Masochist - Desecration Arc

*Hey, it is another Author's note! Really sorry for the delay on this chapter! Coming back from a month hiatus ruins a schduele sometimes. Promise you that's the last one now! Thank you for understanding!*

Number One and Hiroshi stared down at one another, not daring to breathe. The audience couldn't breathe, either. One misplaced attack, and they would all be killed in a matter of nanoseconds.

And Hiroshi knew this.

Hiroshi pulled his arm back, attempting to land an obvious punch. Number One dashed forward, trying to block the hit. However, it was a clear feint. Hiroshi stopped the punching action, dropped his arms to his side and changed it into a slide, keeping very close to the ground, passing by Number One in a split second. Number One looked down, shocked at his opponent's speed.

Hiroshi used this opportunity to push away from the ground using his hands, and pulled his two legs straight, landing a two-footed kick to Number One's face. The clone yelped, his body flying high above the arena.

"His face...it feels...like it's not real," Hiroshi told Kuro-Yami, launching himself towards his foe.

"I agree...is he some sort of robot?" Kuro-Yami asked, a puzzled look creeping across his face.

"I'm not sure!" Hiroshi replied in an uneven tone, as he hit the clone in the face, harder this time. "But one thing is for sure...if I hit him hard enough, we will find out soon!"

Number One flew back again, a big grin on his face. Hiroshi was already surpassing his original specs. The man could go lightspeed, and his darkness magic power was only skyrocketing.

It was clear Hiroshi was now pre-God level. A few more weeks of training...and maybe he would go even further beyond.

Number One didn't care about his progression, however. To him, Hiroshi would be dead in a matter of minutes, so why bother even considering the possibilities?

Number One halted in the sky, watching Hiroshi fly up to him. He arched his elbow, and flew downwards at the same speed. Just as Number One was about to bring down his elbow on Hiroshi's head, the man dodged, flew along the side of Number One, and jabbed his fist quickly into Number One's side. The clone smirked. He couldn't feel any pain.

Using his position to his advantage, Number One swung around his leg in a round house kick, aiming for Hiroshi's head. If it had connected, he would have kicked his head off the man's body. 

A dark hand shot out, catching the leg as it came around, stopping an inch before Hiroshi's face. The man from another world smirked, while Number One's eyes twitched in annoyance. Number One tried his best to land a single punch, increasing his tempo. More darkness hands came out from Hiroshi, blocking and parrying every single attack.

"He has to stop doing that!" Wisteria yelped in concern. The woman was scratching her arms in worry, almost drawing blood. "At this rate, he is going to blitz through all of his manna, and he will be left defenseless!"

The young woman spun around to face her mentor, her purple hair smacking into her face. She expected Kage to look worried, or even offer to jump into the fight.

The man was looking on in awe.

"Hiroshi...you crazy son of a bitch," he said with a smile. "You really did it."

"W-what?! What did he do! Tell me, Kage!" Wisteria begged, running over to him and taking him by the collar, shaking him violently. Kage looked down at her, and gave her a cold answer.

"He destroyed himself."

"What? That makes no sense!"

"He told Kuro-Yami, six months ago, that he never wanted to lose again. The lack of manna control was holding him back. It was the only reason he lost to Grant. So, he asked Kuro-Yami to constantly feed his body manna. No matter what. I'm sorry he didn't you..."

Wisteria punched Kage, hard in the chest. Kage's chestplate dented slightly, yet he stayed firm, refusing to show his true emotions to Wisteria.

"That's my boyfriend up there! If he was being overloaded with manna, he could have died a very painful death! He's not even from this world! How was he able to..." Wisteria gasped and spluttered, trying not to break down in tears. Why didn't Hiroshi tell her any of that?! She thought he trusted her.

"Yes...you are right. Hiroshi was very sick. He vomited for weeks straight, and sometimes he begged me to end him. But, that's not what he wanted. He wanted to survive, and to win. In his words, 'I want to be there for Wisteria'." Kage admitted finally admitted, the truth flowing out like a river.

Wisteria froze. Kage continued.

"Hiroshi has now learnt a decade worth of manna control in six months. Only because that crazy bastard refuses to give up."

"I want a human being after this, Kage! Not a broken dishelved shell of former happiness!" Wisteria yelled back at Kage, who simply looked up at the sky, watching Hiroshi counterattack, slamming Number One into the floor of the arena.

"Well, I don't think I have ever seen Hiroshi be this happy before."

Wisteria looked up to watch Hiroshi fly down after his foe. He indeed had a wicked smile on his face, like he was enjoying the fight.

Like he wasn't useless anymore. Was that it? That is what Wisteria thought. To her, he was never useless. Even though he had his struggles, he always made her smile. Would he still be able to do that, or would he lose his humanity all together?

"What the hell did you do to your body, babe?" Wisteria whispered softly, almost blaming herself for Hiroshi's new training regieme.

Hiroshi floated to the ground, and his feet landed just as Number One stood up, screaming in anger.

"You hid all these tricks from my Master! How very well dare you! I was going easy on you, but you are no fun at all! It's time to get serious!" Number One continued his yell, gritting his teeth afterwards. "I'm going to make you feel so much pain!"

Hiroshi smiled. Kuro-Yami laughed. He knew what was going to happen next, and the result of the fight would be decided.

"Did your Master Anwir also figure out I'm a masochist?" Hiroshi said, laughing hard. He narrowed his eyes and concentrated his manna. 

Black manna emerged from his body, focusing to a spot on his back. It began to spread rapidly.

Into the shape of dark, demon like wings.