Ren tightened his grip around the claw-like handle, the broken chain at the end of his weapon swaying with a faint metallic whisper. The jagged blade—like the open jaw of some starving beast—caught the dim light, its uneven "teeth" looking eager to bite into something… anything.
Across from him, Flare stood still. Calm. Unshaken.
Stone gathered around her fists again, compressing tighter this time—layer upon layer locking into place until her gauntlets looked heavier, denser… more dangerous than before. Fine cracks glowed faintly across their surface, like something alive was pulsing within.
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
BOOM—!!
Ren shot forward.
No warning. No hesitation. Just raw, explosive speed. The ground shattered behind him as he closed the distance in a blink, his weapon swinging in a savage arc aimed straight for her side.
Flare didn't step back.
She stepped into it.
KRAAANG—!!!
Stone met steel.
The impact rang across the entire ground like a thunderclap. Dust burst outward. The air itself seemed to vibrate.
Ren's arms shook violently.
…Again!? She's not even budging—!
His grin twitched—then widened.
…Good.
He twisted his wrist mid-impact, dragging the jagged teeth downward—
SCRRKKK—!!
Sparks burst as the blade scraped across her gauntlet, the uneven edges biting, grinding, trying to tear through.
Flare's eyes narrowed just slightly.
That tiny reaction—
Ren saw it.
…There.
He stepped in closer, closing the gap dangerously—
Too close.
WHIP—!
The broken chain snapped forward, wrapping around her forearm in an instant.
A pull—sharp, sudden—
And her balance shifted by just a fraction.
Ren's eyes flashed.
"…Got you."
SLAAASH—!!!
The blade came down again, heavier this time, brutal, merciless—
Flare crossed both gauntlets—
BOOOOM—!!!
The ground beneath her feet cracked wide open as she blocked. Dust exploded upward, swallowing them both.
For a second—
A deadlock.
Ren leaned in, muscles screaming, veins bulging as he forced more power into the strike.
…Move… move…!
Her feet slid—just slightly.
A single inch.
Ren's grin turned feral.
…I pushed her—!
"…Reckless," Flare said quietly.
Then—
BAM—!!!
Everything flipped.
She broke the lock with terrifying ease, twisting her body—her knee driving upward like a launched boulder—
THUD—!!
It slammed into Ren's stomach.
Air vanished.
"—GHK—!!"
Before his body could even react—
SMASH—!!!
Her gauntlet crashed into his shoulder, sending Ren flying.
CRAAASH—!!
He hit the ground, rolled violently—
THUD—THUD—SKRRRR—!!
—and barely managed to stop himself by dragging his blade along the ground.
Silence returned for a breath as Ren stayed crouched, his head lowered.
Then—
A quiet laugh escaped him.
"…Heh…"
It grew.
"…Haha…"
Then—
"…HAHAHA…!"
He stood up slowly, wiping the blood from the corner of his lips.
His eyes—
Burning.
…This… this is it…
…She's strong… fast… precise… no wasted movement…
…Every hit feels like getting crushed by a wall…
His grip tightened.
…And I can't stop smiling—I'm a little messed up in the head… really, man!
[ Indeed! ]
…Shut up.
He stepped forward again—but this time slower, more controlled, circling and watching.
Flare didn't move. Her gaze followed him, steady, unshaken.
…Her defense is solid… direct attacks won't break it…
…Then I won't attack directly.
A breath.
Then—
DASH—!!
He burst forward again—faster than before.
Feint left—
Shift right—
Drop low—
SLASH—!!
Flare blocked—
But Ren was already gone.
He twisted with the momentum, pivoting around her—
WHIP—!!
The chain lashed out again, wrapping around her leg this time.
A sharp pull—
Her stance broke—just slightly—
And Ren was already above her.
CRAAASH—!!!
A downward strike like a beast tearing prey apart.
Flare reacted instantly—
BOOOOM—!!!
Her gauntlets crossed, catching the attack just inches from her head. The ground beneath her feet caved in from the force.
Dust exploded outward again.
Ren pushed harder.
"…Break…!"
Flare's feet sank deeper—but her expression didn't change.
"…Improved," she said calmly.
Then—she moved, fast… too fast.
BAM—!!!
She broke the clash and stepped in at the same time—
Her fist drove forward—
THUD—!!
Straight into his ribs—Ren's body jerked, but this time, he didn't fly.
His eyes widened.
…I endured it…!?
His grin widened instantly.
…Good…!
He forced his body to stay in place—grabbing her gauntlet mid-motion—
"…Not done yet."
And pulled hard.
Their distance collapsed to zero.
Too close for a full swing—
Perfect.
SLASH—!!
He dragged the jagged blade sideways at point-blank range, the "teeth" screeching against her guard as sparks burst violently.
Flare's eyes sharpened.
BOOM—!!
Stone erupted from beneath her feet again—forcing separation—
But Ren jumped with it—
Following—chasing.
…Don't give space… don't let her reset…!
SWING—SWING—SLASH—!!!
A relentless barrage now—each strike faster, sharper, less predictable.
Flare blocked, countered, then stepped forward.
Each movement precise. Minimal. Perfect.
But—
For the first time—
She was defending continuously—Ren saw it.
…I'm getting through…!
His breathing grew heavier, his body screamed—but his smile only widened.
"…You're not untouchable."[1]
Flare stopped for a split second.
Just one.
Then—
A faint grin appeared on her face.
"…We'll see."
BOOOOOOM—!!!!!
The ground beneath both of them exploded as she slammed her gauntlets together—stone surging outward in all directions.
Ren's eyes widened.
…This—!
He barely raised his weapon in time—
And the shockwave hit.
The shockwave smashed into him like a collapsing wall, his body skidding back as his boots tore through the ground.
SKRRRRR—!!
Dust blasting past his face, arms screaming—but he didn't fall.
"…Tch—!"
He leaned forward and forced himself through it, step by step, teeth gritting, grin twitching back into place.
…This is nothing…!
His foot slammed down—
BOOM—!!
—and he shot out of the dust like a bullet, eyes locked on Flare, that wild, slightly unhinged smile back on his face.
…Now… NOW—!
He closed the gap instantly, weapon already mid-swing—no hesitation, no holding back.
Flare met it—
KRAAANG—!!!
But Ren didn't stop.
He pushed through the clash, twisting his blade, dragging those jagged "teeth" across her guard—
SCRRKKK—!!
Sparks burst.
He stepped in deeper. Too close. Completely committed.
Perfect.
…One more—!
WHIP—!!
The chain snapped forward, wrapping tight—
A pull—
A shift—
Her balance moved—just slightly—
Ren's eyes flashed.
"…Got you."
His entire body coiled—every muscle screaming—as he poured everything into one final swing.
…THIS ONE—FINISH—!
Flare saw it, and for that one moment, she forgot that this wasn't a battlefield, that this wasn't life or death, that this was just practice.
"…—!"
Energy surged, far too much, as her leg snapped forward—fast, sharp—low, dangerously low.
"…Crap—!"
Ren saw it.
And his soul immediately filed a resignation letter.
…WAIT—WAIT—WAIT—WHY IS IT AIMING THERE—!?
THAT IS A PROTECTED AREA—ILLEGAL MOVE—RED CARD—DISQUALIFICATION—SOMEONE BLOW A WHISTLE—!!
His eyes bulged.
NO—NO—NO—NOT THE FAMILY JEWELS—!!
I HAVEN'T PROPERLY EVEN USED THEM YET—THIS IS DAYLIGHT ROBBERY—!!
His body was still mid-swing. No cancel. No dodge. No hope left.
…WHY DID I GO FULL POWER—!? WHO TOLD ME—!? WHICH IDIOT—!?
[ You ]
SHUT UP—THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR TRUTH—!!
The attack came closer.
Closer.
…MY FUTURE KIDS—GONE—!
MY BLOODLINE ENDS HERE—!!
ANCESTORS—I'M SORRY—I FAILED YOU—!!
A tear almost formed.
…IS THIS WHAT THEY CALL A TRAGIC HERO ENDING—!?
Her leg cut through the air—fast—unstoppable—
…SOMEONE SAVE IT—SAVE THEM—SAVE ME—!!
And just before impact—
[1] “…You’re not untouchable.”