the fight against blazer(5)

The battlefield was still burning. The aftermath of Blazer's strongest attack left everything in ruins, with molten rock bubbling underfoot. The sky was painted in a hellish crimson, and the air was thick with smoke and embers.

Dakota, Henry, and Mia stood amidst the devastation, barely able to keep themselves upright. They were battered, their bodies bruised and burned, yet they had survived.

Dakota took a deep breath, feeling his lungs burn with the heat in the air. His fingers twitched as he steadied his grip on his sword. He could feel it—Blazer was still alive.

And then, he saw him.

Blazer emerged from the smoke, his body charred but still standing. His expression was twisted in amusement, his golden eyes burning with fury.

Dakota raised a hand.

Dakota:

"Wait, guys. Don't attack."

Henry and Mia both froze, confused, but before they could react—

BOOM!

Blazer was already moving.

A streak of red flames tore through the battlefield as he launched himself forward. Dakota barely had time to register the attack before Henry and Mia moved.

Henry:

"Tch—fine! Guess we're doing this!"

Henry charged forward, his fists igniting with blue fire. He swung with full force—

But Blazer dodged.

With inhuman speed, Blazer pivoted and drove his knee into Henry's stomach. A shockwave erupted from the impact, sending Henry flying backward, crashing into a burning rock.

Mia raised a barrier just in time—

CRACK!

Blazer's fist shattered through it, his palm colliding with her chest, sending her skidding across the battlefield.

Dakota's eyes widened.

Dakota:

"What? You're not tired from that attack?!"

Blazer grinned.

Blazer:

"Tired? You think one use of my strongest attack would be enough to exhaust me? You really don't get it, do you? Even though I unleashed my strongest move, I only freeze in place if I use it twice in a row. But with just one?"

He spread his arms wide, his body still radiating an overwhelming heat.

Blazer:

"I'm perfectly fine."

Dakota clicked his tongue.

Dakota:

"Damn it."

But then, he smirked.

Blazer:

"Why the hell are you smiling?"

Dakota lifted his hand, flames swirling around his palm.

Dakota:

"Because of this."

A surge of energy pulsed through Dakota's body. The flames covering the battlefield began to move—twisting, shifting, and swirling toward him.

Blazer's eyes widened.

Blazer:

"What—?!"

The red flames that once belonged to Blazer were now rushing into Dakota's body. His veins glowed with molten energy, his entire form radiating pure fire.

Then—

FWOOOOOOOSH!

Dakota's entire body ignited. His hair burned with red flames, his skin was wreathed in fire, and his aura became overwhelming. The ground beneath him melted from the sheer heat.

Dakota:

"Flame Transformation… third Stage."

Henry and Mia stared in disbelief.

Henry:

"Dakota?! What the hell is this?!"

Mia:

"He absorbed Blazer's flames… and turned them into his own…!"

Blazer took a step back, his expression twisted with shock.

Blazer:

"No… No way!"

Dakota clenched his fist, fire spiraling around him. He exhaled sharply.

Dakota:

"Look, I don't have much time. I can only maintain this form for five minutes."

He cracked his neck, eyes glowing with intensity.

Dakota:

"So let's finish this, Blazer."

Blazer's hesitation vanished, replaced with pure rage.

Blazer:

"Don't get cocky just because you've transformed!"

He launched forward, but this time—

Dakota was faster.

BOOM!

Before Blazer could even react, Dakota was already in front of him.

BANG!

A fist covered in golden fire slammed into Blazer's gut, sending him flying across the battlefield. He barely had time to process the attack before Dakota appeared above him—

SLAM!

A spinning kick sent Blazer crashing into the molten ground, creating a crater of burning rock.

Dakota didn't stop. He moved like a phantom, landing blow after blow, overwhelming Blazer completely.

Blazer:

"Damn it—!"

He countered, his own flames raging, but it wasn't enough. Dakota weaved through his attacks effortlessly.

SLASH!

Dakota's sword tore through Blazer's shoulder.

CRACK!

A devastating uppercut launched him into the air.

Blazer coughed up blood.

For the first time in the fight—Blazer was losing.

Henry:

"He's doing it…!"

Mia:

"He's actually winning!"

Dakota felt the power surging through him. He could feel it—Blazer was weakening.

One final attack.

He dashed forward, ready to end it—

And then—

His flames flickered.

His body slowed.

His transformation—ended.

Dakota:

"Oh, sh—"

SPLURCH!

Blazer's hand shot forward, his fingers piercing straight into Dakota's chest.

Henry & Mia:

"DAKOTA!!"

Blood spilled from Dakota's mouth. Blazer smirked, panting heavily.

Blazer:

"Hah… I knew it. That transformation wasn't permanent."

Dakota chuckled weakly.

Dakota:

"I expected this, Blazer."

Blazer's smirk faltered.

Blazer:

"What…?"

Dakota's hand shot forward—

SPLURCH!

His blade sank into Blazer's gut.

Blazer gasped, his eyes shaking in disbelief.

Dakota:

"If I die… then you're coming with me."

Henry and Mia ran forward.

Henry:

"NO, DAKOTA! DON'T DO THIS!"

Mia:

"PLEASE, THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER WAY!"

Blazer struggled, trying to break free.

Blazer:

"No… no! Get off me!"

Dakota grinned, blood dripping from his lips.

Dakota:

"No."

He whispered a single word.

Dakota:

"Explosion."

A blinding light engulfed the battlefield.

Then—

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

The entire area was consumed in an apocalyptic inferno. The explosion ripped through everything, shaking the very foundations of the battlefield.

Henry and Mia were thrown backward as the blast obliterated everything in its wake.

When the dust settled—Dakota's body lay motionless.

His flames had burned out.

His breathing had stopped.

He was dead.

Henry & Mia:

"NO! DAKOTA!!"

Mia fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face. Henry clenched his fists, trembling in disbelief.

Dakota had sacrificed himself.

But as his body lay there, something strange happened.

His soul—detached.

Drifting.

Falling.

Then—

He awoke.

A white place. Endless fog.

Dakota's eyes adjusted to the strange realm. His body felt weightless.

And then—

A voice.

???:

"Well, Dakota… looks like your second life has finished."

Dakota turned.

A figure stood before him, cloaked in pure white. Their hair was pristine, their eyes glowing like the moon.

Dakota's heart stopped.

He immediately dropped to one knee, bowing his head in reverence.

Dakota:

"Oh, my lord… I wasn't expecting you to be here."