The wolf vanished—
And reappeared above them.
"UP—!"
Kai and Ren split instantly—
Kai rolled forward, barely avoiding the crushing impact as the wolf slammed into the ground behind him—
BOOM!
The earth cracked, debris scattering.
Ren pivoted, ducking low as the wolf's follow-up swipe cut through the space above him.
"…Too fast," Kai muttered, forcing himself up.
"…Then don't chase it," Ren replied, flames flickering. "Force it to come to you."
The wolf lunged again.
This time—
Kai stepped in.
Not back.
Forward.
His gauntlet came up—
Timing it—
Waiting—
Closer—
Closer—
"NOW!"
BOOM!
His punch connected.
Clean.
Direct.
"Blood Enhancement… 50%!"
His arm tightened instantly—veins rising, muscles compressing under the sudden surge of power.
"Blood Strike!"
The impact exploded outward.
The wolf's body lifted off the ground—
Completely.
It flew backward uncontrollably, crashing through trees before slamming into the earth—
BOOOOM!
A crater formed where it landed, dust and debris rising into the air.
For a moment—
Silence.
Ren's eyes widened slightly.
"…Now that—" he smirked, "—that's what I'm talking about."
Kai stood there, arm trembling violently.
"…That… hurts more than I expected…"
His veins throbbed, his arm barely steady.
But his eyes—
Sharp.
Focused.
The dust cleared—
The wolf rose again.
Angrier.
Faster.
More dangerous.
"…Of course it's not done," Ren muttered.
The wolf blurred forward—
Kai jumped back—
Ren dashed sideways—
The wolf tore through the space between them.
"LEFT!"
"I SEE IT!"
Kai ducked under a swipe, feeling the air shift above his head—
Ren leapt, spinning mid-air—
His blade ignited—
Flames surging outward.
"Myriad Flame Slash!"
He struck—
Once—
Twice—
Three times—
Each slash carried force, pushing the wolf back step by step—
SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!
The final strike hit harder—
Sending the wolf sliding across the ground before it dug its claws in to stop.
It growled.
Louder now.
Unstable.
Kai stepped beside Ren, breathing heavy.
"…We're close."
Ren nodded, flames flickering unevenly.
"…Then don't slow down now."
The wolf charged again—
This time—
Wild.
Reckless.
Kai and Ren moved together—
Kai sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the jaws—
Ren ducked low, flames brushing past as the wolf's body passed over him—
Kai pivoted—
Punch—
Missed.
The wolf countered—
Kai blocked—
CRASH!
His arm shook violently.
"…Tch—!"
Ren stepped in—
Slash—
The wolf twisted—
Barely avoiding a direct hit.
They were all reaching their limits.
Breathing heavy.
Bodies slowing.
But no one stopped.
Kai clenched his fist.
His arm trembled.
Veins bulging again—
More than before.
"…One more…" he muttered.
Ren glanced at him.
"…You better not collapse after this."
Kai smirked faintly.
"…No promises."
The wolf crouched—
Preparing its final charge.
Kai lowered his stance.
Everything in his body screamed at him to stop.
He ignored it.
Power gathered again—
More unstable—
More dangerous.
"Blood Enhancement… push it…"
His arm tightened—
Veins standing out clearly—
His gauntlet creaking under the pressure.
Ren stepped beside him, flames roaring higher.
"…Then let's end this."
The wolf lunged—
At full speed.
Kai stepped forward—
Meeting it head-on.
"REN—!"
"I'M WITH YOU!"
Time slowed.
Kai's fist pulled back—
Every muscle in his arm tightening—
Veins bulging—
Power compressing into a single point—
Then—
He drove it forward.
"BLOOD STRIKE!"
At the same moment—
Ren moved—
Flames exploding outward—
Blade cutting through the air—
"Myriad Flame Slash!"
Their attacks collided with the wolf—
At the same time—
BOOOOOOOM!!!
The ground shattered.
A shockwave tore through the forest.
For a moment—
Everything went still.
Then—
The wolf's body was launched backward—
Crashing into the ground—
The impact forming a deep crater.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Still.
Kai stood there—
Arm shaking uncontrollably.
Then—
His legs gave out.
He dropped to the ground.
"…I'm… done…"
Ren remained standing for a second—
Then dropped beside him.
"…Yeah… same…"
Both of them lay there, staring up through the trees.
Breathing.
Alive.
After a moment, Ren spoke.
"…We should collect it."
Kai didn't move.
"…Give me… a minute…"
Ren let out a quiet breath.
"…Yeah. A minute."
The forest was calm again.
But this time—
They had won.
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