. He managed a wry smile in return. "You've gotten stronger, Kai."

"Just doing what I do best," Kai replied, helping Mike to his feet. "But I know you weren't going all out."

Mike chuckled, shaking his head in mock defeat. "If I was, then one of us would have died."

As they stood together, the battlefield around them was a testament to their clash, a chaotic mix of fire and darkness.