Kaminari vs. Ryujin: Flame, Blood, and Farewell

Kaminari narrowed his eyes, crimson energy beginning to pulse through his veins.

"Blood Creation Arts."

From his arm, a sword slowly began to form, dripping in thick, red blood as it extended. It pulsed with life, forged not of metal but of his very essence.

Ryujin, the ghostly warrior, tilted his head, unimpressed. "I expected more from you. You name your attack... and that’s all?"

Before the words even finished echoing, Kaminari vanished.

A sharp flash sliced through the air. In the blink of an eye, Kaminari reappeared behind Ryujin, the edge of his blade grazing and tearing a scrap of the ghost’s tattered hoodie. He stood still in a poised, samurai stance—right leg bent, left leg extended back, torso forward, head bowed, exhaling slowly like a blade sheathed in calm.

"I wouldn’t underestimate the opponent if I were you," Kaminari said coolly.

In the distance, Sumire, bloodied and bruised, stared wide-eyed. Her cheeks flushed, heart pounding.

(Kaminari-kun is sooooo amazing!!)

Ryujin growled and pulled out his massive scythe. Kaminari’s aura-infused blade gleamed with a violent red hue. He swung it, releasing a sharp wave of aura across the battlefield. As the wave sped forward, Kaminari vanished again—only to appear behind Ryujin.

The ghost parried the attack with his scythe, but a beat later, the delayed impact of Kaminari’s aura struck. In that instant, Ryujin’s vision blurred—his mind overwhelmed by a vision not his own.

A towering, demonic figure—nearly 400 feet tall—glared down at him with burning eyes.

The Devil King.

"Go to hell!" the beast roared.

Ryujin stumbled back, cold sweat running down his ghostly face. "Y-You... You house the Devil King?!"

His grip faltered. Fear, real and deep, seeped into his bones and lingered. He staggered back, trying to create distance between them, eyes fixed on Kaminari with trembling uncertainty. Kaminari didn't wait. With a burst of speed, he rushed toward Ryujin again, blade ready.

Cornered and desperate, Ryujin let out a strained cry, thrusting his scythe forward in defense. The clash rang out like thunder. In a sudden move, Ryujin flattened his palm, aura surging into his hand, and struck Kaminari's stomach with full force.

Kaminari gasped as searing heat branded an 'X' mark on his chest, skin burning.

But he smiled through the pain.

"Not yet... You haven’t even reached the levels of pain school bullies gave me."

Sumire's breath caught. Her eyes widened. "That mark... It’s just like Kagetsu... Kagetsu Hyoma!"

Flashback

A graceful figure fell through the sky, long light-blue hair trailing behind him, smile calm despite the flames rising below.

As the flames roared beneath him, Kagetsu's long, light-blue hair fluttered like silk in the wind. A serene smile graced his face, untouched by fear or regret. His eyes, hidden in shadow, focused on something far beyond the fire.

"Our time was never meant to last," he said calmly, the wind carrying his words. "Let the new flowers bloom—so they can wither just the same."

And with that, he surrendered to the blaze below.

His body vanished into the fire.

Sumire’s voice trembled. "He had the same X mark. One of the strongest Executioners... one of the strongest warriors in the universe. Kaminari... is just like him. He never gives up. Just like the Devil King said."

Ryujin launched a dense beam of ash-like energy. Kaminari raised his sword, struggling to block it. The beam intensified, fueled by ash from the surrounding battlefield.

Kaminari roared, deflecting the blast. Each deflected piece that hit the ground instantly reduced the area to ash.

Sweat dripped from Sumire’s brow. "This fight... it's inhuman."

Kaminari’s eyes flicked toward a memory.

(The blood pool... I made it during the demon dog fight...)

He turned and sprinted toward it.

Ryujin gave chase.

(Damn it... That strike still burns like hell.)

Kaminari leapt high and landed in the pool of his own blood.

Ryujin followed. "You want to fight here, blood warrior? Fine. I accept your location."

Kaminari chuckled. "This isn’t a fight anymore. Because now... I’m about to defeat you—not with aura—but with raw force!"

With a beastly roar, he slashed. Ryujin blocked the strike, but Kaminari's raw strength pushed him back.

"YOU THINK STRENGTH ALONE CAN DEFEAT ME HUMAN?!" Ryujin bellowed.

Kaminari’s aura flared. The blood-red sword pulsed as he poured energy into it.

The scythe cracked.

Then broke.

"Blood Reforge."

The bones within Kaminari faintly began to glow red.

He stepped forward, voice low and calm. "Have you ever wondered... what the cause of your death would be?"

Ryujin lashed out with the wooden hilt of his broken scythe. Kaminari countered with a swing, pushing him back.

Ryujin's eyes widened.

(I... I can’t win...)

Kaminari’s voice whispered like a blade unsheathing. "Did you realize the answer? You’ll die by the thing that flows inside you."

He grinned. "Blood Stitching."

The earth trembled. Pebbles floated. The blood-soaked battlefield dried and cracked into wasteland. Kaminari’s skin slowly returned to normal.

Sumire hovered in the air, feeling the tremors. "Earthquake...? No... This power... is his."

"Attack."

The earth silenced.

Then erupted.

Gigantic crimson spikes burst from the ground. Ryujin dodged several, but some pierced through his limbs, snapping bones and trapping him. Blood poured as he thrashed.

He was bound.

He couldn’t move.

He trembled.

"Will I die now...? No... I can’t. Kuroshin-sama will kill my sister... She’ll be killed. If I die before the contract ends..."

His eyes widened. (Rika... If I die, maybe we’ll reunite in the afterlife. Free from Kuroshin’s chains.)

He sighed.

Kaminari raised his sword.

"Gentle Slash Wave."

A wave of blood burst from the blade—then ignited. Ryujin tried to escape, but the fire caught him.

His head separated from his body, falling in slow motion.

Sumire landed beside Kaminari. "You did it, Kaminari-kun. You won."

As Ryujin’s severed head fell, his thoughts echoed.

(So this is it...? I was wrong. She... has a future. My life... ends here. This is the end of our bond, Rika. But... the blood warrior’s warmth... he’s kind. If only I had a life like his. So much regret...)

A tear slipped from his fading eyes.

"Blood Warrior... I have a final wish. Don’t let my sister die. Her name... is Rika. End Kuroshin’s era... please..."

Kaminari dropped his sword.

His voice cracked. "Wha-What...? Your sister...? What does that mean...?"

Ryujin’s eyes welled.

"Save... my sister Rika... from Kuroshin... He’ll kill her... if he knows I died..."

And with that, life left him.

Kaminari dropped to his knees, guilt heavy in his chest. "I killed another demon... He was good-hearted too—chained to evil, and only fought to protect someone he loved. Damn it."

Sumire looked at Ryujin’s body, still pierced by crimson spikes. "Don’t blame yourself. You fought to survive. Just fulfill his last wish. He proved we’re still too weak... to face Kuroshin."

Kaminari’s eyes burned with resolve. "Then I’ll grow stronger. I’ll train harder—not just in body, but in aura too."

He looked at her. "Please, Sumire. Be my training partner. I need to protect those who can’t protect themselves."

She blushed, looking away. "With me...?"

He stood, gripping his sword. "I’m heading to the Demon World soon."

—To be continued