P77 - The Unknown Rune

Kaide charged toward Vim, his sword glowing as it split into two distinct blades "Dual Pact." Sparks clashed between them as Kaide's blades met Vim's, the pressure grinding steel on steel.

Kaide leaned in with a grin, whispering softly, "Behind you~."

In that moment, Rikushi emerged from the flame-lit haze, his blade already mid-swing. It cleaved through Vim's back with a clean, fiery arc. Vim gasped and dropped his sword, collapsing seconds after.

Across the field, Sana hurled up a massive wall of plasma, trying to counter Para's growing light. But Para's hands were already glowing with blinding energy, charging at an unstable rate.

"Condensed Light's Fight" Para whispered.

The beam surged forward, a white-hot beam of light that tore through Sana's plasma wall like paper. The impact knocked her off her feet, and she didn't rise again.

All that remained was the clash between Valentine and Kali.

Valentine staggered on one knee, his breaths heavy, his fists trembling. Kali took a few steps toward him, bruised and bloodied, but still standing strong.

"You fought well, Valentine," she said, panting. "But it seems that this time, I'm stronger."

Valentine laughed weakly, his voice low but defiant. "That wasn't even me going all out... hell, that wasn't even 10%."

Kali's expression shifted, a flicker of confusion washing over her face. "What-?"

Valentine reached down his shirt and turned the dial on the necklace around his neck--a small click echoing unnaturally loud. The air around him thickened with force. He exhaled, standing tall as his muscles tensed and cosmic energy arced down his arms.

He pulled back his fist, aimed it forward, and thrusted forward with a sonic-crack.

Kali's eyes barely widened before the hit landed. The shockwave from the punch echoed through the stadium. Bones shattered as she was launched backward across the battlefield, slamming into the wall with devastating speed.

Silence fell over the arena once again.

Then, the announcer's voice rang out through the stadium.

"Victory... goes to NTG1!"

As the medics flooded the field to assist the wounded, Rikushi stood still among the fading flames. He crouched down beside Latro's weapon--the Sunbearer--his fingers hovering just above the scorched handle.

The moment his fingertips brushed it, a radiant pain surged through his hand.

His eyes widened as smoke hissed from his palm as he quickly retracted his fingers.

There, etched into his skin in glowing red-orange light, was a rune. It was in the shape of a sun with a sword sitting in front of it.

He stared at it in silence and covered the rune on his palm.

And the rune... burned quietly.