Igniting The Beast

Kazuki clenched his fists, his body radiating heat so intense the air around him shimmered. Flames burst from his feet as he charged forward once more, this time moving faster than before, almost too fast for the eye to follow. His speed left fiery trails across the molten ground, each step booming like thunder.

The flames around him shifted—no longer just a bright red, but flickers of blue started mixing in, crackling and swirling violently around his body. He didn't even notice. Kazuki was locked in, eyes burning with determination, his focus razor-sharp.

Sonnet leaned forward, her joking demeanor gone. "Whoa… he's actually getting faster."

Andreas nodded, folding his arms. "The kid's not holding back anymore."

Even Lumi stopped eating, her usual calm giving way to an impressed gaze. "He's evolving. Quickly."

Kazuki zigzagged across the battlefield, his flames erupting with each turn. Prometheus stood in the center of the arena, calm and unbothered, his eyes following Kazuki's every move.

With a final burst of speed, Kazuki closed in. His hand stretched toward Prometheus, inches away. His lips curled into a victorious grin.

"I'm gonna touch you!" Kazuki shouted, his voice echoing across the arena.

The group froze.

Sonnet's eyes widened, her jaw dropping. "…Did he just say—?"

Andreas facepalmed. "No… he did not."

Kazuki's mind caught up to his mouth. "Wait—NO! NOT LIKE THAT!"

Before he could recover from the awkwardness of his own words, Prometheus's eyes lit up with amusement. In one fluid motion, Prometheus swung his hand down, slamming Kazuki's body into the ground with enough force to crack the molten rock beneath him.

"Who said I can't defend myself?" Prometheus said, a wide grin on his face as his flames danced around him.

Kazuki coughed, his body aching from the impact. "Ow… ow… okay… lesson learned." He groaned and tried to lift himself up, the ground still radiating heat.

"You're quick," Prometheus continued, stepping back. "But speed alone won't be enough. You've got fire in you… but you need control. Chaos can't always carry you through. Learn to focus it, or you'll burn out before you even get close."

Prometheus's booming laughter echoed through the domain, shaking the very ground beneath them. His white and blue flames blazed brighter, swirling like a storm around him. The intensity in his eyes, however, wasn't one of malice—it was pure exhilaration.

"You… remind me of someone," Prometheus said, his grin widening. His voice was almost nostalgic. "A vessel just like you… burning with untamed chaos. He fought like a wild flame, too. You're reckless… but I like it!"

Kazuki wiped the sweat from his brow, ignoring the growing ache in his body. His heart was pounding, but his mind was clearer than ever. The fear and hesitation had burned away, leaving only focus and adrenaline.

"Alright," Kazuki muttered to himself. "No more flashy moves, no more yelling stupid names… just hit hard and hit fast."

He planted his feet, flames surging through his legs. The heat wrapped around his arms like coiled serpents, amplifying every muscle's movement. He rocketed toward Prometheus, his speed now more controlled, precise. Each punch came with the force of an explosion, the flames accelerating his strikes.

Kazuki's fist connected with Prometheus's arm, the collision sparking a burst of blue and red flames. He followed up with another punch, even faster and stronger, forcing Prometheus to step back for the first time.

"Hah!" Prometheus's eyes lit up with excitement. "You're getting it! Use that fire—control it, bend it to your will!"

Kazuki didn't respond, too focused on the fight. He launched into a relentless barrage of punches, each one more powerful than the last. His movements blurred as the heat around him intensified, the flames wrapping him like a second skin.

Sonnet leaned over the railing, wide-eyed. "Is it just me, or is Kazuki actually… good at this now?"

Andreas nodded slowly. "Yeah… but if he starts shouting another anime line, we're doomed."

Lumi chuckled softly. "He won't. Not this time. He's serious now."

Prometheus blocked most of Kazuki's strikes, but each hit was coming closer and closer to breaking through. "Show me your full power!" Prometheus roared, spreading his arms wide. "Let's see how far Chaos can take you!"

Kazuki planted his feet again, channeling everything into his next move. He took a deep breath, his flames growing brighter—blue mixing more evenly with red as his body became a fiery blur.

BOOM! Kazuki closed the distance in an instant, his fist flying straight for Prometheus's chest.