Clash of Divine Wills (意志の衝突 / Ishi no Shōtotsu)

The ground shattered beneath his step, gold light streaking forward.

His fist met Rei’s blade mid-swing; sparks burst like lightning.

Rei slid back half a step, impressed.

“Not bad.”

Hajime didn’t stop. He drove forward, delivering two punches and one kick, each one faster and sharper, glowing with raw power.

 Rei parried and twisted away, his own aura flaring brighter to match the rhythm.

Each clash made the air vibrate. Blue fire met gold seiki, explosions echoing through the ruins.

Izumi called from the side.

“Enough! You’ll bring the mountain down!”

Neither listened.

Hajime’s movements were instinctive and unrefined but fierce. He wasn’t losing; he was adapting.

For a brief moment, his strikes matched Rei’s tempo. 

Rei blocked another blow and felt heat wash over him. “You’re strong, but you’re thinking like a farm kid, not a fighter.”

“And you think I need your approval?” Hajime shot back defiantly.

With a powerful punch, Hajime cracked Rei’s chestplate and sent him sliding backward through the dirt.

Rei steadied himself as a faint, unsettling grin formed on his face. “Finally, I was getting bored.” He raised his sword, "Uriel's Flame," and ignited the blade.

Blue-white fire spiraled outward, creating a halo of heat that bent the light around them. Hajime squinted through the glare and breathed heavily. His shirt was torn, and his skin glowed faint gold-silver beneath a layer of sweat and soot.

He’s toying with me... I can feel it.
But I can still move. I can still fight.

He lunged forward once more.  

The auras of the two Seikis collided head-on, creating a powerful explosion that leveled the ground around them, leaving only smoke and flames in its wake.  

Rei cut through the haze, his expression unreadable.  

Hajime barely dodged the next swing as the edge of the blade scorched his arm.

He bit back a yell, countering with a hook to Rei’s ribs that forced a grunt from the Commander.

“He's adapting mid-battle, incredible,” Rei muttered. 

“Shut up, and take this seriously!” Hajime screamed.

Hajime’s fists glowed brightly, gold and silver intertwining like a storm of light. He threw one final punch directly at Rei’s blade. The impact was deafening, sending energy bursting outward in waves and flattening the remaining trees. Both men slid backward from the force of the blow.

Rei’s twin-edged blade hummed with energy, while Hajime’s arms trembled, his skin smoking from the excessive use of seiki. Izumi’s voice cut through the roar, faint but urgent.

“Hajime, stop. Your body can’t take much more.” 

He ignored her. Pain radiated through his body, but his eyes remained locked on Rei.

“I can still fight…”

His aura spiked, then faltered.

 The gold and silver light became unstable, flickering like a candle in the wind.

Rei’s grip on his sword loosened. “He’s at his limit.”

Hajime’s body shook violently. His skin cracked with golden light, blood boiling in his arms.

 Still, he staggered forward, fists raised.

“I’m not… done yet—DAMN IT!”

The world tilted.  

Sound faded.  

Everything began to collapse inward.  

And then, time itself seemed to pause.  

All the light pouring from Hajime’s body folded inward, compressing into a soft golden-white glow.  

A new voice, deep, calm, and ancient, spoke through him.  

“Genesis Awakening.”  

Rei lowered his blade, narrowing his eyes. “There you are, Adam.”  

The glow stabilized.  

Hajime’s wounds sealed, and his breath evened. When he looked up again, his eyes were white-gold, without pupils and devoid of emotion.  

Adam was now in control.  

“Commander Rei Kurayami of the Celestine Order,” Adam said quietly. “You’ve seen enough to know this man is special.”  

Rei grinned faintly, fire bursting from his sword. “You think so? Let’s find out.”  

Rei’s blue-white flame clashed with Adam’s golden radiance.  

Each impact shook the earth, leaving shockwaves that rippled for miles.  

Izumi threw up a barrier around herself to stay standing.  

Adam’s movements were perfect.  

There was no wasted energy or hesitation. Every step and every strike was precise.  

Rei countered with power and pride, his blue flames cutting through the smoke like sunlight through clouds.   

Adam slipped under a swing, driving his palm into Rei's ribs. The Commander staggered for a moment. Rei answered as he swung his sword upward, causing sparks to fly. Adam caught the blade with one hand, his aura flaring. The air exploded, and Rei's armor splintered under the pressure. Adam's next strike launched Rei backward into the dirt, leaving a crater beneath him.

Rei coughed once and then laughed through the blood. "You didn't hold back... good stuff."

Adam's eyes dimmed slightly as he stepped back, allowing the aura to dissipate. The light faded from his eyes, and his voice vanished like a receding tide. "Genesis Release."

Hajime collapsed to his knees, unconscious before he hit the ground. Izumi rushed in, catching him. Her hands glowed green as Verdant Seiki stitched his burns and bruises shut. "Both of you are insane," she muttered.

Rei groaned, sitting up slowly. "He's strong, but he could be stronger." Izumi glared at him. "You're not helping." She exhaled and traced a sigil in the air. A circle of light bloomed around them.

"Forbidden Fruit Art: Eryndral Elysium!"

The air shimmered. A portal opened, and Eryndral’s vast green canopy was visible beyond.

Izumi helped lift Hajime. “Let’s go. Queen Sylvara’s waiting.”

Rei stood, retrieving his broken blade. He looked at Hajime for a moment.

“You did well, kid.”

He stepped through first. Izumi followed, carrying Hajime into the light.

The clearing fell silent.

Only smoke and sunlight remained, and from the blackened soil, a single green sprout rose toward the sky.