BLYTHAROS VS VİCTOR & KİYOSHİ

Once enough space for the duel was cleared, the signal flare would go up—and the fight would begin.
The three of us took our positions and counted down.

3… 2… 1—BOOM!

The flare fired. Victor was the first to rush Blytharos. Blytharos met his sword strikes with his fists. I hurled my blackout at him, but he’d already activated his technique—my darkness couldn’t touch him. While Victor fought alone, I tried feeding blackout secretly through the ground, but Blytharos noticed and planted an invisible wall beneath himself, blocking my darkness from reaching him. I was contributing nothing. I had to find something—fast.

Victor was holding up, but not for long. Blytharos slammed two heavy shots into his body and sent him flying, then used his invisible wall to trap me in with him. There was nowhere to run. He lunged; I raised my blade to guard, but his punches were brutal. I ate a few, then my back smashed into an invisible wall.

That’s when it clicked: when two Black users’ techniques mesh perfectly, you can create a “Final Technique.” It doesn’t work with every combo—but Blytharos’s technique was a match. It had never crossed my mind to coat his invisible walls with my blackout. I could try it now.

Kiyoshi: “Blytharos—ever seen a Final Technique?”

Blytharos: “No. What does that have to do with—”

Kiyoshi: “THEN WATCH. FINAL TECHNIQUE—FIELD OF DARKNESS!”

His invisible walls went black. Everywhere he touched, my blackout touched too. He was literally in the palm of my hand.

Blytharos: “Hahahahaha! Looks like you’re starting to master your technique, Kazuki.”

Kiyoshi: “Stop calling me by my last name.”

Bit by bit, he was weakening. His punches lost bite. I burst forward, carving with my katana, opening deep gashes. He grabbed the blade—I flooded it with blackout and cornered him hard. I was close to finishing him, but the Final Technique kicked back on me; it started unraveling.

I pushed as long as I could, then the field collapsed—but his walls dropped too. Victor pounced instantly, hammering the deep cuts I’d left.

I moved to help—but my strength was shot. That Final Technique hit me hard; I could barely stand. Victor glanced back.

Victor: “Good work. Leave the rest to me.”

While I focused on gathering myself, Victor went head-to-head with Blytharos. Every move Blytharos tried, Victor nullified, and his core was starting to show. With what little I had left, I dashed in, wrapped him in blackout, and drained him—slowing his regeneration. I could only hold it for a few seconds before my power gave out.

Victor: “SURRENDER, BLYTHAROS!”

Blytharos: “I’VE NEVER BOWED TO ANYONE BUT MY KING—AND I WON’T BOW TO YOU!”

Victor: “Then face the consequences.”

Blytharos: “We’ll see.”

As they launched their final blows, I spotted a cultist clutching the antidote. I dove, ripped it from his hand, cut him down, and shouted:

Kiyoshi: “Victor! I’ve got the antidote—let’s move!”

Victor: “Got it!”

Blytharos (furious): “HOW DID THAT END UP IN YOUR HANDS?!”

We sprinted for the gate. He kept throwing up invisible walls, but Victor erased them all.

Blytharos: “YOU MISERABLE BASTARDS!”

We both flipped him off in unison, slipped through the barricade, and the gates slammed shut. Marshal Adem saluted us.

Adem: “Well done, gentlemen. Mission accomplished—and you saved Ellie’s life.”

I handed the antidote to Hugh, and he rushed it to Ellie. We reinforced the barricades and held the line. Eventually, they started to burn out and pulled back.

Blytharos: “RETREAT! THERE’S NOTHING LEFT TO DO.”

They turned and left. We could finally breathe. It was my first true victory—more like a duel, really—but still a battle, and we’d won. As the cultists withdrew, I caught a faint smirk on Blytharos’s face. It got under my skin. Why was he smiling?

Two weeks later, the city returned to normal and Ellie had recovered. I went to see her at the base’s general med ward. The hallway outside her room was crowded—looked like several base commanders had come to visit. Inside were Base B’s commander, Matthew Quin, and Base C’s commander, Blake Miller.

Blake: “I’m glad you’re safe, Ellie. We can’t afford to lose any more Blacks.”

Matthew: “You’re always like this, Blake. Show the woman some respect—she nearly died.”

Blake: “Maybe you don’t grasp how dire the situation is, Matthew.”

Matthew: “Oh I grasp it just fine. The real question is—what were you doing while Base A was under attack?”

Blake: “Chasing a critical lead.”

Matthew: “And what ‘critical lead’ would that be?”

Blake: “Not something to say here. I’ll share it in the next briefing.”

Ellie: “Ugh, will you two shut up? I’m trying to rest.”

I cut in, stepping closer.

Kiyoshi: “Ma’am, I’m glad you’re okay. It’s good to see you.”

Ellie: “Welcome, Kiyoshi. You saved my life—thank you.”

Kiyoshi: “Just doing my duty, ma’am.”

Ellie: “No need to play it down. Trading blows with the enemy’s strongest and walking away alive is an achievement. You’re living up to that ‘hero’ title.”

Blake: “Agreed. You’ve done a lot in a very short time, Kiyoshi.”

Kiyoshi: “Thank you, sir.”

Matthew: “We’ve got another soldier who can match pace with our strongest. We’re getting stronger.”

Blake: “Maybe. But will it be enough for him?”

Matthew: “I don’t know. His power is on another level.”

Who are they talking about?

Kiyoshi: “Sir, who do you mean?”

Matthew: “The second-strongest alien after their king—and a commander. That one you fought, Blytharos, is strong, yes, but compared to him even Blytharos looks weak. In the previous war he stepped onto the field and erased two cities by himself.”

Kiyoshi: “What’s his name?”

Matthew: “Vyron. His ability is strange—and terrifying.”

Kiyoshi: “If we even know his ability, why are we this scared?”

Matthew: “Because you can’t beat it.”

Kiyoshi: “What is it?”

Matthew: “Causality Bargain… and Margin-of-Error Tax.”

Kiyoshi: “He has two abilities?”

How strong is this guy?

Matthew: “Yes. I’ll start with Causality Bargain. Every action you take in battle has a purpose, right?”

Kiyoshi: “Right.”

Matthew: “He ‘asks’ for the reason behind each action. The larger your action’s purpose, the more he powers up.”

That alone could wipe us out—and there’s still another ability?

Kiyoshi: “What about the other?”

Matthew: “Exactly what it sounds like—every mistake you make, he collects a ‘tax’ and adds it to his physical strength.”

How do you beat someone like that? Even if we make no mistakes, our purpose is to kill him—that alone powers him. Impossible… For now, no point obsessing.

Matthew: “Don’t overthink it yet. He’s not on the field—for now.”

After some small talk, I headed back to my quarters. Even his name—Vyron—felt heavy. But there has to be a way.

I finished sorting the remaining paperwork and was about to head home when Ayame stepped into my office.

Ayame: “Commander, I wanted to congratulate you on the victory.”

Kiyoshi: “No one’s here—you don’t need to be formal, Ayame.”

Ayame: “Ah—sorry. You really saved our commander’s life.”

Kiyoshi: “Victor and I did it together. I still need to get stronger—strong enough to do it alone.”

Ayame: “I think you should think about yourself a little. You just came out of a brutal battle—and you nearly died.”

Kiyoshi: “That’s none of your concern.”

She looked hurt. I know I was harsh, but these are the facts. I don’t need anyone worrying about me.

Ayame: “If I mean anything to you at all, hear me out.”

Kiyoshi: “Soldier Ayame, this conversation is over. Please leave my office.”

Her eyes shimmered as she stepped out. I was rude—I know. But from here on, I have to get even stronger, so I can erase the threat hanging over everyone… and take my mother’s revenge.