Clash of Titans

The arena hummed with a palpable tension, specially modified for the clash of two rising stars. Mukai stood on his half of the field, back ramrod straight, nose slightly upturned, his gaze fixed on Najo from the corner of his eyes. Behind him, a vast, shimmering pool of water stretched to the arena's outer edges, reflecting the nervous crowd. On the opposing side, Najo held Mukai's stare, a flicker of that first day's annoyance in his mind. Behind him, two imposing poles crackled faintly with residual electricity, and a scattering of various-sized boulders offered plenty of raw material.

The boys stepped forward as Mr. Jumbo approached the center, their chosen ground. They halted, precisely five meters apart.

"This is the quickest way to solve conflict," Mr. Jumbo announced, his voice echoing through the packed stands. "The fight will only end once one admits defeat. I had a lot of trouble setting this up, so this better be entertaining." He raised his hand straight up, stepping clear of the combat zone. "Ready!"

Najo smashed his fists together, sparks of raw lightning erupting between them. Mukai simply extended his right hand, and the placid water around them rippled, then surged into powerful waves, moving inward, a silent, gathering threat.

From the packed terraces, Moto leaned forward, perched beside Sheu and Sukai. "Water conducts lightning," he mused aloud. "So this should be easy for Najo."

"Hajime!" Mr. Jumbo's voice sliced through the air.

The instant the word left his lips, Najo launched forward, a lightning-charged fist blurring towards Mukai. But instead of connecting, Najo found himself crashing into an invisible barrier—a sudden, dense cylinder of water.

"I wouldn't be so sure," Sukai murmured, his gaze fixed on his brother.

"Nox Pool," Mukai uttered, a faint smirk touching his lips. Najo, trapped, slowed under the increasing pressure of the condensed water. The dense liquid violently expelled him, sending him flying backward. He executed a rough backflip, landing hard but steady on his feet. He flicked small lightning bolts at Mukai, but each one dissolved harmlessly against a shimmering water wall.

Moto was utterly vexed. "Water conducts electricity! Why isn't he getting zapped?"

"Our mother is a master in both water and lightning," Sukai explained quietly, his eyes still on the fight. "So Mukai is already acquainted with such powers."

"Wow," Moto breathed, impressed despite himself. "She must be powerful."

"Strongest in the nation," Sukai confirmed, "and the only person he respects."

Najo sprang back, then unleashed a torrent of raw force, sending the scattered rocks flying at Mukai.

"Water Diamond, Christopher," Mukai calmly countered, muttering a name as a diamond-shaped shield of solid water materialized before him, deflecting the barrage of stone with ease.

Najo planted his feet, gathering his strength, and hurled a boulder twice his own height. Mukai formed a shimmering water sword and slashed upward with practiced precision, cleaving the massive rock in half. As his hands remained high, light piercing through the separating halves of stone, Najo burst forward, closing the distance in an instant. He delivered a vicious lightning punch that sent Mukai hurtling backward, splashing violently into the large pool behind him. The lightning-aligned half of the crowd erupted into triumphant cheers.

Mukai heard the muffled roar of celebration against him, even underwater. Do they think this outsider is stronger than me? I've been training for years longer than him. I won't accept it.

He burst from the water, a furious spray, and launched a barrage of massive water bullets at Najo.

"Just so you know," Najo shouted over the roar of water, "that one was for Sheu! I owe you one more!"

Mukai, his pride deeply bruised, retracted all the water bullets. They coalesced, forming a suffocating bubble around Najo. Mukai hoisted it into the air, his hands clenching, maintaining the dense sphere as Najo struggled, gasping for air.

It was useless. There was no solid ground for leverage, and the water bubble moved with him as he thrashed.

"This is bad," Sukai whispered, his face paling. "At this rate..."

Then, the boulders Najo had thrown earlier levitated, drawn towards him. Before his lungs gave out, he managed to pull one into the bubble, pushing off it with desperate force. His head popped out of the water sphere, gasping.

Mukai dissipated the water, letting the heavy drops fall. Najo landed on one of the still-falling rocks, unleashing bright, crackling bolts of lightning around himself, ready for a final, desperate attack. Mukai, sensing the climax, prepared his own.

"Water Spear, Chamisa," Mukai announced, invoking another name. The water from the pool surged towards him, coalescing into a gigantic, swirling spear, its handle detailed with intricate patterns of flowing water. Najo, his eyes narrowed in fierce concentration, channeled all his lightning into his hands. Mukai's massive spear took aim, and Najo leaped down the falling rocks, closing the distance.

Time seemed to stretch, thick and slow. Moto clenched his fists, hoping Najo's gravity-assisted plunge would grant him victory. Sukai, meanwhile, secretly prayed for his brother to win.

Just as the two powerful attacks were about to collide, a black, shimmering portal tore open behind Moto and Sukai. Kangetsu, his form emerging from the swirling darkness, stepped through. His hands were already stained with blood. He lunged, grabbing Sukai from behind. With a sickening pop, he exploded a small amount of blood from his right arm, then quickly raised his hand, covering Sukai's mouth.

"Don't move," Kangetsu hissed.