The sun beat down on the Doku Base, casting long shadows behind the figures of Doku and Finn. The guards stood frozen, their eyes fixed on the two. One of them swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper. "Who knew this guy would stand toe to toe with Gama and beat him? If the boss can't defeat him, it's all over for us." Doku's gaze locked onto Finn, his eyes burning with intensity.
"I may not understand you," Finn said, his voice steady, "but that doesn't mean I will let you inflate your pain onto others."
Doku let out a loud, mocking laugh. "Ha! What are you trying to say? I shouldn't take revenge?" His tone dripped with sarcasm, and his eyes flashed with anger.
At Doku's response, his men reacted like wild dogs in a cage, shouting words of motivation.
One of Doku's men: "Yeah, tell him, boss!"
Another: "Make him scream!"
Doku's expression shifted, his eyes narrowing slightly toward his men who stood a bit farther off to his right. "Idiots," he said. "Don't know when to shut up."
Then, with a quick smirk, he lightened his features and dropped his focus back onto Finn, who stood firm in front of him as the wind swayed Finn's haori gently back and forth.
Doku cracked his neck left and right—a warm-up sign to the audience around him.
Doku: "Just because you defeated Gama doesn't mean you stand a chance against me. Now, I'll show you what a king cobra can do."
Doku's eyes gleamed with anticipation as he assumed a battle stance. His right and left hands extended, forming a serpentine curve, like a snake poised to strike. An orange aura began to emanate from his body, slowly rising like steam.
Doku's gaze locked onto Finn, his eyes burning with intensity. The silence was oppressive, heavy with anticipation. Then Doku broke the silence with a single, husky utterance: "Hm." The sound was low, almost a growl. "This will be fun," he said. The air seemed to vibrate with tension as his words hung in the air—a challenge issued.
Finn stood firm, his haori still swaying behind him, his eyes fixed intently on Doku. In that moment, Finn uttered a word quickly upon seeing Doku's cobra stance.
Finn: "Bu no Ryū... huh."
---
Doku's lips curled into a deliberate, venomous grin, his eyes narrowing to slits as he drilled Finn with a glare that would have frozen most people in place. Finn stared straight back—unblinking, unflinching—matching venom with ice.
Doku (voice low and venomous, eyes gleaming with cruel certainty): "I'll have you begging for your life before I'm done. You'll be shocked to learn my power has no equal in the entire Eastern Region of Bugie no Kuni—the Land of Martial Arts itself."
Finn (calm, almost bored, but laced with biting arrogance and unshakable confidence): "Shocked? Not in the slightest. As if someone with such a loud mouth and such pitiful reasoning could ever achieve that kind of strength." He let a slow, mocking smile curl his lips. "Even if your boasts happen to be true… it changes nothing. I'm still going to crush you like the roach you are."
Doku: "Don't think you've figured me out, kid."
Angry, he grounded his footing and tightened both fists raised above his chest.
Doku: "SHAAAAAA!"
Doku let out a mighty scream, charging up his Reiki energy. A majestic, transparent orange snake emerged from his aura, wrapping itself around his body. The snake's form shimmered with otherworldly energy before it merged back into Doku's body, amplifying his Reiki aura. The onlookers stumbled backward, shocked by the display. Finn was a bit stunned; he took a few steps back into a Shaolin fist fighting stance and began to think inwardly about how to approach.
Finn (inner mind): He is an advanced type… Hm, can't believe I underestimated his ability. No matter. I guess I need to adjust my pace to match his. Either way, I can't use Reiki limitlessly like I once did.
Doku stopped screaming, having gathered all the Reiki energy he needed to fight.
Doku: "Hmph."
A low, sinister chuckle rumbled from his throat as an amused, predatory grin spread across his face.
Finn's expression hardened in an instant—playful arrogance replaced by cold focus. Without a word, he thrust his right hand forward, palm open, fingers splayed.
Finn (voice sharp and commanding): "Reiki… Bu no Ryū—Dragon Burst!"
With his index finger, he swiftly traced the kanji for Dragon in the empty air. The character ignited instantly—brilliant blue light flaring to life, hovering like liquid fire. Finn closed his hand into a tight fist around the glowing symbol. In the next heartbeat, a massive, translucent blue dragon erupted from his clenched fist—coiling, roaring silently with raw Reiki energy. The majestic beast lit the entire base in an otherworldly azure glow, its scales shimmering, claws flexing as it soared upward in a graceful arc.
Then, with explosive speed, the dragon dove straight back toward Finn—slamming into his body in a surge of blinding light. The energy wrapped around him like living armor, blue flames licking across his skin, his hair whipping wildly in the ethereal wind. His eyes glowed faintly beneath the aura.
Doku's men froze mid-breath, jaws slack, weapons half-raised—utterly stunned. Even Doku, their unshakable leader, stood rooted, eyes wide.
Doku (voice cracking with disbelief, mouth hanging open, teeth clenched tight): "…Seriously?"
Finn stood tall amid the swirling blue Reiki inferno, completely at ease. A slow, smug smirk tugged at his lips.
Finn (calm, dripping with cocky pride): "Good grief. Screaming wasn't necessary, huh, Doku?"
Doku (snarling, veins bulging in his neck): "Tch… you bastard!"
---
AUTHOR'S POV
Guess Aizen from Bleach would be proud of him. LOL. Yare yare (good grief).
---
BACK TO THE STORY
Finn's eyes locked onto Doku, his gaze intense and unwavering. The blue Reiki energy surrounding his body pulsed with power. Doku, meanwhile, had transformed his stance into a serpentine pose, his hands coiled like a snake ready to strike. His eyes gleamed with fierce determination, and his cobra aura crackled with energy. The air was heavy with tension as the two opponents faced off, unblinking, never wavering for a second.
Blue Reiki energy pulsed around Finn's body in rhythmic waves, crackling like contained lightning. Doku had shifted into a low, serpentine stance—hands coiled forward like a striking cobra, fingers splayed and ready. His eyes burned with feral determination, his orange cobra aura flickering and hissing around him in jagged bursts. The air thickened with raw tension, almost suffocating, as the two warriors squared off.
Their Reiki auras collided in mid-air, clashing in a dazzling spectacle of light and sound—blue flames warring against orange venomous sparks. The atmosphere turned electric, charged, as if the very fate of Doku and his stunned men balanced on the edge of this moment.
The relentless desert sun hammered down, sweat already beading on Finn's brow. A single drop slid from his hairline, traced his cheek, lingered on his jaw… then fell to the cracked earth.
In an instant, both exploded forward—blurring streaks of motion. They met dead center, fists slamming together in a cataclysmic collision.
BOOM.
A massive shockwave erupted from the point of impact, ripping outward. The ground beneath them fractured in a spiderweb of fissures, blue Reiki and orange cobra energy intertwining violently in the blast. Stone shattered and sank, dust billowing like smoke from a battlefield.
Their fists remained locked, grinding against each other. Both men smirked at the exact same moment—predatory, knowing grins—as if they had already read each other's next ten moves.
Still fist-to-fist, they began to circle, feet sliding across the broken terrain in perfect sync. Lightning-fast jabs and hooks flew in a blur—each strike testing, probing, clashing with bursts of energy. Their auras screeched and sparked on every contact, flashes of blue and orange lighting up the desert like strobe bursts. The guards watched in frozen awe, mouths agape, weapons forgotten.
The furious exchange lasted a full thirty seconds—half a minute of relentless, circular fury—neither yielding an inch.
Then Finn seized the opening.
He twisted his momentum and unleashed a vicious Dragon Claw strike—his right hand arcing like a slashing paw straight toward the right side of Doku's face.
Doku was ready. His left forearm snapped up in a flawless block, absorbing the blow with a solid thud as he rooted his stance deeper.
Without missing a beat, Doku countered—his left leg whipping up at an angle, then snapping forward in a brutal front kick to Finn's midsection.
The impact was devastating. Finn was launched backward, his body spinning horizontally just inches off the ground, tumbling through the air like a thrown disc.
Yet even mid-rotation, Finn stayed composed. His eyes flicked downward—spotting a jagged crack in the earth rushing toward him. At the last instant, he thrust his hand into the fissure, fingers digging deep. With a grunt, he ripped free a hefty chunk of stone and hurled it back at Doku's face like a cannon shot.
Doku's reflexes—honed to the precision of a king cobra—kicked in. His right hand blurred, slapping the projectile aside with effortless contempt. The rock exploded on impact, showering dust and fragments across his vision and momentarily clouding the air.
Finally, the dust around Doku settled as his eyes immediately scanned his surroundings. Finn was nowhere to be found.
Doku: "What the—?"
As the dust settled, Doku's gaze swept the surroundings, his mind racing to pinpoint Finn's location. "Hmm," he muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing in thought. Suddenly, a realization struck him, and he nodded in silent acknowledgement. "Nice one," he thought, a hint of respect creeping into his mental voice. "Buying himself time by using those rocks to create a diversion... this guy's a trained fighter, no doubt about it. Hehe... but I CAN SENSE YOUR REIKI ABOVE!"
He then looked up to see Finn descending like a meteorite, his blue Reiki aura enveloping him. Finn's leg was raised high above his head, poised to deliver a devastating kick. Without hesitation, Doku made a quick dive forward to avoid the attack. He narrowly dodged Finn's kick, which landed on the ground with a deafening crash. The impact was immense, creating a deep crack in the earth and sending shockwaves through the air. The crowd around them gasped in awe, stunned by the sheer force of Finn's attack. Doku, meanwhile, quickly regained his footing and assumed a battle stance, his face set in a psychopathic grin.
Doku: "Close one."
Finn burst into a sprint heading for Doku after his attack from above failed, his left leg propelling him forward. He launched himself into a flying kick, his right leg shooting out like an arrow aimed straight for Doku's chest. But Doku was too quick, sidestepping to the left with his agile, snake-like reflexes. As Finn sailed past, Doku seized the opportunity to counterattack. With lightning-fast speed, he grabbed Finn's leg with both hands, spun around in a swift 360-degree motion, and then, with powerful force, tossed Finn across the battlefield.
Finn crashed into one of the barrack buildings on the left side, sending shockwaves through the structure. The impact left the building battered, with cracks visible on its surface. The guards, who had been watching anxiously, breathed a sigh of relief as one of them exclaimed, "Yes, the boss did it!" Doku's maniacal laughter then began to echo across the desert, his men feeling a mix of relief and unease.
But before they could breathe a sigh of relief, Finn emerged from the ruined building, his footsteps echoing through the air. As he stepped into the sunlight, his face was illuminated, revealing his elegant features despite the dust and dirt on his face.
Finn's gaze locked onto Doku, and he uttered a single phrase: "I'm not done yet." He clutched his shoulder, holding it tight, and subtly adjusted his dislocated bone, wincing slightly in pain as the coat of Reiki energy that once enveloped him was gone.
Doku (lips curled into a smug, cocky smirk): "Face it, kid—you're through. What did you think was going to happen when you chose to fight me?"
Finn stood unfazed, his voice calm and almost bored. "Count me out? That was nothing but an appetizer."
The casual arrogance ignited something in Doku. His gaze sharpened, narrowing into slits as he locked eyes with Finn. The air between them thickened with unspoken violence.
For a heartbeat, they simply stared—two predators sizing up the kill. Then they exploded forward.
Footsteps thundered across the ground like war drums. They collided in a brutal tangle of limbs. Doku whipped around in a vicious spinning backhand; Finn crossed both forearms to block. The impact rang through his bones like a hammer strike, but he refused to budge.
Using the force of the blow, Finn flipped backward, snapping a precise heel kick across Doku's jaw. Doku's head rocked back, a spray of spit flying, but he recovered in an instant—his face contorted in pain and fury.
Finn landed lightly and immediately surged forward, firing a crisp jab at Doku's face. Doku slipped it, his head tilting left. Finn chained into a right cross that smashed into Doku's nose with a wet crunch. Blood streamed down Doku's lip and chin.
Finn pressed the advantage, snapping another left jab—but Doku was waiting. He caught Finn's wrist mid-strike, yanked him forward, and drove his forehead into Finn's face with savage force. The sickening crack echoed. Finn staggered back, his vision swimming.
Finn: "Tch..."
Doku: "IT'S OVER FOR YOU!"
His scream ripped through the air like thunder. Eyes blazing with raw fury, Doku slammed his palm down onto the cracked earth. A guttural roar exploded from his throat, shaking the ground beneath them. Orange Reiki energy ignited around him in a roaring inferno—wild, searing, alive. The dirt split open with violent force, and a colossal king cobra erupted forth, its massive body formed of coiling, molten-orange light. Its hood flared wide, fangs gleaming like molten blades, and it reared back, ready to devour.
Finn's eyes widened for a split second. The serpent lunged—its jaws gaping in a blur of orange fury. Finn sprang backward, the wind of the strike whipping past his face, missing him by inches.
The cobra pursued Finn, its body darting in and out of the ground with incredible speed and agility. Finn sprinted for his life, but the cobra eventually closed in, its jaws open wide. In a flash, Finn's body began to move at an unnatural pace, his form glitching in and out of visibility as he dodged the cobra's strikes effortlessly in a blur.
The guards watched in awe, their eyes struggling to keep up with Finn's movements. At that moment, Finn began to close in on them while running from the king cobra. One guard attempted to stab Finn with his spear, but Finn was too fast. He leaped onto the spear and used the momentum to launch himself onto the rooftop behind the guards. The cobra, however, struck the guard and his colleagues with full force, sending them tumbling to the ground in a cloud of dust while they screamed in pain from the impact.
When the haze finally cleared, Finn stood balanced on the rooftop edge, his breathing steady, his gaze locked downward.
Below, Doku remained kneeling, his palm still fused to the trembling earth. The orange aura around him flickered unevenly now, no longer steady and dominant. His face twisted—shock bleeding into raw anger, his eyes burning up at Finn with dangerous intensity.
As Finn stood on the rooftop, he took a deep breath, feeling exhaustion creeping into his body. He muttered to himself, his mind racing with thoughts of fatigue. "I've burned a lot of Reiki energy... I might not be able to use my speed like I was before. I need to end this quickly."
Meanwhile, Doku, still catching his breath on the ground, slowly rose to his feet. His face twisted in a mixture of pain and determination, he glared at Finn with unyielding intensity. Despite the exhaustion, Doku's battle spirit remained unbroken.
Doku's men began to feel worried. One of them said, "Doku, oh no, he's out of Reiki energy." But another quickly countered, "No, he isn't, dum-dum. He's just low on it. Else he wouldn't be able to stand. We're in trouble."
Doku overheard their conversation and gave his men a withering glance. "Idiots," he muttered before turning his concentration back to Finn, who was standing on the rooftop. Doku's voice boomed out, louder than before. "Hey, you coward! Come down and fight! You can't run forever. I'm not done with you yet!"
Finn, however, seemed unfazed by Doku's taunts. Instead, he looked slightly confused, his eyebrow raised in amusement. "Really?" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You're not the one to be saying that."
Finn's words cut deep into Doku, whose face, mostly the sides, became covered in veins as he seethed with anger and frustration.
Finn's thoughts turned inward, his mind racing with urgency. After his exchange with Doku, he set his priorities straight. "I need to get Akira quickly and leave," he thought to himself. "I might have the upper hand now in stamina, but if the Darkness should come to sight, it will definitely ruin my chances of winning.".
_____________________________________
If you're enjoying the story, drop a Power Stone and follow for more!
The next chapter only gets crazier
And fellow me on Tik Tok (Clintoncool)